Paloma combines a lovely meaning with a Spanish – and artistic – heritage, while still working beautifully in English.
Thanks to Joanna for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
The Noble Rock Dove
I’ve long thought that pigeons need better PR. Those urban dwelling survivors, often dismissed as rats with wings, are also known as rock doves. Rock Dove – that’s a whole other vibe, much classier, don’t you think?
Because if you’re going to be technical about things, Paloma comes from the Latin palumba – wood pigeon. But if you’re naming a child, you’re likely to prefer the bird’s other identity – dove, same bird, but from the Old Norse.
Peace and Faith
The bird isn’t just a bird, at least not when it is a dove. White doves symbolize peace. The dove is also a Christian symbol of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, Noah released a dove; when it returned carrying an olive branch, he knew there was land – somewhere. Other religious traditions attach importance to pigeons, too. It is quite a bit of weight for a small bird.
Then there’s the folk song, “La Paloma.” Sebastian Yradier penned the song in the 1860s. I suspect this is the bridge between the bird and the name. The ballad is clearly about the dove, but the lyrics are all about romance. It’s been much translated and performed in many languages.
Picasso
Maybe that was part of Pablo Picasso’s inspiration when he named his youngest child Anne Paloma in 1949. She was born in April; that same month, the World Peace Congress adopted Picasso’s image of a dove, La Colombe, as their symbol. It was no mere coincidence, either. A year later, Picasso addressed the conference, noting that his father – also a painter and professor of art – had taught him to draw doves. His works are famous for their anti-war themes, like his staggering accomplishment Guernica.
I assume the name Anne was required by French authorities, or perhaps the church – to the best of my knowledge, she was always called Paloma. Even without the backstory to her name, she was the subject of several of dad’s paintings, lending Paloma some real artistic style. Plus the youngest Picasso is no slouch herself. She’s designed jewelry, including a collection for Tiffany & Co., and perfume, among other ventures.
Paloma also has that oh-so-current o sound – a logical way to get to Lola. Actress Ana Ortiz has a toddler called Paloma Louise, and she’s not alone. Paloma first cracked the US Top 1000 in 1993. By 2010 she’d reached #698. That’s not exactly Isabella, but it probably appeals to many parents seeking a cultural-spanning feminine name that sounds pretty without being in any way lightweight. But in recent years, the name has slipped to just #912 – which could signal an opportunity.
With ties to nature and the arts, her meaningful associations, and her cultural-spanning sound, it is hard to find a name as appealing as Paloma.
My husband’s name is Malcolm, and I think the “dove” connection would be so lovely. He’s unconvinced this is a plausible choice for our daughter, so I am sending him your post (internet affirmation goes far with him!) What do you think of Plum as a nickname?
Oh, I very much like Plum for Paloma! The sounds are there … but then, I’m fine with stretching things. Let me ask on FB, too.
Nothing but Paloma love here. I adore this name. It has all the things I love about Pamela but you can’t shorten it to Pam (which for some reason is a nickname I don’t like).
I liked this name even more after meeting a woman at a party with this name. She was lovely and gracious and a bit artistic. I hope I hear it more in the future. My husband doesn’t like it because he’s biased against all names that sound “strange” to him, so sadly it won’t be one that we use . . .
I love Paloma. There’s a really lovely song called Paloma by Carbon Leaf, too.
I think Paloma is a lovely name with a great meaning and nicknames, but I don’t exactly have the heritage so it’d be middle name rather than a first. Oh! I just remembered, I know a little Paloma with a twin called Clio. 🙂
Paloma and Clio? Oh, how fantastic! Though my favorite Clio twinset is still Jane Roper’s Elsa and Clio. If Clio had a twin sister, she would’ve been Romy.
Paloma is a lovely, gentle, graceful name, and one I would have loved to use. Unfortunately, I imagine Paloma as having glossy dark hair, and although my partner is Latin, he is blonde and so am I. I fell in love with Paloma when I watched Pedro Almod
The first time I ever heard this name was on an episode of “Seinfeld,” when Elaine takes Uncle Leo to see a doctor and when he asks who she is, she makes up the story that she’s a nurse named…Paloma. The way she said it in the show made me think it was strange and kind of a “made-up” name, but it’s gradually started to grow on me.
I didn’t like it at first but I think it’s growing on me. Do you think Polly would be a cute nickname for Paloma or would the bird thing just be too much then?
I think Polly works well for Paloma. Lolly, too – though Lolly strikes me as more of a nursery name, and less of a name you’d use into the teenage years.
The first time I heard the name was Emilio Estevez’s daughter.
Paloma is a lovely. I have a “thing” for all of the dove names: Paloma, Columba, Jonah, Jemima and Dove. I just adore the subtly of the symbol of a dove, it’s religious, but it’s not in your face.
It’s funny how doves get all the love and pigeons are so reviled.
EMILIO ESTEVEZ HAS KIDS?! Paloma Rae is great.
Paloma, as many have already said, is a delightfully pretty name – I just struggle to say it (or maybe that’s just because a cold has ravaged my throat?), which means I’m unlikely to use it. The name also reminds me of the slang word pal, which means friend, or palling around, which means hanging loose with one’s homies.
Paloma’s lovely, and I think the nickname Loma might appeal to lovers of Willa, Nola, Ella, Luna etc …