Portuguese Boy Names
125 portuguese boy names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Looking for girl names instead? Portuguese Girl Names →
Ask a Brazilian grandmother about a boy’s name and you will get a saint, a king or a footballer — sometimes all three at once. That inheritance is what makes Portuguese boy names feel so lived-in. Miguel is the archangel and one of the most-loved boy names across the entire Portuguese-speaking world. Pedro is rock, plain and immovable, and it has been worn by Portuguese kings for eight hundred years. Francisco is the saint of Assisi in his Iberian form, and Manuel comes with the weight of a whole golden age behind it.
The modern Brazilian wave is a different sound entirely — quicker, brighter, made for stadium chants. Thiago leads it comfortably and has climbed steadily on American birth records. Marcelo and Rodrigo carry that same rolling energy, while Cristiano needs no introduction to anyone who has watched a football match this decade. If you want something shorter and sharper, Cruz means cross and works beautifully as a middle name, Rio means river and travels anywhere, and Santos — saints — is bold, rare and completely memorable. Eduardo, Fernando and Ricardo round out the dependable middle. We track 113 boy names of Portuguese origin.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its Portuguese or Brazilian history, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Portuguese Boy Names
Thiago#50 in the U.S.Supplanter; he who follows at the heel — Portuguese form of James/Jacob from Hebrew Ya'akov▶Miguel#212 in the U.S.Who is like God? (a rhetorical question implying none can compare)▶Francisco#322 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Franciscus, the Latinized name for a Frenchman or a member of th▶Jorge#323 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of George, from the Greek Georgios, composed of 'ge' (earth) and 'e▶Cruz#331 in the U.S.From the Spanish and Portuguese word 'cruz', meaning cross, derived from Latin 'crux'. In the C▶Leonel#350 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Lionel, from the Latin 'leo' (lion) with a diminutive suffix, me▶Manuel#371 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese short form of Emmanuel, from Hebrew Immanuel, composed of 'im' (with) an▶Ricardo#380 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Richard, from Germanic elements ric meaning power and hard meani▶Fernando#387 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Ferdinand, from Germanic elements frid (peace, journey) and nand▶Marcelo#399 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Marcellus, from Latin Marcellus, a diminutive of Marcus, connect▶Eduardo#410 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Edward, from Old English Eadweard combining ead (wealth, prosper▶Pedro#455 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Peter, from Greek 'Petros' meaning rock or stone; the name was g▶Rodrigo#492 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Roderick, from Old High German 'Hroderich' composed of 'hrod' (f▶Rio#532 in the U.S.From Spanish and Portuguese rio meaning 'river,' derived from Latin rivus ('stream, brook'); us▶Santos#766 in the U.S.Saints or holy ones; from the Spanish and Portuguese santos, plural of santo meaning saint, fro▶Cristiano#1125 in the U.S.Follower of Christ; Portuguese and Italian form of Christian, from Latin Christianus, from Gree▶Tiago#1156 in the U.S.Supplanter; Portuguese/Spanish form of James (Jacobo → Tiago), from Hebrew Ya'aqov (to grasp th▶Davi#1402 in