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Brazilian names: 150+ girl, boy and last names with meanings

154 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Popular Brazilian names include Ravi, Heitor, Cecília and Aurora, all in Brazil's top 10 baby names of 2025, according to Arpen-Brasil, the national association of civil registrars. Each name below comes with its meaning and origin, from Brazilian female names like Andressa and Janaína to surnames like Oliveira and Correia.

This list of 150+ real names covers Brazilian girl names, Brazilian boy names and Portuguese names from Portugal, plus unisex names, names from Tupi, the Indigenous language behind many Brazilian words, Brazil's most common last names from the 2022 census and more Brazilian surnames with their meanings. Helena, Brazil's top girl name, is missing because its meaning is debated; the FAQ explains why.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Correia

    Leather strap or belt, for a maker of straps

  • Ana Luísa

    Grace, famous warrior; Hebrew and Germanic

  • Aurora

    Dawn; Latin. A 2025 top 10 name. Say ow-ROH-rah

  • Manoel

    God is with us; Hebrew. A Portuguese variant of Manuel, common in Brazil

  • Sebastiana

    Venerable; Greek. Feminine of Sebastião

  • Oliveira

    Dweller by an olive tree. No. 3 in Brazil's 2022 census

Find a Brazilian name on this page

Narrow 154 names by how common they were for US babies in 2025, by section, length or first letter, or search the meanings.

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Classic Brazilian girl names

Names of Brazilian mothers and grandmothers, many honoring the Virgin Mary or a family saint.

  1. Aparecida Under 5 in 2025: Appeared; Portuguese. For Brazil's patron Virgin, found in a river in 1717
  2. Conceição Under 5 in 2025: The Immaculate Conception; Latin. Say kon-say-SOWN
  3. Graça Under 5 in 2025: Grace, divine favor; Latin. Often follows Maria
  4. Penha Under 5 in 2025: Rock, crag; Portuguese. For Marian shrines on rocky hilltops
  5. Dores Under 5 in 2025: Sorrows; Latin. For Our Lady of Sorrows. Say DOH-rees
  6. Luzia 11 in 2025: Light; Latin. Saint Lucy in Portuguese. Say loo-ZEE-ah
  7. Raimunda Under 5 in 2025: Counsel protector; Germanic. Feminine of Raimundo
  8. Sebastiana 12 in 2025: Venerable; Greek. Feminine of Sebastião
  9. Rosângela Under 5 in 2025: Rose and angel; a Brazilian blend of Rosa and Ângela
  10. Rosana 11 in 2025: Bright, shining; Persian. The Portuguese form of Roxana
  11. Cristiane Under 5 in 2025: Follower of Christ; Greek. Brazilian form of Christiane
  12. Sônia 171 in 2025: Wisdom; Greek, via Russian Sonya. Actress Braga bore it
  13. Elza 8 in 2025: God is my oath; Hebrew. Samba legend Soares bore it
  14. Ivete Under 5 in 2025: Yew; Germanic. Axé superstar Sangalo's first name
  15. Chiquinha Under 5 in 2025: Pet form of Francisca. Composer Gonzaga, a pioneer of Brazilian music

Brazilian female names with a local twist

Names you are more likely to meet in Brazil than anywhere else: Brazilian spellings and blends, Tupi plant names and names from Afro-Brazilian tradition.

