Tavares

Tavares has Portuguese origins and was originally a place name and surname before being adopted as a given name. It derives from a medieval parish in Portugal called Tavares, in the Viseu district. As a surname, it spread throughout Portuguese-speaking regions including Brazil and parts of Africa. The transition to using Tavares as a first name appears to have occurred primarily in the 20th century. The name gained some recognition in the 1970s through the R&B group Tavares, comprising American brothers with Cape Verdean ancestry. As a given name, Tavares has maintained steady but modest usage, particularly in Portuguese-speaking communities and in the United States. The name carries a distinctive sound while maintaining connections to Portuguese linguistic heritage.

Tavares is also given to girls.

Pronounced tuh-VAR-ez.

As of October 2026, Tavares ranked #5176 for boys in US births in 2025 and #10743 for girls in US births in 1976 SSA, peaked at #634 for boys in 1976 and #5948 for girls in 1975.