She’s spiritual, literary – even architectural.
Thanks to Arthur for suggesting Pilar as Name of the Day.
You might name your son Arch or Gable. But Pillar probably wouldn’t make the cut for either gender. A pillar is a vertical support structure, often of stone or brick. Pillars can stand alone – as in a monument – or be part of a building’s support structure. Pilar is simply the Spanish translation of pillar.
Except that it means so much more. Back in the first century, legend has it that the apostle James was trolling for converts in Zaragoza. His efforts were falling short. In the midst of his despair, James was visited by Mary. His vision showed her atop a pillar held aloft by angels and so she became known as Nuestra Señora del Pilar or María del Pilar – Mary of the Pilar.
James went back to winning souls, this time with better results. He later built a chapel on the site of her apparition before meeting his death by martyrdom. Visit Zaragoza today and you’ll find the seventeenth century Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. It’s much grander than the original structure, but more notably, it is believed to be the first church ever consecrated to Mary.
Other churches – and places – bear the name throughout Latin America. Pilar has caught on as a girls’ name, mostly amongst speakers of Spanish and Portuguese and often as a compound name.
She picks up her literary edge from none other than Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway penned For Whom the Bell Tolls back in 1940. It’s the story of Robert Jordan, an American charged with blowing up a bridge during the Spanish Civil War. Pilar is the strong-willed, capable wife of guerilla leader, Pablo.
Pilar was also Hemingway’s nickname for his second wife, Pauline, and the name he chose for his boat.
When the book was adapted for the big screen in 1943, Greek actress Katina Paxinou won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Pilar – lending a patina of Hollywood sophistication to the name.
All of this combines to make Pilar a surprisingly accessible choice. Pilar is frills-free but still decidedly feminine. She’s a subtle spiritual choice, and her literary association is fairly well-known. If Atticus is fair game for boys, why not Pilar for girls?
The only hurdle faced by parents choosing Pilar is pronunciation. In Spanish, she sounds something like pee LAHR. American English would probably deliver something closer to peh LAHR – pretty, but not necessarily intuitive. Odds are that your daughter would hear her name rhymed with Miller more than once.
And yet it might just be worth the risk.
I like it, but wouldn’t use it. It doesn’t exactly go well with our whitey-white family. It would seem very out of place, no matter how pretty a sound it has. I really do like it.
I’d like to suggest another Hispanic name, Belén. I’ve always liked that one, too.
Ooh, did you see The Orphanage? Laura was played by Belen … agh, what’s her last name? I’ll look it up before 1/12 – Belen will be NotD.
No, I have no idea what you’re talking about! LOL I went to college (UMCP!) with a Belén. I think it means Bethlehem?
It does, but I’m guessing that, as with all things Biblical, there’s more there. And The Orphanage was a super creepy horror film that also managed to break my heart. If you’re anything like me while pregnant, it is one to avoid – I bawled AND had nightmares. But, naturally, I remembered the leading lady’s name.
Go Terps!
I avoid creepy movies when Erik’s out of town for obvious reasons. Maybe I’ll check it out after the new year…or after the baby. Now I’m wondering why being pregnant would make it worse. Oh-oh, curiosity has reared its head!
I know that when I was pregnant I couldn’t read/watch anything depressing — especially if it involved babies.
i think this is an interesting name. I like the sound. Its defiantly individualist. I think people would straight away think of the architectural link though, and therfore condemn it. I think I could use it though
I’ve loved this name since seeing it in a Spanish text book back in 8th grade or so. For better or worse, I happened to have married a Mexican with some strong feelings about a lot of what I thought were beautiful Hispanic names… c’est la vie…
Needless to say, I haven’t been able to use Pilar.
I love Pilar
I have no idea why, I just do. Ever since I first heard of her…
There’s a Pilar on the tv show ‘Eureka!’… She’s friends with Zoe and not very Hispanic
Pilar is a name I’ve really liked ever since I first came across it in an Agatha Christie novel as a preteen. My husband and I would never use it — it would seem odd on our German/British/Metis offspring — but I’d love to meet a Pilar someday.
I have always liked Pilar. She is strong and has a masculine edge yet is a legitimate feminine name. I wouldn’t use it myself, but have always found it pretty spiffy on other people, the nickname Pili is adorable to boot.
My name is Pilar. My Mother named me after her Aunt from Mexico. I am of mixed race desent. My father is African-American and my Mom is Spanish and Caucasian. I love my name and it futs me.
I will say this…people have butchered my name to the fullest!! As a kid they would call me “Pillar” and most people prounounce my name “Pa-Lar”. I pronounce it..”Pee-Lahr” and will correct everyone..unless your a friend or relative. When I was a kid..I wanted a common name..but as an adult I have embraced my name and all of the uniqueness of it.