Nieves

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A proper noun commonly used as a surname or given name, often of Spanish origin, associated with meaning related to snow or snowy conditions
2. Identifying a personal or family name derived from Spanish, typically linked to the concept of snow or wintry weather
3. Referring to a Spanish-derived name used to denote individuals or families, implying an origin or connection with snowy landscapes or characteristics

Etymology: "Nieves" is the plural of "nieve", the Spanish word for snow, so the name is literally "snows." Spanish has no separate ancestor word for the surname itself. Its meaning comes straight from the common noun, which descends from Latin "nix" (genitive "nivis"), the source of many snow-related words across the Romance languages. As a surname, "Nieves" is a Spanish and Hispanic family name, and it is often given as a first name as well, frequently in honor of Our Lady of the Snows (Nuestra Señora de las Nieves), a Marian title. The feast of that title is kept on August 5, which is why the name is common among people baptized around that date.