Spanish Names for Boys

A name with a pleasing hue, Fulvio comes from the Latin fulvus used poetically to describe saturated bronze and gold, the coats of lions and eagles and the color of sand and earth. Considered the Italian and Spanish form of the Roman Fulvius, it has been borne by basketball player Fulvio de Assis, historian Fulvio Orsini, cross country skier Fulvio Valbusa, and poet Andrea Fulvio, just to mention a few.

Fulvio

A popular choice in Mexico and a Top 200 name in the US, though usually for girls. It did however chart in the US for a small number of boys in the 2010s.
 
The name possibly derives from the classic Simon (or Simona), meaning "hearing, listening", though other sources suggest it comes from the Basque seme meaning "son". Ximeno or Jimeno are the typical masculine forms.

Ximena

Typically used as a feminine name, Belen is a multicultural option, referring to a mountainside in Turkish and to Bethelehem in Spanish. Also spelled as Belén, it appeared in the US Top 700 for girls in a recent year, though historically, it has been given to a handful of boys. 

Belen

Generoso might look like a virtuous name, inspired by generosity and giving, and while they do share the same root, as a name, it's more directly descended from the Latin generosus meaning "well-born, excellent, noble". It's link to generosity may come from the idea that those who were well-born had money, time, and resources to share, so you could still see it as virtue-adjacent, especially since it is the Italian and Spanish word for generous.
 
Briefly popular in Spain in the early 19th-century, it may appeal to those who enjoy rare word names and those who enjoy Ambrose or Ambrosio. In Italian, it would be pronounced jeh-neh-RO-zo, while in Spanish, it would be kheh-neh-RO-so, kh like the -ch of Scottish Loch.

Generoso

A Hispanicized form of Ailen and Ayelen , a traditionally feminine Mapuche name.

Ailen

A variation of the Biblical Abraham, predominantly used in Latin America and in French- and Spanish-speaking African countries, most notably the Democratic Republic of Congo. The 'H' at the beginning is typically silent. 
 
This form has been found in Old English manuscripts too.

Habraham

A floral boy name without any frills, Floro is a rare variation of Florus, less familiar that Florian or the similar Florence, but potentially appealing to those looking for rare boy names ending in -o. The name is sometimes used in the Philippines, Columbia, and Peru, and more quietly still in Brazil, Mexico, and Italy. 
 
Ultimately derived from Latin, the name is pronounced FLAW-ro in Italian and FLO-ro in Spanish, and has been notably born by illustrator Floro Dery. The name shouldn't be confused with the Norwegian place name, Florø, which has a different origin (for Old Norse, meaning "flat ground" or "flood").

Floro

Notably borne by Cuban baseball player, Raisel Iglesias, Raisel is often considered a diminutive of the (feminine) Yiddish name, Raisa, meaning "rose". While this could be a possible source for its use as a masculine name, it may additionally link to the Arabic Rais, meaning "leader, chief", to the Spanish Reyes, meaning "kings", or to the Hebrew Israel, for which it is both an anagram and connected to Spanish short form, Rai. In the latter case, it would mean "he who struggles with God" or "God contends".




Raisel

A Judeo-Spanish form of the Biblical Bechorath or Becher, Bechor may make strong and spiritual choice for a first-born son. It ultimately comes from bekhorah meaning "birthright" and relates to primogeniture, in which the first-born son inherits a greater portion of his parents' wealth. It may additionally link to the Jewish tradition of pidyon haben, in which the first-born son is redeemed by paying five silver coins to a Kohen.

Bechor

An uplifting and cheerful name, Buendía comes from the Spanish phrase buen día, literally meaning "good day". A celebratory and wordy option, it has been occasionally used as a given name outside of Spain itself.
 
The name is additionally used as a surname (as in footballer Emiliano Buendía and the family from Gabriel García Márquez's 1967 novel One Hundred Years of Solitude) and appears as place name in both the Philippines and in Cuenca, Spain.

Buendía

Hannibal might be ever be connected to the fictional cannibal, Hannibal Lecter, to English ears, but this Spanish and Portuguese form provides a degree of remove from the association. Familiar (but not overly popular) in Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, and Spain, it also appeared briefly in the US Top 1000 back in the 60s and 70s, spelled without the accent, possibly thanks to the wrester known mononymously as Aníbal 
 
The name ultimately derives from Phoenician, blending the hann element, meaning "grace", with the deity title, Ba'al, making it a name that celebrates a number of storm and fertility gods from Semitic mythology. 
 
Notable bearers include former president of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, footballer Aníbal Capela, footballer Aníbal Moreno, and sociologist Aníbal Quijano.
 
Around 35 boys were called Aníbal (or Anibal) in the US in a recent year.

Aníbal

A rare option with a bold meaning, Clodomiro may appeal to fans of Casimiro, Cosimo, and Cornelio. Derived from the old Germanic name, Chlodomer, it means "loud and famous", with notable bearers including lawyer and politician Clodomiro Almeyda, scientist Clodomiro Picardo Twight, and cyclist Clodomiro Cortoni.

