Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Spanish name (but easy in English) for a girl

69 replies

otchayaniye · 14/07/2011 21:34

About to pop, have had real wobbles picking a name, it was so easy for my first. We call her Carmen (after her great-grandmother) Lois (after my mother). No spelling, no pronunciation issues and a strong name.

We're both grandchildren of Spaniards and would like another Spanish name, but one that isn't too dour (Dolores, Soledad are out), isn't wildly frilly (I used to have a thing about names ending in 'a' but I've come round now), and isn't too ostentatiously Spanish.

Have/am considering Lela (but worry about the spelling issue and how people would pronounce it), Frida, and Catalina (shortened to Cat, Cati or Kitty) - but would that be weird with Carmen as a sibling's name?

I do like Ines but husband thinks too modish and it also has pronunciation issues.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
otchayaniye · 15/07/2011 09:19

Feel sorry for my daughter. She's got used to calling my bump so many names her head will be spinning

OP posts:
otchayaniye · 15/07/2011 09:19

Just wanted to thank you all, really helpful suggestions and advice.

I'm running out this morning but will be back. I think I'll get a shortlist together and we'll got through it with husband.

Some names I really love but can't use (Ines doesn't I think go with our surname, some others mentioned have been used by friends -- not that that totally prevents you but it does make you think twice) but there is plenty to go on.

Thanks again.

OP posts:
WriterofDreams · 15/07/2011 09:15

Carolina, shortened to Caro?

SuburbanDream · 15/07/2011 09:07

I love Mercedes but I do think in England it will be subject to ridicule! I once knew a lovely spanish girl called Begonia, I thought it sounded really pretty pronounced the Spanish way ie Beg-ON-ia not Beg-Oh-nia like we would pronounce the flower in English.

What about Luisa? Also like Beatriz. Both easy to pronounce in English, although everyone will always spell them wrong ...

TillyIpswitch · 15/07/2011 08:58

I see it as Leh-la. I think Lila would be more ambiguous.

It's a beautiful name.

otchayaniye · 15/07/2011 07:07

Yes, it's a girl, and no have no problem with 'a' names

Would you struggle with 'Lela'? My husband likes this name, as do I, but I think some people say 'Leeela' rather than 'Leh-la'

OP posts:
TillyIpswitch · 15/07/2011 06:34

My Spanish friend Ana has called her recent daughter Anita, which I have always thought of as an Indian name, however it is (also) Spanish.

They do have a tradition there of calling daughters after Mums and sons after Dads. Can your name be played around with?!

You will be fairly hard-pushed to find a name not ending in 'a' as they do seem to be incredibly popular there.

Ines/Inez is beautiful. I also knew a very chic Beatriz many years ago, but the fact that the Anglo Beatrice is currently so popular might put you off. My lovely ex MIL was an Isabel, but again, that's very popular.

Are you definitely having a girl?

HalleLouja · 15/07/2011 05:01

Rosa
RosaMaria
Luisa

scoobydont · 15/07/2011 02:16

Lara

MerryMarigold · 14/07/2011 22:58

Oh, how about Marisa/ Marissa?

MerryMarigold · 14/07/2011 22:56

You can't do Mercedes. People will say it like the car. And they will think of the car. And it will be shortened to Merk. NO WAY.

Clara is nice, and v nice with Carmen. Not keen on Catalina, dunno just sounds like Catalonia to me. Carmen and Isabel is nice too! And I like Marta a lot.

I think names like Celia and Delia and Elena sound lovely with Spanish pronounciation, but the English pronounciation just makes them sound like English names, and I'm sure most people would use the 'normal' way of pronouncing.

BikeRunSki · 14/07/2011 22:51

Ana, Ester, Gemma

Spanish sister I was at school with

PurveyorOfBaloney · 14/07/2011 22:51

No-one mentioned Rebecca/Rebeca yet?

CointreauVersial · 14/07/2011 22:50

Ines is a bit of a nightmare on the pronounciation front. DD2 has a friend (Portuguese) with that name, and no-one can ever get it right.

midnightexpress · 14/07/2011 22:49

I love Ines (I know two). I also think Frida is v cool. How about Rosa - does that work in Spanish?

I like Mercedes, but it is a bit Isabel Allende, isn't it?

Amapoleon · 14/07/2011 22:48

In my classes I have

Sara
Emma
Ruth
Lucia
Gemma
Cristina
Veronica
Ines
gabriela
Daniela
Paula
Many maria del ...
irene
Marta
raquel
Ana
Trini
Susana

Thats all I can remember off the top of my head.

sunnyday123 · 14/07/2011 22:42

catalina is nice but i'm not sure i see the point if you wont use it as a full name?

Sorry but Mercedes is awful and reminds me of that old cory haim film from the 80's - its a very chavvy name up north!

mybootsaremuddy · 14/07/2011 22:38

Adriana
Alicia/Alisa
Ana
Amanda
Cristina(I have a Christina but think the spanish is without the h?)
Elsa/Elsie
Elena
Emilie
Juliana
Nina

brodanbell · 14/07/2011 22:35

Mercedes is a great name. Mercy or Missy for short. I know what you mean about having the balls to do it. It's unfortunate that when people with a British ear hear it they think it's along the lines naming your child Chardonnay or Gucci, when it actual fact it is a lovely Spanish name. If you do it, you've got to be prepared for having to explain it all the time.

Also like Catalina....what about Catarina as well?

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/07/2011 22:17

Oh you have, you have. Its perfect!

PurpleStrawberryGuava · 14/07/2011 22:17

My children all have Spanish names, my daughters' are Inés and Beatriz, and we've never had pronunciation problems with Inés (despite one of my friends recoiling in horror when she learnt her name, saying that no-one would be able to pronounce it).

Some suggestions that I think meet your criteria:

Ana
Camila
Celia
Delia
Elena
Iris
Laura
Maribel (I don't think this would cause any pronunciation problems in English)
Marisol (ditto)
Susana
Violeta

otchayaniye · 14/07/2011 22:08

I do love Mercedes but don't know if have the big balls needed.

OP posts:
youarekidding · 14/07/2011 22:04

Sofia? That was what my half spanish (by step and residency!) DS was going to be called (if a girl). He's Tomás.

Works for English family too iyswim?

Or I like Luisa, Ana etc.

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/07/2011 22:02

My Spanish friends are called Maribel, Marissa and Elia -

but Mercedes is truly fab.

Mollydoggerson · 14/07/2011 22:01

Martha

Swipe left for the next trending thread