Dulce

♀ Girl

Pronounced DOOL-say /ˈduːl.seɪ/High

Meaning: Sweet or sweetness; from the Spanish dulce and Latin dulcis meaning sweet, used as a given name expressing gentle sweetnessHigh

In 30 seconds: Dulce means sweet or sweetness in Spanish, from Latin dulcis, a gentle and melodious name popular across Latin America and among Hispanic communities in the United States for its warm, tender meaning.

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Origin HighSpanish, Latin

MeaningSweet or sweetness; from the Spanish dulce and Latin dulcis meaning sweet, used as a given name expressing gentle sweetness

U.S. rank (2025)#771 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births352 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2007

Total births (all-time)≈ 20,305

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Dulce derives from the Latin dulcis, meaning sweet, which gives English words like dulcet (sweet-sounding), dulcimer (a sweet-stringed instrument), and the name Dulcia. In Spanish-speaking Catholic countries, it was associated with the title Nuestra Senora de la Dulce Nombre (Our Lady of the Sweet Name), a Marian devotion.

Dulce has been a traditional given name in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for centuries. In the United States it appears consistently in Hispanic communities and has been in the national top 1,000 girls names. The full name Dulce Maria is also commonly used.

Did you know? Dulcinea del Toboso is the idealized lady love of Don Quixote in Cervantes's masterpiece, her name being a literary elaboration of dulce (sweet). She is considered one of literature's most famous unmet loves, a fantasy the deluded knight worships from afar.

Overall data confidence 97%

Behind the Name — Dulce — Spanish and Latin etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DulceaDulciaDulcina

Nicknames

DulciDulcy

Famous Bearers

★Dulce Maria (1985–present)
Mexican actress and singer, best known for playing Roberta in the telenovela Rebelde and as a member of the pop group RBD.

If you like Dulce…

Sofia— same soft, elegant Spanish-rooted two-syllable girls name

Isabel— shares the sweet, classic Latina feminine quality

Lucia— same Latin light-and-love tradition as a Spanish girls name

Marisol— fellow evocative Spanish compound girls name with warm imagery

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dulce mean?

Dulce means sweet or sweetness, from the Spanish dulce and Latin dulcis.

How do you pronounce Dulce?

It is said DOOL-say, two syllables with stress on the first, following Spanish pronunciation.

Is Dulce a Spanish name?

Yes, Dulce is a Spanish name rooted in Latin, popular throughout Latin America and Hispanic communities in the United States.

Is Dulce a common name?

Dulce is a consistently used name in the U.S. among Hispanic families and is very common throughout Mexico and Central America.