From Eutiquia to Hodei: the strange evolution of names in Spain
From Eutiquia (1925) to Hodei (2024): Spanish names have always been odd. A look at naming trends that shows the unusual is eternal.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
From Eutiquia to Hodei: the strange evolution of names in Spain
Are today's names more absurd than our grandparents'? Scratch the surface and you'll find that oddity comes in cycles. A century ago, Doña Eutiquia and her brothers Ezequiel, Juventino or Marciano were as normal as Izan, Enzo or the Basque names Hodei (cloud), Ibai (river) or Zigor (punishment) are today. The recurring debate about how "abnormal" Spain's naming landscape is says more about generational perception than genuine novelty.
Civil Registry data shows waves: in the nineties Jonathan and Kevin triumphed; now Enzo and Izan dominate. And while an outsider is scandalized by Usnaby (after the US Navy) or Robelkis in Cuba, here we've spent decades turning appellations into identity. The ultimate case: a man named Pilar, which purists say is more correct in the masculine than the feminine, since the Virgin is of Pilar, she isn't called Pilar.
The sarracena is blunt: every generation believes it is the last frontier of ridicule. What doesn't change is the capacity to be surprised. Meanwhile, in the Basque Country parents name their children Iraultza (revolution) without blinking. Normal — it's the country we're talking about.
Are today's names more absurd than our grandparents'? Scratch the surface and you'll find that oddity comes in cycles. A century ago, Doña Eutiquia and her brothers Ezequiel, Juventino or Marciano were as normal as Izan, Enzo or the Basque names Hodei (cloud), Ibai (river) or Zigor (punishment) are today. The recurring debate about how "abnormal" Spain's naming landscape is says more about generational perception than genuine novelty.
Civil Registry data shows waves: in the nineties Jonathan and Kevin triumphed; now Enzo and Izan dominate. And while an outsider is scandalized by Usnaby (after the US Navy) or Robelkis in Cuba, here we've spent decades turning appellations into identity. The ultimate case: a man named Pilar, which purists say is more correct in the masculine than the feminine, since the Virgin is of Pilar, she isn't called Pilar.
The sarracena is blunt: every generation believes it is the last frontier of ridicule. What doesn't change is the capacity to be surprised. Meanwhile, in the Basque Country parents name their children Iraultza (revolution) without blinking. Normal — it's the country we're talking about.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (51 replies).
More summaries
-
Spain's baby names reveal a sharp class divide
Baby name choices in Spain highlight social stratification: Enzo and Izan versus Rodrigo and Santiago. Is this a passing trend or cultural shift?
-
Coronavirus doubles in Euskadi after summer of 2026
COVID-19 infections in Euskadi double after summer: pharmacies detect increased sales of tests and masks, although circulation remains low.
-
The Popular French Baby Names by Decade
The most popular male names in France have changed drastically over 80 years. Discover the trends from the 40s to today.
-
José Mota stops hair treatment due to side effects
José Mota quits hair loss medication due to side effects: 'I prefer to have a receding hairline and thinning hair'
-
A Spaniard Now Runs NASA's Moon Base Project — and Hardly Anyone Is Talking About It
Spaniard Carlos García-Galán will lead NASA's lunar base project. The $10 billion-per-phase plan is met with skepticism. Will it ever be built?
-
Only 4 in 10 Basque income support recipients in Spain are Spanish nationals
A Vox request has revealed that only 40% of recipients of the Basque RGI income guarantee are Spanish. Lanbide hid the figure for four years to avoid stigmatizing groups.