Formal names for Lola range from traditional Dolores to modern favorites like Harlow.
Does Lola require a longer version? Not at all. It appeared as an independent given name from 1880 into the 1970s, and for most of the twenty-first century, too.
But there are good reasons parents might seek out a longer name, and unlike Katherine for Kate or Abigail for Abby, there’s not exactly an automatically associated formal name with Lola.
The Broadway musical turned 1958 hit movie Damn Yankees tells us that whatever Lola wants, Lola gets.
But what do Lola’s parents want to put on their daughter’s birth certificate?
IT’S JUST LOLA
Lola as a given name is firmly established.
Way back in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Lola routinely ranked in the Top 200, peaking at #99 in 1904. While it’s back today, it remains slightly less popular. As of 2020, Lola stood at #240.
Parents today grew up singing along to The Kinks’ famous song, but somehow Lola’s “L-O-LA, Lola” refrain sounds more playful than shocking. After all, the song was a hit way back in 1970. That’s not exactly ancient, but it’s firmly in the history books.
Something else has changed over the years, too. During the nineteenth century, Lola Montez was a dancer – Irish, but passing as Spanish – and mistress of the King of Bavaria. Through the 1950s, her story was regularly re-told in pop culture, across movies and novels. She’s less a household name today, but the image of Lola as a showgirl persisted for generations.
Ask Barry Manilow and his 1978 single Copacabana, or real-life dancer/entertainer and 1970s-era “Queen of Las Vegas” Lola Falana.
Except again, time passes. And Lola now fits in perfectly with so many names we love for our daughters: Lily and Lila and the equally musical Leyla, to list just a few of the very popular L-l names dotting the popularity charts.
No formal name is required for Lola.
FORMAL NAMES FOR LOLA
But what if parents prefer formal names for Lola?
Happily, options abound.
DOLORES
The most traditional of formal names for Lola? It’s gotta be Dolores.
Dolores comes from a title of the Virgin Mary in Spanish, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores – Our Lady of Sorrows.
That sounds bleak. But it’s also deeply spiritual, a meditation on Mary’s suffering. And there’s beauty and strength in that, too.
Plus, while Dolores might sound dated in the 2020s, it was a smash hit in the 1920s and 30s, reaching the US Top 20. Credit goes to Mexican-born megastar Dolores del Río – born María de los Dolores.
Still, the name has gone from spiritual to glam to just plain out-of-favor.
Lucky there are lots of other options for formal names for Lola
CAROLINE and CHARLOTTE
Feminine forms of Charles might work nicely.
It sounds like a stretch, but the “lo” sound is used in other languages. In Polish, for example, Karol – Charles – becomes Lolek for short.
So Caroline and Charlotte called Lola is a stretch, but only a little one.
The sparky, retro Carlotta makes the connection to the ‘lo’ sound even clearer.
CHLOE
No question that the ‘lo’ sound comes through loud and clear with Chloe.
CONSUELO
Not only is there clearly a ‘lo’ to build on, but Consuelo shares several characteristics with Dolores, It’s also from a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary – Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, or Our Lady of Consolation. And there’s a beguiling historical figure for this name, too – Gilded Age heiress Consuelo Vanderbit.
ELEANOR
More obvious choices include Ellie, Nora, and even Nell, but the letters are there for Lola, too.
ELIZABETH
This might seem like an unlikely way to get to Lola, but a handful of Elizabeths have answered to the nickname.
ELODIE
A pretty French name, Elodie could easily shorten to Lola.
ELOISE
The most obvious of the El- options to get to Lola, Eloise’s strong o sound makes it a good candidate.
FINOLA
A name straight out of Irish legend, with the requisite -ola ending.
FLORENCE
We shorten Florence to Flo, so why not drop the F and call her Lo … la?
GLORIA
Originally from another Spanish title for Mary – María de Gloria – rich and meaningful Gloria benefits from a lighter nickname option.
HARLOW
The strong ‘lo’ sound of Harlow makes Lola a match, thought it’s not any briefer than the original.
LAURA
It’s easy to imagine a young child tripping over Laura’s aur sound and calling an aunt or a little sister Lola instead.
LORELEI
With the double Ls and the Lo in the first syllable, Lorelei seems like a fit.
LORETTA
Because Lorelei and Laura make this list, it feels like Loretta belongs here, too.
LORRAINE
The French place name peaked back in 1928, but never really caught on. Lola follows naturally from Lorraine.
