My Favorite Latino Baby Names!

Ignacio

Spanish

"fiery"

Ignacio, like Horacio, makes its gray-bearded English equivalent name sound positively dashing. While the Ig- beginning summons up such associations as ignoble and ignorant, the era for Ignacio and…

Manolo

Variation of Manuel

Because of shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, this has become a generic term for pricey stilettos, as in "I must have those Manolos."

Serafin

Spanish variation of Seraphim, Hebrew

"fiery"

Serafin and Seraphim are much less known and used in the US than the feminine forms Serafina and Seraphina, but just as appealing. An out-of-the-box Spanish option with a deep history and an animated…

Adamo

Adamo is the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese form of Adam, a name with ancient Hebrew origins meaning 'man' or 'earth.' As the name of the first man in Biblical tradition, it carries significant…

Alamo

Place-name, Spanish

"poplar tree"

The unique O-ending makes this name memorable, especially for someone with ties to Texas.

Bernardino

Bernardino is a masculine name of Italian and Spanish origin, derived from Bernard, which combines the Germanic elements 'bern' meaning 'bear' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'strong.' This extended…

Bronco

Spanish

"rough, unbroken horse"

For the parent who might also have Buck and Ryder on his list.

Canyon

Spanish word name

Canyon is a unique baby name evocative of natural splendor and the old Steve Canyon comic-strip heroism, making it an intriguing new word-name possibility. Similar but less word-like: Kenyon.

Cesareo

Cesareo is a masculine name with Latin and Spanish origins, derived from the Roman family name Caesar, which may have originally meant 'hairy' or possibly 'cut from the womb.' In Spanish-speaking…

Chavez

Spanish place-name

The perfect Latin-accented hero name to honor labor activist César Chavez.

Fausto

Italian and Spanish variation of Faust

"fortunate one"

While Faust, who sold his soul to the devil, was anything but fortunate, this Latinate variation is more commonly heard and accepted.

Horacio

Horacio is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Horatius, a masculine name of Latin origin derived from the Roman clan name Horatius, whose meaning remains uncertain. Made famous by the Roman poet…

Inigo

Basque, medieval Spanish variation of Ignatius

"fiery"

Inigo, almost unknown in the U.S., is an intriguing choice, with its strong beat, creative and evocative sound, and associations with the great early British architect and stage designer Inigo Jones.…

Lucio

Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese variation of Lucius

"light"

About 100 baby boys were named Lucio in the US last year, a number we expect to increase with the growing popularity of all names in the Lu family. It's a family united by sound, with three main…

Navarone

Spanish, meaning unknown

Cowboy swagger via the non-cowboy flick "The Guns of Navarone," chosen by Priscilla Presley.

Octavio

Spanish variation of Octavius

"eighth"

The most popular of the number names used by Hispanic parents, open to all. Octavia and Octavio are two Spanish baby names that are moving out into the wider world.

Pacifico

Pacifico is a masculine name of Latin and Italian origin meaning 'peaceful' or 'bringing peace.' Derived from the Latin 'pacificus,' it shares roots with words like 'pacific' and 'pacify.' This name…

Prospero

Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese variation of Prosper

"succeed, prosper"

Shakespeare's Tempest has kept the name Prospero alive.

Quinto

Spanish variation of Quintin

"fifth"

Quint or Quinton played to a Latin rhythm.

Samuelito

Samuelito is a masculine Spanish diminutive of Samuel, incorporating the affectionate suffix '-ito' to create a name expressing endearment or referring to a younger or smaller Samuel. The base name…