Distinctly Portuguese names

Though we are both American, Portugal has played an important part in my and my husband’s love story. The country will always hold a special place in our hearts, and since the beginning of our relationship, we have wanted to use a Portuguese name for one of our children. However, two issues have prevented it so far:

  1. Many Portuguese names that appeal to us are very similar to if not the same as the Spanish equivalent. (Leonor, [name_f]Beatriz[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_m]Tomas[/name_m], etc.)

  2. Many distinctly Portuguese names would either be terribly difficult for Americans, or would stick out like a sore thumb with our other children’s names (Augustine, [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], and Jesse).

The only name that’s come close is [name_f]Evora[/name_f] (girl), the name of a town we visited on our honeymoon. We’ll probably use it if we can’t think of any other options, but it’s a bit vowel-heavy for me. But perhaps this is a direction to explore - Portuguese place names, word names?

Any help would be appreciated - boy or girl, we so hope to connect to our child in this way!

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I’m not very well versed in Portuguese names, but what about some kind of play on Lisbon… [name_f]Lisabeth[/name_f]? [name_f]Elise[/name_f]? [name_u]Lisa[/name_u], etc…

Likewise, any Ev- name could be used for [name_f]Evora[/name_f]. [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], etc.

I think meaning is so personal!! i don’t think you should exclude some of those other names just because they’re similar to Spanish names. The story behind the name is what makes it special. [name_f]Clara[/name_f] would go exceptionally well with your other children.

Good luck.

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Edite for a girl.

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Hello! As a Portuguese it is really nice to read your lovely words about my country. Thank you!

Évora/Evora is a magnificent idea, but I’m not sure if it is easy to pronounce in [name_f]English[/name_f]. Inspired by Évora, you may also like [name_f]Diana[/name_f]. In Évora, a must-see monument is The [name_m]Roman[/name_m] [name_u]Temple[/name_u] know in Portugal as Templo de [name_f]Diana[/name_f] which can be translated to Diana’s [name_u]Temple[/name_u]!

Based on the names you mentioned, you may also like:
[name_f]Clarissa[/name_f] / [name_f]Clarisse[/name_f] / [name_f]Clarinda[/name_f]
[name_f]Belinda[/name_f]
[name_m]Tomé[/name_m]
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m]
[name_f]Eleonor[/name_f] / [name_f]Eleonora[/name_f] / [name_f]Leonora[/name_f]

All the Portuguese names that you listed are wonderful! Unfortunately, I believe it will not me easy to find a name that is exclusively used in Portuguese that also works perfectly in [name_f]English[/name_f]. For example, [name_m]João[/name_m] and [name_m]Guilherme[/name_m] are a nightmare for non-Portuguese speakers. I also would like to add that the latin languages are quite similar and because of that many popular Portuguese names are also used in Spanish, Italian, [name_u]French[/name_u] and even in [name_f]English[/name_f]. However, I think they’re still excellent options to honor Portugal!

Nevertheless, here are some very traditional Portuguese inspired names that may work for you:
Amália - Name of a very important singer/fadista Amália [name_m]Rodrigues[/name_m]
Fátima - Place name and very important saint Our [name_f]Lady[/name_f] of Fátima
Nazaré - Nazaré is a place name that was used by surfer [name_m]Garrett[/name_m] McNamara as an honor name to Portugal. You may also like [name_u]Nazareth[/name_u]
[name_u]Simone[/name_u] - [name_u]Simone[/name_u] de Oliveira is also a very important and acclaimed singer in Portugal
[name_f]Gaia[/name_f] - Place name. A beautiful city near Porto.
[name_f]Mariza[/name_f] - Another very acclaimed fadista born as [name_f]Marisa[/name_f] Nunes
[name_m]Cristiano[/name_m] - Like [name_m]Cristiano[/name_m] [name_m]Ronaldo[/name_m]
[name_m]Miguel[/name_m], [name_m]Jorge[/name_m] and Graciosa - Inspired by Azores Islands
Belém - A beautiful place in Lisbon where you can visit The Jerónimos Monastery, The Bélem [name_u]Tower[/name_u] and eat the delicious Pastéis de Belém/Pastéis de [name_u]Nata[/name_u]. [name_f]Bethlehem[/name_f] is a nice english alternative.

