Dolores

Meaning of Dolores

Dolores glides off the tongue like a dusky guitar chord at twilight, born from the Spanish devotional title “María de los Dolores”—Our Lady of Sorrows—and rooted in the Latin dolor, “pain.” The meaning may sound solemn on paper, yet in life the name wears resilience like a silk scarf; it reminds one of an old Italian nonna who has weathered storms but still hums a Puccini aria while stirring her espresso. In English-speaking lands it’s voiced as doh-LOR-es, while the Spanish doh-LOH-res rolls with a flamenco lilt, each version sprinkling its own spice onto the same dish. Dolores blossomed in America during the jazz-soaked 1920s and 30s, peaking just as Art Deco façades climbed the skyline, and though its ranking has slipped to the 800s today, the name now feels like a vintage dress ready for a modern twirl. Famous bearers—golden-age film star Dolores del Río, lilting rock vocalist Dolores O’Riordan, even the mischievous Dolores of Harry Potter lore—paint a portrait of artistry and grit. For parents seeking a name that sings of depth, drama, and Mediterranean warmth, Dolores offers an enduring melody with just a wink of bittersweet humor.