Clodomiro

While this name might lean feminine to English speakers, it is in fact a unisex name notably borne by 15th-century physicist and mathematician, Evangelista Torricelli, who invented the barometer. Derived from the from the Greek euangelos, may be interpreted as meaning "preacher of gospel", though for a more secular option, you could read it as "sharer of good news". It is closely associated with the Four Evangelists in The New Testament, Mathew, Luke, Mark, and John, which could help it appeal to Evangelicals.

Evangelista

Used as a unisex option in Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, Peru, Chile, and Honduras, Zurisadai is a distinctive Spanish and Portuguese twist on a rare (masculine) Biblical name. Derived from the Hebrew elements tsur meaning "rock" and Shaddai, a name for God, the original form appears in the Old Testament, borne by the father of Shelumiel (prince of the Tribe of Simeon). 
 
While it leans feminine in Mexico, Peru, and the US, it leans masculine in Venezuela, Panama, and Israel. It is said as either soo-ree-sa-DHIE in Latin American Spanish and as zoo-ree-za-DIE in Brazilian Portuguese

Zurisadai

Likely adapted from Wilfredo, itself a form of Germanic Wilfred, this name is used predominantly in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries, along with in the Philippines. It follows the trend of occasionally dropping a from letter from similar, international choices, giving rise to Wimer, Afredo, and Wiston.
 
The name was most notably borne by Cuban artist, Wifredo Lam.

Wifredo

The most famous male Coco was Britain's beloved Coco the Clown, whose proper name was Nicolai. An adorable informal pet name not recommended for the birth certificate.

Coco

Zephyr is one of the most popular Z names for boys on Nameberry, but this Spanish variation may be less familiar. Ultimately derived from Zephyros, the Greek god of the west wind, Cerefino is pronounced as theh-feh-REE-no in Spain and as seh-feh-REE-no in Latin America. 
 
Popular in its native Spain in the first half of the 20th century, it has occasionally and sporadically made the US stats over the last century.

Ceferino

Sunny and lively, this cheerful choice was a familiar option in Brazil in the first half of the 20th century, but has since declined in use. Likely originating from the Ancient Roman Hilarius, meaning "happy", Alirio feels more familiar than it perhaps is, thanks to its similarity to stylish options like Arlo, Elio, and Aurelio. 
 
Also spelled as Alírio in Portuguese, the name is predominantly used in Latin America, much like its feminine counterpart, Aliria. Notable bearers include musician Alirio Díaz, Venezuelan politician Alirio Ugarte Pelayo, and singer Alirio Netta.

Alirio

Lilting and handsome, Celino can be used as a short form of Marcelino, or as the Spanish and Italian variant of the Ancient Roman name Caelinus. A rare choice that saw moderate use in Brazil in the 1940s and 50s, it is much less popular than its feminine counterpart, Celina, or its longer form Marcelino. 
 
If considered a variation of Caelinus, the name can mean "heavens" or "heavenly". As a short form of Marcelino, it is connected to Mars, the Roman god of war, giving it the more figurative meaning "little warrior".
 
The pronunciation of the name varies, depending on language and location. In Italian, it would be heard as cheh-LEE-no, while in European Spanish, it's theh-LEE-no. In Latin American, however, seh-LEE-no is most common, and likely how English speakers would say it too.

Celino

Derived from the Ancient Greek name Anacletus, Anacleto is used in Brazil, the Philippines, Brazil, and Italy among other Italian and Spanish speaking countries.  Meaning "invoked", it has a sharp yet elegant sound and may appeal as an alternative to Antonio and Aneglo.


Anacleto

Spanish boy names are more popular in the US than ever before, with Spanish names for boys used both in the Latin American and Hispanic communities and crossing over to achieve widespread popularity.

Nameberry's audience includes Spanish-speaking countries around the world along with countries where Spanish may not be the primary language but Spanish names fit an international style. The 

 on Nameberry currently include the international

What are the top Spanish boy names in the US?

 most popular Spanish names for boys in the US

 Many of the most familiar Spanish boys' names end with the letter O, which in itself has been a major trend and has helped boost the popularity of baby names of Spanish origin.

Leonardo, Diego, Luis, Antonio, Miguel, Gael, Alejandro,

 Other Hispanic baby boy names include the dashing celebrity-influenced 

, which counts Spanish and Basque among its international origins.

What are the top Spanish boy names in Spain and Latin America?

Baby boy names popular in Spain and Latin America

, and Javier. Other intriguing and unique Spanish names for boys in style today include

All the Spanish boy names on Nameberry are here.

Spanish Boy Names, including a full list of boy names of Spanish origin with meanings and popularity, with top Spanish boy names in the US along with top boy names in Spain and Latin America. (Page 24)

Spanish Names for Boys (With Meanings & Popularity)