Dolores

“Sorrows” or “pains”, referring to Our Lady of Sorrows.

Dolores is a Spanish feminine name meaning “sorrows” or “pains”, drawn from the Catholic title Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, “Our Lady of Sorrows”. The title honours Mary in her suffering, especially in connection with the death of Jesus. The longer form María de los Dolores makes that devotional connection explicit. In Spanish, the emphasis falls on the middle of the three syllables: do-LO-res. The repeated o sounds and the light movement from l to r give the full name a flowing, rather elegant rhythm. Lola is an established affectionate form of Dolores; beside the more measured full name, it feels compact and lively.

Etymology: From Spanish dolores, the plural of dolor (“pain, sorrow”), in the Marian name María de los Dolores. The Spanish word comes from Latin dolor.