Spanish name (but easy in English) for a girl

[otchayaniye]

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.

My Spanish neices are Alexia and Clara

I love Marina or what about Marta or Maria - although I realise that these end in 'a'

Inez/Ines is lovely thoughand not too difficult for pn purposes.

Ramona or Romilly?

Thanks, the way I'm feeling she'll end up a Miranda (Carmen and Miranda....)

I used to have a thing about 'a' names but have realised that's silly and rules out so many names. Plus my husband is trying to curb my dour, stolid naming tendencies. Surprised that I really like Catalina now.

I like Clara too.

Catalina is lovely.

What about Magdalena?

Ramona I can't as it's a friend's daughter's name. Like it, though.

Lourdes?

I'm also avoiding overtly religious names (purificacion, etc....)

I love Adela (I like her character in Bernada Alba too...Lorca fans, anyone?)

How about Paloma?

Isabel?

Yes, I think I mentioned Paloma and husband looked askance. But he was sleep deprived! Just wonder if it's too overtly Spanish (I say that as a mum of a Carmen and a bit modish? I've lost my compass a bit, must say! The reason I say Catalina is that it has so many variants, but I doubt I'd use the full name in real life

Ah, Isabel is the name my MIL wants ..... so it ain't never going to happen! Ironically I feel I ought to give my daughter MIL's name as a middle name, partly because she must've felt royally dissed after I called our first after her (hated) MIL and then my mother!

Patricia

Hahahah, that's HER name (MILs, that is!) so will be a middle name maybe. Either that, or Rita, which was her mother's.

Susana

Catalina is gorgeous and goes fine with Carmen.

Eva/Ava? I love Ines though.

I have a Spanish friend called Miriam, does that fit the bill?

Mercedes. Come on, you know you want to.

I know a lovely little Alba whose mum is Spanish. Also a Lucia.

Martha

My Spanish friends are called Maribel, Marissa and Elia -

but Mercedes is truly fab.

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.

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

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

Oh you have, you have. Its perfect!