Guadalupe

Guadalupe, or Guadeloupe was a name of Arabic origin (meaning "river of black gravel" or "river with a black bed"). The name was made famous first as a river in Extremadura, Spain, where it gained familiarity through the apparitions of Mary in that place. As is common with Marian apparitions, the epithet given Mary in reference to the apparition included the place name, thus "Holy Mary of Guadalupe" or more commonly Our Lady of Extremadura. The name Guadalupe gained greater familiarity through its association with the apparitions of Mary in Mexico, also known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, on Tepeyac hill in 1531. Today, the name "Guadalupe" is relatively common in Spanish-areas, especially in Mexico, as both a girl's name and in place names. It is used on occasion for a boy's name as well, as with Guadalupe Victoria, a Mexican general (see below) and the Mexican politician Guadalupe Acosta Naranjo.