Portuguese and Brazilian names
Portuguese and Brazilian names favor open, singable vowels, Beatriz, Rafael, Mariana, Tiago, with a warmth that carries equally well from Lisbon's hills to a Rio beach. Many are Old Testament or saints' names softened over centuries into something distinctly Lusophone.
Alice noble, truthful
Anselmo Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Anselm, from Germanic ansi "god" and helm "helmet, protection"
Arquimedes Portuguese form of Archimedes, from Greek archos, 'master', and medea, 'plans, counsel, cunning'
Arthur of unknown meaning, possibly Celtic artos "bear" (legendary King Arthur)
Augusto Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Augustus, 'exalted, venerable', from Latin augeo, 'to increase'
Aurora dawn
Baltazar variant of Balthazar, the traditional name of one of the three Magi; ultimately from Akkadian "Bel protect the king"
Beatriz she who brings happiness
Bento blessed
Bernardo brave as a bear
Breno Portuguese form of Brennus, the Latinized Celtic name of the Gaulish chieftain who sacked Rome, possibly 'king, prince' or 'raven'
Caio Portuguese form of the Roman name Gaius, of disputed origin, traditionally linked to Latin gaudere, to rejoice; short, bright, and one of Brazil's favorite boys' names of the last generation
Camila ceremonial attendant
Carolina Latinate feminine form of Carolus (see Charles, from karl "man"); the two American states were named for King Charles I
Cauã hawk, falcon, from the Tupi kaûã; a modern Brazilian favorite
Cecília blind one (patron saint of music)
Davi "beloved," the Brazilian Portuguese form of David, from the Hebrew Dawid; the shepherd-king's name in the spelling Brazil made its own, one of the country's most given boy names of the 2010s and 2020s
Eduardo wealthy guardian
Eloá Brazilian feminine name taken from Eloah, a Hebrew word for God (per Portuguese Wiktionary; the references carry no fuller history)
Enzo ruler of the household (Italian-Brazilian crossover, hugely trendy)
Fausto the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Faustus, a Roman cognomen meaning "auspicious, lucky"
Felipe lover of horses
Fernanda Portuguese feminine form of Ferdinand; the Germanic elements are debated, so no single adventurous or bold translation is certain
Fernando adventurous, bold journey
Gabriel God is my strength
Gabriela God is my strength
Gael from French Gaël, a name with Breton roots; a fast-rising favorite with Brazilian families
Heitor steadfast (Portuguese form of Hector)
Helena Latinate form of Helen; its deeper Greek etymology is uncertain, with light or torch only a traditional proposal
Heloísa healthy, wide
Henrique home ruler
Iara lady of the water (Tupi-Guarani mythological water spirit)
Iberê master of the canoe (Tupi word-name)
Isabela God is my oath
Isadora gift of Isis
João God is gracious
Juliana youthful
Kauã from Tupi kaûã, traditionally glossed as hawk or falcon; a spelling sibling of Cauã and one of the indigenous revival names Brazilian parents embraced in the 2000s
Larissa cheerful, citadel
Laura laurel, victory
Lorena from Loreno, laurel crown
Luna moon
Luísa famous in battle, traditionally
Maiara from Tupi-Guarani; scholars reading Ma'e-îara derive it as owner of things or riches, while other treatments gloss it as wise elder or great-grandmother
Maitê beloved, or a contraction of Maria and Teresa (Portuguese form of Maite)
Malu contraction of Maria Luísa (or Maria Lúcia); a long-beloved Brazilian nickname now given as a name in its own right
Manuela God is with us
Mariana star of the sea, graceful
Matheus gift of God
Miguel who is like God
Moema indigenous heroine of Brazilian legend (from the Caramuru epic)
Murilo wall, fortified
Nayara Spanish and Portuguese form of Naiara, the Basque name of the city of Nájera (Arabic in origin), where a 12th-century Marian apparition was reported
Otávio eighth born
Pedro rock
Peri indigenous warrior hero of the novel O Guarani
Potira flower (Tupi word, from indigenous legend)
Pérola the Portuguese word for 'pearl', used directly as a feminine given name in Brazil
Rafaela God has healed
Ricardo brave ruler
Rodrigo famous ruler
Sofia wisdom
Tatiane Brazilian form of Tatiana, from the Roman family name Tatius, of unknown meaning; borne by a 3rd-century saint
Thaís possibly 'bandage' in Greek; the name of a companion of Alexander the Great (Portuguese form of Thaïs)
Theo gift of God
Thiago supplanter (Portuguese form of James/Diego)
Ubirajara lord of the spear (Tupi hero of José de Alencar's novel)
Valentina strong, healthy
Vicente Spanish and Portuguese form of Vincent, from Latin vinco, 'to conquer'
Vinícius wine, of the vine (poet Vinicius de Moraes)
Yasmin jasmine flower
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