LOUISE and LOUISA
Evergreen classics for girls, sophisticated Louise and Louisa encourage playful, accessible nicknames. Along with Lulu and Lula, Lola is a perfect candidate.
LOURDES
Madonna put spiritual place name Lourdes on the map, along with nickname Lola. While she’s usually Lourdes Leon now, Lola’s 1996 birth helped push the baby name Lola back into the spotlight.
LOWELL and LOWERY
Surnames like Lowell and Lowery aren’t common for our daughters (or sons, come to that), but they could work – especially thanks to fresh nickname option Lola.
MAGNOLIA
Southern and dramatic, Magnolia often shortens to Nola, just a step away from Lola.
MALLORY
A surname like Lowell and Harlow, and a name with the right combination of letters waiting, too.
MARLO and MARLOWE
A favorite in the key of Harlow.
NICOLA, NICOLE and NICOLETTE
Like Caroline and Charlotte, these feminine forms of a masculine favorite all have multiple nickname options. But Nicola, Nicole, and Nicolette – along with other spins on Nicholas – might just lead to Lola, too.
PALOMA
A Spanish name meaning dove, Paloma requires no nickname, but Lola could work.
PENELOPE
Popular Penelope comes with plenty of potential nicknames, but I’d add Lola to the list, too.
PHILOMENA
A traditional but seldom-heard choice, elaborate Philomena is made more accessible by a friendly nickname.
SALOME
Cousin to shalom, Salome means peace. Sal and Sally seem like obvious short forms, and yet Lola seems like a better style fit.
SHILOH
Another -lo ender, Shiloh earns a place on this list.
SLOANE
Shortening a one-syllable name with a two-syllable nickname seems counter-intuitive. And yet, Sloanie isn’t much of a pet name, so maybe Lola works.
VIOLA
Like Nicola and Magnolia, the ending makes this a candidate.
WILLOW
A modern -lo ending name that seems like a stretch … but could work.
YOLANDA
Probably a Spanish cousin to Violet via Violante, Yolanda seems a little old-school. That makes an upbeat nickname name like Lola the perfect option.
Would you consider any of these formal names for Lola?
First published on August 24, 2012, this post was revised substantially and re-posted on July 29, 2021.
I’m a Dolores Jean and I’ve lived with the nicknames of Loris, Dorie or Dory, Dee, Dede, DJ, Doris, Dolly, and Grace, but never Lola. I was tagged with my mother’s college BFF’s name along with my mother’s middle name.
Love Lorene/Lorraine, that’s my
mn, after my gram.
My niece Mallory’s nickname is Lally, but I could easily see calling her Lola. The other day I met a teeny Lorraine, I think I prefer the full name… that’s one that should come back!
I agree, Julie – I never gave Lorraine a moment’s thought until I met one. It is a great, spunky name!
My favorite great aunt was Lola (actually the name on her birth certificate was Meddie Lola), and I have long wanted to name a little girl Louise/Louisa, nicknamed Lola. Lola from Louisa isn’t intuitive but it’s not much more of a stretch than Laura, IMO.
Katybug, I think Louisa/Lola is awesome! It’s not intuitive but it would absolutely work, especially if there was another prominent ‘L’ somewhere in her middle name! Even if she’s something like Louisa Frances, Lola works for Louisa.
Oh, I love Lorelei nickname Lola! It’s probably a little too showgirl for me to use myself, but I read a book once where the siblings were Spencer, Lola, Scarlett, and Marlene, and the perfection of those names together made me do a bit of a happy dance of joy. (For the record, I think that the oldest girl’s name was just Lola-no long form. I don’t think a full form is necessary, actually. It goes along with a lot of the other ends-in-a names that we see on girls nowadays–Bella, Ella, Isla, Anna, Tessa, Eva, Ava, Ada).
Wow I love a lot of these options! Finola, Viola, and Nicola could also work.
I would just put Lola on the birth certificate.
I’ve also heard Lola mentioned as a nickname for Penelope and Elodie.
Well, I’m clearly for Laura/Lola since it’s my name & nickname. My kid brother tripped on every ‘r’ as a tot and Laura became Lola almost as soon as he could speak and stuck.
I do love Dolores & Florence as well as Lorraine but would probably not nickname them down to Lola since that would be very confusing indeed! (If I thought L-Dr. was bad…)
But I’ve loved being Lola almost forever and can clearly see why it appeals to all sorts of folks. It’s cute, easy to spell and spunky, sexy and sweet all at once. Lola is awesome and I’m so glad it’s my nickname! 😀
Lola is cute. You could also use it as a nn for Paloma or Lorena.