Spanish names for girls: 150 pretty, popular names with meanings

We've included the most popular Spanish girl names, as well as some great traditional names, some very cute names and some unusual and unique options, too.

Spanish is the primary language in 20 countries all over the world, so we've included lots of baby girl names from cultures outside Spain, including the many Spanish-speaking countries of South America to Guanche, as well as Spanish girl names whose origins lie in regional languages spoken in Spain, including Catalan, Guanche (the language of the indigenous people of the Canary Islands), Basque and Galician.

Here's our list of Spanish girl names to inspire you...

Most popular Spanish girl names

Some of the most popular baby girl names in the UK have a Spanish origin, so we've listed them all here – in the order they are ranked by the Office for National Statistics in their list of the 100 most popular girl names registered in England and Wales in 2021 (the 2022 list will be released towards the end of 2023).

The Spanish girl names here include classics such as Isla and Isabella, which have been dominating UK baby name lists for some time, as well as more modern-sounding ones such as Mila and Sofia, which have only featured in the top 100 in the past few years. We've also included Nina, which features in Scotland's top 100 girl names, collected by the National Records of Scotland (Northern Ireland also has its own list, collected by Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency).

1. Isla

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: island
Trend: no change

2. Isabella

Origin: Spanish/Italian
Meaning: devoted to God
Trend: moving down

3. Sofia

Origin: Spanish, derived from Greek
Meaning: wisdom
Trend: no change

4. Emilia

Origin: Spanish, derived from Latin
Meaning: rival
Trend: moving down

5. Arabella

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: prayerful
Trend: moving down

6. Mila

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: miracles
Trend: moving up

7. Lola

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: sorrows
Trend: moving up

8. Maria

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: of the sea
Trend: moving down

9. Nina

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: little girl
Trend: moving down

Traditional Spanish girl names

If you like a girl name with a classic hinterland, these Spanish baby girl names should float your traditional boat. They are all girl names that have been used in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries for multiple decades – if not centuries. Some, like Carmen, Aurelia and Elisa have been enjoying a bit of a renaissance in recent times, while others, like Linda, Dolores and Esmeralda are slowly making a comeback after several years in relative obscurity.

10. Alejandra

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: defender of the people
Also: Alissandra, Alessandra

11. Alicia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: noble

12. Anita

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: gracious, merciful

13. Aurelia

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: golden

14. Camila

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: young ceremonial attendant
Also: Camilla

15. Carlota

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: feminine version of Carlos, which means free man or valiant

16. Carmen

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: garden

17. Catalina

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: pure (Spanish version of Catherine)

18. Conchita

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: conception or seashell

19. Constanza

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: constant, unchanging

20. Consuela

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: consolation
Also: Consuella, Consuelita

21. Dolores

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: sorrows
Also: Dolors

22. Elena

Origin: Spanish/Italian/Greek
Meaning: shining light
Also: Ellena, Alena

23. Elisa

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: God’s promise

24. Esmeralda

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: emerald

25. Estela

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Star
Also: Estella, Estrella

26. Gabriela

Origin: Spanish/Italian
Meaning: God is my strength
Also: Gabriella

27. Josefina

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: God will add

28. Julieta

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: youthful, love's child

29. Leticia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: joy, gladness
Also: Letitia

30. Linda

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: pretty

31. Lucia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: light

32. Lucinda

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: light

33. Margarita

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: pearl (Spanish version of Margaret)

34. Natalia

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: born on Christmas day

35. Paulina

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: small

36. Raquel

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: innocent (Spanish version of Rachel)

37. Teresa

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: to harvest

Unusual Spanish girl names

These Spanish baby girl names really stand out from the crowd, with their unusual spellings – to UK eyes at least – and also often unusual meanings that encompass everything from special place names to special goddesses. We reckon these are your go-to choices if you're looking for a Spanish girl name with a touch of the unique.

