Name Meaning & Legal Status · Portugal
Ginevra Name: Meaning, Origin & Portugal Legal Status
Showing legal status, local spelling and registration process for Portugal specifically. Each of the 7 country pages for Ginevra contains different data — see the comparison table below.
🇵🇹 Ginevra — Check Required in Portugal
Ginevra 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 Ginevra compares across 7 European countries
Each row is a different country page for Ginevra. Your current page (🇵🇹 Portugal) is highlighted. Click any other row to switch countries.
What does the name Ginevra mean?
The name Ginevra means "Fair one, white phantom". It is of Welsh (Italian form of Guinevere) origin and is most commonly given to girls across Europe.
Pronunciation in Portuguese: zheh-NEH-vrah (Genebra). Pronunciation varies slightly by region, but this is the form most commonly heard in Portugal.
Is Ginevra approved in Portugal? Ginevra 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
Welsh (Italian form of Guinevere)
Meaning
Fair one, white phantom
Popularity in Portugal
Outside top 30
Portuguese spelling
Genebra
Authority
IRN
Deadline
20 days after birth
Is Ginevra approved in Portugal?
Ginevra 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 Ginevra: origin and meaning
Ginevra is a name of Welsh (Italian form of Guinevere) origin, meaning "Fair one, white phantom". It has travelled across Europe for centuries — its earliest bearer in the Christian tradition is Linked to Queen Guinevere of Arthurian legend; popularised by Renaissance Italy, and in modern times it has become widely recognised through cultural figures such as Ginevra de' Benci (subject of a Leonardo da Vinci portrait), Ginevra Elkann (Italian filmmaker).
In Portugal, the name connects to Linked to Queen Guinevere of Arthurian legend; popularised by Renaissance Italy, which keeps it firmly embedded in the Catholic naming tradition and the local saints' calendar.
Popularity of Ginevra in Portugal
A familiar but less frequent choice in Portugal — not currently in the top 30, which can actually be an advantage for parents seeking a timeless name without over-exposure.
Our database covers approximately 3,500 names recorded in Portugal. You can cross-check Ginevra 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 Ginevra
In Portugal, the name is most often written as Genebra. 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 Ginevra 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 Ginevra against our database of names actually registered in Portugal.
- Call your local IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) — Registrars can confirm whether Ginevra 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 girl names approved in Portugal
If Ginevra is not exactly what you are looking for, these girl names share a similar European tradition and are commonly accepted in Portugal:
Frequently asked questions about Ginevra
What does the name Ginevra mean?
Ginevra means "Fair one, white phantom". It is of Welsh (Italian form of Guinevere) origin and is traditionally a girl's name. The name has been used across Europe for centuries and is associated with Linked to Queen Guinevere of Arthurian legend; popularised by Renaissance Italy.
Can I legally register Ginevra 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 Ginevra?
The most common Portuguese form is Genebra. 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 Ginevra 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 Ginevra?
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 Ginevra across all 25 European countries
See where Ginevra is accepted — useful for multicultural families or anyone planning to live abroad.
Check Ginevra →Compare Ginevra with the other 6 European countries
The data for Ginevra is different in each country — different authority, different deadline, different local spelling. Open any of the 6 sibling pages below:
✅ Approved
See Ginevra in Spain →
✅ Approved
See Ginevra in France →
✅ Approved
See Ginevra in Germany →
✅ Approved
See Ginevra in Italy →
❌ Adaptation
See Ginevra in Iceland →
✅ Approved
See Ginevra 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).