{"id":949,"date":"2025-01-20T12:36:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T12:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/\/spanish-word-names\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T12:36:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T12:36:01","slug":"spanish-word-names","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/spanish-word-names\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish Word Names: Beautiful Names Inspired by Spanish Words and Meanings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spanish word names are exactly what they sound like: given names drawn directly from Spanish vocabulary, carrying their everyday meanings into the world of personal names. What makes them so compelling is that the meaning isn’t buried in ancient roots you have to look up, it’s right there on the surface, vivid and immediate. A child named Cielo<\/strong> is literally the sky. A child named Paloma<\/strong> is a dove. That transparency gives these names a poetic quality that few naming traditions can match.<\/p>\n

The practice of naming from meaningful words is deeply rooted in Spanish-speaking cultures, shaped by Catholic tradition, nature, and a genuine love of language. But these names have spread far beyond Latin America and Spain, they show up on children of every background who are drawn to their sound, their meaning, or both. This list gathers real Spanish word names organized by theme, so you can find the one that speaks to you.<\/p>\n

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Nature and the Sky: Names Drawn from the Natural World<\/h2>\n

Spanish has some of the most evocative nature vocabulary in any language, and naming children after natural phenomena has a long history in Spanish-speaking cultures. These names carry the landscape inside them.<\/p>\n

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Cielo<\/h3>\n

Meaning “sky” or “heaven” in Spanish, Cielo is a name of pure, open beauty. It has been used in Latin America for generations and carries a sense of both the literal sky above and a spiritual aspiration. The sound is gentle and two-syllable: SYEH-loh.<\/p>\n

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Aurora<\/h3>\n

Technically Latin in origin but fully alive in Spanish as the word for “dawn,” Aurora has become one of the great crossover names of the modern era. It carries the image of first light breaking across the horizon, and it works in virtually any cultural context. A top-100 name in several countries right now.<\/p>\n

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Roc\u00edo<\/h3>\n

Roc\u00edo means “dew” or “dewdrops” in Spanish, and it has been a beloved name in Spain and Latin America for centuries, in part because of the famous Marian devotion Nuestra Se\u00f1ora del Roc\u00edo. It’s soft, feminine, and carries a freshness that the meaning perfectly suggests. Pronounced roh-SEE-oh.<\/p>\n

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Lluvia<\/h3>\n

The Spanish word for “rain,” Lluvia is an unusual but genuinely used name, particularly in Mexico. The double-L is pronounced like a Y in most Spanish dialects, giving it the sound YOOV-yah. For parents who love nature names with real weather drama, this one is criminally underused outside Spanish-speaking communities.<\/p>\n

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R\u00edo<\/h3>\n

R\u00edo means “river” in Spanish and has been used as a given name for both boys and girls. It has a breezy, modern feel without sacrificing substance, and the accent mark signals exactly how to say it: REE-oh. Clean, confident, and increasingly visible on name charts.<\/p>\n

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Sol<\/h3>\n

The Spanish word for “sun,” Sol is a strong, single-syllable name with ancient resonance. It’s used across Spain and Latin America as both a standalone name and a component in longer names like Mar\u00eda del Sol. The simplicity is the whole point.<\/p>\n

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Luna<\/h3>\n

Luna means “moon” in Spanish (and Latin), and it has exploded in popularity over the past decade to become one of the most recognizable Spanish word names internationally. It’s approachable, beautiful, and well understood across languages. Currently a top-20 name in the United States.<\/p>\n

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Estrella<\/h3>\n

Meaning “star,” Estrella is the more elaborate cousin of the simple Stella, carrying the full Spanish word for star rather than its Latin root. It has a romantic, flowing quality, four syllables, ess-TREH-yah, and a long history of use in Spain and Latin America.<\/p>\n

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Selva<\/h3>\n

Selva is the Spanish word for “jungle” or “forest,” and it functions as a given name in Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in South America. It’s earthy and wild, a strong choice for parents who want a nature name that isn’t already everywhere.<\/p>\n

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Nieve<\/h3>\n

Meaning “snow,” Nieve (and its variant Nieves, which refers to the Marian title Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de las Nieves) has been used as a given name in Spain for centuries. Nieves is more common as a full name; Nieve functions as a shorter, crisper form. Cool and quietly striking.<\/p>\n

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Brisa<\/h3>\n

Brisa is the Spanish word for “breeze,” and it’s a genuinely used given name in Latin America with a light, airy quality that matches its meaning perfectly. Pronounced BREE-sah, it feels modern without being invented.<\/p>\n

