Paloma
Paloma was the 793rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 343 babies. Its best year was 2010, when it ranked 703rd; the most babies were born in 2009 (411). Over the last ten years it has moved up 110 places. More babies were named Paloma in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning dove (Spanish) · Spanish, Latin
Say it puh-LOH-muh /pəˈloʊmə/
- Rank in 2025
- #793 girls, up 147 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 343girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2009411 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,765babies recorded
What does the name Paloma mean?
Paloma is the Spanish word for 'dove', from Latin palumba (palumbes) 'wood pigeon'. The dove is a Christian symbol of the Holy Spirit and of peace, which helped its use as a given name in Spain, and La Virgen de la Paloma is a Marian devotion in Madrid. Paloma Picasso, the designer and daughter of Pablo Picasso, is a well-known bearer.
paloma (Spanish, “dove”)palumba (Latin, “wood pigeon”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Palomita, Colombe.
See also: Spanish names, names that mean an animal.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Paloma', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'paloma' (Spanish section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (our computation), SSA (public domain)
Paloma popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #793 | 343 |
| 2020 | #940 | 274 |
| 2010 | #703 | 407 |
| 2000 | #898 | 245 |
| 1990 | #1,221 | 138 |
| 1980 | #2,925 | 31 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Paloma, counting every spelling?
Paloma has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #796 for girls in 2025, against #793 on the official list, because Kaylin/Kaylynn/Kailyn and Jayleen/Jaylene/Jaelynn and Carly/Karlee/Carlee move ahead once their spellings are combined.
How many kids will share the name Paloma?
343 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Paloma (0.10 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Paloma born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 24 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Paloma.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Paloma?
About 10,600 people born in the US named Paloma are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 10 and 26. That makes Paloma mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Paloma by state
How common Paloma was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in California (2.5×), Oregon (2.3×), Arizona (1.9×), Illinois (1.7×), Washington (1.6×). In 25 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Paloma: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Paloma, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Paloma · Sibling names for Paloma
Questions about the name Paloma
What does Paloma mean?
Paloma means “dove (Spanish)” (Spanish, Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Paloma?
Paloma was the 793rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 343 babies. Its best year was 2010, when it ranked 703rd; the most babies were born in 2009 (411). Over the last ten years it has moved up 110 places. More babies were named Paloma in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Paloma a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Paloma in the US.
Where is Paloma most popular?
In 2021–2025, Paloma was most common in New Mexico (0.70 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and Oregon.