🇵🇹 Portugal
7,481
Total names
3,496
Male names
3,985
Female names
Portugal operates one of Europe's strictest naming systems: every first name must appear on the Vocabulário Onomástico, an official approved list maintained by the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado). The list contains thousands of accepted names; parents wanting something off the list can submit a request with linguistic justification.
Portuguese naming preserves a strong Catholic and Marian tradition: combinations like Maria João, Maria Inês and Ana Beatriz dominate. Medieval royal names (Afonso, Duarte, Leonor, Sancho) are fashionable again. Classical Roman names like Vicente, Lúcia and Aurélio also feature prominently — see our Roman & Latin names guide for the legal status of each.
Portugal's historical name register includes Vasco da Gama, Fernando Pessoa, Amália Rodrigues, and Eusébio. The Portuguese diaspora has carried these naming patterns to Brazil, Angola and Mozambique — meaning a "Portuguese" name on a Brazilian birth certificate often follows the same Vocabulário rules with regional adaptations.
Naming Rules
Official approved list exists
Portugal maintains an official list of approved names. Names not on the list require special approval.
Must be Portuguese in form
Names should follow Portuguese linguistic conventions, though international names are increasingly accepted.
Must indicate gender clearly
The name must unambiguously identify the child's sex.
No nicknames or diminutives
Short forms and nicknames cannot be registered as official first names.
Maximum two first names
Children may have up to two first names.
Legal basis: Codigo do Registo Civil (Civil Registry Code), Articles 103-104.
Authority: Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN)
Popular Names in Portugal
Top 15 Boy Names
1.Santiago
2.Francisco
3.Joao
4.Afonso
5.Rodrigo
6.Tomas
7.Miguel
8.Gabriel
9.Duarte
10.Guilherme
11.Martim
12.Gustavo
13.Tiago
14.Dinis
15.Henrique
Top 15 Girl Names
1.Maria
2.Leonor
3.Matilde
4.Beatriz
5.Carolina
6.Mariana
7.Ana
8.Ines
9.Sofia
10.Francisca
11.Laura
12.Diana
13.Lara
14.Madalena
15.Alice
Check a specific baby name in Portugal
50 of the most popular European baby names with full legal-status pages for Portugal. Click any name to see its meaning, Portugal spelling, registration process, and FAQ.
Further reading
Check a name in Portugal
Search 7,481 names in our Portugal database — plus 24 more European countries.
Check a Name →Last updated: April 2026. For informational purposes only. Always consult your local Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN) for definitive answers.