  1. Andressa Under 5 in 2025: Manly, brave; Greek. A Brazilian elaboration of Andréa. Say an-DRES-sah
  2. Deise Under 5 in 2025: Day's eye, the daisy; Old English. Brazilian form of Daisy. Say DAY-zee
  3. Efigênia Under 5 in 2025: Strong-born; Greek. The Brazilian form of Iphigeneia. Say eh-fee-ZHEH-nee-ah
  4. Cícera Under 5 in 2025: Chickpea; Latin. The feminine form of Cícero. Say SEE-seh-rah
  5. Elisângela Under 5 in 2025: God is my oath, plus angel; a Brazilian blend of Elisa and Ângela
  6. Marinalva Under 5 in 2025: A Brazilian blend of Marina and Portuguese alva, dawn. Say mah-ree-NOW-vah
  7. Janaína Under 5 in 2025: A Brazilian name for Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea
  8. Jurema Under 5 in 2025: A Brazilian shrub of the mimosa family; from Tupi. Say zhoo-REH-mah
  9. Jussara Under 5 in 2025: A palm tree; from Tupi, meaning thorny. Say zhoo-SAH-rah
  10. Noêmia Under 5 in 2025: Pleasantness; Hebrew. The Brazilian form of Naomi. Say noh-EH-mee-ah
  11. Poliana Under 5 in 2025: From Pollyanna, the optimistic heroine of a 1913 novel. Say poh-lee-AH-nah
  12. Talita 11 in 2025: Little girl; Aramaic, from the words talitha koum in Mark 5:41
  13. Luiza 36 in 2025: Famous warrior; Germanic. The Brazilian spelling of Luísa. Say loo-EE-zah
  14. Nathália 162 in 2025: Christmas Day; Latin. A Brazilian spelling of Natália. Say nah-TAH-lee-ah
  15. Otávia Under 5 in 2025: Eighth; Latin. Feminine of Otávio, from the Roman Octavia
  16. Manoela Under 5 in 2025: God is with us; Hebrew. Feminine of Manoel. Say mah-noh-EH-lah
  17. Iasmim Under 5 in 2025: Jasmine flower; from Persian. A Brazilian spelling of Yasmin. Say ee-ahs-MEEN

Classic Brazilian boy names

Names from Brazil's favorite saints, statesmen, artists and sports legends.

  1. Sebastião Under 5 in 2025: Venerable; Greek. Patron saint of Rio de Janeiro
  2. Raimundo Under 5 in 2025: Counsel protector; Germanic. Portuguese form of Raymond
  3. Geraldo 5 in 2025: Spear rule; Germanic. Portuguese form of Gerald
  4. Benedito Under 5 in 2025: Blessed; Latin. Saint Benedict the Moor is loved in Brazil
  5. Cosme 12 in 2025: Order, world; Greek. Twin saint feted every September 27
  6. Damião Under 5 in 2025: To tame; Greek. Twin brother of Saint Cosmas
  7. Manoel Under 5 in 2025: God is with us; Hebrew. A Portuguese variant of Manuel, common in Brazil
  8. Luiz 28 in 2025: Famous warrior; Germanic. Brazilian spelling of Luís
  9. Paulo 110 in 2025: Small, humble; Latin. Writer Coelho's first name
  10. Rogério Under 5 in 2025: Famous spear; Germanic. Portuguese form of Roger
  11. Caetano 13 in 2025: From Gaeta; Latin. Singer Veloso's first name
  12. Tancredo Under 5 in 2025: Thought and counsel; Germanic. President-elect Neves bore it
  13. Euclides Under 5 in 2025: Good glory; Greek. Author da Cunha bore it
  14. Cândido 6 in 2025: White, pure; Latin. Painter Portinari bore it
  15. Ayrton 41 in 2025: Settlement on the River Aire; English. Racing legend Senna
  16. Ronaldo 77 in 2025: Counsel ruler; Old Norse. Soccer great Nazário bore it
  17. Wagner 10 in 2025: Wagon maker; German. A surname Brazilians adopted as a first name

Portuguese names from Portugal

Portugal's own favorites for girls and boys. Ranks are for 2025, from Portugal's registry office (IRN) as reported in the press.

  1. Duarte Under 5 in 2025: Rich guardian; Old English. Portugal's No. 3 boy name of 2025
  2. Afonso Under 5 in 2025: Noble and ready; Germanic. Name of Portugal's first king
  3. Lourenço Under 5 in 2025: Man from Laurentum; Latin. A top 10 boy name in Portugal
  4. Martim Under 5 in 2025: Dedicated to Mars; Latin. A top 10 boy name in Portugal
  5. Tiago 192 in 2025: Supplanter, holder of the heel; Hebrew. Portuguese form of James
  6. Simão Under 5 in 2025: He has heard; Hebrew. Portuguese form of Simon
  7. Tomé Under 5 in 2025: A twin; Aramaic. A Portuguese form of Thomas, as in São Tomé
  8. Benedita Under 5 in 2025: Blessed one; Latin. No. 5 for girls in Portugal, 2025
  9. Francisca 56 in 2025: A Frenchwoman; Latin. A top 10 girl name in Portugal
  10. Constança Under 5 in 2025: Steadfast, constant; Latin. A girl's name. Say kon-STAHN-sah
  11. Margarida Under 5 in 2025: A pearl; Greek. A girl's name that also means daisy
  12. Joana 67 in 2025: God is gracious; Hebrew. Portuguese form of Joan
  13. Filipa Under 5 in 2025: Lover of horses; Greek. Queen Philippa of Lancaster's name
  14. Madalena 17 in 2025: Woman from Magdala; Hebrew. Portuguese form of Magdalene

Unisex and Tupi names

Juraci, Darci, Alcione, Clair and Adair are registered for both girls and boys in Brazil, according to IBGE census counts. Tupi names come from the Indigenous language once spoken along Brazil's coast.

  1. Juraci Under 5 in 2025: Mouth and mother; Tupi. Used for girls and boys alike
  2. Darci 28 in 2025: From Arcy in France; Norman French. Given to both sexes
  3. Alcione Under 5 in 2025: Kingfisher; Greek. Given to girls and boys in Brazil
  4. Clair 29 in 2025: Clear, bright; Latin, via French. Used for both sexes
  5. Adair 90 in 2025: From a surname derived from Edgar; English. Mostly boys in Brazil
  6. Cauã Under 5 in 2025: Hawk, falcon; Tupi. Also spelled Kauã. A modern favorite
  7. Iracema Under 5 in 2025: Honey lips; Tupi. Heroine of José de Alencar's 1865 novel
  8. Iraci Under 5 in 2025: Honey and mother; Tupi. Say ee-rah-SEE
  9. Moacir Under 5 in 2025: Pain, grief; Tupi. Iracema's son in Alencar's novel
  10. Ubirajara Under 5 in 2025: Lord of the spear; Tupi. Title of an 1874 Alencar novel
  11. Ubiratan Under 5 in 2025: Strong spear; Tupi. Say oo-bee-rah-TAHN

Most common Brazilian last names

The leading surnames in Brazil's 2022 census, ranked by the IBGE. Silva and Santos, the top two, appear on our other surname pages.

  1. Oliveira US surname #1,694: Dweller by an olive tree. No. 3 in Brazil's 2022 census
  2. Souza US surname #1,538: Variant of Sousa, from a river in northern Portugal. No. 4
  3. Pereira US surname #1,070: Dweller by a pear tree. No. 5 in Brazil
  4. Ferreira US surname #1,183: From a place named for its ironworks. No. 6
  5. Lima US surname #1,708: From a river of that name in Portugal and Spain. No. 7
  6. Alves US surname #2,380: Son of Álvaro. No. 8 in Brazil
  7. Rodrigues US surname #1,203: Son of Rodrigo. No. 9 in Brazil
  8. Costa US surname #890: Coast, riverbank or slope; Portuguese. No. 10 in Brazil
  9. Sousa US surname #2,300: From a river of that name in northern Portugal. No. 11
  10. Gomes US surname #1,359: Son of Gome, a medieval name. No. 12
  11. Nascimento US surname #8,842: Birth, for the Nativity of Christ. No. 13 in Brazil
  12. Araújo US surname #1,763: From one of many Portuguese places of that name. No. 14
  13. Ribeiro US surname #4,506: Dweller by a stream. No. 15 in Brazil
  14. Almeida US surname #1,974: From a town named from Arabic al-maida, the plateau. No. 16
  15. Soares US surname #2,948: Son of Soeiro. No. 19 in Brazil
  16. Carvalho US surname #3,023: Dweller by an oak tree. No. 20 in Brazil

Brazilian last names and their meanings

More family names you will meet all over Brazil, most of them brought from Portugal.

  1. Vieira US surname #3,076: Scallop shell, the pilgrim's badge. No. 23 in Brazil
  2. Rocha US surname #612: Rock, dweller by a rock. No. 24 in Brazil
  3. Dias US surname #2,141: Son of Diogo. No. 25 in Brazil
  4. Gonçalves US surname #3,576: Son of Gonçalo. No. 26 in Brazil
  5. Fernandes US surname #1,822: Son of Fernando. No. 27 in Brazil
  6. Santana US surname #510: From places named after Saint Anne. No. 28
  7. Batista US surname #1,713: Baptist, for Saint John the Baptist. No. 30
  8. Moreira US surname #3,534: Dweller by a mulberry tree; Portuguese
  9. Teixeira US surname #3,614: Place of yew trees; Portuguese
  10. Machado US surname #1,405: Axe, for an axe maker or woodcutter
  11. Freitas US surname #3,147: Broken, for someone on stony ground; Portuguese
  12. Nogueira US surname #12,776: Walnut tree; Portuguese and Galician
  13. Pinheiro US surname #10,988: Pine tree; Portuguese and Galician
  14. Barros US surname #4,557: Clay, mud; Portuguese and Spanish
  15. Pires US surname #5,493: Son of Pedro; Portuguese
  16. Medeiros US surname #1,916: From places named for haystacks; Portuguese
  17. Magalhães US surname #19,259: From a place of that name in Portugal. Explorer Magellan's surname
  18. Cardoso US surname #3,129: Thistly place, from cardo, thistle; Portuguese

