Dolores

Dolores is a female given name of Spanish origin derived from Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, Our Lady of Sorrows. The name historically reflects a Marian devotion and is associated with sorrow or pain, a meaning carried into various Spanish-speaking cultures. It is commonly used as a first name in Spanish-speaking countries and communities, and it can occasionally appear as a surname.

In the public sphere, several notable individuals bear the name. Dolores del Río was a prominent Mexican-born actress who achieved international fame in the early to mid-20th century. Dolores Huerta is a American labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded what became the United Farm Workers union. Dolores O’Riordan was the Irish vocalist and songwriter for the rock band the Cranberries. These figures illustrate the name’s cross-cultural presence.

Dolores is also used as a place name in the Americas. In the United States, Dolores refers to a town in Montezuma County, Colorado, and to the nearby Dolores River, which flows through southwestern Colorado and into New Mexico. There are towns named Dolores in Argentina, including Dolores in Buenos Aires Province. The term continues to appear in religious, cultural, and geographic contexts, reflecting its historical ties to Marian devotion and its status as a widely used given name.