I've said it before and I will say it many times more: Choosing a baby's name is an awesome responsibility and not one to be taken lightly. I suggest that you figure out what is important to you, take your time and go with your gut. For example, I know that for many Latinos choosing a bilingual baby name is hugely important. The task is daunting, but fortunately there are lots of great options.
More from MamásLatinas: Beautiful baby names inspired by Spanish words
Many will tell you a name is not truly bilingual if the pronunciation varies from English to Spanish or vice versa. I disagree. To me, a bilingual name is bilingual if it works and sounds good in both languages. Why? Well, to begin with there are few names that are going to sound exactly the same way in both languages and also having grown up as a bicultural child, I know firsthand the beauty of hearing your name pronounced in two languages.
Keep scrolling for great bilingual names for both boys and girls and go ahead and say them out loud in Spanish and English so you get a sense of how well they work in ambos languages.
Pablo means small.
It's sweet that Pablo means small because to parents our children will always be our children, no matter how big they get. Also, Pablo is a beautiful name that need not be changed to Paul when said in English. It's not like it's hard to pronounce or anything.
Cielo means sky.
It's such a nice sounding name, sort of soothing to both say and hear. Sky is a lovely name as well, but names that start with an S are not always easy for Spanish speakers to pronounce.
Ana means full of grace.
Ana is a classic name that will never go out of style and rolls easily off the tongue in both English and Spanish. It is derived from the Hebrew name Channach. You could also spell it as Anna.
Andrea means manly.
I particularly like the way Andrea sounds when pronounced in Spanish, but if someone were to say it with an English pronunciation, it sounds great, too. It's dervived from the Greek name Andreas, which means manly.
Bianca means white or fair.
Bianca is an awesome name because it really does sound exactly the same in English and Spanish. It's basically the Italian form of Blanca, which is a lovely name, too. If Blanca appeals to you more than Bianca, go for it.
Eva means life.
Eva is another classic name that will never go out of style because of its simplicity and beauty. It's derived from the Hebrew word hawwah, which means life. You could also go with Eve, but Eva flows more easily in Spanish.
Isabela means God is my oath.
What a gorgeous name, no? Did you know that Isabela is the Spanish version of Elizabeth? Also, you know how people like to shorten names or come up with nicknames? Well, Isabela lends itself to cute shortened versions like Isa or Bela.
Liliana means lily like the flower.
Liliana is a good and familiar name, which somehow isn't all that common. It's like a combination of Lily and Ana. Come to think of it, Lily is a great name too if you want to opt for a something shorter than Liliana.
Maria has various meanings.
I just couldn't stay away from this name. Maria works in both languages so well! As for what it means, well, depends on whom you ask. Some say it means "sea of bitterness" or "sea of sorrow." Others say it means "rebellion" or "wished-for-child." You may also recognize the name from the Bible.
Olivia was derived from olive, as in olive tree.
This name is wonderful. Olive is a great name for a girl with a bilingual family. Think about it … Olivia, no llores … Olivia, don't cry … See, it works! Plus I might be a big fan of Olivia Pope from the show Scandal.
Paloma means dove.
Paloma means dove and doves are a symbol of peace. The meaning and symbolism behind the name are lovely. Plus, saying Paloma feels like you are uttering a mini poem every time you say it.
Sofía means wisdom.
This name is a huge favorite and frequently tops the most popular babies' names lists. You could also spell it Sophia, but Sofía works better for bilingual babies. Either way, it's a gorgeous name.
Abraham means father of many.
I love this name, it's got some substance to it in both languages. Abraham is a good name for those who want something with a biblical reference. It means either father or many or father of nations.
Aldo means old or noble.
The name Aldo is of Italian origin. Say it and it sounds like you are praising someone. Aldo! A feminine version of the name is Aldona.
Carlos means free man or full-grown man.
Carlos is one of those names I always love. It's classic without being tiresome. The English version of it is Charles, which you probably already knew.
David means beloved.
This name I can't actually decide on whether I like it better pronounced in English or Spanish because it sounds wonderful in both. The vowel sounds change depending on whether it's being said in English or Spanish. It's also a Biblical name, if that's something that appeals to you.
Diego means the supplanter.
Diego is a great name for a boy and sounds pretty much identical in both languages. Some sources say that it is a shortened version of the name Santiago. Others say it is the Spanish version of the name James.
Francisco means free.
Full disclosure: I love the name Francisco for various reasons, including that it is my brother's name and that I live in the beautiful city of San Francisco. The name is of Spanish origin and does on occasion cause English speakers some difficulty, but honestly, it's not that hard to say.
Gabriel means God is my strength.
It's kind of an epic name. It has a whole biblical aspect to it. The archangel Gabriel is the herald of good news. It's a solid name even without that angel association.
Mateo means gift of God.
Oh my gosh, I am adoring all of these bilingual boys' names. Mateo is a winner! It's derived from the Hebrew name Matityah, which means gift of God. The English version would be Matthew.
Sebastian means venerable.
This is what my mom was going to name me if I was a boy, but I'm not. Still, Sebastian is a good name. It means venerable, which is just another way of describing someone who is worthy of great respect.
Sergio means servant.
Sergio is one of those names that will be pronounced differently depending on whether it's said in English or Spanish. The g is harder in English that it is in Spanish. Regardless, it sounds good either way. If you prefer the pronunciation in Spanish, it's easy to ask people to say it that way.