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Coral<\/h3>\n

Used in both Spanish and English as a given name, Coral refers to the marine organism and the warm pink-orange color it produces. In Spanish-speaking contexts it carries clear nature imagery and has a sweet, vintage feel that is quietly coming back into fashion.<\/p>\n

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Faith and Devotion: Names Rooted in Catholic Tradition<\/h2>\n

The Catholic tradition gave Spanish-speaking cultures a rich practice of naming children after religious concepts, virtues, and Marian devotions. Many of these names are Spanish vocabulary words first and religious titles second.<\/p>\n

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Dolores<\/h3>\n

Dolores means “sorrows” or “pains” and comes from the Marian title Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows). It may sound heavy in translation, but it has been a staple of Spanish naming for centuries and carries a quiet dignity. Nicknames Lola and Lolita give it warmth.<\/p>\n

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Mercedes<\/h3>\n

From the Spanish word “mercedes” meaning “mercies” or “graces,” this name honors the Marian title Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de las Mercedes. The car brand has given it a sleek, modern association, but the name itself is much older and carries genuine religious depth.<\/p>\n

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Milagros<\/h3>\n

Milagros means “miracles” and honors another Marian devotion. It has a slightly grand quality in English ears, but in Spanish-speaking communities it’s a warm, familiar name. The shortened form Mila has become enormously popular on its own terms.<\/p>\n

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Consuelo<\/h3>\n

Meaning “consolation” or “comfort,” Consuelo comes from Nuestra Se\u00f1ora del Consuelo and has been a steady presence in Spanish naming for generations. It carries a depth and tenderness that more fashionable names often lack. Shortened to Chelo or Suelo in everyday use.<\/p>\n

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Amparo<\/h3>\n

Amparo means “shelter,” “protection,” or “refuge” in Spanish and is another name with Marian roots. It’s particularly beloved in Valencia, Spain. The meaning is genuinely beautiful, and the name has a soft, enveloping quality that matches it.<\/p>\n

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Remedios<\/h3>\n

Meaning “remedies” or “cures,” Remedios honors the Marian title Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de los Remedios. It’s a bold, unusual name in English-speaking contexts but completely natural in Spanish ones, and the shortened Reme or Remi makes it highly accessible.<\/p>\n

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Encarnaci\u00f3n<\/h3>\n

Meaning “incarnation,” this name refers to the theological concept of the Word becoming flesh and is associated with a major Marian feast. It’s a long name by any measure, but the nickname Encarni or Carna brings it down to earth. A name with real historical depth in Spain.<\/p>\n

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Gloria<\/h3>\n

The Spanish (and Latin) word for “glory,” Gloria has crossed fully into English-language naming while retaining its Spanish roots. It peaked mid-century in the United States but carries a confident, vibrant energy that makes it ripe for revival. Immediately recognizable across cultures.<\/p>\n

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Trinidad<\/h3>\n

Meaning “trinity,” Trinidad honors the Holy Trinity and has been used as a given name in Spain and Latin America for centuries. It also names a Caribbean nation, which gives it a geographic resonance alongside its religious one. Shortened to Trini in everyday use.<\/p>\n

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Virtues and Qualities: Names That Mean Something Good<\/h2>\n

Spanish has a tradition of naming children after admirable qualities and abstract virtues, giving these names a directness that is both aspirational and grounding.<\/p>\n

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Esperanza<\/h3>\n

One of the great Spanish word names, Esperanza means “hope.” It has a lyrical, four-syllable flow (ess-peh-RAHN-sah) and a long history in Spanish-speaking cultures. Sandra Cisneros’s novel The House on Mango Street<\/em> made the name widely known in American literature through the narrator’s mother.<\/p>\n

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Alegr\u00eda<\/h3>\n

Alegr\u00eda means “joy” or “happiness” in Spanish and is a name that delivers exactly what it promises. It’s more common in Spain than in Latin America, and its rhythmic quality, five syllables, gives it a musical feel. A genuinely joyful name in every sense.<\/p>\n

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Paz<\/h3>\n

Paz is the Spanish word for “peace” and one of the most striking single-syllable names in any language. It has a quiet confidence that longer names can’t always match. Used for both girls and boys, though predominantly feminine in practice.<\/p>\n

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Virtudes<\/h3>\n

Meaning literally “virtues,” this name is used in Spain, particularly in Andalusia. It’s old-fashioned even by Spanish standards, but carries a gravitas that makes it interesting. Shortened to Virtu or Vir in everyday speech.<\/p>\n