38. Ainhoa

Origin: Basque
Meaning: the name of a town where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared

39. Baila

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: dance

40. Belen

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Bethlehem, house of bread

41. Chaxiraxi

Origin: Guanche
Meaning: the name of a goddess also known as the Sun Mother

42. Illuminada

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: illuminated, bathed in light

43. Itzel

Origin: Mayan
Meaning: rainbow goddess

44. Pilar

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: pillar of strength, pillar of faith

45. Soledad

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: solitude

46. Ximena

Origin: Basque
Meaning: one who hears

47. Yaiza

Origin: Guanche
Meaning: one who shares equally

Cute Spanish girl names

These names are top of our list of the most sweet and adorable Spanish girl name choices. They all sound so cute, spoken aloud, and they all have charming, joy-filled meanings. Just scanning down the names in this little group brings an instant smile to our face!

48. Alba

Origin: Spanish/Catalan
Meaning: dawn

49. Amada

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: loved

50. Amaia

Origin: Basque
Meaning: resolution, end

51. Beatriz

Origin: Galician
Meaning: bringer of joy

52. Blanca

Origin: Spanish/Italian
Meaning: white

53. Bonita

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: pretty

54. Dulce

Origin: Spanish, derived from Latin
Meaning: sweet

55. Jovita

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: made happy

56. Marita

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: drop or star of the sea, beloved (a diminutive of Maria)

57. Tavia

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: eighth

58. Querida

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: beloved, darling

What are the most popular baby girl names in Spain?

Here are the 20 most popular baby names for girls in Spain right now, according to the official list from the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. As you'll see, while many of the top 20 are Spanish in origin, others have clear origins from other countries and cultures. Latin names feature strongly, for example, as do names of Hebrew origin.

Lucia. Origin: Spanish; Meaning: light
Martina. Origin: Spanish/Latin; Meaning: warlike
Sofia. Origin: Spanish/Greek; Meaning: wisdom
Maria. Origin: Spanish/Latin; Meaning: of the sea
Valeria. Origin: Latin; Meaning: strength, health
Julia. Origin: Latin; Meaning: youthful
Paula. Origin: Latin; Meaning: small, humble
Emma. Origin: German; Meaning: universal
Daniela. Origin: Hebrew; Meaning: God is my judge
Carla. Origin: German/Italian; feminine form of Charles, meaning free man
Alma. Origin: Latin; Meaning: nurturing
Olivia. Origin: Latin; Meaning: olive tree
Sara. Origin: Hebrew; Meaning: princess
Carmen. Origin: Spanish; Meaning: garden
Vega. Origin: Arabic; Meaning: swooping eagle
Mia. Origin: Latin; Meaning: mine
Lara. Origin: Latin; Meaning: protection
Alba. Origin: Latin; Meaning: white
Noa. Origin: Hebrew; Meaning: rest
Lola. Origin: Spanish; Meaning: sorrows

Nature-inspired Spanish girl names

Flowers, birds and the world around us all provide great inspiration for baby names in any language. This group of Spanish girl names, all inspired by Mother Nature, range from the horticultural, with beautiful floral names such as Crisanta, Flor and Liliana, and the marine, with sea-speckled names such as Mariana or Marisa to Basque and Catalan names that evoke mountain slopes, tangled hedgerows and soaring birds.

59. Alondra

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: lark

60. Aranza

Origin: Basque
Meaning: among the thorns

61. Crisanta

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: chrysanthemum

62. Estrella

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: star

63. Flor

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: flower

64. Guadalupe

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: valley of the wolves

65. Irati

Origin: Basque
Meaning: Fern field

66. Itziar

Origin: Basque
Meaning: ancient stone

67. Jacinta

Origin: Spanish/Mexican
Meaning: hyacinth, beautiful
Also: Jacinda

68. Liliana

Origin: Spanish/Italian
Meaning: lily
Also: Liliosa

69. Lorena

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: laurel

70. Lourdes

Origin: Basque
Meaning: craggy slope

71. Lupita

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: valley of the wolf (diminutive form of Guadalupe)

