304 Portuguese Baby Names With Meanings

Language a romance shares its fluidity and beauty through these names.

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• Sep 14, 2023

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There are very few languages as beautiful as Portuguese. Abundant in soft vowels and vibrant consonants, the language is mainly spoken in Portugal, Brazil, and some regions of Guinea—Bissau, Mozambique, and Angola (1). Portuguese baby names will appeal to those with Portuguese heritage or who simply want a melodic name for their child. This country of port wine, Christiano Ronaldo, the Fado and Saudade musical styles, and the capoeira has a well-defined yet flexible naming system. The Portuguese law establishes that a child must be given at least one first name and one surname. The maximum number of surnames allowed is four. A few naming laws limit the parents to only traditional Portuguese names. However, a positive consequence of these rules is the rise of a wide variety of diminutives, commonly ending with -inho for boys and -inha for girls (2). A Portuguese title comprises one or more given names, followed by some family names. Typically, the first surname is taken from the maternal side, and the second is taken from the paternal side. These surnames may be written separately or joined with e. But for official surnames, individuals can use only one surname, typically the last one. After marrying, a woman can keep her maiden name or add her husband’s paternal family name to her name. Also, she may add both the husband’s family names to hers or remove her maternal family name, substituting it with her husband’s paternal family name (2). The Bible or saints inspire most first names in Portugal, a 97% Roman Catholic country. Portuguese first names have distinctive pronunciations. Wherever possible, first names in this country end with -ez, and family names usually end in -es. This is an important distinction between Portuguese and Spanish naming conventions because the latter is directly opposite to this rule. Thus, Luiz Gomes is Portuguese, but Luis Gomez is Spanish (2). You can browse our complete list of Portuguese baby names with meanings below to find the perfect one for your child.

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Abel	Boy	Breath
Abilio	Boy	One who is able or an expert
Adao	Boy	One who is the son of Adam
Adelaida	Girl	Noble kind; Adorned
Adelina	Girl	Noble; Nobility
Adriana	Unisex	Woman from Hadria
Agueda	Girl	Spanish and Portuguese form of Agatha
Aitana	Girl	Our people
Albertina	Girl	Nobly famous; Noble; Kind; A variant transcription of Alberta; Feminine form of Albert
Alexandrina	Girl	Protector of mankind; Defender of men; Helper and defender of mankind; Feminine form of Alexander

Alfonso	Boy	Ready; Prepared
Alice	Girl	Noble; Kind
Aliciana	Girl	Noble woman
Amalia	Girl	To work; Industrious
Amanda	Girl	One who is made for love and respect; Loved by others
Amea	Unisex	Gift from God
Amelia	Girl	Hardworking and industrious
Ana	Girl	Favor; Grace; Merciful
Anabela	Girl	Graceful and Beautiful; Easy to Love; Gracious; Lovable beauty; A variant of name Anabel
Anacleto	Boy	Form of Anacletus; Complicated; Invoke God's mercy

Analia	Girl	Gracious; Merciful; Favor
Andrea	Girl	Defender of mankind
Andreia	Girl	Womanly; Filled with grace
Angelina	Girl	Messenger of God; Angelic
Antinea	Girl	The queen of Atlantis
Antonia	Girl	Beautiful; Priceless; Praiseworthy
Babetta	Girl	Foreign woman
Balei	Girl	Being inquisitive and intelligent
Baltasar	Boy	Protected by God
Baptiste	Boy	Baptizer

Beatriz	Girl	Brings joy; Blessed; Happy
Beija	Unisex	Kiss or affection in Portuguese
Belmira	Girl	A beautiful woman
Benedita	Girl	A blessed woman
Benedito	Boy	He who is a blessed one
Beni	Boy	Plait of hair; Blessed
Bianca	Girl	Light; White; Pure
Bibiana	Girl	Lively; Dynamic
Bonifacio	Boy	A man who has goof faith
Branca	Girl	Fair complexioned

Bruna	Girl	Armor; Protection; Polished
Brunilda	Girl	A protector in the battle
Caetano	Boy	One who is from Caieta
Caique	Unisex	Exotic; Lively; Bird-like
Calisto	Girl	Most beautiful
Candelaria	Girl	Candlemas
Carla	Girl	Free woman
Carlota	Girl	A strong woman
Carlotte	Girl	Her strenght is like a man's
Carolina	Girl	Strong and free woman