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Valentina<\/h3>\n

While Valentina’s roots are Latin (from Valentinus, meaning “strong” or “healthy”), it functions in Spanish as a full vocabulary-adjacent name associated with valor and strength, and it’s one of the most popular Spanish-language names in the world right now. Warm, feminine, and undeniably powerful.<\/p>\n

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Gracia<\/h3>\n

The Spanish word for “grace,” Gracia is the more directly Spanish form of the name that becomes Grace in English and Grazia in Italian. It has been used in Spain for centuries and carries both a physical lightness and a spiritual meaning. Simple and lovely.<\/p>\n

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Caridad<\/h3>\n

Meaning “charity” or “love” in the theological sense, Caridad is a classic Spanish virtue name with particular importance in Cuba, where it names the patroness Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de la Caridad del Cobre. Shortened to Cari in everyday use.<\/p>\n

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Felicidad<\/h3>\n

Felicidad means “happiness” or “felicity” and is the Spanish form of the Latin Felicitas. It’s longer and more formal than Alegr\u00eda but carries the same aspirational warmth. The nickname Feli is charming and approachable.<\/p>\n

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Animals and Living Things: Names from the Natural Creature World<\/h2>\n

Some of the most poetic Spanish word names come from the animal kingdom, where birds and creatures carry centuries of symbolic meaning.<\/p>\n

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Paloma<\/h3>\n

Paloma means “dove” in Spanish, and it is one of the most beloved Spanish word names in existence. The dove’s symbolism of peace and the Holy Spirit gives it religious resonance, while the sound is simply beautiful. Paloma Picasso, daughter of Pablo Picasso, is perhaps its most famous modern bearer.<\/p>\n

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\u00c1guila<\/h3>\n

Meaning “eagle,” \u00c1guila is used as a given name, particularly for boys, in some Spanish-speaking communities. It carries strength and nobility, and the eagle’s significance in Mexican national symbolism gives it cultural weight. Not common, but real and meaningful.<\/p>\n

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Cisne<\/h3>\n

Cisne is the Spanish word for “swan” and has been used as a given name in Latin America. It’s rare but genuinely used, and the swan’s associations with grace and transformation make it a compelling choice. Pronounced SEES-neh.<\/p>\n

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Mariposa<\/h3>\n

Mariposa means “butterfly” in Spanish and is used as a given name, particularly in Latin America. It’s one of the longer Spanish word names at four syllables, but each one is beautiful. A name with real whimsy and warmth.<\/p>\n

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Gaviota<\/h3>\n

Meaning “seagull,” Gaviota is a genuine given name in Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in coastal regions. It has an unusual, soaring quality and five syllables that give it a musical rhythm. Rare enough to feel genuinely distinctive.<\/p>\n

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Colors and Senses: Names That Paint a Picture<\/h2>\n

Color names and sensory words from Spanish have found their way into the naming tradition, sometimes through Marian devotion, sometimes simply through beauty of sound and meaning.<\/p>\n

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Blanca<\/h3>\n

The Spanish word for “white,” Blanca is a classic name with centuries of history in Spain and Latin America. It carries associations of purity and light without being heavy-handed about it. More grounded and less ethereal than Bianca, its Italian counterpart.<\/p>\n

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Carmela<\/h3>\n

While Carmela derives from the Hebrew Carmel (meaning “garden” or “orchard”), in Spanish it is intimately associated with the color-rich imagery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and functions entirely within the Spanish naming tradition. A warm, rounded name with deep cultural roots.<\/p>\n

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Azul<\/h3>\n

Azul is the Spanish word for “blue” and is used as a given name for both boys and girls in Latin America. It’s a genuinely modern-feeling name that has gained traction in recent years, though it remains uncommon enough to feel distinctive. Clean and vivid.<\/p>\n

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Violeta<\/h3>\n

Violeta is the Spanish form of Violet, directly referencing the purple flower and its color. It has a warmer, more romantic feel than the English Violet and is widely used across Spain and Latin America. Chilean poet Violeta Parra is a major cultural bearer of the name.<\/p>\n

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Celeste<\/h3>\n

From the Spanish and Latin word for “heavenly” or “sky-blue,” Celeste sits at the intersection of color and transcendence. It’s used across the Spanish-speaking world and in English-language naming, with a light, airy quality that makes it immediately appealing. Currently on an upward trend.<\/p>\n

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Place and Landscape: Names Rooted in the Earth<\/h2>\n

Geography and landscape have always inspired Spanish names, from the mountains to the sea. These names carry a sense of place and rootedness.<\/p>\n