72. Mariana

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: of the sea

73. Mariposa

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: butterfly

74. Marisa

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: of the sea

75. Maritza

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: star of the sea

76. Montserrat

Origin: Catalan
Meaning: serrated mountain

77. Nieve

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: snow

78. Paloma

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: dove

79. Rocio

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: dew (gender-neutral name given to both girls and boys)

80. Savannah

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: flat, grassy plain

81. Silvia

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: from the woods
Also: Sylvia

82. Tierra

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: earth

83. Uxue

Origin: Basque
Meaning: dove

84. Yesenia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: palm tree

85. Yolanda

Origin: Spanish, derived from Greek
Meaning: violet flower

Short Spanish girl names

Simple but beautiful, these Spanish girl names have no more than 5 letters, with some only using 2 or 3. A shorter first name is often a good choice if your child's last name is going to be long and multisyllabic: spoken or written together, the two names can balance each other well. Some parents also naturally prefer names with fewer letters in: quicker to read and recognise – and cheaper to put on the back of a football shirt! These names are undeniably short but still adorably sweet.

86. Ana

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: gracious

87. Brisa

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: breeze

88. Fe

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: trust

89. Laia

Origin: Catalan
Meaning: well-spoken

90. Mesa

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: table

91. Mora

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: mulberry

92. Ria

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: small river

93. Rosa

Origin: Spanish, derived from Latin
Meaning: rose

94. Tia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: aunt

95. Ynez

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: pure, chaste

Spanish double names for a girl

Giving your girl (or boy) two first names is a common tradition in Hispanic countries. These compound names can be made up of any Spanish names, so you can experiment with pairing any two girl names in this article if you'd like to give double-naming a go. We've also included below a small selection of the most popular Spanish double names for a girl to give you some ideas. Interestingly, though most double Spanish girl names will be made up of 2 girl names, the most popular compound name for girls in Spanish-speaking countries is actually Maria José, which is a girl's name (Maria), followed by a boy's name (José).

96. Ana Paula

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: cherished

97. Dulce Maria

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: sweet girl of the sea

98. Maria Fernanda

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: bold adventurer of the sea

99. Maria José

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: bitterly wanted child, drop of the sea whom God increases (Spanish versions of Mary and Joseph)

Basque, Catalan, Guanche and Galician Spanish girl names

The individual regions of Spain each have their own character and heritage, with distinctive cultures and even their own languages and dialects. We've selected our favourite Spanish girl names from the regions of Catalonia, the Basque Country, the Canary Islands (whose indigenous inhabitants were called the Guanche) and Galicia, an autonomous community on the Iberian peninsula. We think each of these girl names ring strong with pride and originality.

100. Abril

Origin: Catalan
Meaning: to open (Catalan version of April)

101. Aitana

Origin: Basque
Meaning: glory

102. Dácil

Origin: Guanche
Meaning: footprint, name of a Guanche princess

103. Idaira

Origin: Guanche
Meaning: the name of a Guanche princess

104. Iria

Origin: Galician
Meaning:peace (Galician version of Irene)

105. Izaro

Origin: Basque
Meaning: island

106. Mayte

Origin: Basque
Meaning: loveable

107. Mireia

Origin: Catalan
Meaning: to admire

108. Nahia

Origin: Basque
Meaning: wish, desire

109. Naiara

Origin: Basque
Meaning: the name of a Basque city

110. Nerea

Origin: Basque
Meaning: mine

111. Uxía

Origin: Galician
Meaning: well-born (Galician version of Eugenia)

Religious Spanish girl names

The Roman Catholic religion plays a big part in Spain's culture and history, so it's no surprise that many Spanish girl names have meanings that reflect this faith and its roots in Hebrew and Christian scripture. This list of Spanish girl names with a religious meaning includes unusual choices such as Aracely and Milagros, as well as some names, such as Mercedes and Santana, that are becoming more and more popular again.

