Name Meaning & Legal Status · Portugal
Antonio Name: Meaning, Origin & Portugal Legal Status
Showing legal status, local spelling and registration process for Portugal specifically. Each of the 7 country pages for Antonio contains different data — see the comparison table below.
🇵🇹 Antonio — Check Required in Portugal
Antonio may require additional verification in Portugal. Should appear on the Vocabulário Onomástico (official list). Foreign-origin names may need proof of use or adaptation (e.g. Mateus instead of Mateo).
How Antonio compares across 7 European countries
Each row is a different country page for Antonio. Your current page (🇵🇹 Portugal) is highlighted. Click any other row to switch countries.
What does the name Antonio mean?
The name Antonio means "Priceless, of inestimable worth". It is of Latin (from Antonius) origin and is most commonly given to boys across Europe.
Pronunciation in Portuguese: ahn-TOH-nyoo. Pronunciation varies slightly by region, but this is the form most commonly heard in Portugal.
Is Antonio approved in Portugal? Antonio may require additional verification in Portugal. Read on for the full origin, Portuguese spelling variants, popularity ranking, and the registration process at the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado).
Origin
Latin (from Antonius)
Meaning
Priceless, of inestimable worth
Popularity in Portugal
#7
Portuguese spelling
António
Authority
IRN
Deadline
20 days after birth
Is Antonio approved in Portugal?
Antonio may require additional verification in Portugal. Should appear on the Vocabulário Onomástico (official list). Foreign-origin names may need proof of use or adaptation (e.g. Mateus instead of Mateo).
The name Antonio: origin and meaning
Antonio is a name of Latin (from Antonius) origin, meaning "Priceless, of inestimable worth". It has travelled across Europe for centuries — its earliest bearer in the Christian tradition is Saint Anthony of Padua (13th century Franciscan, patron of lost things), and in modern times it has become widely recognised through cultural figures such as Antonio Vivaldi (Italian composer), Antonio Banderas (Spanish actor).
In Portugal, the name connects to Saint Anthony of Padua (13th century Franciscan, patron of lost things), which keeps it firmly embedded in the Catholic naming tradition and the local saints' calendar.
Popularity of Antonio in Portugal
Popular choice: typically ranks around #7 in the Portugal top 30.
Our database covers approximately 3,500 names recorded in Portugal. You can cross-check Antonio against this full dataset — along with naming patterns in the 24 other European countries we track — using our free name checker.
Portuguese spelling and variants of Antonio
In Portugal, the name is most often written as António. This is the form recorded in the civil register.
Naming rules in Portugal
Portugal regulates baby names through the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) under the Vocabulário Onomástico (official positive list). Portugal operates one of the stricter naming systems in Europe — officials check proposed names against an approved list or a statutory set of rules, and unusual names may need formal review before registration.
For the name Antonio specifically: Should appear on the Vocabulário Onomástico (official list). Foreign-origin names may need proof of use or adaptation (e.g. Mateus instead of Mateo).
Deadline
20 days after birth
Processing
1-15 days
Fee
Free (€10 if outside list)
Appeal to
Conservador dos Registos Centrais
How to verify before registering
- Use our free checker — verify Antonio against our database of names actually registered in Portugal.
- Call your local IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) — Registrars can confirm whether Antonio has been accepted locally before you book the registration appointment. This is especially helpful when using a rare spelling.
- Bring supporting evidence — If the name is unusual, prepare documents: a parent's passport showing the same name, a prior birth certificate, or a reference to a historical/religious figure. This makes a difference if the case escalates.
- Read the full legal guide — See our complete article on baby name laws in Portugal for the full legal background.
Similar boy names approved in Portugal
If Antonio is not exactly what you are looking for, these boy names share a similar European tradition and are commonly accepted in Portugal:
Frequently asked questions about Antonio
What does the name Antonio mean?
Antonio means "Priceless, of inestimable worth". It is of Latin (from Antonius) origin and is traditionally a boy's name. The name has been used across Europe for centuries and is associated with Saint Anthony of Padua (13th century Franciscan, patron of lost things).
Can I legally register Antonio in Portugal?
Likely yes, but it may require verification. Should appear on the Vocabulário Onomástico (official list). Foreign-origin names may need proof of use or adaptation (e.g. Mateus instead of Mateo). We recommend checking with the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) before the registration deadline of 20 days after birth.
What is the Portuguese spelling of Antonio?
The most common Portuguese form is António. Accents and diacritics must be registered exactly as written on the birth certificate — they cannot be added later without a formal name change.
How long does it take to register Antonio in Portugal?
Standard registration at the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) is normally processed in 1-15 days. Parents must register the birth within 20 days after birth. The standard fee is Free (€10 if outside list).
What can I do if the registrar rejects Antonio?
You can appeal the decision before the Conservador dos Registos Centrais. In practice, parents often submit historical evidence (saints, literary figures, prior registrations) or agree on a slight adaptation that preserves the name's sound.
Check Antonio across all 25 European countries
See where Antonio is accepted — useful for multicultural families or anyone planning to live abroad.
Check Antonio →Compare Antonio with the other 6 European countries
The data for Antonio is different in each country — different authority, different deadline, different local spelling. Open any of the 6 sibling pages below:
✅ Approved
See Antonio in Spain →
✅ Approved
See Antonio in France →
✅ Approved
See Antonio in Germany →
✅ Approved
See Antonio in Italy →
✅ Approved
See Antonio in Iceland →
✅ Approved
See Antonio in Sweden →
Related resources
All approved names in Portugal
Browse the full 3,500-name database
Top 30 names in Portugal
See current popularity rankings
Baby Name Laws in Portugal
Complete legal guide
How to register a baby name in Europe
Step-by-step cross-country guide
Last updated: May 2026. Information is provided for orientation only and does not constitute legal advice. Always confirm with the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado).