Spanish Nature Names Soar Beyond Luna
One of the stylish girl names in today's world is the luminous Luna. The Spanish word for moon has been shooting up the charts after having entered the Top 1000 in 2003, and has solidified its place in the US Top 10 as of 2022.
Luna is getting plenty of love globally as well, making the Top 100 in the UK, Australia, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, and a dozen other countries as well.
We noticed a pretty noteworthy trend when doing a deep dive into the data — following along in Luna's footsteps, there were many other Spanish nature names for girls that have been on the rise in recent years as well. From the more established Esmeralda and Paloma, to rare and virtually undiscovered gems Avellana and Girasol, Spanish nature and word names are red-hot.
Here are 10 of our favorite Spanish nature names in 2023, ranging in popularity from names well within the Top 1000 to names only given to a few babies.
The Best Spanish Nature Names
Brisa
Brisk and airy Brisa is popular among families with Latin American or Hispanic heritage, but virtually unheard of elsewhere. Spanish for "breeze", Brisa not only has a lovely sound and meaning, but is easy to spell and pronounce by non-Spanish speakers as well — the perfect recipe for a cross-cultural name. The name Brisa was given to 92 baby girls in 2023.
Cielo
One of the fastest-rising girl names of 2023 (now ranking Number 859) is the celestial Cielo — the Spanish word for "sky". Luisana Lopilato and Michael Bublé naming their daughter Cielo Yoli Rose in 2022 certainly boosted the name into the spotlight.
Cielo may have religious significance for some. Historically the name has been used in honor of María del Cielo — a title for the Virgin Mary meaning "Mary of the Sky." However, many parents today are considering Cielo, pronounced "see-EH-lo", for its lively energy and on-trend nature meaning.
Estrella
Estrella is one of the rising stars of the last few decades in the Latin American and Hispanic community, and it is no wonder why. It boasts a beautiful sound — "eh-STRAY-a" — and the radiant meaning "star", making Estrella a perfect alternative to the popular Luna. Estrella actually peaked in 2005 at Number 296 before experiencing a significant decline, but is on the upswing again. In 2023 it ranked at Number 682.
Leona
Leo- names have been hot for baby boys for several years now, and this leonine trend is making its way over to the girl's side as well. Leona — Spanish for lioness — is one of our favorites. Sleek and sophisticated with a touch of badass, Leona ranked Number 518 in 2023.
Lluvia
Pronounced "YOO-vee-a", this striking and evocative name means "rain" in Spanish. Lluvia shares similar sounds with popular choices like Luna or Olivia, while still remaining distinct and unique. The name Lluvia was given to 70 baby girls in 2023.
Mar
Many of the most popular girl names throughout history have begun with Mar-, from Mary and Margaret to Marissa and Mariah — but how about just Mar? The Spanish word for "sea" is a Top 100 name in Spain, but was only given to 72 baby girls in the US in 2023. Simple and sweet Mar would also be a great honor name for a relative with any of the aforementioned historically popular "Mar-" names.
Mariposa
One of the most princessy names on the list is Mariposa, Spanish for butterfly. This gorgeous and romantic name was given to 34 baby girls in 2023.
For some '90s and early 2000s kids, the name may bring to mind the nostalgic film Barbie Mariposa, featuring a fairy with the name — but otherwise, Mariposa has seldom been heard as a given name. We think Mariposa definitely deserves some consideration. And as a bonus? The adorable nickname Posie.
Rio
Joining the cohort of cool and modern gender-neutral nature names is spunky Rio. Rio is Spanish and Portuguese for "river", as seen in the beautiful and lively Brazilian city of Rio De Janeiro — translating to "River of January".
Rio is more popular as a boy name where it ranks in the Top 1000, but it is also rising as a girl name, having been given to over 100 baby girls in 2023. Rio is also a Top 10 girl name in Japan, stemming from different roots and meaning "place of the cherry blossoms." A truly international choice.
Sol
Now that the Spanish word for moon has officially cracked the Top 10, it may be time to give her sunny counterpart more attention. This short and sweet nature meaning "sun" was among the fastest-rising girl names in recent years, and now ranking #892. Now in 2023, the striking Solana — meaning "sunshine" has entered the Top 1000 for the first time.
Violeta
Violet has been solidly in the Top 50 for a few years now, and is one of the most popular floral and color names of this decade. The Spanish Violeta elevates this classic with a lyrical and romantic charm. Violeta ranks at Number 651 in 2023 — a significant rise from Number 740 in 2022.
Vista
The rarest feature on our list is the vivacious Vista. Given to only 5 baby girls, Vista was among the new debuts in the charts in 2022. This Spanish word means "view" — often a beautiful and scenic view from a high-up place. A lovely meaning to bestow upon a daughter, with an equally lovely sound to match.
Rising Spanish Nature Names
The rise of Spanish nature names was a notable trend in recent years, reflecting both the growing interest and significant rise in popularity of formerly offbeat nature and botanical names — we see you Marigold, Ocean, and Clover — as well as a shift in Americans' perspectives through branching out to names of various other cultures and language origins such as Spanish names.
Here are some other noteworthy Spanish nature names that feel especially fashionable in 2023.
- Alondra
- Ambar
- Azucena
- Baya
- Cisne
- Dalia
- Delfina
- Esmeralda
- Flor
- Gema
- Girasol
- Jacinta
- Jazmín
- Lila
- Lucero
- Luz
- Margarita
- Marina
- Marisol
- Nevada
- Paloma
- Perla
- Rocio
- Rosa
- Rubí
- Solimar
- Vina
Rare Spanish Nature Names
If you are looking for a truly unique nature name, you're in luck! Here is our selection of Spanish nature names that are not on many (or any) parents' radars in 2024 — many of which have never been given to 5 or more babies in any given year.