Didn't Steinback call one of his characters, "Jesus Maria José" in Tortilla Flats?

In answer to your question MM, for many centuries prior to the 20th, it was very common to add Maria in boys names because of the Marian following among Spanish Catholics. To some extent the same was true in other Catholic countries. Catholics were and some still are encouraged to name their children after a saint.
If you were born on the day that also happened to be Mary's or Joseph's birthday, then Maria y Jose was added to your name if you were of opposite sex, or that became your name, in many cases the name Jose became Josefa for women. I had a classmate named Carlos Maria, when he called on the phone, I would tell my mother,(those of you with Spanish mothers know how they like to interrogate you) it's only Maria from school, and I'd be telling the truth!

This tradition has been declining since the early 20th century.

In France and Belgium it also exists. (and still!)
Jean-Marie for boys and Marie-jeanne for girls.

I like Paloma a lot. Even if you didn't know that it meant dove (or pigeon for the less-poetic), it just sounds beautiful. I also like Ainhoa though I have no idea what it means in Basque. It just sounds beautiful and feminine. Paz is also good as well. Then there is every variation of Maria and Maria-compounded and Ana, along with Carmen. But I wonder if there are any generational differences and I'm betraying the age group I deal with. For men, Juan and Juan Pablo are very popular (including my parking garage attendants), as are Jose (Pepe), and Jesus.

How about Marisa ? Marisa is really Maria Luisa...so I'm not sure how many people use Marisa instead. I love going to Spain and seeing keychains and things like that with my name on it . It's not fair...shops in the USA always have Marissa instead of Marisa.

hello everybody

theres also a bunch of spanish names in other spanish languages.
in catalan:
jordi,pau,monserrat,joan
in galego:
adega,xuana,lois
in euzkera:
inaki,ainhoa,mikel
in castellano:
maria,jose,miguel

Eduardo, Ainhoa girl with that name!


Actually, I think all men in Spain are given unique names at birth, but when they turn sixty, they seem to all unify under the name "¿Qué pasa, [censored]?"

More fun Basque names: Izazkun and Iranzu, Aitziber, Igone. Iziar means Estrella, which is nice. Kinda like that lady on The View, Iziar Jones.

Canarian Names: Girls, Guacimar, Guarmina, Aythami, Gara Boys, Ruiman, Acaimo, MENCEY!,

oops, typo, that is...Guacimara, Guayarmina...

2 weeks ago we had a Basque boy in our family for a school exchange. His name was Peio. Sounds nice.

I know WAY too many Spanish Veronicas, Vanessas, Davids, Pablos and Jose Ignacios (Nachos). I don't know if they're POPULAR names, but I know four people (with the exception of Vanessa - I know 6!) with those names.

melinda