112. Aracely

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: heavenly altar
Also: Araceli

113. Candela

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Candlemas (a Christian feast day)

114. Cristina

Origin: Spanish/Italian
Meaning: follower of Christ
Also: Christina

115. Juana

Origin: Spanish, derived from Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious (Spanish version of Jane)

116. Mercedes

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: gracious gifts, mercies

117. Milagros

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: miracles

118. Noelia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Christmas

119. Núria

Origin: Catalan
Meaning: fire of the Lord

120. Renata

Origin: Spanish/Italian
Meaning: reborn

121. Sanchia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: holy

122. Santana

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: holy, follower of St Anne

123. Trinidad

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Holy Trinity

Strong Spanish girl names

Sometimes, you just want a girl name that signals strength, maybe even a bit of badass spirit. Here, we’ve rounded up some awesome and powerful Spanish girl names, selected either for how forceful and tenacious they sound or because their meaning is linked to power, strength and the will to fight.

124. Eldora

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: gold

125. Esperanza

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: hope, expectation

126. Lucero

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: light, star

127. Luisa

Origin: Spanish/Italian
Meaning: renowned warrior

128. Martina

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: warlike

129. Ramona

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: wise protector

130. Regina

Origin: Spanish/Latin
Meaning: queen

131. Reyna

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: queen
Also: Reina

132. Valencia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: brave

133. Xiomara

Origin: Guanche
Meaning: ready for battle

134. Zamora

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: the name of a city in Spain

Beautiful Spanish girl names

Last but not least, we've found some Spanish girl names which are beautiful to say and have meanings that are bursting with beauty, too. Some, like Sierra and Serafina, are reasonably well known and loved throughout the world; others, like Anahi, are truly lovely girl names that deserve to shine more widely outside their country or region of origin.

135. Anahi

Origin: Tupi-Guarani (South America)
Meaning: beautiful like a flower, the name of a Guarani princess

136. Analia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: grace, light

137. Arcelia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: treasure

138. Calida

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: warm

139. Clementina

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: mild, merciful

140. Elodia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: foreign riches

141. Elvira

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: white, beautiful

142. Gracia

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: grace

143. Jacaranda

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: fragrant, the name of a flower

144. Jimena

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: heard
Also: Ximena

145. Marisol

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: sea and sun, from a name for the Virgin Mary

146. Perla

Origin: Spanish/Italian
Meaning: pearl

147. Quintana

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: fifth girl

148. Serafina

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: ardent angel, fiery one

149. Solana

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: sunshine

150. Sierra

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: saw, jagged

How to choose the right Spanish girl name for your baby
We know it can be a taxing business deciding which baby names you like and comparing lists with your partner to see if you agree. Above all, you want to be sure you're choosing a name both you and your daughter will really love. Here are our tips on picking the right girl's name for your baby daughter:
Think about the impression it makes. Do you want the name to reflect tradition and honour your family history or be trendy, quirky or unusual?
Practise saying it out loud. See if you can imagine using it on a daily basis. Test it out with your surname and any middle name choices too. Don't forget to check what your child’s initials would be.
Think about nicknames. Would you mind people changing it or shortening it into a nickname or pet name? Or is it important to choose a name which cannot be shortened?
Consider the meaning. Is it important that the meaning has real significance to you and your partner?
Think about how other people will see it. Does it matter to you that it's easy to spell and pronounce? Will your or your child constantly be correcting people?
Check whether your favourite names appear on the most popular lists in the UK. If they do, this means you’re not alone in loving it, but it also means when you call your daughter’s name in the playground, several other children might turn round too.
Don’t rush the decision. It’s fine to wait until you meet your baby to see whether your favourite name actually suits her. You could even test it out for a few hours before announcing it to the world and making it official.

Pic: Getty Images

Catherine Ball

Catherine Ball is a freelance journalist who specialises in writing about parenting and health. She has been a journalist for 20 years, writing for a wide range of regional and national publications.