| Reina | Paloma | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | queen | dove |
| Origin | spanish | spanish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | RAY-nah | pah-LO-mah |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1921 |
| Peak year | 2024 (551) | 2009 (411) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 343 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Reina | Paloma |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,973 | 1,741 |
| 2010s | 3,232 | 3,230 |
| 2000s | 2,721 | 3,065 |
| 1990s | 2,002 | 1,877 |
| 1980s | 1,326 | 699 |
| 1970s | 790 | 131 |
| 1960s | 412 | 5 |
| 1950s | 232 | 0 |
| 1940s | 126 | 0 |
| 1930s | 122 | 0 |
| 1920s | 97 | 17 |
| 1910s | 31 | 0 |
| 1890s | 16 | 0 |
The Spanish word 'reina' means 'queen', descending from Latin 'regina'. Also spelled Reyna. (A separate Hebrew/Yiddish name Reina meaning 'pure' exists; the Spanish 'queen' sense is the relevant one here.)
The Spanish word for 'dove', from the Latin palumbes 'wood pigeon, dove'. It carries a Marian and Christian resonance (the dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and of peace) and appears in the title Virgen de la Paloma.
Paloma is more popular than Reina today: about 343 US babies were given the name Paloma in 2025, compared with 0 named Reina.
Reina means queen (spanish origin), while Paloma means dove (spanish origin).
In US records, Reina first appears in 0 and Paloma in 1921, so Reina has the longer recorded history.