the U.S.Beloved, dear one▶Joao#1405 in the U.S.God is gracious, God is good▶Paulo#1601 in the U.S.Portuguese form of Paul, from Latin Paulus meaning "small, humble"▶Everson#1640 in the U.S.Son of Ever (surname-derived)▶Nehemias#1645 in the U.S.the Latinate/Spanish and Portuguese form of Nehemiah, from Hebrew 'Nechemya' meaning 'Yahweh co▶Geovanni#1730 in the U.S. Yahweh is gracious▶Lisandro#1753 in the U.S.A release, loosening▶Iam#1764 in the U.S. Yahweh is gracious▶Humberto#1778 in the U.S.Bear cub▶Reynaldo#1783 in the U.S.Advice, counsel, decision▶Edson#1833 in the U.S.Son of Eda 2 ▶Gerson#1835 in the U.S.Exile▶Ronaldo#1946 in the U.S.Advice, counsel▶Adriano#2053 in the U.S.From Hadria▶Elton#2074 in the U.S.Ella's town▶Alexandre#2092 in the U.S.Defending men▶Jeronimo#2174 in the U.S.Sacred name, holy name; Spanish/Portuguese form of Jerome, from Greek Hieronymos.▶Ederson#2261 in the U.S.son of Edgar▶Rui#2297 in the U.S.famous ruler▶Santhiago#2328 in the U.S.Saint James; a spelling variant of Santiago (sant: saint + Iago: James, from Hebrew Yohanan/Yaa▶Matheus#2407 in the U.S.Gift of God; Portuguese form of Matthew, from Hebrew Mattityahu (gift of Yahweh)▶Renato#2493 in the U.S.Born again▶Heriberto#2531 in the U.S.Army▶Cristhian#2558 in the U.S.A Christian▶Heitor#2567 in the U.S.Holding fast (from Hector).▶Nazareth#2727 in the U.S. Yahweh is salvation▶Charleston#2791 in the U.S.Origin uncertain▶Jacinto#2839 in the U.S.Strength▶Abdias#2867 in the U.S.Servant of Yahweh ▶Kailan#2887 in the U.S.Lake▶Romero#2897 in the U.S.Rosemary▶Jeter#2921 in the U.S.Origin uncertain▶Oswaldo#2930 in the U.S.God▶Zacarias#2941 in the U.S. Yahweh remembers▶Abelardo#2944 in the U.S.Breath▶Eliano#2955 in the U.S.Sun▶Mateus#3019 in the U.S.Gift of God▶Timoteo#3032 in the U.S.Honoring God; one who gives honor to God▶Oseias#3192 in the U.S.Portuguese form of Hosea, from Hebrew Hoshea meaning 'salvation' or 'God saves'▶Vidal#3200 in the U.S.Life, full of life and vitality▶Augusto#3268 in the U.S.Great, venerable, majestic; Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian form of Augustus, the title of Rom▶Henrique#3621 in the U.S.Portuguese form of Henry — Germanic Heimirich, heim, 'home', plus ric, 'ruler' — 'home ruler'▶Marques#3645 in the U.S.From Portuguese/Spanish marquês, 'marquess, nobleman' (a noble rank); also linked to Marcus, 'o▶Rei#3860 in the U.S.From Japanese rei — kanji spanning 'spirit', 'gratitude', 'bell' — and Portuguese rei, 'king'▶Joaquim#3915 in the U.S.Portuguese form of Joachim — 'Yahweh establishes' — Mary's traditional father▶Kaio#4125 in the U.S.Portuguese form of Caio — from Roman Gaius, traditionally 'to rejoice'▶Denilson#4210 in the U.S.Brazilian -son name, likely 'son of Denilo/Daniel' (Hebrew, 'God is my judge'); routes layered▶Bento#4435 in the U.S.Portuguese form of Benedict — from Latin benedictus, 'blessed'▶Romario#4521 in the U.S.From Latin Romarius, 'a pilgrim to Rome', and the Roman -ario line (kin to Romeo, Roman); route▶Luiz#5156 in the U.S.Portuguese form of Louis/Luis — from Germanic hlod, 'fame', plus wig, 'war' — 'famous warrior; ▶Luar#5555 in the U.S.From Spanish/Portuguese lunar/luar, 'of the moon; moonlight'; a modern name; routes layered▶Tavaris#5844 in the U.S.A modern name echoing the Portuguese surname Tavares ('of the hermitage/of a place of cells'); ▶Tavares#6124 in the U.S.From the Portuguese surname Tavares — from a place-name, likely 'of the hermitage; of a place o▶Joaomiguel#6609 in the U.S.A Portuguese compound of Joao (the Portuguese John, 'God is gracious') and Miguel (Michael, 'wh▶Ailton#6630 