Portuguese male and female names

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

Portuguese names originated in the distant past and mixed with the traditions of Spain. Names can consist of several variants and surnames at the same time. Moreover, they are selected only from a list approved by the government. In this list, only the names of Catholic saints and those who have passed the spelling check. Portugal has a separate banned list, and it is updated annually. The rules for constructing names are also interesting. If the Portuguese had only one surname, it would cause great confusion.

Portuguese name composition

Portuguese names consist of a personal and two surnames - mother and father (Maria Gomes Silva). Moreover, the mother always comes first (although the opposite is not forbidden). But on the other hand, in a person’s life, they are most often called only by their paternal (last) surname. In our case, Silva. Or the name (Mary) is added to it in front.

How a personal name is chosen

As in all Spanish-speaking countries, in Portugal the personal name is chosenfrom the list of relatives. Usually grandparents. In addition to the name given by the parents, the child receives a second one at baptism. It can be given by a priest or godparents. Subsequently, only one name is used. More often - given by parents. However, the Portuguese may even have five personal names.

Surnames

Portuguese surnames usually contain two at once - paternal and maternal. But there are often options when there are more of them. This is usually practiced by the Basques and the nobility. Some may even have four surnames in their own. If desired, they are separated by the preposition "and". But in modern times, it has become considered old-fashioned. Therefore, the division with a pretext is used mainly by the Portuguese of noble origin. Between surnames sometimes put the particle "de". Or they combine it with the article "los", "la" or "las". The second surname can be taken from the name of the place of birth or residence.

Female names

Portuguese female names have been carefully selected. According to tradition, they are based only on names from the Catholic calendar (saints) or traditional ones that are not on the prohibited list. Many Portuguese babies are called by parents with names that have ancient Brazilian, Greek, Provencal, Jewish or Germanic roots. A large number do not come from the saints, but from their epithets. For example, Maria Dolores (Grieving) or Remedios (Healing).

For many centuries they have changed a lot, but they have not lost their beauty and melody from this. Girls in Portugal are given two names. After them comesurnames. It is interesting that in their sound they resemble names. For complete completion, one or a couple of husband's surnames are added (if the woman is married).

Since the main source of personal names is the Bible, many have Semitic roots (Aramaic and Hebrew). Most Popular Portuguese Names:

• Ana.
• Maria (often another name is placed before this name - Jose).
• March.
• Magdalena.
• Isabelle.
• Eva.

The most common names with Greek roots:

• Catalina.
• Elena.
• Barbara.
• Veronica.
• Paula.

The most common Germanic names:

• Erika.
• Carolina.
• Frida.
• Matilda.
• Louis.

Male names

Portuguese male names are chosen on the basis of female ones. Since the Portuguese are very religious, the names of saints from the Catholic calendar are preferred. And those that have passed government censorship and spelling. For example, the king of Spain has five personal names, but in life he uses one - Juan Carlos.

Boys traditionally receive a double name, to which are added the names of the father and mother. The father's is placed before the mother's. Multi-stage names in Portugal are the norm, but it is not always possible to understand how they were formed. Sometimes a diminutive form is used - variants of both names are "compressed" into one.

The most common names with Semitic roots:

• Miguel.
• Daniel.
• Jose.
• Juan.
• Adan.
• David.
• Thomas.
• Jaime.
• Elias.

The most common Portuguese names (male) with Greek roots:

• Pedro.
• Jorge.
• Alejandro.
• Nikolas.
• Ector.
• Pablo.
• Sergio.
• Andres.

The most common Germanic names:

• Alberto.
• Alfonso.
• Carlos.
• Gonzalo.
• Roberto.
• Louis.
• Rodrigo.
• Fernando.
• Federico.
• Enrique.
• Ernesto and some others.

Common Portuguese names

The list of Portuguese names is very long. It is published on the website of the Ministry of Justice of the country. All organizations that register a newborn are required to follow this list. It also has a separate column - prohibited names.

The most popular name in Portugal is Maria. Its greatest distribution is motivated by euphony and religiosity. Moreover, most often this name is combined with the male Jose or other female ones (Magdalena, Antonia, Carolina, etc.). Household metamorphosis also occurs with the personal name "Anu". They are followed by the Portuguese names Matilda, Beatrice, Ana and some others.

Among male names, the most common name is Juan("Ivan" in translation into Russian). Then follow Rodrigo, Martin, Thomas and some others. The procedure for converting one name into a double or triple one is similar to the female version. Only the female name always comes second. Such options in Portugal are also not uncommon. This custom is considered quite fashionable among the upper classes and nobility.

How Portuguese names change after marriage

Women's names and surnames do not change during marriage. When a Portuguese woman marries, there is no change of surname. She simply additionally adds another one - a spouse. Occasionally - two of his surnames. Children born in this marriage receive one mother's and father's surnames, or all four parental surnames.

Interesting facts about Portuguese names

The restriction on how you can name a newborn in Portugal applies only to the indigenous inhabitants of the country. If one of the parents is an immigrant, then the baby can be given any name that is not included in the special list.

Despite the fact that Portuguese names can consist of several surnames or various combinations with the addition of suffixes, prefixes, etc., only one of their names is used in everyday life. But in official documents, only the full name should be used, even if it consists of four parental surnames, or other numerous combinations.

But there are some exceptions. For example, in telephone directories, long Portuguese surnames are rarely written. Usually only the latter is used. Moreover, the previous affixes to it are skipped. There are also nicknames in Portugal. When forming them, a small suffix inh is placed before the last vowel. And, for example, Teresa (with the suffix - Teresinha (Terezinka)) turns into "little Teresa".

Sometimes reversed, magnifying suffixes are used. And the name becomes more "weighty", "heavy". Sometimes abbreviations are used. But for the most part, Portuguese names are converted into diminutives.