Girl name · Spanish
Paloma
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: a dovePaloma is a girl's name that comes from Spanish and means "a dove". It is used in Spanish.
- Meaning
- A dove
- Origin
- Spanish
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- pah-LOH-mah (Spanish)
Meaning and origin of Paloma
As a girl's name, Paloma comes from Spanish and means "a dove". It is used in Spanish.
In Spanish, say pah-LOH-mah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Paloma on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Paloma on 3 lists.
“Spanish for dove; say pah-LOH-mah”
From Gray cat names, gray cat names for females
“Spanish for dove, gentle and graceful”
From Taco Bell chihuahua name, spanish chihuahua names
“Dove; Latin. A symbol of peace. Say pah-LOH-mah”
From Spanish girl names, spanish girl names from nature and the sky
How popular is Paloma?
- US rank in 2025
- #793
- 343 babies, 213 per million girls
- Best rank
- #703 in 2010
- Most babies: 411 in 2009
- Babies since 1921
- At least 10,765
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 1 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 8 per million |
| 1980s | 41 per million |
| 1990s | 104 per million |
| 2000s | 166 per million |
| 2010s | 185 per million |
| 2020s | 179 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #946 | #892 | #904 | #915 | #940 | #883 | #957 | #972 | #969 | #793 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Paloma
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- PaolaSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
- PadmaLotus flower (Sanskrit, girl)
- PagonaPeacock (Greek, girl)
- PalesaA flower (Sotho, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Paloma
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Spanish
- RioRiver (Spanish, unisex)
- AitanaFrom a place name, a mountain range in Valencia (Spanish, girl)
- DoloresSorrows, our lady of sorrows (Spanish, girl)
- EsmeraldaEmerald (Spanish, girl)
- JadeJade gemstone (Spanish, girl)
- SierraMountain range (Spanish, girl)
- XimenaFeminine of Ximeno, a medieval Spanish name of uncertain meaning (Spanish, girl)
- AlondraLark (Spanish, girl)
- AltagraciaHigh grace (Spanish, girl)
- AmapolaPoppy (Spanish, girl)
Paloma: common questions
What does the name Paloma mean?
Paloma comes from Spanish and means "a dove".
Is Paloma a boy or girl name?
Paloma is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Paloma come from?
Paloma comes from Spanish and means "a dove". Today it is used in Spanish.
How do you pronounce Paloma?
In Spanish, say pah-LOH-mah. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Paloma?
Paloma ranked #793 in the US in 2025, with 343 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Paloma?
Names spelled like Paloma include Paola, Padma, Pagona and Palesa.
What middle names go with Paloma?
Middle names that flow well with Paloma include Eliza, Eve, Gemma, Honor and Joy. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.