Meaning: Its source is an English expression meaning "Love and protection of God, unmerited favor."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Spanish.

Nickname For: Grace

Popularity: The name Graciela ranked 893rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 622nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: This name denotes both divine favor and physical elegance. The Three Graces of ancient Greek mythology (Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia) embodied the connection between seen and unseen beauty.

Christians adopted the name (originally in its Latin form, Gratia) because they felt it expressed a specifically Christian idea of one's relationship to God. Seventeenth-century Puritans introduced the English version of the name with this in mind.

American actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) gave a more secular and contemporary boost to the name, especially after she married into Monaco's ruling family and became Princess Grace in 1956.