304 Portuguese Baby Names With Meanings
Language a romance shares its fluidity and beauty through these names.
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.
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 | |
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.
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
- 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
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