in the U.S.Ailton is a genuine Portuguese and Brazilian given name, borne by numerous real Brazilian sport▶Mello#6677 in the U.S.From the Portuguese surname Mello/Melo (linked to a place, possibly from Latin melus, 'an apple▶Reis#6718 in the U.S.Variously the Portuguese reis, 'kings' (a surname honoring the Magi/Three Kings), and the Turki▶Caetano#6877 in the U.S.A Portuguese form of Gaetano/Cajetan — from Latin Caietanus, 'from Gaeta', a town in Italy▶Nilmar#6880 in the U.S.Nilmar follows a common Brazilian Portuguese pattern of compounding two given names, most plaus▶Murilo#7095 in the U.S.From the surname/place Murilo/Murillo — variously 'a little wall' and 'a small hill' (from Lati▶Jacir#7418 in the U.S.A modern name, variously a Brazilian/Tupi name (Jacira/Jaci, 'the moon') and an echo of Arabic ▶Otavio#8136 in the U.S.A Portuguese form of Octavius/Octavio — from the Latin octavus, 'the eighth' (often the eighth ▶Benjamim#8335 in the U.S.Benjamim is the Portuguese form of Benjamin, from Hebrew Binyamin, 'son of the right hand' (or ▶Joaolucas#8607 in the U.S.A Portuguese compound of Joao (John, 'God is gracious', Hebrew) and Lucas ('light; from Lucania▶Ruan#8800 in the U.S.Variously a Portuguese form of Rohan (from Rowan/Ruadhan, 'little red one'), a Chinese surname ▶Asafe#9021 in the U.S.A Portuguese form of Asaph — from the Hebrew Asaf, 'God has gathered; the gatherer/collector'; ▶Diogo#9188 in the U.S.A Portuguese form of Diego — variously linked to James/Jacob ('the supplanter', Hebrew) and the▶Frederico#9248 in the U.S.A spelling of Federico/Frederick — from the Germanic frid, 'peace', + ric, 'ruler', hence 'peac▶Thyago#9742 in the U.S.A Portuguese/Brazilian spelling of Tiago — a short form of Santiago (Saint James), from the Heb▶Filipe#10070 in the U.S.The Portuguese form of Philip, from the Greek Philippos, 'lover of horses' (philos, 'loving', +▶Deivid#10102 in the U.S.A Latina/Brazilian phonetic spelling of David — from the Hebrew David, 'beloved'; the second ki▶Kaique#10219 in the U.S.A popular Brazilian name, commonly linked to Tupi roots and read as 'the heron' or tied to wate▶Irlan#10257 in the U.S.A modern Brazilian-Portuguese given name in the -lan family (echoing Erlan/Ferlan); no single f▶Jaco#10271 in the U.S.A Portuguese/Afrikaans short form of Jacob, from the Hebrew Yaakov, 'supplanter; holder of the ▶Joaopedro#10315 in the U.S.A Portuguese compound of Joao ('God is gracious', from John) and Pedro ('rock', from Peter); a ▶Lobo#10470 in the U.S.From the Spanish and Portuguese lobo, 'wolf' — a nature word that also survives as a surname. U▶Maciel#10489 in the U.S.A Spanish and Portuguese surname Maciel, most often traced to Macías (a medieval form of Matthe▶Marcio#10499 in the U.S.The Portuguese and Spanish form of Marcius/Marcus, from Mars, the Roman god of war — so 'dedica▶Messias#10520 in the U.S.The Portuguese and Latin form of Messiah, from the Hebrew mashiach, 'the anointed one' — a devo▶Willians#10820 in the U.S.Willians is a Latin-American (especially Brazilian) respelling of William/Williams, from German▶Ademir#10925 in the U.S.Ademir is a Slavic and Portuguese given name, most often read from Germanic-via-Slavic elements▶Brazil#11015 in the U.S.The country name Brazil, taken up as a given name. Brazil is named for brazilwood ('pau-brasil'▶Cyro#11176 in the U.S.A respelling near Cyrus (Persian Kurush, often glossed 'sun' or 'lord'); also seen as a Brazili▶Dhiago#11233 in the U.S.A modern spelling of Diego (or the Portuguese Tiago/Thiago), traditionally linked to James/Jaco▶Edmar#11262 in the U.S.A blend name popular in Brazil, joining an Ed- element ('rich; blessed; guardian,' as in Edgar/▶Estevao#11303 in the U.S.Estêvão is the Portuguese form of Stephen (Greek Stephanos, 'crown; garland; wreath'). A classi▶Joaovictor#11365 in the U.S.Joaovictor records the Brazilian double name Joao Victor as a single word. Joao is the Portugue▶Rodriques#11755 in the U.S.Rodriques is a spelling of the Iberian surname Rodrigues or Rodriguez, meaning 'son of Rodrigo.