CELEBRATE! : Orange County’s First 100 Years : MISCELLANY : NAME GAME
Orange County’s Spanish origins are reflected in many of the names that have been given to its cities, streets, canyons and communities.
Ever wonder about the meanings of these ubiquitous Spanish names? Following is a sampling of English translations.
Abajo: down, below.
Abuelitos: grandparents.
Acantilado: steep.
Acebo: holly.
Adelanto: advance, progress.
Aguacate: avocado tree or avocado.
Alameda: public walk lined with trees.
Alba: dawn.
Alcazar: castle.
Alicante: viper; also the name of a province and city in Spain.
Aliso: alder (tree).
Alondra: lark.
Altamira: a word combination meaning high and view.
Altivo: haughty, proud.
Altura: height, altitude.
Amador: loving, fond.
Amapola: poppy.
Arroyo Chico: little stream.
Avenida de los Lobos Marinos: avenue of the seals.
Avenida de los Ninos: avenue of the children.
Avenida de los Suenos: avenue of the dreams or avenue of sleep.
Avenida Mariposa: butterfly avenue.
Avenida Pescador: fisherman avenue.
Bahia Blanca: white bay.
Barranca: ravine.
Boca de la Playa: mouth of the beach.
Bonanza: prosperity.
Bolsa Chica: little pocket.
Borrego: sheep.
Brea: tar.
Brisa del Lago: breeze of the lake.
Buena Tierra: good earth.
Buena Park: good park.
Cajon: large box, ravine.
Calavera: skull.
Caliente: hot or fiery.
Calle Alegria: happiness street.
Calle Aspero: rough street.
Calle de la Plata: street of the silver.
Calle de las Vegas: street of the lowlands.
Calle Deshecha: sham, pretense street.
Calle Granada: pomegranate street.
Calle Neblina: fog street.
Calle Paloma: dove or pigeon street.
Camino de Estrella: road or path of the star.
Camino las Ramblas: sandy beach or dry riverbed road or path.
Chiquito: little.
Cristianitos: little Christians.
Cibola: bison.
Concha: shell.
Copa de Oro: cup of gold.
Corona del Mar: crown of the sea.
Costa Mesa: coastal plateau.
El Camino Real: the royal path.
El Cielo: the sky or heaven.
El Cortijo: the farm.
El Dorado: the gilthead, a fish with gold markings on its head; also “the golden one.”
El Portal: the porch.
El Toro: the bull.
Embarcadero: wharf.
Fresca: fresh.
Horno: oven, kiln.
La Bonita: the pretty.
La Brisas: the breezes; to be grammatically correct, it should be La Brisa or Las Brisas.
Ladera Vista: hillside view.
Laguna: lagoon.
La Fonda: a small, out-of-the-way restaurant.
La Fuente: the fountain or the source.
La Habra: variation of abra , meaning the cove, the creek or the dale.
La Palma: the palm.
La Paz: peace.
La Tortola: the turtle dove.
La Veta: the vein or the seam.
La Vida: life.
Los Alamitos: the little cottonwoods.
Los Nietos: the grandchildren.
Los Patos: the ducks.
Lucero: bright star.
Madera: timber, wood.
Manzanita: small apple.
Mar Vista: sea view; to be grammatically correct, it should be Vista del Mar.
Miraloma: hill view.
Nido: nest, abode.
Oso: bear.
Rancho Verde: green ranch.
Rincon: corner or nook.
Terraza del Mar: terrace of the ocean.
Tortuga: turtle.
Trabuco: blunderbuss.
Via Cascada: waterfall way.
Via del Amo: way of the overseer.
Via Gancho: hairpin way.
Vista Alcedo: maple grove view.
Vista del Cerro: view of the hill.
Vista del Lago: view of the lake.
Vista del Mando: view of power.
Vista Fusco: dark brown view or dark view; to be grammatically correct, it should be Vista Fusca.
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