Because it usually appeared around Christmas, the Spanish-speaking people of the region christened it "El Nino," which means "the Christ-child." The El Nino phenomenon always lasts for at least a year, and affects three continents.
由於這股暖流常開始於聖誕節前後，當地西班牙後裔將之稱為「聖嬰」。聖嬰的出現，時間往往超過一年，影響力橫跨三大洲。