While Spanish girl names like Sofia, Camila, Isabella and Spanish boy names like Jose regularly top the baby name charts, I’m always on the lookout for great names that fall under the radar. Here are 31 of my favorite Spanish baby names that you could consider for your baby to be.
Girls’ Names
Adoracion
No surprise—this sweet word name means adoration.
Agnacia
Consider this Spanish take on Agnes, which shares its pure meaning.
Baila
This pretty name comes from the Spanish word for dance.
Celestina
This soft and poetic name has the lovely meaning, heavenly.
Cinta
Cinta’s the Spanish version on Cynthia, another once beloved name that’s fallen off the radar for parents-to-be.
Eldora
This name means bathed in gold—a poetic choice, to be sure.
Florinda
Love floral names but looking for a little Spanish flair? Go for this name, which means pretty flower.
Jacaranda
Another pretty floral name, from a tropical tree with purple blooms.
Mallorca
This Old World place name comes from a Spanish island that serves as a popular tourist destination.
Montserrat
Okay, maybe you have heard of Montserrat—especially if you were a fan of the telenovela Lo que la vida me robo. That’s what led to the name rising into the top 1000 for the very first time here in the U.S. this year. It’s the name of a mountain range in Spain—and one of the most popular Spanish baby names around.
Nazaret
This Spanish name based on the birthplace of Jesus is technically unisex, but I like it better for a girl.
Ondina
Love the ocean? Consider this name, which means little wave.
Quintana
Joan Didion named her daughter this, but otherwise, this Spanish name that means “fifth girl” is really up for grabs.
Socorra
Nope. This baby name has nothing to do with soccer. It means help, and it’s commonly associated with Jesus’ mother, Mary.
Boys’ Names
Alamo
Yep, maybe he’ll hear one or two cries of “Remember the Alamo,” but I think the time is finally right for this name to reemerge from hiding.
Alfonso
This old-fashioned name means noble—and comes with a built in cool nickname, Fonz.
Baez
If you’ve heard this pretty surname name, it’s probably on folk singer Joan Baez.
Cordero
It has a sweet meaning–lamb—and some cool nicknames (Corey and Cord among them).
Eber
This Spanish variation on Herbert sounds much better than the original. (Consider it as a potential option for paying homage to great uncle Herbie.
Fortunato
The meaning is pretty clear!
Galo
This saintly name means “from Gaul.”
Gaspar
Way cooler than Casper, and not as used as Jasper, this makes the perfect pick from this rhyming set.
Helio
It’s not the standard greeting, but a word that means “sun.”
Jacinto
It’s a floral pick (Spanish for hyacinth) that still works for guys.
Juno
Pronounced like the movie, Juno is perfect for a little boy or girl, especially one who was born in June.
Miro
A name that means “look,” and is related to famed artist Joan Miro.
Montez
This name means “comes from the mountains.”
Neron
Don’t like that whole story about Nero watching Rome burn? Skip the original and go with the Spanish variant.
Sabino
With a stellar meaning like “wise,” it’s a wonder that this Latin name hasn’t taken off.
Tigre
Skip the problematic Tiger Woods homage and go with the Spanish baby name for the big cat.
Vale
You may have heard this name recently — “The Today Show’s” Savannah Guthrie’s named her daughter Vale — but it works for both boys and girls.
Xabat
Believe it or not, this cool name (with the x factor and everything!) is a Spanish version of Salvador.
Photo: Getty