496 Portuguese Baby Names From The Atlantic Coast

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

Written by Nisha Bharatan, B.Tech Specialty: Kids Fun and Developmental ActivitiesExperience: 6 years

Nisha Bharatan is a writer with six years of experience. After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing. Nisha discovered her passion for writing in 2016 when she started documenting her journey into motherhood.

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Fact-checked by Trisha Chakraborty, MA, BEd Specialty: Child development & educationExperience: 5 years

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the University of Burdwan.

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Last Updated on Jul 24, 2024

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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.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Olivia	Girl	Peace; Olive tree
Camila	Girl	Religious attendant; Priest's helper
Thomas	Boy	Twin
Eliana	Girl	God has given the answer; Sun
Bella	Girl	Beautiful; God is my oath
Natalia	Girl	Born on Christmas
Ariana	Girl	Most holy; Golden life; Noble; Aryan
Jose	Boy	God will give; He will add
Eva	Girl	To breathe; To live; Mother of life; Full of life
Liliana	Girl	Lily; Purity; Innocence

Eliza	Girl	My God is an oath; Pledged to God; Joyful
Elliana	Girl	My God has answered; Sun; Light of favor
Lucia	Girl	Light
Isabel	Girl	God is my oath
Carlos	Boy	Free man; Army
Emiliano	Boy	Rival; Industrious
Miguel	Boy	Who is like God
Sara	Girl	Princess
Juliana	Girl	Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove; Youthful; Juvenile
Emilio	Boy	Rival; Eager

Vera	Girl	Faith
Lucille	Girl	Light; To shine
Francisco	Boy	Frenchman; Franks; Someone who is free
Lia	Girl	Weary; Relaxed
Manuel	Boy	God is with us
Anderson	Boy	Son of Andrew
Fernando	Boy	Adventurous; Bold journey
Laura	Girl	Laurel; Victory
Elisa	Girl	My God is an oath; My God is fullness
Veronica	Girl	She who brings victory; True image

Hugo	Boy	Mind; Spirit; Thought
Esmeralda	Girl	Emerald
Asa	Boy	Physician; Healer; Goddess; Morning; Child of light
Mae	Girl	A bitter pearl
Carolina	Girl	Freeholder; Free woman
Emanuel	Boy	God is with us
Helena	Girl	Torch; Shining light
Renata	Girl	Born again; Rebirth; Brave lion
Armando	Boy	Soldier; Army man
Rodrigo	Boy	Famous ruler

Gloria	Girl	Praise; Immortal glory; Renown
Fernanda	Girl	Peace; Bold journey; Daring
Julio	Boy	Sacred to Jupiter; Youthful; Downy-bearded
Jaime	Boy	Supplanter; One who follows; Holder of the heel
Julieta	Girl	Youthful; Jove's child; Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove
Gustavo	Boy	Staff of the Gods
Rosa	Girl	Rose; Dew
Lina	Girl	Tender; Palm tree; Flax; United; Absorbed; Pretty; Elegant; Sunlight; Cascade falls
Monica	Girl	Advisor; Truth
Alberto	Boy	Noble; Bright; Famous

Alfredo	Boy	Elf counsel; Sage; Wise
Mauricio	Boy	A dark-skinned man
Marina	Girl	Of the sea; Belonging to the sea
Paulina	Girl	Small; Humble
Paula	Girl	Small; Humble
Teresa	Girl	Harvester
Alvaro	Boy	Elf army; All guard
Dulce	Girl	Sweet; Candy
Isabela	Girl	God is my oath
Linda	Girl	Beautiful; Soft; Flexible; Linden tree; to wait

Eliel	Boy	My God is God
Dilan	Boy	Heart; Compassionate; Tide; Flow
Felipe	Boy	Horse lover
Deandre	Boy	Manly; Masculine
Raina	Girl	Queen; Night; Pure; Advice
Raquel	Girl	The innocent ewe; Lamb
Jair	Boy	He shines
Clarissa	Girl	Bright; Clear
Jeremias	Boy	Yahweh will exalt
Elsa	Girl	God is my oath

Luisa	Girl	Famous warrior
Emiliana	Girl	Rival; Excel
Ramiro	Boy	Great judge; Law; Wedge; Famous
Jairo	Boy	He shines; God enlightens
Danilo	Boy	God is a judge
Belle	Girl	Beautiful; God is my oath
Nathalia	Girl	Christmas day
Micaela	Girl	Who is like God?
Adiel	Boy	Ornament of God; God passes by
Carla	Girl	Free man; Army

Cristiano	Boy	Follower of Christ; Clever and judicious person
Mariano	Boy	A hostile; War-like man
Patricia	Girl	Noble
Celina	Girl	Heavenly
Sonia	Girl	Wisdom
Lorena	Girl	From Laurentum; Laurel
Anita	Girl	Grace; Favor; Mercy; Unguided
Delia	Girl	Of Delos; Heart; Jewel of the sea
Bernardo	Boy	Bold as a bear
Rebeca	Girl	To tie; To bind

Baila	Girl	To dance; White; Pure; Beautiful
Ester	Girl	Star; Evening star
Ines	Girl	Pure
Humberto	Boy	Renowned warrior; Shining intellect
Calista	Girl	Most beautiful; Fairest
Liya	Girl	Weary; Cow; I am with God
Isadora	Girl	Gift of Isis
Inez	Girl	Pure; Holy
Fred	Boy	Peaceful ruler
Lidia	Girl	A person who is from Lydia

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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)

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.