Portuguese word names (some are very popular, others are extremely rare):
[name_f]Madalena[/name_f] - “madeleine”
[name_f]Margarida[/name_f] - “daisy”
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - same as in english
Oceano - “ocean” (Oceana is the feminine version)
[name_u]Amor[/name_u] - “love”
[name_f]Amora[/name_f] - “blackberry”
[name_m]Santo[/name_m] - “saint” (for boys)
[name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f] - “emerald”
Maresia - “sea air”, “sea breeze”
Dália - “dahlia”
[name_u]Mel[/name_u] - “honey”
[name_m]Salvador[/name_m] - “savior”
[name_f]Violeta[/name_f] - “violet”
[name_u]Alma[/name_u] - “soul”
[name_f]Lua[/name_f] - “moon”
[name_u]Bela[/name_u] - “beautiful”
[name_f]Rosa[/name_f] - “rose”
[name_f]Coral[/name_f] - same as in english
[name_f]Brisa[/name_f] - “breeze”
[name_f]Flora[/name_f] - same as in english
[name_f]Clementina[/name_f] - “clementine”
[name_f]Flor[/name_f] - “flower”
[name_u]Paz[/name_u] - “peace”
[name_m]Leão[/name_m] - “lion”
Deusa - “goddess”
[name_f]Luz[/name_f] - “light”
[name_m]Clemente[/name_m] - “clement”, “merciful”
[name_m]Jacinto[/name_m] - “hyacinth” (feminine version is Jacinta)
Íris - same as [name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Melodia[/name_f] - Portuguese form of [name_f]Melody[/name_f]
[name_f]Alegria[/name_f] - “joy”
[name_f]Linda[/name_f] - “beautiful”
[name_u]Azul[/name_u] - “blue”
[name_u]Rio[/name_u] - “river” [It is also a present simple form of the verb rir “to laugh”. Eu rio means “I laugh”]
[name_f]Felicidade[/name_f] - “hapiness”
[name_u]Vida[/name_u] - “life”
Milagre - “miracle”
[name_m]Máximo[/name_m] - “maximum”
Índigo - Portuguese for [name_u]Indigo[/name_u]
Lobo - “wolf”
[name_f]Safira[/name_f] - Portuguese form of [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f]
[name_f]Marina[/name_f] - same as in [name_f]English[/name_f]
Céu - “sky” (used for girls)
[name_m]Silvestre[/name_m] - “wild” or “sylvan” - Portuguese form of Silvester/Sylvester
[name_f]Estrela[/name_f] - “star”
Tulipa - “tulip”
[name_u]Jade[/name_u]
[name_f]Neve[/name_f] - “snow” (pronounced neh-veh not neev like Niamh)
[name_f]Primavera[/name_f] - “spring”
[name_u]Sol[/name_u] - “sun”
Esperança- “hope”
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - “serene”
Liberdade - “freedom”
Glória - “glory”
[name_u]Cruz[/name_u] - “cross”
[name_m]Amado[/name_m] - “beloved” (for boys)
[name_f]Amada[/name_f] - “beloved” (for girls)

