689 Spanish Boy Names (With Meanings & Popularity)
- Felipe
Origin:
Spanish variation of Philip, GreekMeaning:
"lover of horses"Description:
A royal name in Spain, Felipe could make a lively alternative to the English sounding Philip. It has ranked on the US Top 1000 almost every year since the beginning of the twentieth century, but has never risen above the Top 300, making it a familiar without being overused.
- Ricardo
Origin:
Portuguese and Spanish variation of RichardMeaning:
"dominant ruler"Description:
Richard is far from fashionable, but Ricardo is one of the most popular Spanish names for boys in the US. And it does sound far more appealing that the English version.
- Salvador
Origin:
Spanish from Latin SalvatorMeaning:
"savior"Description:
A common epithet of Christ, frequently heard in the Hispanic community, Salvador could also be a great choice for artistic parents, given the continuing popularity of Dada and Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. (If Monet and Raphael get a look in, why not Salvador?)
- Maceo
Origin:
Spanish variation of MatthewMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
This semi-obscure historic name was recently chosen for their son by Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez.
- Ismael
Origin:
Spanish variation of IshmaelMeaning:
"God will hear"Description:
Ismael is Spanish and Portuguese rendition of the Biblical name Ishmael and the form used in the Greek New Testament. Currently, it is the variant that ranks most highly on the US charts and it is popular among the Hispanic community, both in the US, and globally.
- Ishmael
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God will hear"Description:
Ishmael is most familiar through "Call me Ishmael," the opening line spoken by the youthful narrator of Moby-Dick. Few American parents have followed that advice, though the Spanish and Arabic spelling, Ismael, ranks at Number 362. With its warm and pleasant sound, though, we could see Ishmael tagging along behind Isaiah and Isaac.
- Pedro
Origin:
Spanish variation of Peter, GreekMeaning:
"rock, stone"Description:
Pedro is one of the most familiar Spanish names for boys, via baseball star Pedro Rodriguez and many others.
- Alfonso
Origin:
Spanish and ItalianMeaning:
"noble, ready"Description:
Alfonso was a royal name in Spain as far back as the 7th century, but it is rarely heard outside the Hispanic community in the US.
- Fernando
Origin:
Spanish and Portuguese variation of FerdinandMeaning:
"bold voyager"Description:
Can you hear the drums Fernando? Although 58% of Nameberries prefer Ferdinand to Fernando, the Iberian variant has a softer, more romantic feel that makes it a better fit with all those Javiers, Lorenzos and Matteos.
- Ernesto
Origin:
Spanish and Italian variation of ErnestDescription:
A Latin classic, widely used here and abroad, though in the U.S. it has fallen on the charts in recent years.
- Octavio
Origin:
Spanish variation of OctaviusMeaning:
"eighth"Description:
The most popular of the number names used by Hispanic parents, open to all. Octavia and Octavio are two Spanish baby names that are moving out into the wider world.
- Benicio
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"blessed"Description:
Softer than Benedict, less popular than Benjamin, and bolder than Bennett, Puerto Rican actor Benicio Del Toro introduced this name to the American mainstream in the early 2000s, before which the name was hardly use. Popular in Argentina, Benicio debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2016, when it was the third-fastest-rising boys' name, and while it hasn't skyrocketed then, it remains comfortably in the charts.
- Esteban
Origin:
Spanish variation of Stephen, GreekMeaning:
"garland, crown"Description:
One of several Latino favorites on U. S. popularity list, Esteban sounds solid and strong. Esteban has ranked among the US Top 500 names for boys for half a century now, making it a familiar name that successfully crosses cultures.
- Guillermo
Origin:
Spanish variation of WilliamDescription:
As with Guillaume (see above), Liam, Willem, and Wilhelm, everyday Williams in their own countries, Guillermo is a captivating possibility here. Giermo, Gigermo, Gijermo, Gillermo, Gillirmo, Giyermo, Guermillo, Guiermo Guilermón, Guille, Guillelmo, Guillermino, Guillo, Guirmo, Gullermo, Llermo, Memo, Quillermo.
- Vale
Origin:
Geographical nameDescription:
Vale is part place name, part nature name -- a poetic term for a type of valley. Today Show coanchor Savannah Guthrie put Vale on the baby name map when she chose it for her daughter, but there's no reason the name can't work equally well for a boy. Vale might also be a short form for Valentine or a spelling variation of the city name Vail.
- Claudio
Origin:
Italian, SpanishMeaning:
"lame; enclosure"Description:
Claudio, a most appealing Italian name, is featured in not one, but two Shakespearean plays, ,Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing. While "lame" is the most widely acknowledged meaning, some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-attractive name.
- Armando
Origin:
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Herman, GermanMeaning:
"soldier"Description:
Armando takes the flat-footed Herman and makes it romantic. This is another of the Latin names we expect to be seeing more of.
- Santos
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"saint, holy"Description:
The Spanish and Portuguese variation of the all-saints name. Santos is a name that has appeared in the US Top 1000 every year except for two: 1913 and 1915.
- Gil
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"happiness"Description:
Pronounced zheel, it's a dashing conquistador; as gill, it's the nice and slightly boring guy down the street.
- Lucio
Origin:
Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese variation of LuciusMeaning:
"light"Description:
About 100 baby boys were named Lucio in the US last year, a number we expect to increase with the growing popularity of all names in the Lu family. It's a family united by sound, with three main branches.