Preciosa first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Preciosa has been for the last 22 years (from 1990 to 2011) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Preciosa

A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "precious" or "valuable".

Popularity of Preciosa by gender

Based on the last 22 years of data, Preciosa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2011, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Preciosa.

Year Male Count Female Count
2011 0 6
2010 0 5
2009 0 5
2008 0 9
2007 0 11
2006 0 12
2005 0 11
2004 0 10
2003 0 14
2002 0 9
2001 0 15
2000 0 19
1999 0 19
1990 0 5

The history of the first name Preciosa

The name Preciosa has its origins in the Spanish language, derived from the word "preciosa," which means "precious" or "valuable." It is a feminine given name that has been in use since the Middle Ages, particularly in Spain and other Spanish-speaking regions.

The earliest recorded use of the name Preciosa dates back to the 14th century, when it appeared in literary works such as the Spanish novella "La gitanilla" by Miguel de Cervantes. In this work, Preciosa is the name of the main character, a beautiful gypsy girl who becomes a symbol of innocence and purity.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Preciosa was Preciosa de Jesús (1614-1668), a Spanish mystic and nun from Madrid. She was known for her religious devotion and her written works, which included poetry and spiritual treatises.

Another noteworthy Preciosa was Preciosa Espinosa (1887-1977), a Mexican painter and sculptor who was part of the Mexican Renaissance movement. Her works often depicted indigenous themes and traditional Mexican culture.

In the realm of literature, Preciosa was the name of a character in the novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo. Published in 1831, the novel features a gypsy dancer named Preciosa who becomes entangled in the story's dramatic events.

Moving forward in time, Preciosa Fernández (1914-2000) was a Spanish actress who appeared in numerous films during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She was known for her roles in classic Mexican films such as "Enamorada" (1946) and "Sólamente una vez" (1954).

While the name Preciosa has fallen out of widespread use in modern times, it remains a beautiful and evocative name with a rich cultural heritage, particularly in the Spanish-speaking world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Preciosa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Preciosa, please contact us.

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"Preciosa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 25, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/preciosa-meaning-and-history/.

"Preciosa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/preciosa-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 25 May, 2025

Preciosa first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/preciosa-meaning-and-history/.

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