Dolors

Dolors is a term with two related uses in Catalan. As a plural noun, dolors is the plural of dolor, meaning pains or sorrows. As a feminine given name, Dolors is the Catalan form of Dolores, the name used in Catholic contexts to refer to the sorrows of the Virgin Mary. The connection to Our Lady of Sorrows has helped popularize the name in Catalan-speaking communities.

In terms of usage, the given name Dolors is most common in Catalan-speaking regions such as Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands, as well as in Andorra. It is also found among Spanish-speaking communities around the world, particularly in Latin America, where Catholic naming traditions have influenced local practices. The name Dolors, like its Spanish counterpart Dolores, is typically given to girls at birth and may be shortened informally in various ways within families or social circles.

Linguistically, dolors as a plural noun appears in religious, literary, and everyday Catalan to express collective pains, hardships, or sorrows. The word reflects a broader tradition in Romance languages of linking names to devotional or emotional concepts, a pattern seen in several other Christian-influenced names as well.

Notable people named Dolors include Dolors Montserrat, a Spanish politician, and Dolors Bassa, a Catalan politician. The name remains relatively common in regions with strong Catholic and Catalan cultural influences, though its popularity has fluctuated over time with shifting naming trends.