Spanish Names
Spanish names travel well. Many of them, like Lucía, Mateo and Sofía, sound just as natural in Chicago as in Madrid, while others carry a distinctly Iberian flavor rooted in Catholic saints, Latin, Arabic and the regional languages of Spain. Below you’ll find more than 80 Spanish names, grouped by style, each with its meaning and origin.
Looking for something specific? Head to our full lists of Spanish girl names, Spanish boy names and Spanish last names. If you want names with a Latin American twist, our Mexican names page is a good next stop.
Spanish Names: browse all lists
Popular Spanish names in Spain today
These names sit at or near the top of recent birth lists published by Spain’s national statistics office (INE). Short, two-syllable names ending in a vowel dominate.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Lucía | From Latin <em>lux</em>, “light” | Girl |
| Sofía | Greek, “wisdom” | Girl |
| Martina | Feminine of Martín, from Mars, the Roman god | Girl |
| María | Spanish form of Miriam; meaning debated, often “beloved” or “bitter” | Girl |
| Julia | Latin, from the Roman family name Julius | Girl |
| Paula | Latin, “small, humble” | Girl |
| Valeria | Latin, “to be strong” | Girl |
| Alba | Spanish/Catalan, “dawn” | Girl |
| Hugo | Germanic, “mind, spirit” | Boy |
| Martín | Latin, “of Mars” | Boy |
| Lucas | Greek, “man from Lucania” | Boy |
| Mateo | Hebrew, “gift of God” | Boy |
| Leo | Latin, “lion” | Boy |
| Daniel | Hebrew, “God is my judge” | Boy |
| Alejandro | Greek, “defender of the people” | Boy |
| Pablo | Latin, “small, humble” | Boy |
Traditional Spanish names with Catholic roots
For centuries Spanish children were named after saints and titles of the Virgin Mary, which is why names like Dolores and Rosario exist. Many of these also appear in our list of biblical names.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| José | Hebrew, “God will add” | Spanish form of Joseph; nickname Pepe |
| Carmen | From Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Hebrew “garden” | Classic Spanish girl name |
| Dolores | Spanish, “sorrows” | From Our Lady of Sorrows; nickname Lola |
| Rosario | Spanish, “rosary” | Used for girls in Spain |
| Pilar | Spanish, “pillar” | From Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza |
| Mercedes | Spanish, “mercies” | From Our Lady of Mercy |
| Consuelo | Spanish, “consolation” | Marian title |
| Francisco | Latin, “Frenchman” | Nicknames Paco, Curro |
| Jesús | Hebrew, “God saves” | Common male name in Spain |
| Santiago | Spanish, “Saint James” | Patron saint of Spain |
| Ignacio | Latin/Spanish, possibly “fiery” | Honors St. Ignatius of Loyola |
| Inmaculada | Spanish, “immaculate” | Nickname Inma |
Modern and unique Spanish names
Parents in Spain increasingly choose short, international names. These feel fresh but are still unmistakably Spanish.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Vega | Spanish, “meadow”; also a bright star | Girl |
| Candela | Spanish, “candle” | Girl |
| Olivia | Latin, “olive tree” | Girl |
| Triana | From the Seville neighborhood | Girl |
| Paloma | Spanish, “dove” | Girl |
| Rocío | Spanish, “dew” | Girl |
| Maite | Basque, “beloved” | Girl |
| Gael | Possibly Celtic/Breton, “generous” | Boy |
| Thiago | Portuguese form of Santiago | Boy |
| Enzo | Italian, from Lorenzo | Boy |
| Bruno | Germanic, “brown” | Boy |
| Marco | From Mars, the Roman god | Boy |
| Izan | Modern Spanish spelling of Ethan, “strong” | Boy |
| Dario | Persian, “upholder of good” | Boy |
Basque, Catalan and Galician names
Spain has four official languages, and each has its own naming tradition. These regional names are popular well beyond their home regions.
