Dolores
Dolores comes from the Spanish "María de los Dolores" — Mary of Sorrows. The title refers to the Virgin Mary's suffering at the crucifixion of Jesus, one of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The name is a "Marian title" — a name derived from an aspect of the Virgin Mary. Such names were enormously popular in Spain and Latin America from the 16th century onward. Dolores was moderately popular in the US through the mid-20th century. It peaked at #91 in 1930, driven by Spanish-speaking communities and by the actress Dolores del Río (1904-1983), one of the first Latin American stars of Hollywood. The name declined steeply after 1960 and has been outside the US top 1000 since 2009. I find Dolores has a slightly somber quality — the "sorrows" meaning is explicit. But the sound is gorgeous: the "D" opening is strong, the "l" gives it warmth, and the "-es" ending is unusual in English. The nickname Lola (which has become a popular name in its own right) lightens it considerably. Dolores O'Riordan (1971-2018), the lead singer of the Cranberries, gave the name a rock dimension. Dolores is a female name of Spanish (religious) origin that means "Sorrows (from Our Lady of Sorrows)". Spanish, dramatic, and a little somber. The name sounds passionate. Doloreses tend to be intense. US peaked #91 in 1930. Outside top 1000 since 2009. Well-known people named Dolores include Dolores del Río (actress), Dolores O'Riordan (singer), Dolores Huerta (activist), Our Lady of Sorrows. Common variations and related forms of Dolores include Lola (nickname), Lolita (diminutive, controversial), Delores (variant spelling), Dolors (Catalan).