Carris	Unisex	Grace; Kindness
Casca	Unisex	Empty; Vain
Cascata	Girl	Like a waterfall
Catarina	Girl	Pure; Clear
Catiana	Girl	Pure; Clear
Catina	Girl	Pure; Far off
Ceira	Girl	Dark -haired; Black
Cela	Unisex	It conceals; Baby; Rock
Celestino	Boy	A heavenly person
Celio	Boy	A heavenly body

Celso	Boy	Tall; High; Sky
Cesaria	Girl	The head of hair
Chica	Girl	A sweet little girl
Christiano	Boy	Follower of Christ
Cintia	Girl	Hungarian word for Cynthia; The goddess of moon
Clara	Girl	Bright; Clear
Conceicao	Girl	Conception; the process of conceiving a baby; forming an idea
Connie	Unisex	Constant; Steadfast
Constancia	Girl	Steadfast; Reliable and trustworthy
Constantina	Girl	Steadfast

Cosme	Boy	Universe; Order; Decency
Cristina	Girl	Christian; Followers of Christ
Cruz	Boy	Cross; Crucifix
Cujo	Unisex	Fierce; Savage; Dangerous
Daniela	Girl	God is my judge
Davi	Boy	Beloved
Diamantina	Girl	Messy; Playful; Crave emotional security
Diamantino	Boy	A pure and lovely individual; determined leader
Diana	Girl	Divine; Goddesslike
Diante	Unisex	Ancient; Enduring

Dias	Unisex	Days
Dinis	Boy	They have a heart of gold
Diogo	Boy	A wandering explorer; Rich in gifts
Dioselina	Girl	Divine; Heavenly
Domingos	Boy	One who is born on Sunday
Dores	Girl	Pain and suffering
Doroteia	Girl	A variant of Dorothea; Gift of God
Duante	Boy	He who watches over the land
Duarte	Boy	Protector of the land; One who watches land
Dylla	Girl	A self-reliant individual

Edite	Girl	Wealthy gift from a ruler
Eduarda	Boy	Famous bearer of light and energy
Efigenia	Girl	The one who is born to be strong
Elder	Boy	One who has deep connection with the God
Elpidio	Boy	Hope
Emilia	Girl	Rival; To emulate; Excel
Emilio	Boy	Someone who tries to emulate; A rival
Enia	Girl	It means jewel or fiery
Ermenegildo	Boy	Immense tribute
Ermengild	Unisex	Immense treasure

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Portuguese is a distinctly beautiful language. Many parents look for Portuguese baby names to give their children melodious names with traditional values. The language subtly differs from Spanish and consists of many unique phrases that cannot be translated into English. You will undoubtedly love browsing this list and discovering plenty of unique names. You will also find biblical or mythological names if you prefer them. So, no matter the gender of your child, there's a lovely Portuguese name waiting for them.

Infographic: Profound Portuguese Names For Babies

Portuguese baby names reflect the country’s cultural wealth. These names celebrate the country’s rich history and have deep cultural significance. So, do you want to give a Portuguese name to your baby? Delve into the infographic below as we bring you culturally-rich names from the region and meanings for boys and girls.

popular portuguese names for your baby (infographic)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some popular Portuguese names?

Francisco, Afonso, and João are among the most popular names for boys, while Maria, Alice, and Leonor are popular for baby girls.

2. How do you name a baby in Portugal?

A Portuguese name usually consists of one or two personal names, the mother's family surname and the father's surname. In formal situations, using only the last surname for simplicity is common.

3. What name means moon in Portuguese?

The Portuguese names Lua, Luan, and Louna mean ‘moon.’ These names may have been derived from the Latin term ‘Lunar.’

4. What are some unique or uncommon Portuguese names that are gaining popularity?

Alegria, meaning ‘joy,’ Chuva, meaning ‘rain,’ and Escura meaning ‘dark,’ are some examples of unique and uncommon Portuguese names that are gaining popularity.

5. What are some unisex names commonly used in Portugal?

Elyah meaning ‘my God is Yahweh,’ Noa, meaning ‘comfort’ or ‘movement,’ and Luca meaning ‘bringer of light,’ are some unisex names in Portugal.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Portuguese: The world\'s seventh most spoken language.
https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/portuguese-worlds-seventh-most-spoken-language
A Guide to Names and Naming Practices.
https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.