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Iker | Basque | “Visitation” |
| Unai | Basque | “Cowherd” |
| Aitor | Basque | Legendary forefather of the Basques |
| Ane | Basque | Basque form of Anne, “grace” |
| Nerea | Basque | Possibly “mine” |
| Jordi | Catalan | Catalan form of George, “farmer” |
| Pau | Catalan | Catalan form of Paul, also “peace” |
| Montserrat | Catalan | “Serrated mountain,” after the Catalan monastery |
| Núria | Catalan | From the Marian sanctuary of Núria |
| Xoán | Galician | Galician form of John, “God is gracious” |
| Uxía | Galician | Galician form of Eugenia, “well born” |
| Iria | Galician | From Iria Flavia, an ancient town in Galicia |
Spanish names with Arabic roots
Nearly 800 years of Moorish rule left thousands of Arabic words in Spanish, and a few names too. Compare them with our Arabic names.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Almudena | Arabic <em>al-mudayna</em>, “the little city” | Patron of Madrid |
| Guadalupe | Arabic <em>wadi</em>, “river,” plus a Latin/Arabic element | Our Lady of Guadalupe |
| Zaida | Arabic, “fortunate” or “growing” | Name of a Moorish princess |
| Soraya | Persian, the Pleiades star cluster | Popular in 20th-century Spain |
| Fátima | Arabic, “one who abstains” | Also a Portuguese Marian shrine |
| Omar | Arabic, “long-lived, flourishing” | Common in Spain and Latin America |
| Azucena | Arabic <em>as-susana</em>, “the lily” | Spanish word for the white lily |
Common Spanish last names
Spanish surnames often end in -ez, meaning “son of.” Every Spaniard carries two, one from each parent. See our full list of Spanish last names or compare with Hispanic last names.
| Surname | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|
| García | Possibly Basque, “young” or “bear” | Given name turned surname |
| Rodríguez | “Son of Rodrigo” | Patronymic |
| González | “Son of Gonzalo” | Patronymic |
| Fernández | “Son of Fernando” | Patronymic |
| López | “Son of Lope” (from Latin lupus, “wolf”) | Patronymic |
| Martínez | “Son of Martín” | Patronymic |
| Sánchez | “Son of Sancho” | Patronymic |
| Pérez | “Son of Pedro” | Patronymic |
| Castillo | “Castle” | Place |
| Navarro | From Navarre | Place |
| Herrera | “Blacksmith’s wife” / ironworks | Occupation |
| Moreno | “Dark-haired, brown” | Nickname |
Classic Spanish compound names
Double first names are a Spanish tradition, often pairing a saint with a Marian title. They are treated as a single name.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| José María | Joseph and Mary together | Boy |
| María José | Mary and Joseph, nickname Majo | Girl |
| Juan Carlos | John and Charles | Boy |
| Ana Belén | Anne plus Bethlehem | Girl |
| María Jesús | Mary and Jesus, nickname Chus | Girl |
| Miguel Ángel | Michael the Archangel | Boy |
| Juan José | John and Joseph | Boy |
| María del Mar | “Mary of the Sea” | Girl |
How to choose a Spanish name
- Say it with Spanish vowels: in Spanish every vowel is pronounced, so Jimena is “hee-MEH-nah” and Jorge is “HOR-heh.”
- Keep the accent mark: it tells readers where the stress falls (Lucía, Martín). Official US documents usually allow it.
- Check the nickname: Spanish names come with fixed nicknames (Francisco → Paco, Dolores → Lola, Concepción → Concha). Make sure you like it.
- For a bilingual family, pick names that work in both languages, such as Sofía, Mateo, Daniel, Elena or Gabriel.
- Want a Latin American feel instead? Browse Hispanic names or Puerto Rican names.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular name in Spain?
In recent INE data, Lucía, Sofía and Martina lead for girls, while Hugo, Martín, Lucas and Mateo lead for boys. Among all living people, María and Antonio are the most common.
Why do Spanish people have two last names?
Spaniards traditionally take their father’s first surname followed by their mother’s first surname. Since 2000, parents may choose to put the mother’s surname first.
What does -ez mean in Spanish surnames?
The ending -ez (or -az, -iz, -oz) meant “son of,” so Rodríguez is “son of Rodrigo” and Martínez is “son of Martín.”
Are Spanish names and Hispanic names the same?
Not exactly. Spanish names come from Spain, while Hispanic names include the naming traditions of all Spanish-speaking countries, including Indigenous names from Mexico and the Andes.
What are some Spanish names that work in English?
Sofía, Elena, Isabel, Gabriel, Daniel, Mateo, Olivia and Leo are easy to spell and pronounce in both languages.