Spanish names: two surnames, Pepe for José, and when to say don

Each child takes the first surname of each parent, so each generation drops the second surnames. Since 2000, Spanish parents may choose to put the mother’s surname first, but father’s-first is still the most common order.

Compound first names are common, and the first part decides the gender: José María (often shortened to Chema) is a man, María José (Majo) is a woman. Many women’s names come from titles of the Virgin Mary: Dolores (sorrows), Pilar (pillar), Rosario (rosary), Mercedes (mercies).

Spanish short names (hipocorísticos) are used by everyone, from family to newsreaders. Some are simple cuts; others come from old Latin abbreviations or children’s pronunciation. Tap a card to hear both.

Spain’s most common surnames are patronymics: they once meant “son of” a first name, with the ending -ez (or -az, -iz, -oz). Others describe a place, a job or a feature.

Señor, señora and señorita go with the surname; don and doña go with the first name and show respect, often for older people or a boss. Both take usted. In writing they shorten to Sr., Sra., D. and Dña.

Latin America uses two surnames too, but daily life differs: people often use only the first surname, and naming fashions travel fast.