▶Kleber#11910 in the U.S.Kleber is a German occupational surname (from kleben/Kleber, a plasterer or clay-worker), used ▶Rubens#12035 in the U.S.Rubens is a Portuguese and Brazilian form of Ruben or Reuben, from the Hebrew Reuven, understoo▶Santanna#12063 in the U.S.Santanna reads as a spelling of Santana, from the Spanish/Portuguese Sant'Ana ('Saint Anne'), a▶Adilson#12342 in the U.S.A Brazilian Portuguese given name, formed on a base such as Adil (linked to Arabic 'just; fair'▶Calebe#12590 in the U.S.Calebe is the Portuguese form of Caleb, a Hebrew name traditionally read as 'dog' (a symbol of ▶Edilberto#12652 in the U.S.Edilberto is the Spanish and Portuguese development of the old Germanic name Adalbert, combinin▶Edu#12739 in the U.S.Edu is a short, friendly form of Eduardo or Eduard used across the Spanish- and Portuguese-spea▶Geremias#12888 in the U.S.Geremias is a Portuguese and Spanish form of Jeremiah, from the Hebrew Yirmeyahu, 'the Lord exa▶Guilherme#12902 in the U.S.The Portuguese form of William, from the Germanic Wilhelm — wil ('will, desire') plus helm ('he▶Herminio#12941 in the U.S.Herminio is a Spanish and Portuguese name derived from the Roman family name Herminius, itself ▶Inacio#12970 in the U.S.Inacio (Portuguese Inacio, with a cedilla in Portugal and Brazil) is the Portuguese form of Ign▶Jadir#13008 in the U.S.Jadir comes from Arabic jadir, 'worthy, deserving, fitting.' The name also appears in Brazil, w▶Kristiano#13339 in the U.S.Kristiano is a K- spelling of Cristiano, the Italian and Portuguese form of Christian, from Lat▶Kaua#13354 in the U.S.Kaua travels two honest routes. In Hawaiian it is linked to words for rain and shower. In Brazi▶Maycon#13490 in the U.S.Maycon is best known as a Brazilian respelling used for names heard as 'Maicon' or 'Michael', a▶Pedrohenrique#13650 in the U.S.Pedrohenrique runs together Pedro and Henrique, a hugely popular Brazilian double name. Pedro i▶Neimar#13666 in the U.S.Neimar is a modern Brazilian coined name and a spelling variant of Neymar. Names of this type a▶Rogerio#13793 in the U.S.Rogerio is the Portuguese and Italian form of Roger, a Germanic name joining 'hrod' (fame, glor▶Rivaldo#13907 in the U.S.A Brazilian given name best known from footballer Rivaldo, styled with the Germanic-rooted -ald▶Vitor#14091 in the U.S.The Portuguese form of Victor, from Latin victor, 'conqueror; winner'. It is a common name in P▶
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Frequently Asked
What are the most popular Portuguese boy names?
Thiago and Miguel lead in U.S. birth data, followed by Francisco, Jorge and Cruz.
Are Portuguese and Brazilian boy names different?
They draw on the same language but the fashions differ. Brazil favours forms such as Thiago and Marcelo, while Portugal leans on the older royal and saint names like Manuel and Pedro.
How do you say Portuguese boy names in English?
Most are straightforward once you know that Portuguese vowels are more closed than Spanish ones and that the letter r can be strongly aspirated. Every name page here includes an audio pronunciation to remove the guesswork.