What is Lola Short For?

The nickname Lola has a rich history and various meanings across cultures. While commonly associated with the Spanish name Dolores, Lola can also be a nickname for other names like Laura, Karolina, and Charlotte.

Lola as a Nickname for Dolores

The most common meaning of Lola is that it‘s a shortened form of the Spanish name Dolores. Dolores is a name given in honor of one of the Virgin Mary’s titles "Nuestra Señora de los Dolores" meaning "Our Lady of Sorrows".

So Lola is derived from Dolores, meaning "sorrows" in Spanish. Despite its solemn origin, Lola evolved to have a more upbeat and vibrant image.

While Dolores is not widely used today, its nickname Lola remains a popular name in Spanish speaking countries as well as internationally. Lola maintains the rhythm and energy of Dolores while dropping its mournful vibe.

Some famous women nicknamed Lola include:

• Lola Flores – Famous Spanish singer and actress known as "La Faraona" (the pharaoh).

• Lola Albright – American singer and actress known for her role in the TV series Peter Gunn.

• Lola Falana – American singer, dancer, and actress who had a prolific career in the 60s and 70s.

Lola as a Nickname for Other Names

While Lola is commonly understood to be short for Dolores, it can also be used as a nickname for other female names:

Laura

Lola can be used as a nickname for Laura in Polish and Lithuanian contexts. This is an uncommon shortened form but provides a punchy, bold nickname option compared to the more popular nickname Laura.

Karolina

The name Karolina, which is the Polish form of Caroline, can also take on the nickname Lola. The ending "lina" is replaced with "la" to create the nickname. This follows a common nicknaming convention in Polish.

Charlotte

Charlotte is now one of the most popular baby girl names, but the classic name has some vintage nickname options too. The nickname Lola captures the "la" sound at the end of Charlotte. Charlotte can also go by other nicknames like Char, Charlie, or Lottie.

Louise/Louisa

Louise is a French feminine version of Louis. Louella and Lulu are common nicknames for Louise, but some have suggested Lola as a potential option too. Lola contains the "Lou" sound and emphasizes the feminine ending.

Penelope

Penelope is a Greek name meaning "weaver" that now ranks in America‘s top 30 girl names. The lovable character Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds goes by "Penny" but Penelope could also use Lola as a nickname.

Eloise

Eloise is a French name meaning “healthy; wide” that lends itself to nicknames like Ellie or Lolly. But the “lo” sound in Eloise also makes Lola a natural fit as a shortened form.

Origins and Meanings of Lola

Spanish Diminutive Form

As mentioned above, Lola is originally a Spanish diminutive form of Dolores. In Spanish speaking countries today, Lola is often used as a generic nickname or term of endearment for a young lady rather than a nickname for Dolores.

German Nickname

Lola can also be used as a German nickname for female names ending in -ola like Paola, Nicola, or Apollonia. This follows the common German convention of creating nicknames by dropping the first syllables of names.

African and Swahili Name

In some African countries and Swahili-speaking regions, Lola is given as a name meaning "lady" or "madam" in the Yoruba and Swahili languages. It‘s seen as a sophisticated, feminine name.

English Word Name

Lola is also used as a word name in English, taken straight from the dictionary term “lola” meaning “sweetheart” or “lover”. English word names like Ruby, Eden, and Iris are popular and Lola fits right in.

Hungarian Diminutive

In Hungarian, Lola can be used as a diminutive for names like Karolina. It follows the common Hungarian naming tradition of creating nicknames by replacing name endings with an “a” or “e”.

Indian Names

Lola is found as both a first name and nickname in India. It‘s used as a short form for longer names like Anushralola or Kanakalola. The “lola” ending gives a sweet, playful sound.

Slavic Names

Lola functions as a Slavic suffix meaning “conversation” and is found at the end of conversational names like Stanislola (“one who converses”). It‘s not frequently used as a standalone name in Slavic languages though.

Lola Name Popularity and Trends

The name Lola peaked in popularity in the United States in 1880 when it reached #248 on the girls‘ names chart. It declined in popularity in the early 1900s but had another smaller peak in usage in the 1970s.

In the 21st century, Lola has risen again as part of the revival of vintage female names. It reentered the US Top 1000 girl‘s names in 2002 and now ranks at #260 as of 2021. Parents today are drawn to Lola‘s playful sound and retro vibe.

Lola is also currently trending up internationally. It ranks in the top 50 girl‘s names in Spain, Hungary, and Catalonia and is gaining ground in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

Australia and New Zealand have both recently seen Lola enter their Top 100 charts. Lola is now more popular than ever before in English-speaking countries thanks to its cross-cultural appeal.

Lola in Pop Culture

Lola has been the name of some iconic characters in music, movies and TV:

• Lola Bunny in Space Jam
• Lola Flute in The Sound of Music
• Lola Lovell in Charlie and Lola
• Lola Montez, the actress in the song "Whatever Lola Wants"
• Lola Heatherton in Zoey 101
• Lola Skumpy in Big Mouth

The name Lola also has musical ties:

• "Lola" by The Kinks
• "Lola" by Superbus
• "Whatever Lola Wants" from Damn Yankees
• "Lola" by Jason Mraz

With its vivacious energy and vintage vibe, creative types have been drawn to the name Lola for decades.

Ideas for a Lola Character

The name Lola has a fun, bold, and adventurous image. Here are some ideas if you want to name a character Lola:

• A daredevil stunt actress starring in action movies.
• An aspiring Broadway star with big dreams in 1920s New York.
• A quirky art student who marches to the beat of her own drum.
• A fearless journalist chasing scoops and uncovering scandals.
• A brilliant young detective helping the police department crack cases.
• A traveled anthropologist sharing findings from her globe-trotting adventures.

Lola also works well for pets and companies:

• Lola‘s Cupcakes – a boutique, retro-style bakery.
• Lola‘s – a chic salon with rock and roll edge.
• Lola – a fierce bulldog with a big personality.
• Lola – a curious Siamese cat who loves exploring.

However you use it, Lola brings flair and charisma to any name or character.

Conclusion

Lola is a versatile name that functions as a nickname but also stands strongly as a given name. Of Spanish origins as a diminutive of Dolores, Lola evolved into a favorite nickname across many cultures and languages.

From a mournful meaning of “sorrows", Lola has developed an image that’s feminine, spunky, and full of life. Thanks to its crossover appeal, Lola is now more popular internationally than ever before.

Whether you choose it as a formal name or an endearing nickname, Lola is sure to bring a spark.