Looking for a Portuguese name for your baby boy? This A–Z list brings together Portuguese male names and their meanings so you can compare favourites and build a shortlist. Start with the names that catch your eye, or jump to a letter if you already know how you’d like the name to begin.
Portuguese Boy Names Starting With A
- Abel: A biblical name often linked to the Hebrew word for “breath”. Its exact origin is uncertain.
- Abílio: A Portuguese name with an old Latin form. Its original meaning is uncertain.
- Abraão: The Portuguese form of Abraham, traditionally understood as “father of many”.
- Adalberto: A longer form related to Alberto, with Germanic roots associated with nobility and brightness.
- Adão: The Portuguese form of Adam. In the biblical creation story, the name is linked by wordplay to the Hebrew word for earth or soil.
- Adriano: From the Latin Hadrianus, meaning “from Hadria”, an ancient place name in Italy.
- Afonso: A name of Germanic origin, often interpreted as “noble and ready”. Afonso Henriques was Portugal’s first king.
- Agostinho: The Portuguese form of Augustine, ultimately related to the Latin Augustus, meaning “exalted” or “venerable”.
- Alberto: The Portuguese form of Albert, from Germanic roots meaning “noble” and “bright”.
- Aleixo: A Portuguese form of Alexius, from a Greek name associated with defence or protection.
- Alexandre: The Portuguese form of Alexander, from a Greek name meaning “defender of men”.
- Aloísio: A variant of Luís used in Portugal and Brazil. It is also spelled Aluísio.
- Álvaro: A traditional Portuguese name recorded in Latin as Alvarus. Its earlier roots are debated.
- Amadeu: The Portuguese form of Amadeus, a Latin name associated with love of God.
- Anacleto: From the Greek name Anakletos, associated with being called upon or summoned back.
- André: The Portuguese form of Andrew, from the Greek Andreas, whose root conveys the idea of manliness.
- Anselmo: From Germanic roots connected with a deity and a helmet or protection. It is often interpreted as “protected by the gods”.
- António: The European Portuguese form of the Roman family name Antonius, whose original meaning is uncertain. The Brazilian Portuguese spelling is Antônio.
- Armando: Related to the Germanic name Herman through the French form Armand. Its roots refer to an army and a person.
- Artur: The Portuguese form of Arthur. Its origin is debated, with proposed links to a Roman family name and to a Celtic word for “bear”.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With B
- Baltasar: An ancient name that invokes divine protection for a king. In Christian tradition, Baltasar is one of the three Magi.
- Bartolomeu: The Portuguese form of Bartholomew, from an Aramaic name meaning “son of Talmai”.
- Basílio: From the Greek Basileios, meaning “royal”.
- Batista: From a Greek word for someone who baptises. It also appears in the compound name João Batista, traditionally written João Baptista.
- Belmiro: A variant of Delmiro that was used as a literary name in Portugal in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Benedito: From the Latin Benedictus, meaning “blessed”. The shorter form Bento largely took its place in Portugal.
- Benjamim: The Portuguese form of Benjamin, from Hebrew roots interpreted as “son of the right hand” or “son of the south”.
- Bento: A shortened form of Benedito, carrying the same meaning, “blessed”.
- Bernardino: A diminutive of Bernardo, sharing its Germanic roots connected with bears and strength.
- Bernardo: From Germanic roots associated with bears and strength, commonly interpreted as “strong as a bear”.
- Bonifácio: A name with two Latin interpretations, “good fortune” and “one who does good”.
- Brás: The Portuguese form of the Latin name Blasius, possibly linked to a Roman name meaning “one who stammers”.
- Bruno: From a Germanic root meaning “brown”, passed down through the Latin form Brunus.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With C
- Caetano: From the Italian Gaetano, meaning “from Gaeta”, a town on the Italian coast.
- Carlos: The Portuguese form of Charles, from a Germanic word for “man”.
- Casimiro: The Portuguese form of the Polish name Kazimierz. Its exact meaning is debated, although one element is associated with peace or the world.
