# Etymology of name "De La O" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 1, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392 "2005-06-01T16:21:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/1 "2005-06-01T16:21:05Z")
We have a couple of people on my company’s email list named “Firstname de la O”. I’ve seen this name before, occasionally. Does it have any meaning? What is an “O” in Spanish? Does it refer to a place? Does the name have any noble connotations? It certainly does have a grand sound to it. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/2 "2005-06-01T16:25:41Z")
I knew a girl whose last name was “de la O.” I always wanted to show her my “de la O” face. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/3 "2005-06-01T17:16:29Z")
Thank you so much for that shocking reminder of my humble beginnings in broadcasting. Cheeseball Spanish language tv to be exact. There was this variety show host, something De la O. Cold shivers, very cold shivers. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/4 "2005-06-01T18:27:36Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Thank you so much for that shocking reminder of my humble beginnings in broadcasting. Cheeseball Spanish language tv to be exact. There was this variety show host, something De la O. > > Cold shivers, very cold shivers. ☹ If you speak Spanish, can you tell me what “La O” means, if anything? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/5 "2005-06-01T18:30:44Z")
Literally, it means “of the O.” Similarly, _de la Sol_ would mean “of the sun.” ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/6 "2005-06-01T18:34:45Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Literally, it means “of the O.” Similarly, _de la Sol_ would mean “of the sun.” I gathered as much, but I still don’t know what you mean. Does it mean “Of the (letter) O”? What’s an “O”, in this context? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/7 "2005-06-01T19:02:30Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > I gathered as much, but I still don’t know what you mean. Does it mean “Of the (letter) O”? What’s an “O”, in this context? “la O” certainly suggests the letter to me. I can’t think of any other possibilities. But I have no clue what the name means. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/8 "2005-06-01T19:19:22Z")
The problem with it meaning “Of The (Letter) O” is that it’s nonsensical. The ‘O’ in the name must mean something, or must have once meant something, or else it must have somehow evolved from another word or name. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/9 "2005-06-01T19:43:27Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Literally, it means “of the O.” Similarly, _de la Sol_ would mean “of the sun.” [nitpick] “of the sun” would be **del sol**. [/nitpick] [Here](http://www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq239.html) is a page expalining the meaning of the phrase “Virgen de la O” referring to the Virgin Mary. > [@](#): > > The designation “do” or “Virgen de la O” has liturgical origins. It refers to the so called O-antiphons (Vespers) sung during the latter part of Advent. 17th-23rd), and thus makes this advocation one of expectation of the imminent birth of Jesus (expectacion del parto). She is venerated under this title, for example, in Albacete, Cadiz, Pontevedra Capital, Oviedo, and in Pamplona (here under the title of Santo Andia). Representations show her pregnant. I would imagine that the surname refers to this. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/10 "2005-06-01T20:09:03Z")
If that is the connection than “O” is short for Omega. There are, for example, Latin lyrics to “In Dulci Jubilo” that refer to God/Christ, saying “Alpha es et O.” ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/11 "2005-06-01T20:16:16Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > If that is the connection than “O” is short for Omega. There are, for example, Latin lyrics to “In Dulci Jubilo” that refer to God/Christ, saying “Alpha es et O.” Now we’re getting somewhere. If I understand this correctly, then “de la O” is a reference to a famous religious icon. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/12 "2005-06-01T20:54:26Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > If that is the connection than “O” is short for Omega. There are, for example, Latin lyrics to “In Dulci Jubilo” that refer to God/Christ, saying “Alpha es et O.” Although “O” is indeed short for Omega in _In dulci jubilo_, that’s a totally different cultural reference. The [O-Antiphons](http://catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0374.html): [ul] [li]O Sapientia[/li][li]O Adonai[/li][li]O Radix Jesse[/li][li]O Adonai[/li][li]O Clavis David[/li][li]O Oriens[/li][li]O Rex Gentium[/li][li]O Emmanuel[/li][/ul] are sung during Advent, and are apparently the source of the name [“Virgen de la O”](http://www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq239.html) used for the pregnant Mary in many parts of Spain. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/13 "2005-06-01T20:57:45Z")
_Erratum_: The second “O Adonai” in my post directly above should be removed – I messed up on the cutting and pasting. There are seven “O Antiphons”, not eight. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/14 "2005-06-01T21:03:19Z")
I realize why I made a mistake in a matter of liturgy two posts up: it was my post #666! :eek: [Yes, I know scholars now believe that’s a mistranslation, but maybe my subconscious isn’t yet aware of that.] ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/15 "2005-06-01T21:17:00Z")
**The plot thickens.** An alternative source of the origin of “de la O” as a suffix for the name of the pregnant Mary is found in the [New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05712a.htm). Discussing the **Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary** (December 18): > [@](#): > > The feast of 18 December was commonly called, even in the liturgical books, “S. Maria de la O”, because on that day the clerics in the choir after Vespers used to utter a loud and protracted “O”, to express the longing of the universe for the coming of the Redeemer (Tamayo, Mart. Hisp., VI, 485). The Roman “O” antiphons have nothing to do with this term, because they are unknown in the Mozarabic Rite. This feast and its octave were very popular in Spain, where the people still call it “Nuestra Señora de la O”. So, sources agree it’s in reference to the expectant mother Mary, but differ on whether the O is vocative or exclamatory… ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/16 "2005-06-01T22:42:56Z")
‘Maria la O’ is a classic Cuban song, as well as a Spanish Caribbean folk legend. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/17 "2005-06-01T23:42:32Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > Now we’re getting somewhere. If I understand this correctly, then “de la O” is a reference to a famous religious icon. Sort of – a specific Marian avocation. In “Our Lady of O”, Spanish grammar putting a definite article in front of “O” to specify it’s a particular instance of “O” (that associated with her pregnancy). Through the tradition of patron saints, the various Marian designations become personal names, or surnames, by dropping the “Nuestra Señora de” phrase (e.g. Lourdes, Pilar, Altagracia, Dolores). In the case of O.L. of O, you keep the “de la” (or at the very least the “la”) because you would otherwise have people just called “O” whichin Spanish would be awkward. ---
**Author:** ![6\_6\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e0b2c6/32.png) [@6\_6\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6_6_6)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/18 "2005-06-02T08:12:46Z")
> [@Antonius Block](#): > > I realize why I made a mistake in a matter of liturgy two posts up: it was my post #666! :eek: > > [Yes, I know scholars now believe that’s a mistranslation, but maybe my subconscious isn’t yet aware of that.] Bah! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/19 "2005-06-02T18:18:54Z")
Is it possible that the name is a contraction of “de la Onate”? Don Juan de Onate was a somewhat famous conquistador in what is now the southwestern U.S. p.s. the “n” in “Onate” should have a tilde ~over it ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392/20 "2005-06-02T19:39:02Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Sort of – a specific Marian avocation. In “Our Lady of O”… I presume “The Story of O” is not a sequel. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-name-de-la-o/306392.md?page=2)