Brazilian surnames from trees, trades and fathers' names

Many Brazilian surnames describe a place, a job or a father. Most came from Portugal, and the -es ending means son of.

  1. Correia US surname #3,453: Leather strap or belt, for a maker of straps
  2. Fonseca US surname #1,309: From places named for a dry spring; Portuguese
  3. Monteiro US surname #4,503: Huntsman, from monte, a wooded hill; Portuguese
  4. Morais US surname #10,846: Mulberry trees; the Portuguese cognate of Spanish Morales
  5. Matos US surname #1,520: Woods and thickets; a variant of Mata
  6. Cabral US surname #1,516: Place of goats. Explorer Pedro Álvares, who reached Brazil in 1500, bore it
  7. Gama US surname #7,925: A fallow deer doe. The family name of navigator Vasco
  8. Madeira US surname #22,446: Wood, for a carpenter or woodcutter; Portuguese
  9. Silveira US surname #5,279: Forests, woodland; Portuguese, from the same root as Silva
  10. Simões US surname #12,697: Son of Simão, the Portuguese form of Simon
  11. Nunes US surname #2,889: Son of Nuno, a medieval Portuguese given name
  12. Antunes US surname #13,691: Son of António; Portuguese
  13. Esteves US surname #8,032: Son of Estêvão, the Portuguese form of Stephen
  14. Pinho US surname #22,315: Pine, for someone who lived among pine trees
  15. Marques US surname #4,413: Son of Marcos; Portuguese
  16. Mendes US surname #3,398: Son of Mendo, a medieval Portuguese given name

How to pick the right name

Say it the Brazilian way

In Brazil a final e sounds like ee, ti and de like chee and jee, a final l like w, and a starting r like h: Raimundo is hai-MOON-doo, Cristiane krees-chee-AH-nee and Geraldo zheh-RAHW-doo. Try the name aloud with a Brazilian accent before you decide.

Order the surnames Brazilian style

Brazilians usually give the mother's surname first and the father's last, as in Ana Clara Souza Ferreira, and the final surname is the one used in everyday life. That is custom, not law: Brazilian law lets parents put the surnames in any order.

Pick one spelling

Brazilian and Portuguese spellings differ: Matheus or Mateus, Luiz or Luís. Choose one and use it on every document.

Try a Tupi name

Names like Cauã (hawk) and Iracema (honey lips) come from Tupi and sound unmistakably Brazilian, with meanings that are easy to explain.

Brazilian names: 154 ideas from Nomezo

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Pin it to a naming board, or tap the heart next to any name to keep it in your favorites on this device.

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Brazilian names: the 2025 top 10, the census counts, how to say them, and what Brazilian law allows

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

Ravi overtook Miguel as Brazil's most registered boy's name in 2025, and Helena led the girls, according to projected counts from Arpen-Brasil, the national association of civil registrars. Across all living Brazilians the leaders are older: 12.2 million are called Maria and 34 million carry the surname Silva, according to the 2022 census.

Brazilian names follow Brazilian sounds, so Thiago is said chee-AH-goo, and Brazilian law shapes them too. The finder above narrows the names by section, length and how common each is in the US.

  1. Step 1Start with today's favoritesRavi, Helena, Cecília and Aurora lead.
  2. Step 2Say it the Brazilian wayTi is chee, de is jee, a final l is w.
  3. Step 3Choose the surname orderCustom says mother then father; the law allows any.
  4. Step 4Narrow the listGirls, boys, Tupi names or surnames.