- Celestino: Related to Celeste and ultimately to a Latin word meaning “heavenly”.
- Célio: The masculine form of Célia, linked to the Roman family name Coelius and traditionally associated with the sky.
- Celso: From the Latin celsus, meaning “lofty” or “exalted”.
- César: From the Roman family name Caesar, later used as an imperial title. The original meaning is uncertain.
- Clemente: From the Latin clemens, meaning “gentle” or “merciful”.
- Cláudio: From the Roman family name Claudius, traditionally linked to the Latin word claudus, meaning “limping”.
- Cosme: From the Greek kosmos, meaning “order”.
- Cristiano: From the Latin Christianus, meaning “Christian”.
- Cristóvão: The Portuguese form of Christopher, from a Greek name meaning “bearer of Christ”.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With D
- Damião: The Portuguese form of Damian, from a Greek root meaning “to tame”.
- Daniel: From a Hebrew name meaning “God is my judge”.
- David: A biblical name of Hebrew origin, commonly interpreted as “beloved”. Davi is a form used in Brazil.
- Délio: A name from classical tradition meaning “from Delos”, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea.
- Diamantino: From a Portuguese word meaning “set with diamonds”.
- Dinis: A medieval Portuguese form of Dionísio, used by King Dinis of Portugal.
- Dionísio: From a Greek name meaning “of Dionysus”, the Greek god associated with wine and vines.
- Diogo: The Portuguese counterpart of Diego. Its exact origin is uncertain, and one proposed connection is with a Greek word for teaching.
- Domingos: From the Latin Dominicus, meaning “of the Lord”. The same tradition links the name with Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
- Duarte: A historical Portuguese form of Eduardo, with roots associated with good fortune and protection.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With E
- Edgar: From Old English elements associated with good fortune and a spear.
- Eduardo: The Portuguese form of Edward, from Old English roots meaning “wealth” or “good fortune” and “guard”.
- Eleutério: From the Greek Eleutherios, a name associated with freedom and liberation.
- Elias: From the Hebrew name behind Elijah, meaning “Yahweh is God”.
- Eliseu: The Portuguese form of Elisha, from a Hebrew name meaning “my God is salvation”.
- Elói: The Portuguese form of the French Éloi, ultimately from a Latin name connected with the verb “to choose”.
- Emílio: From the old Roman family name Aemilius. Its original meaning is uncertain.
- Ernesto: From a Germanic name associated with vigour or earnestness.
- Estêvão: The Portuguese form of Stephen, from a Greek word meaning “crown” or “wreath”.
- Eugénio: From a Greek name meaning “well-born”. Eugênio is the Brazilian Portuguese spelling.
- Eustáquio: From a Greek name that refers to a good ear of grain, suggesting fruitfulness.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With F
- Fábio: From the Roman family name Fabius, possibly related to the Latin word for a broad bean.
- Fausto: From the Latin faustus, meaning “fortunate”.
- Feliciano: Related to Félix, a Latin name associated with good luck and success.
- Fernando: An old Germanic name traditionally interpreted as referring to a bold journey or undertaking.
- Filipe: The Portuguese form of Philip, from a Greek name meaning “lover of horses”.
- Flávio: From the Roman family name Flavius, derived from a Latin word for yellow or golden colouring.
- Francisco: From an Italian word meaning “Frenchman”. The name spread widely through devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi.
- Frederico: From Germanic elements meaning “peace” and “ruler”.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With G
- Gabriel: A Hebrew name often interpreted as “God is my strength”.
- Gaspar: A traditional name associated with one of the Magi. Its earlier origin is uncertain.
- Geraldo: A Germanic name associated with a spear and strength. It is closely related to Gerardo.
- Gervásio: An old name of Germanic origin, traditionally interpreted as referring to a spear-bearing retainer.
- Gil: A traditional Portuguese form of Egídio, ultimately linked to a Greek word for a young goat.
- Gonçalo: From the old Germanic name behind the Latinised form Gundisalvus. Its roots are traditionally linked with battle and safety.
