Portuguese Baby Names
- Manuela
Origin:
Spanish, feminine variation of EmmanuelMeaning:
"God is with us"Description:
Manuela is one feminine form that's more energetic than the male original, and is worth considering if you're seeking an easily assimilated Spanish name.
- Mara
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"bitter"Description:
Mara is the evocative ancient root of Mary, appearing in the Book of Ruth, in which Naomi, devastated after the death of her two sons, says "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara." It's one of the girl names starting with M that both fits in and stands out.
- Marcela
Description:
Marcela is a feminine name of Latin origin, being the female form of Marcel or Marcellus, derived from the Roman family name 'Marcellus,' meaning 'young warrior' or 'dedicated to Mars' (the Roman god of war). Popular throughout Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, Marcela has maintained steady appreciation across generations in Latin America and Europe. The name combines classic elegance with a melodic quality, featuring the appealing nickname options of Cela or Marcy. Marcela has cross-cultural appeal, being recognized in many Romance language countries while remaining distinctive in English-speaking regions. Its combination of historical depth and contemporary sound makes it both timeless and accessible.
- Marcelo
Origin:
Spanish variation of MarcellusMeaning:
"little warrior"Description:
Both the Spanish Marcelo and Italian Marcello would work well for children of any backgrounds. The name has been in the US Top 1000 consistently since the mid-90s and has been steadily climbing upwards. Deriving from the Roman family name, Marcellus, itself a diminutive of Marcus, Marcelo currently ranks above Marcello and Marcel in the states.
- Marcia
Origin:
Latin, feminine version of MarciusMeaning:
"warlike"Description:
Marcia is an ancient Roman name which derives from Mars, the god of war. It was used by Dante in the Inferno and later by Thomas Hardy and others.
- Marcio
Description:
Marcio is a masculine name of Latin and Portuguese origin, primarily used in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries. It derives from the ancient Roman name Marcus, which means "dedicated to Mars" (the Roman god of war). The name carries connotations of strength, masculinity, and determination. In Brazil, Marcio gained significant popularity during the mid-20th century and remains fairly common. The pronunciation varies slightly between cultures, with Brazilian Portuguese offering a softer sound than its Spanish counterpart, Marcio. While not widely used in English-speaking countries, the name has a cosmopolitan feel that transcends borders. Marcio has a strong, classic quality while maintaining its distinctive cultural heritage.
- Marcos
Origin:
Portuguese and Spanish variation of MarkDescription:
Another culture's slant on Mark, sometimes associated with former president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos and his shoe-collecting wife, Imelda.
- Margarida
Origin:
PortugueseMeaning:
"daisy; pearl"Description:
This Portuguese version of Marguerite, Margherita, or Margaret has a distinctive yet familiar sound and could get you to nicknames Maggie, Daisy, Margo, Ida, and Edie.
- Maria
Origin:
Hebrew or EgyptianMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
As a highly popular girls’ name in all Spanish-speaking countries, this saintly Latin variation of Mary retains a timeless beauty. Through the centuries, Maria remains one of the most widely-used girl names starting with M.
- Mariana
Origin:
Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, RomanianMeaning:
"related to the god Mars"Description:
Mariana is that unusual name that is more than the sum of its parts. While Mary or Maria and Ana or Anna are both perfectly nice classic names, Mariana achieves a lyrical elegance that transcends them.
- Mario
Origin:
Italian variation of Marius, form of mythological name MarsMeaning:
"warlike"Description:
Many may associate Mario with the popular platform game - unsurprising when it's the 5th best-selling video game worldwide, and was voted the 2nd best game ever by IGN in 2024. The titular plumber was apparently named after American businessman, Mario Segale, who rented a warehouse to Nintendo, and this in itself reflects that Mario is much more established than just a name for a video game character.
- Marta
Origin:
Italian, Spanish, Scandinavian, SlavicMeaning:
"lady"Description:
Sharper and steelier than Martha, but with the same underused vintage appeal.
- Martim
Description:
Martim is the Portuguese form of Martin, a name derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. This classic name has been used throughout the Portuguese-speaking world for centuries, particularly in Portugal and Brazil. Martim carries the same meaning as Martin—'dedicated to Mars' or 'warlike'—while offering a distinctive cultural variation. The name has historical significance in Portugal, with Martim Moniz being a legendary figure in the country's history. While maintaining a strong masculine quality, Martim has a softer sound than some variants of Martin. Though uncommon in English-speaking countries, it remains a steadfast choice in Portuguese communities and has started gaining international recognition as global naming patterns become more diverse.
- Martina
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"warlike"Description:
A feminine form of Martin, this strong and zestful sounding name is popular in Argentina, Chile, Spain, and Italy, where it ranks in the Top 30. Also familiar in Czechia, the UK, Slovakia, and Switzerland, it has never made it big in the US, and fell out of the charts back in the 2000s.
Ultimately associated with Mars, the Roman god of war and with the 3rd century patron saint of Rome, it has also been borne by two notable tennis players, Martina Navratilova and Martina Hingis.
- Mateus
Origin:
Portuguese variation of Matthew, HebrewMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
Portuguese variation of Matthew.
- Matias
Origin:
Spanish variation of MatthiasDescription:
The single T version of Matias is, like Mateo, the Spanish variation of the Hebrew Biblical Matthias or Matthew, while the double T version as in Mattias and Matteo is usually Italian.
- Matilde
Origin:
Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese version of Matilda, GermanDescription:
The German Matilda has some European variations that are popular in their native countries. Matilde ranks in Italy's and Portugal's Top 10 for girls, while the French variation Mathilde ranks among the Top 100 girl names in France, Denmark, and Norway.
- Mauro
Origin:
Spanish and ItalianMeaning:
"moorish"Description:
Mauro, a Top 100 name in Spain and Puerto Rico, is etymologically unrelated to the girls' name Maura, but that won't stop many English speakers from drawing the comparison.
- Maxima
Origin:
Latin, feminine variation of MaximusDescription:
Max names were one of the hottest trends for boys in the mid-2010s, and are still very popular. The girl versions haven't seen so much love, unfortunately. (Or fortunately, if you love them and want them to stay rare!) Maxima got some attention in 2015 when Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan used it for their daughter, but few parents have copied them.
- Melissa
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"honeybee"Description:
Melissa derives from the Greek word mélissa, meaning "bee," which was taken from the word for honey, meli. In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who nursed the infant god Zeus with honey. Melissa was used as a given name by the early Greeks, as well as for fairies by Italian Renaissance poets.