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.

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?

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

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!

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.

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?

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.

No-one mentioned Rebecca/Rebeca yet?

Ana, Ester, Gemma

Spanish sister I was at school with

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.

Oh, how about Marisa/ Marissa?

Lara

Rosa
RosaMaria
Luisa

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?

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'

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

It's a beautiful name.

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 ...

Carolina, shortened to Caro?

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.

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

My cousin has just a had a baby girl called Alba, which is really growing on me.

Elia

RITA is fab!

I LOVE Ines - not modish, classy I think.

Would Laura be an option? You could use Spanish pronunciation but people would recognise it and be able to spell it. Or would it irritate you that people would only use the English pronunciation? x

I love Paloma and it popped into my head instantly. Maribel also seems in the same vein as Carmen to me.

What about Belén, Susana, Anabel, Lucia, Cristina, Laura, Julia, Sílvia, Lídia, Luisa, matilde, Penélope