- Gualter: An old Portuguese form of Walter, from Germanic roots associated with authority and an army.
- Guilherme: The Portuguese form of William, from Germanic elements meaning “will” or “resolve” and “helmet” or “protection”.
- Gustavo: The Portuguese form of Gustav. One proposed interpretation is “staff of the Geats”, referring to a historical Scandinavian people.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With H
- Heitor: The Portuguese form of Hector, from a Greek name associated with holding firm or enduring.
- Henrique: The Portuguese form of Henry, from Germanic roots meaning “home” and “ruler”.
- Herculano: From the Latin Herculanus, interpreted as “from Herculaneum”, the ancient Italian town. It is more familiar as a surname in Portugal.
- Hermenegildo: An old Visigothic name with a long history in the Iberian Peninsula. Its exact meaning is uncertain.
- Hilário: From the Latin hilaris, meaning “cheerful”.
- Horácio: From the Roman family name Horatius, borne by the poet known in English as Horace.
- Hugo: A name of Germanic origin connected with the mind or intellect.
- Humberto: The Portuguese form of Humbert. One interpretation connects its Germanic roots with a bear cub and brightness.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With I
- Inácio: From the Latin name Ignatius, also recorded as Egnatius. Its original meaning is uncertain.
- Isaac: From a Hebrew name meaning “he will laugh” or “he will rejoice”. Isaque is another Portuguese spelling.
- Isaías: The Portuguese form of Isaiah, from Hebrew roots meaning “Yahweh is salvation”.
- Isidoro: From a Greek name meaning “gift of Isis”, referring to the Egyptian goddess.
- Ivo: An old name usually linked to a Germanic word for the yew tree, with a related Celtic origin also proposed.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With J,k
- Jacinto: From the Greek word for hyacinth, a name with both floral and mythological associations.
- Jaime: A Portuguese form related to James and Jacob. The biblical story traditionally associates Jacob’s name with holding his twin’s heel.
- Januário: From the Latin Januarius, a name connected with the month of January.
- Jeremias: The Portuguese form of Jeremiah, a Hebrew name often interpreted as “may God exalt”.
- Jerónimo: From Greek roots meaning “sacred name”. Jerônimo is the Brazilian Portuguese spelling.
- João: The Portuguese form of John, from a Hebrew name meaning “God has been gracious”.
- Joaquim: The Portuguese form of Joachim, from a Hebrew name often interpreted as “God will establish” or “may God raise up”.
- Joel: From a Hebrew name meaning “Yahweh is God”.
- Jorge: The Portuguese form of George, from a Greek word meaning “farmer” or “worker of the land”.
- José: The Portuguese form of Joseph, from a Hebrew name meaning “may God add”.
- Josué: The Portuguese form of Joshua, from Hebrew roots meaning “Yahweh is salvation”.
- Júlio: From the Roman family name Julius, whose original meaning is uncertain.
- Kauã: A Brazilian given name of Tupi origin, also spelled Cauã. It is associated with a Tupi word for a bird of prey, often translated as “hawk” or “falcon”.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With L
- Lázaro: The Portuguese form of Lazarus, ultimately from a Hebrew name meaning “God has helped”.
- Leandro: From the Greek name Leandros. One interpretation connects its roots with “lion” and “man”.
- Leonardo: From Germanic roots associated with a lion and boldness, often interpreted as “brave as a lion”.
- Leonel: A Portuguese form of Lionel, a diminutive of a name meaning “lion”.
- Leopoldo: From Germanic elements meaning “people” and “bold”.
- Lino: From the Greek name Linos through Latin. It is also the name of a musician in Greek mythology.
- Lourenço: From the Latin Laurentius, meaning “from Laurentum”, an ancient Italian town.
- Lucas: From a name commonly interpreted as “from Lucania”, a region of southern Italy.
- Luciano: From the Latin Lucianus, generally understood as a name derived from Lucius, the source of the Portuguese name Lúcio.