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Sierra<\/h3>\n

Sierra is the Spanish word for “mountain range” or “saw” (referring to the jagged ridgeline), and it became a popular given name in the English-speaking world in the 1980s and 1990s. It has a strong, outdoorsy quality and remains in steady use as a nature-inspired choice.<\/p>\n

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Loma<\/h3>\n

Loma means “hill” or “hillock” in Spanish and is used as a given name, particularly in Mexico. It’s simple and grounded, with a soft sound that makes it feel approachable despite its rarity in mainstream naming culture.<\/p>\n

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Marina<\/h3>\n

Marina comes from the Latin marinus (of the sea) but is thoroughly embedded in the Spanish naming tradition as the word for a harbor or a woman of the sea. It is a beautiful, well-traveled name used across Spain, Latin America, and much of Europe. Classic without being tired.<\/p>\n

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Serrana<\/h3>\n

Meaning “of the mountains” or “mountain woman,” Serrana is a less common but genuine Spanish name with a rugged, independent character. It has roots in medieval Spanish poetry, where the serrana was a free-spirited mountain girl, a figure of both wildness and beauty.<\/p>\n

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Time and Light: Names That Capture a Moment<\/h2>\n

A small but beautiful category of Spanish word names captures specific moments of light or time, giving them an almost photographic quality.<\/p>\n

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Alba<\/h3>\n

Alba means “dawn” or “white” in Spanish and Latin, and it has become one of the most fashionable names in Spain over the past two decades. It has a crisp, bright quality that suits its meaning perfectly. Currently very popular in Spain and spreading internationally.<\/p>\n

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Lucero<\/h3>\n

Lucero means “bright star” or “morning star” in Spanish and is a deeply poetic name that has been used in Latin America for generations. Mexican singer Lucero is perhaps its best-known modern bearer. It carries more warmth than plain Luc\u00eda while staying clearly within the light-naming tradition.<\/p>\n

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Amanecer<\/h3>\n

Amanecer means “dawn” or “daybreak” in Spanish and is used as a given name, primarily in Latin America. It’s one of the longer Spanish word names at five syllables, but the meaning is so beautiful that many parents find it worth the length. Unusual and deeply evocative.<\/p>\n

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Noche<\/h3>\n

Noche means “night” in Spanish and does appear as a given name in Spanish-speaking communities, though rarely. It’s striking and unconventional, with a velvety sound that matches the concept. Best suited to parents who genuinely want something off the beaten path.<\/p>\n

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How to Choose the Right Spanish Word Name<\/h2>\n

Start with meaning, not sound. The whole appeal of Spanish word names is that the meaning is transparent, so it’s worth sitting with what you actually want a name to say. A name like Esperanza (hope) or Paz (peace) is a statement of values. A name like Lluvia (rain) or Noche (night) is a statement of aesthetic. Know which kind of name you’re after before you fall in love with a sound.<\/p>\n

Think about the full name in context. Some Spanish word names are single syllables (Sol, Paz, R\u00edo) that pair beautifully with longer middle or last names. Others like Esperanza, Encarnaci\u00f3n, or Amanecer are long and flowing and need breathing room on either side. Say the full name out loud several times before committing.<\/p>\n

Consider how it will travel. Names like Luna, Aurora, Celeste, and Blanca are immediately legible in English-speaking contexts while remaining authentically Spanish. Names like Lluvia, Roc\u00edo, and Gaviota are more culturally specific and will require more explanation in non-Spanish environments. Neither is wrong, but it’s worth making that choice consciously.<\/p>\n

Don’t underestimate the nicknames. Many of the longer Spanish word names come with well-established short forms: Dolores becomes Lola, Milagros becomes Mila, Consuelo becomes Chelo, Felicidad becomes Feli. If a name feels too formal or too long, check whether the nickname version solves the problem before moving on.<\/p>\n

Spanish word names reward research. Many names that look purely aesthetic have deep religious or cultural histories, knowing that Roc\u00edo connects to one of Spain’s most important Marian pilgrimages, or that Caridad names Cuba’s patron, adds a layer of meaning that makes the name richer, not heavier. The more you know about the name you choose, the more it becomes yours to give.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spanish word names are exactly what they sound like: given names drawn directly from Spanish vocabulary, carrying their everyday meanings into the world…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"lfe_reviewer":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4,323],"class_list":["post-949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-baby-name-lists","tag-baby-name-lists","tag-spanish-word-names"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=949"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":950,"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions\/950"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ponly.com\/names\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}