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Spanish Baby Names for Boys

by Debbie Bookstaber (Subscribe to Debbie Bookstaber's posts)
Aug 28th 2010 9:00AM

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Filed under: Babies, Baby Names

The name Cruz is gaining in popularity thanks, in part, to Cruz Beckham. Credit: Merino Lins Sasha Fab/X17online


Spanish is a Romance language, so it's only natural that Spanish baby names sound beautiful and melodic to American ears. Names including Xavier, Sebastian, Cruz and Joaquin are now popular boy baby names among Hispanic and non-Hispanic parents alike.

And, with nearly 16 percent of the U.S. population being of Hispanic origin, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more and more parents are looking to honor their heritage, often by picking Spanish baby names.

Some parents looking for unique Spanish baby names may want to pick something that is popular outside of the United States. For example, Santiago is one of the 10 most popular names in Mexico, but only ranks 130th in the United States. Cruz is also poised to become a trendy Spanish baby name. The name currently is ranked 346th in the United States, but it has almost doubled in popularity since 1990. Much of the name's popularity can be attributed to David and Victoria Beckham, who named one of their sons Cruz in 2005.
But for those who prefer more common names, here are the most popular Spanish baby names for boys in 2009, according to the Social Security Administration.

  • Angel is the most popular Spanish boy name in America, ranking 37th on the Social Security Administration list. Angel is even more popular as a middle name. In fact, Miguel Angel and Luis Angel both rank among the top 10 Mexican baby names for boys.
  • Jose means "God will increase." The Spanish form of Joseph, Jose is a top choice for parents looking for a Spanish boy name with a Biblical origin.
  • Juan, the Spanish form of John, means "God is gracious." This Spanish baby name has been popular in the United States for decades. It's a great choice for parents looking for a Biblical name that's easy to pronounce and spell.
  • Xavier means "bright, brilliant" and is a popular Spanish baby name throughout the world. Javier is a common variant of the name. While this name was common in Roman Catholic countries for centuries due to St. Francis Xavier, it has grown in popularity in the United States due to Dr. Xavier from the "X-Men" comic books and movies. Xavier ranked 186th on the Social Security Administration List in 1990, and is now ranked 68th.
  • Diego is the Spanish form of James and Jacob. This Spanish baby name has doubled in popularity since 2000, when it ranked 147th in the United States. Not coincidentally, Dora the Explorer and her friend Diego arrived on U.S. TV in 2000.
  • Jesus is one of the most consistently popular Spanish baby names. It has been on the top 100 U.S. baby names list for more than 20 years, and it is still one of the top 10 Mexican baby names.
  • Carlos is the Spanish form of Charles. This Spanish boy name has enduring popularity, as, along with Jesus, it has been on the top 100 U.S. baby names list for more than 20 years and is one of the most common baby names in Mexico.
  • Miguel is the Spanish form of the name Michael. Miguel is one of the most popular Mexican boy names, and this Spanish baby name has ranked among the top 100 U.S. baby names since 1990.
  • Antonio is a variant of the name Anthony and means "priceless." This Spanish baby name is also commonly used by Italian and Portuguese speakers. While Antonio has fallen from its peak in 1997 when it was the 75th most popular U.S. baby name, it still ranks at a respectable number 105.
  • Alejandro, one of the top Mexican baby names, is expected to grow in popularity in the United States due to the success of the Lady GaGa song of the same name. Alejandro is a variant of the name Alexander and means "defender of men."

Tags: baby boy names, baby names, mexican baby names, parent-dish, popular spanish names, spanish baby names, spanish boy names, unique spanish names

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