- Luís: The Portuguese form of Louis, traditionally interpreted from Germanic roots as “famous in battle”. Luiz is a Brazilian spelling.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With M
- Manuel: The Portuguese form of Emmanuel, from a Hebrew name meaning “God is with us”.
- Marcelo: From the Latin Marcellus, a diminutive of the Roman name Marcus.
- Marcos: The Portuguese form of Mark, from the Roman name Marcus, possibly connected with Mars.
- Mariano: From the Latin Marianus, a Roman name derived from Marius. In Christian use it can also be associated with Mary.
- Mário: From the Roman family name Marius, traditionally associated with Mars, the Roman god of war.
- Martim: A medieval Portuguese short form of Martinho, ultimately from a Latin name associated with Mars.
- Martinho: From the Latin Martinus, meaning “of Mars” or “devoted to Mars”.
- Mateus: The Portuguese form of Matthew, from a Hebrew name meaning “gift of God”.
- Matias: The Portuguese form of Matthias, from the same Hebrew name family as Mateus and carrying the meaning “gift of God”.
- Maurício: From a Latin name related to Maurus, a historical term for someone from ancient Mauretania in North Africa.
- Miguel: The Portuguese form of Michael, from the Hebrew question “Who is like God?”
- Moisés: The Portuguese form of Moses. Its origin is uncertain, with a possible connection to ancient Egyptian.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With N
- Nélio: A familiar form of Cornélio that is also used as a given name.
- Nicolau: The Portuguese form of Nicholas, from Greek roots meaning “victory of the people”.
- Noé: The Portuguese form of Noah, from a Hebrew name associated with rest.
- Norberto: From Germanic roots meaning “north” and “bright” or “illustrious”.
- Nuno: A name with a long history in Portugal. Its exact meaning is debated, with several proposed Latin origins.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With O
- Octávio: From the Roman family name Octavius, derived from the Latin word for “eighth”.
- Óscar: A name with more than one possible origin. One proposed source is an Old English name meaning “divine spear”.
- Osvaldo: The Portuguese form of Oswald, from Old English roots associated with a god and power.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With P,Q
- Pascoal: From the Latin paschalis, meaning “of Easter”.
- Patrício: From the Latin patricius, meaning “noble” or “of the patrician class”.
- Paulo: From the Latin Paulus, meaning “small”.
- Pedro: The Portuguese form of Peter, from a Greek word meaning “rock” or “stone”.
- Pio: From the Latin pius, meaning “devout” or “dutiful”.
- Quim: A familiar Portuguese short form of Joaquim, which is traditionally interpreted as “God will establish”.
- Quintino: From a Latin name related to quintus, meaning “fifth”.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With R
- Rafael: From a Hebrew name meaning “God has healed”.
- Raimundo: The Portuguese form of Raymond, from Germanic roots associated with counsel and protection.
- Ramiro: An old name of Germanic origin, traditionally interpreted in Portuguese as “famous warrior”.
- Raul: From an older Germanic name with elements meaning “counsel” and “wolf”.
- Reginaldo: From Germanic roots associated with counsel and ruling.
- Reinaldo: A name related to Reginaldo, with Germanic roots connected with counsel and authority.
- Remígio: From the Latin name Remigius, commonly linked to a word for an oarsman or rower.
- Renato: From the Latin renatus, meaning “reborn”.
- Ricardo: The Portuguese form of Richard, from Germanic roots meaning “ruler” and “brave” or “strong”.
- Roberto: From Germanic roots associated with fame and brightness.
- Rodolfo: From Germanic roots meaning “fame” and “wolf”, often interpreted as “famous wolf”.
- Rodrigo: From Germanic elements associated with fame and rule, often interpreted as “famous ruler”.
- Rogério: From Germanic roots associated with fame and a spear.
- Ronaldo: A form related to Reinaldo, with roots associated with counsel and rule. It is more widely used in Brazil than in Portugal.
- Roque: A Portuguese name that came through the French Roch. Its earlier meaning is uncertain.