Some more Portuguese names that may go well with your kids names:
[name_f]Benedita[/name_f]
[name_u]Gabriel[/name_u] / [name_f]Gabriela[/name_f]
[name_f]Carlota[/name_f]
[name_m]Rafael[/name_m] / [name_f]Rafaela[/name_f]
[name_f]Marta[/name_f] / [name_m]Martim[/name_m]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_m]Santiago[/name_m]
[name_f]Teresa[/name_f]
[name_f]Anita[/name_f]
[name_m]Benjamim[/name_m] (a word name)
[name_f]Olívia[/name_f] - olives are one of the most popular products and ingredients in Portugal
[name_m]António[/name_m] / Antónia
[name_f]Orlanda[/name_f] / [name_m]Orlando[/name_m]
[name_m]Ulisses[/name_m]
Sílvia / [name_m]Silvio[/name_m]
Amadeu
[name_f]Caetana[/name_f] / [name_m]Caetano[/name_m]
[name_m]Lucas[/name_m]
[name_m]Baltasar[/name_m]
[name_f]Frederica[/name_f] / [name_m]Frederico[/name_m]
[name_m]Luís[/name_m] / [name_f]Luísa[/name_f]
[name_f]Fernanda[/name_f] / [name_m]Fernando[/name_m]
[name_f]Natália[/name_f]
Marília
[name_f]Dulce[/name_f]
[name_m]Matias[/name_m]
[name_m]Paulo[/name_m] / [name_f]Paula[/name_f]
[name_f]Isaura[/name_f]
[name_f]Regina[/name_f]
[name_u]Emanuel[/name_u]
Florbela
Angélica (a word name)
[name_m]Xavier[/name_m]
[name_m]Samuel[/name_m]
[name_u]Celeste[/name_u] (a word name)
[name_m]Dinis[/name_m]
[name_m]Manuel[/name_m] / [name_f]Manuela[/name_f]
Ângelo / Ângela
[name_m]Bernardo[/name_m]
Romeu
[name_u]Maria[/name_u] - the most popular feminine name ever in Portugal
[name_m]Alexandre[/name_m] / [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f] - we spell it [name_f]Victória[/name_f] or [name_f]Vitória[/name_f]
[name_m]Victor[/name_m] - we also spell it [name_m]Vítor[/name_m]
[name_f]Laura[/name_f] / [name_f]Laurinda[/name_f]
[name_f]Mafalda[/name_f]
[name_f]Inês[/name_f]
[name_f]Letícia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mariana[/name_f] - a very popular name that sounds like a mix of [name_u]Maria[/name_u] and [name_f]Ana[/name_f] which are also extremely traditional Portuguese names
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Eva[/name_f]
[name_u]Daniel[/name_u] / [name_f]Daniela[/name_f] / [name_m]Danilo[/name_m]
Bárbara
[name_f]Raquel[/name_f]
[name_m]Francisco[/name_m] / [name_f]Francisca[/name_f]
[name_f]Lara[/name_f]
[name_f]Valentina[/name_f]
[name_f]Amélia[/name_f]
Judite
Noémia
Rosário
[name_m]Artur[/name_m]
[name_m]Pedro[/name_m] / [name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_m]Abel[/name_m]
[name_f]Miriam[/name_f]
[name_f]Carminho[/name_f]
[name_f]Adriana[/name_f] / [name_m]Adriano[/name_m]
[name_m]Ezequiel[/name_m]
[name_m]Félix[/name_m]
[name_m]Henrique[/name_m]
[name_f]Teodora[/name_f] / [name_m]Teodoro[/name_m]
Bartolomeu
[name_m]Marcelo[/name_m] / [name_f]Marcela[/name_f]
[name_f]Serafina[/name_f]
Rosália
Messias
[name_f]Juliana[/name_f] / [name_m]Juliano[/name_m]
Virgínia
[name_u]David[/name_u]
[name_m]Rúben[/name_m]
[name_m]Alberto[/name_m] / [name_f]Alberta[/name_f]
[name_f]Susana[/name_f]
[name_f]Vanessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Dalila[/name_f]
[name_m]Ricardo[/name_m]
Nicolau
[name_f]Cristina[/name_f]
[name_f]Marisol[/name_f]
[name_u]Elias[/name_u]
[name_m]Vicente[/name_m]
[name_f]Eliana[/name_f]
[name_m]Roberto[/name_m] / [name_f]Roberta[/name_f]
[name_m]Leonel[/name_m]
Isaías
[name_m]Eduardo[/name_m] / [name_f]Eduarda[/name_f]
[name_f]Catarina[/name_f]
[name_m]Filipe[/name_m] / [name_f]Filipa[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucinda[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f]
[name_m]André[/name_m]
[name_m]Mateus[/name_m]
[name_f]Joana[/name_f]
[name_f]Mara[/name_f]
[name_f]Lurdes[/name_f]
Deolinda
Áurea
[name_m]Isaac[/name_m]
[name_m]Hugo[/name_m]
Solano
[name_m]Jerónimo[/name_m] - The Jerónimos Monastery is a very important monument in Belém
[name_f]Heloísa[/name_f]
[name_f]Viviana[/name_f]
[name_f]Mónica[/name_f]
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_f]Célia[/name_f]
[name_f]Oriana[/name_f]
[name_f]Emília[/name_f] / Emílio
[name_m]Lázaro[/name_m]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] / Adélia / [name_f]Adelina[/name_f] / Adelino
[name_f]Rita[/name_f]
[name_f]Camila[/name_f] / [name_m]Camilo[/name_m]
[name_f]Sofia[/name_f]
[name_f]Júlia[/name_f] / Júlio / [name_f]Julieta[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilde[/name_f]
[name_f]Carolina[/name_f]
[name_f]Dora[/name_f] / [name_f]Doriana[/name_f]

I decided to keep the accents but please fell free to remove them!
I hope this helps! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Some Portuguese names:

Tiago
Mateus
Matias
Lucas
Cristiano
Xavier
André
Filipe
Miguel
Rafael
Sebastião
Henrique

Lucia (not pronounced the same as Spanish)
Catarina
Isabel (such a classic)
Helena
Leonor
Clara
Marina
Natalia
Juliana
Lua
Luana
Luísa
Sofia

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Cotovia (lark)
[name_m]Duarte[/name_m] (Edward)

Thank you for the time and energy such an exhaustive list took! Exactly what I’ve been looking for.

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ooo Cotovia…I love that it translates lark!

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I only know of a few:

[name_f]Aline[/name_f]
[name_f]Corine[/name_f]
Julinha
[name_f]Vitoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Violeta[/name_f]
[name_u]Iara[/name_u]
[name_f]Madalena[/name_f]
[name_f]Alessandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Liliana[/name_f]

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Many thanks! I like these a lot

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