Alright, we’re in a bit of a pickle. I have fallen in love with the name [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] Mädchen (I’m a huge Twin Peaks fan, if you are wondering where Mädchen came from!) but my question is about [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f]. I know it’s a traditionally Spanish name and while people use [name_m]French[/name_m], Spanish, or whatever names all the time I have had several family members tell me that [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] is simply too associated with the Spanish culture to be used by someone who isn’t Spanish. Now, I don’t believe this but as I’m sure many of you can relate to I now can’t get the thought out of my head and I wanted to get the opinions of unbiased strangers. Also, my intention isn’t to offend anyone with this question! Thank you!
There is a camp near me (in [name_f]Canada[/name_f]) called [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f], so I have never really associated it with being Spanish. I think it is really pretty!
Absolutely not! I think [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] is positively gorgeous in a family of any culture.
I would be a little confused if I met a little girl named [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] who is clearly not of Spanish heritage, however there’s no real way to tell someone’s heritage anyway so I say go for it. I don’t think it’s offensive and it’s a nice name. I do think the combo comes off a little odd since the two names are so different in style and culture.
If I saw the name on paper…I’d assume [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] was Hispanic. But who cares? Not every [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] is Italian. I think [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] is a beautiful name…if you love it, use it.
I do think [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] is pretty but I was assume the wearer was Hispanic. If this doesn’t bother you then use it!
It is definitely a Hispanic/Spanish name, but I think it’s usable. It doesn’t have a special religious/cultural meaning, as far as I’m aware, but you could check for that.
I think your family will turn around very quickly once they meet their little [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f].
I’d assume she’s hispanic, but once I find out she isn’t, I won’t care anyway. It’s a lovely name. 
Personally, I think it’s a beautiful name. What I would ask is, does it flow with your last name? For example, if it’s [name_m]Smith[/name_m] for instance then it might not be the best. But it’s up to you to decide.
I always struggle with questions like these! [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] strikes me as particularly Spanish because it’s vocabulary word (as opposed to a name only, like [name_f]Daniela[/name_f] or [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]). Esperanzar means both “to hope” and “to wait” and [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f] is the noun form (a hope or an expectation).
I would certainly be surprised to meet a non-hispanic [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f], especially if her parents don’t speak Spanish. That said, I’m not sure it’s really wrong to name her [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f], just a bit odd. It may be confusing for Spanish speakers and I’m sure she’d often have to explain how she got that name. I don’t think it would be offensive, just maybe a bit weird.
So I guess I’m on the fence. I do love the name [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f], though!
It’s a lovely name. I’d expect [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f]'s parents were Latino, otherwise Spanish-speaking, or just plain international types. With middle name Madchen, I’d lean towards international types – either big travelers, people who lived abroad, or had family throughout the world.
I speak Spanish and can’t think of anything about a non-Spanish-speaking person using it that would be offensive. I’ve certainly met people with typical American/English names in non-Anglophone countries, too. It’s a word/virtue name with nothing limiting it to any one religion or worldview - I’m Catholic, the most common religion in Spanish-speaking countries, and there wouldn’t be anything weird about either a Catholic or non-Catholic using it. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] is for everybody!