- Rúben: The Portuguese form of Reuben, traditionally interpreted from Hebrew as “look, a son”.
- Rui: A medieval short form of Rodrigo that became a given name in its own right in Portugal.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With S
- Salomão: The Portuguese form of Solomon, traditionally associated with the Hebrew word for peace.
- Salvador: From the Latin salvator, meaning “saviour”.
- Samuel: A Hebrew name interpreted as “name of God” or, in another tradition, “God has heard”.
- Sansão: The Portuguese form of Samson, associated with a Hebrew word meaning “sun”.
- Santiago: A name formed from an older expression for Saint James, closely associated with Santiago de Compostela.
- Saul: From a Hebrew name meaning “asked for” or “prayed for”.
- Sebastião: The Portuguese form of Sebastian, from a Latin name meaning “from Sebaste”, an ancient place name.
- Sérgio: From the Roman family name Sergius. Its original meaning is uncertain.
- Severiano: A name related to Severo and Severino, ultimately associated with the Latin word for “stern” or “strict”.
- Silvério: From the Latin name Silverius, borne by a sixth-century pope.
- Silvestre: From the Latin silvestris, meaning “of the woods” or “of the forest”.
- Simão: The Portuguese form of Simon, from a biblical name associated with hearing or listening.
- Sílvio: From the Latin name Silvius, related to silva, meaning “forest”.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With T
- Teodoro: From the Greek Theodoros, meaning “gift of God”.
- Teotónio: An old Portuguese name from the medieval Latin Theotonius, with Germanic roots. Saint Teotónio was the first prior of the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra.
- Tiago: A Portuguese name related to James and Jacob. It developed from an older form of the name in the expression for Saint James.
- Tibúrcio: From the Latin Tiburtius, meaning “from Tibur”, the ancient Italian town now called Tivoli.
- Tomás: The Portuguese form of Thomas, from an Aramaic word meaning “twin”.
- Tristão: The Portuguese form of Tristan, a medieval name best known from the story of Tristan and Isolde. Its earlier meaning is debated.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With U,V
- Ulisses: The Portuguese form of Ulysses, the Latin name for Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s Odyssey. Its earlier origin is uncertain.
- Urbano: From the Latin urbanus, meaning “of the city” or “city dweller”.
- Valentim: From the Latin Valentinus, a name associated with strength, vigour and good health.
- Vasco: A traditional Portuguese name related to the medieval name Velasco. Its original meaning is uncertain.
- Vicente: From the Latin Vincentius, a name associated with winning or overcoming.
- Virgílio: From the Roman family name Vergilius, also written Virgilius. Its best-known bearer was the Roman poet Virgil.
- Viriato: An old name traditionally interpreted as “adorned with bracelets”. It was borne by the Lusitanian leader Viriato.
- Vítor: From the Latin victor, meaning “winner” or “conqueror”.
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Portuguese Boy Names Starting With X,Z
- Xavier: From a Basque place name meaning “new house”. It came into use as a given name through devotion to Saint Francis Xavier, known in Portuguese as São Francisco Xavier.
- Zacarias: The Portuguese form of Zechariah, from a Hebrew name meaning “the Lord has remembered”.
- Zé: A familiar Portuguese short form of José, which comes from a Hebrew name meaning “may God add”.
- Zeferino: From a Greek name related to zephyros, meaning “west wind”.
- Zósimo: From a Greek name associated with vigour or vitality.
Choosing a Portuguese Boy Name
As you build your shortlist, try saying each name aloud with the surname. You might also want to consider the full name and the short form your family would naturally use. A name like Joaquim might become Quim at home, while Rodrigo and Rui can each stand on their own.
Some names on this list have a clear literal meaning, while others are better understood through their history or the older names they come from. If a meaning matters to you, the origin note can help you decide whether the connection feels right for your family.
More Baby Names to Explore
If you’re making a shortlist for a girl as well, browse my Portuguese girl names with meanings. You can also explore my Spanish boy names with meanings to see which names and spellings the two languages share.
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