What's in a Spanish name?

Question

From watching different telenovelas in Spanish, I've seen so many names that individually mean something, but taken together are meaningless, at least to me. In particular, the titles of some of the television shows drive me crazy.

For example, the new telenovela Rosario Tijeras is supposedly based on the novel by Jorge Franco, so I guess it's a fictional name. In English "Rosary Scissors" makes no sense. Does it have some meaning in Spanish or is it just a name dreamt up by the author? If it does mean something in Spanish, I can't gather what it would be from the novel. Is it symbolic of something? Is the Rosary and Scissors symbolic of something? I would appreciate your thoughts. Forgive me if I've completely over-thought this.

Answer 1

Rosario is the name of the female protagonist. Tijeras refers to the weapon she used to dispense with one of her "victims". I read that "Rosario Tijeras" can also be translated into English as "Bloody Scissors".

The movie version has a scene where someone basically says, "There's no such last name." - Anadrien, Aug 20, 2010

I knew that Rosario was her name, so now that I know that scissors will be her weapon it begins to make sense. I need to get further in the book. Thanks! - Jack-OBrien, Aug 20, 2010

Answer 2

Okay, here's my take. The bloody reference is from a blurb, about the movie, on answers.com. I don't think that's right. I have found an alternate meaning for rosario. It also means string. So I think it means scissors string. In other words this is a movie about a serial killer committing a string of scissor murders.

I'm just trying to put 2 and 2 together. I really don't. - canicos, Aug 20, 2010

I figured as much. Nice try though. :) - Anadrien, Aug 20, 2010