The National Institute of Statistics (INE) released a few days ago the data of the most frequent names in Spain, with Antonio and María Carmen who take the cake. But the most frequent names correspond to people over thirty years old and the vast majority over fifty.
They are not exactly the names that parents choose today, nor those that are setting trends. We have analyzed in detail the statistics offered by the INE to tell you which are the new fashionable names in recent years , the ones that have been stepping up and opening a gap in the ranking of the names most chosen by parents of five years to this part.
Boy’s trendy names
- Leo : It is by far the most popular boy’s name that has tripled in frequency in the last five years. In 2013 there were five thousand children with this name, and as of January 1, 2019 it was carried by 19,294 children with an average age of 4.7 years . In 2018 (the last year for which there is official data) it sneaked into the top 10, ranking eighth for the most frequent boy names. It derives from Latin and is a variant of Leon, it symbolizes the fierceness of this animal and also power and justice.
-
Izan – Another name that has gained popularity in recent years. It is carried by 27,531 children, with an average age of 7.6 years. It is the graphic adaptation to the English pronunciation of the biblical name, Ethan. This comes from the Hebrew “Êthän”, which means “perpetual, constant, permanent.” Of recent use, a Basque or Basque etymology has also been attributed (Izan means “to be”).
-
Enzo : It was a name that was barely known five years ago and has gained great popularity. In 2019, 11,588 children bore this name, with an average age of 4.6 years. It is an Italian name, which means “the lord of his home or his country”.
-
Adam : It is also among the most chosen by parents for their children. Currently 17,794 are wearing it with an average age of 9.2 years. Of Hebrew origin, it is the English version of Adam.
-
Biel : 9,697 children bear this name with an average age of 8.3 years. It is a name of Hebrew origin, and means “servant of God”, “man of God” or “strength of the lord”.
-
Nil : 9,307 children bear this name with an average age of 10.3 years. It is the Catalan form of Nile , a name of Greek origin ‘Neilos’ and which derived in Latin to ‘Nilus’ in reference to the name of the great African river.
-
Oliver – His popularity has increased by 60 percent in the last five years. 14,466 children in Spain currently bear this name. It is also a widely used name in English-speaking countries, being the most popular boy’s name among the English since 2013.
-
Erik and Eric . According to the latest data, 13,808 children carry it, with an average age of 11 years. It derives from the name Eiríkr, which comes from the first generation Old Norse. Its meaning is “sole ruler”.
-
Dylan : five years ago it was hardly heard and has been climbing positions in the rankings quickly. Last year it was in the 31st position of most popular names, and today there are 6,719 children with that name and an average age of 4.6 years.
-
Thiago : like the previous one, it is a new name that is among the most popular. In 2017 it was ranked 37, but it will surely climb since the average age of the more than 5,000 children who bear this name is 4.7 years.
-
Gael : one of the new names that has climbed ten positions in 2017. There are 6,552 with this name with an average age of 5.3 years. It is of Breton origin, and means “generosity, generous gentleman”.
-
Luca : climbed 17 places in the last year, as an Italian variant of Lucas, the most popular name for boys in Spain. More than seven thousand children bear this name in Spain with an average age of 12.7 years.
-
Rayan : one of the new names, since the average age of the 6,875 children who carry it is 5.6 years. It means “beautiful” in Arabic.
-
Ian : From 67th place in 2016, it has climbed to 54th in 2017. There are 9,344 children with this name with an average age of 10.7 years. It is of Scottish origin, and means “compassion of Yahweh”.
-
Teo : short names come stomping. This, in fact, among the super-short three-letter names favored by recent parents, as the average age of children with this name is 6.5 years. It is the short form of Theodore, which means “gift of God.”
-
Liam : from position 104 it has climbed to 78 in 2017. There are 2,471 children with this name with an average age of 5.9 years. It comes from Irish and means “firm protection”.
Fashionable girl names
-
Vera : Its popularity has increased more than one hundred percent in the last five years. There are 12,316 girls with this name and an average age of 10 years. From the Latin “verus”, which means “true”.