Brazil's top baby names of 2025

Most registered baby names in Brazil, 2025
RankGirlsBoys
1Helena (28,271)Ravi (21,982)
2Maitê (20,677)Miguel (21,654)
3Cecília (20,378)Heitor (17,751)
4Maria Cecília (16,889)Arthur (17,514)
5Aurora (16,506)Theo (16,766)
6Alice (14,777)Gael (16,201)
7Laura (14,487)Bernardo (15,395)
8Antonella (10,436)David or Davi (14,425)
9Isis (10,378)Noah (14,182)
10Heloísa (9,703)Samuel (14,021)

Source: projected counts from Arpen-Brasil data released in mid-December 2025, as reported by BBC News Brasil and listed by Nancy's Baby Names. Sources differ on whether the No. 8 boy's name is spelled David or Davi.

The most common names in Brazil, all ages

Most common first names and surnames in Brazil's 2022 census
NamePeople
Maria12,224,470
José5,141,822
Ana3,929,951
João3,410,873
Antônio2,231,019
Silva (surname)34,030,104
Santos (surname)21,367,475
Oliveira (surname)11,708,947
Souza (surname)9,197,158
Pereira (surname)6,888,212

Source: IBGE, Censo 2022, released November 4, 2025, as reported by CNN Brasil.

Say it the Brazilian way

Brazilian Portuguese sounds in the names on this page
SpellingSounds likeExample
Final eeeCristiane: krees-chee-AH-nee
Final oooBernardo: behr-NAR-doo
ti, or te at the endcheeThiago: chee-AH-goo
di, or de at the endjeeBenedito: beh-neh-JEE-too
l at the end of a syllablewGeraldo: zheh-RAHW-doo
r at the start, or rrhRaimundo: hai-MOON-doo

Source: Wikipedia: Brazilian Portuguese. Accents vary by region; in Rio, a final s or z sounds like sh.

What Brazilian law says about names

  • No ridiculous names. A registrar will not register a first name likely to expose the child to ridicule; if the parents disagree, the registrar sends the case to a judge, free of charge (Lei 6.015/1973, Art. 55).
  • Surnames in any order. Parents add their own or their ancestors' surnames to the first name "em qualquer ordem", in any order, so mother first and father last is custom, not a rule (Art. 55).
  • One free change. Since a 2022 reform, an adult can change their first name once at the registry office, without a court or a reason (Art. 56).

Brazilian names in the US

  • Given names. In 2025 Thiago was No. 50 for US boys and Gael No. 86, but the Brazilian spellings are rare: Davi went to 118 US boys, Heitor to 50 and Heloisa to 21 girls (Social Security data).
  • Surnames. Silva, Brazil's most common surname, is No. 157 in the 2020 US Census with 162,724 people, and Santos is No. 190. Of the surnames on this page, Santana (No. 510), Rocha (No. 612) and Costa (No. 890) rank highest. The counts include Portuguese, Spanish and other families too (US Census Bureau).

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular name in Brazil?

Helena led 2025 with about 28,000 registrations by mid-December, and Ravi led the boys, according to Arpen-Brasil, the national association of civil registrars. Across the whole population, Maria and José are still the most common first names (IBGE).

What are the most common Brazilian last names?

Silva, Santos and Oliveira, in that order, according to the IBGE's count from the 2022 census. About 34 million Brazilians are named Silva.

What are some Brazilian female names?

Heloísa, Vitória and Ana Clara are popular Brazilian female names, while Andressa, Elisângela and Janaína have a distinctly Brazilian feel. Portugal shares most names but favors classics like Benedita and Francisca.

How do Brazilian last names work?

Most Brazilians carry two or more surnames, usually the mother's first and the father's last, the reverse of Spanish order, though the law lets parents choose any order. Small connecting words like da, de and dos are common, as in Maria da Silva.

Why are Helena, Enzo and Maria not on this list?

Their meanings are debated: Helena may come from a Greek word for torch, Maria's meaning is uncertain and Enzo's roots are unclear, so we list only names with a well-established meaning. Miguel, Arthur and Theo appear on our other baby name pages.

Can you give a baby any name in Brazil?

No. The registrar can refuse a first name that would expose the child to ridicule. If the parents disagree, the case goes to a judge, at no cost to them.

Can Brazilians change their first name?

Yes. Since a 2022 change to the public records law, an adult can change their first name once, in person at the registry office, without going to court or giving a reason. Undoing the change takes a court order.

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