I have fallen in love with the name [name]Consuelo[/name], which means “consolation, solace” in Spanish and is related to the [name]Marian[/name] title Our Lady of Consolation. I love the meaning, love the Catholic connection, love the sound (that O at the end! so rare for a girl’s name!), and love it with our surname ([name]Winter[/name]).
But… neither husband nor self have any Spanish-speaking heritage. Is this a problem? What do you think about “[name]Consuelo[/name]” on a little Anglo-American? [name]Will[/name] little [name]Consuelo[/name] [name]Winter[/name] feel her name to be a burden all her life long??
Well, the most famous [name]Consuelo[/name] was [name]Consuelo[/name] Vanderbilt who went on to become the Duchess of Marlborough and she wasn’t Spanish either! I’ve always thought the exotic [name]Consuelo[/name] looked quite stunning with an English surname. The “w” sound in [name]Consuelo[/name] affects the flow a bit with [name]Winter[/name] but I don’t think it’s a deal breaker! On paper, [name]Consuelo[/name] [name]Winter[/name] looks very pretty and warms up your surname quite nicely.
I really like it! It’s nice to see people embracing other cultures! I have a friend with a niece named [name]Sakura[/name] whose a little blonde haired, blue eyed little girl and I don’t see it as any different than that! I don’t know if you’re in [name]America[/name], but I don’t think “having the heritage” really matters here anymore. [name]America[/name] is one big melting pot.
Sorry but I disagree with the other posters, I think she would have problems. I live in a predominantly Hispanic community and have a lot of friends of Mexican descent, I cant imagine a white girl not being hassled by other kids (both white and hispanic) for having this name.
Plus, I’ve always felt like [name]Consuelo[/name] or [name]Consuela[/name] is a “go to” name for unfair stereotypical hispanic characters on TV shows (like the maid/crime victim/etc), I would worry that other people had the same association. [name]Paloma[/name] and [name]Alejandra[/name] I think would work but [name]Consuelo[/name] or [name]Petra[/name], not so much…
It does seem a step pretty far. I mean, [name]Dolores[/name] became a #1 name among anglos too for a while, and [name]Isabel[/name] is a variant spelling that’s very rooted in Spanish that is very popular. It wouldn’t bother me, and I’m sure there are plenty of people who would feel that way, but I can imagine the potential for some insensitive reactions. All in all, nothing to rule it out, I’d say, but I’d be cautious…middle name?
It’s a stretch btw but I can imagine [name]Consuelo[/name] nn [name]Cleo[/name], which I think is very cute.
I’ve always thought the exotic [name]Consuelo[/name] looked quite stunning with an English surname. The “w” sound in [name]Consuelo[/name] affects the flow a bit with [name]Winter[/name] but I don’t think it’s a deal breaker! On paper, [name]Consuelo[/name] [name]Winter[/name] looks very pretty and warms up your surname quite nicely.