-
Vega : the average age of the people who wear it indicates that it is a name that has been a trend in recent years. More than twelve thousand girls with an average age of 6 years wear it. Of Christian religious origin, due to the Marian invocation of the Virgen de la Vega, venerated in many places in Spain.
-
Alma : The number of girls with this name is 11,645 with an average of 7.1 years, which indicates that it is one of the “newest” names on the list of the most popular. It is of Latin origin, it means “Kind”, “Gentle”, “All spirituality”. Pasión Vega or Alejandro Sanz chose this name for their girls.
-
April : in 2013 we could find it in position 60, in 2017 it had climbed to position 37, and in 2018 to 35. Currently there are 11,531 girls with this name and an average age of 7.5 years. It is of Latin origin, and comes from “aprilis” name of the month of April.
-
Chloe : climbing positions in recent years in all its variants: Khloe, Cloe, Kloe. There are 7,406 girls with this name and an average age of 4.3 years as of January 1, 2019, indicating that it is a “new” name. It is of Greek origin, and means “grass” or “green shoots”.
-
Lola : At number 27 in 2017 and 21 in 2018, there are 18,105 girls who bear this name with an average age of 9.2 years. If decades ago Dolores was one of the most popular names, today it is its diminutive. It refers to the virgin’s pain when her son was crucified.
-
Noa : in the 14th position in 2018 and with the possibility of sneaking into the top 10 in the coming years. More than 31,000 girls are called that and have an average age of 7.1 years. A “new” name that has been going strong. Of Hebrew origin, it means “delight”.
-
Mía : The average age (4.4 years) gives us a clue that it is a name that has been setting a trend in recent years. 6,330 girls are called that. It is of Hebrew origin, short for Maria.
-
Triana : in position 36 in 2018 is one of the names that parents choose the most in recent years. The average age of the 7,831 girls who wear it is 5.9 years old. It comes from the Arabic, where it is written Atrayana. Its meaning is ‘beyond the river’ and it is also a well-known neighborhood in Seville.
-
Zoe : 7,225 girls bear this name in Spain and the average age is 7.9 years. It is undoubtedly one of the most chosen short names for girls, climbing positions in recent years. Of Greek origin, it means “to give life”.
-
Ona : Follow the preference for short names. It is in position 67, and is carried by 5,927 girls with an average age of 8.3 years.
-
Laia : more than 35,000 girls with an average age of 15.9 years bear this name, which is in the 24th position, climbing positions in the last five years. It is the diminutive in Catalan for Eulalia, a name of Greek origin that means “to speak well”.
-
Lara : It is ranked 25 of the most frequent names for girls in 2018 (we will soon know the data for the year 2019). A name that has become very popular thanks to the host of the reality show “Survivors” and that has more than 23 thousand girls in Spain.
-
Nahia : 6,936 girls wear it with an average age of 9.5 years. Also Naia (without “h”). It is a modern name that could be derived from the Greek root “flow”, like Nais or “naiad”, Greek nymphs of streams and freshwater springs.
-
Cataleya – is among the most popular new names among girls with an average age of 2.1 years. It is carried by 311 girls in Spain, and due to its beautiful sound, it will surely continue to climb.
-
India : almost two thousand girls with an average age of 4.3 years bear that beautiful name that derives from the Sanskrit “indus”, which means river.
-
Moana : finally, a nod to the successful Disney movie with the name of its protagonist, who in other countries is known as Moana. In the last year in Spain, 32 girls were born who have been called Vaiana, a name inspired by the sea. It is a Tahitian name that means “cave water”.
More baby names
- Boy names that are trending in 2020
- Girl names that are trending in 2020
- 5,200 baby names from A to Z
- Welcome baby !: 173 French names for your baby
- 33 short and original boy names
- 33 short and original girl names
- 79 modern and original boy names
- 79 modern and original girl names
- 185 Japanese girl and boy names for your baby (and their meaning)
- 141 German girl and boy names for your baby
- 51 Italian names for your baby that will make you fall in love
- 25 animal names you can give your baby
Foto | Sally Wynn en Pixabay, Stephanie Pratt en Pixabay
