Filipino boy names: 100+ Tagalog, Spanish-era and modern names

107 names · Updated October 8, 2026 · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Filipino boy names include Tagalog words like Bayani (hero), Dakila (noble) and Makisig (gallant), along with Spanish-era names like Diosdado and blends like Jomar. In Philippine Statistics Authority birth data, Nathaniel was the most popular name for baby boys in 2024, ahead of Jayden and Ezekiel.

Below are 100+ Filipino male names with their meanings and a simple pronunciation where it helps. Sections cover Tagalog boy names, heroes from Philippine epics and history, the Spanish Catholic names of older generations, the palayaw (nicknames) Filipino men go by every day, and modern blends and coinages.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

Berting
Pet form of Alberto or Roberto, bright
Dranreb
Bernard spelled backward, a playful Filipino naming habit
Tuwaang
Hero of an epic chanted by the Manobo of Mindanao
Goyong
Pet form of Gregorio, watchful
Lapulapu
Mactan chief whose forces defeated Magellan in 1521
Emong
Pet form of Guillermo, by way of Memo

Want endless ideas? Try the baby name generator and generate new names in one click.

Tagalog boy names

Native Tagalog words and precolonial titles used as boys' names. The meanings are fixed because the words are still in use.

Bayani: Hero; Tagalog. Say bah-YAH-nee
Dakila: Great, noble, majestic; Tagalog. Say dah-KEE-lah
Makisig: Gallant, dashing; Tagalog. Say mah-kee-SIG
Magtanggol: To defend; a Tagalog name for a protector
Maliksi: Agile, quick; a rare Tagalog given name
Kidlat: Lightning; Tagalog. Say kid-LAHT
Datu: Chief, ruler; a precolonial title still used in Mindanao
Lakan: Paramount ruler; a precolonial Tagalog title for a great lord
Agila: Eagle; a Filipino word borrowed from Spanish águila
Bagani: Warrior; a title for fighters among Mindanao peoples
Diwa: Spirit, soul, essence; Tagalog. Say dee-WAH
Malakas: Strong; also the first man in a Tagalog creation tale
Akmad: Maguindanao and Tausug form of Ahmad, most praiseworthy

Filipino boy names from epics, myths and history

Heroes of Philippine oral epics, precolonial gods and the rulers who met the first Spanish ships. Bold picks with a story behind them.

Lam-ang: Superhuman Ilocano epic hero who could speak at birth
Aliguyon: Warrior hero of an Ifugao hudhud epic chant
Bantugan: Brave prince of the Maranao epic Darangen
Tuwaang: Hero of an epic chanted by the Manobo of Mindanao
Labaw Donggon: Hero of the Hinilawod, the oral epic of Panay
Humadapnon: Brother-hero of the Panay epic Hinilawod
Dumalapdap: One of the triplet demigod heroes of the Panay epic Hinilawod
Indarapatra: Maguindanao epic king whose brother battled monsters
Apolaki: Sun and war god; Mayari's brother in Kapampangan myth
Bathala: Supreme god of the precolonial Tagalogs
Kaptan: Sky god of Visayan mythology
Lakandula: Title of the last paramount ruler of Tondo, in the 1570s
Sikatuna: Bohol chief who sealed a blood compact with Legazpi in 1565
Lapulapu: Mactan chief whose forces defeated Magellan in 1521
Humabon: Cebu ruler baptized Carlos in 1521, among the first Filipino Christians
Rizal: From Spanish ricial, a green field; the national hero's family name

Spanish-era Filipino male names

Catholic and Spanish names carried by generations of Filipino men. Many are ripe for a comeback as strong vintage picks.

Diosdado: God-given; the first name of ninth president Macapagal
Bienvenido: Welcome; a warm Spanish name common in older Filipino generations
Dominador: Lord, master; Spanish, popular in the Philippines
Restituto: Restored, reinstated; from Latin restitutus
Perfecto: Perfect; a Spanish virtue name
Primitivo: First, original; from Latin primitivus
Crisostomo: Golden mouth, after Saint John Chrysostom; also Rizal's fictional hero
Apolinario: Latin, of Apollo; the first name of hero Mabini
Macario: Blessed, happy; from Greek makarios
Graciano: From Latin gratus, pleasing; reformist López Jaena bore it
Policarpio: Spanish form of Polycarp, much fruit; Greek
Sofronio: Spanish form of Sophronius, self-controlled; Greek
Wenceslao: Spanish form of Wenceslas, more glory; Slavic
Eleuterio: Free; from Greek eleutheros
Fortunato: Fortunate, lucky; Spanish and Italian
Anacleto: Called forth, invoked; from Greek anakletos
Hermogenes: Born of Hermes; Greek. Say er-MOH-heh-nes
Benigno: Kind, good; Latin. Ninoy Aquino's formal first name
Claro: Clear, bright; Spanish. Say KLAH-roh
Delfin: Dolphin; Spanish. Say del-FEEN
Prospero: Fortunate, thriving; from Latin prosperus
Remigio: Oarsman, from Latin remex
Romualdo: Fame and rule; Germanic, by way of Spanish
Timoteo: Honoring God; the Spanish form of Timothy
Venancio: Hunting, from Latin Venantius
Zosimo: Viable, likely to survive; from a Greek word

Filipino boy nicknames ending in -ing, -eng and -ong

Most Filipino men are known by a palayaw (nickname). The classic recipe clips the formal name and adds -ing, -eng or -ong.

Enteng: Pet form of Vicente, conquering
Paeng: Pet form of Rafael, God has healed
Karding: Pet form of Ricardo, brave ruler
Narding: Pet form of Bernardo, brave bear
Pedring: Pet form of Pedro, stone
Berting: Pet form of Alberto or Roberto, bright
Iking: Pet form of Enrique, home ruler
Maning: Pet form of Manuel, God is with us
Domeng: Pet form of Domingo, of the Lord
Emong: Pet form of Guillermo, by way of Memo
Erning: Pet form of Ernesto, serious
Asiong: Pet form of Ignacio, Nicasio or Horacio
Nonong: Pet form of Manuel, by way of Manolo
Ponching: Pet form of Alfonso, by way of Poncho
Temyong: Pet form of Artemio
Timong: Pet form of Timoteo
Zosing: Pet form of Zosimo
Goyong: Pet form of Gregorio, watchful
Sebyong: Pet form of Eusebio, pious
Tonying: Pet form of Antonio, by way of Tonyo

Short forms, -oy names and doubled Filipino nicknames

Clipped names, the boyish -oy ending and doubled syllables. Several belong to Philippine presidents.

Ninoy: Pet form of Benigno, made famous by senator Aquino
Noynoy: Doubled pet form of Benigno; President Aquino III's nickname
Bongbong: Doubled pet name; the nickname of President Marcos Jr.
Junjun: Doubled short form of Junior
Boy: From the English word or a pet form of Bonito
Isko: Short form of Francisco, the Frenchman
Kiko: Pet form of Francisco or Francis
Kulas: Short form of Nicolas, victory of the people
Tonyo: Short form of Antonio
Caloy: Pet form of Carlos or Carlo
Kokoy: Pet form of Francisco, by way of Koko
Butchoy: Butch plus the boyish -oy ending
Natoy: Pet form of Renato, born again
Netoy: Pet form of Nestor or Ernesto
Pitoy: Pet form of Agapito, beloved
Yoyoy: Pet form of Mateo, gift of God
Kanor: Short form of Nicanor
Pekto: Short form of Perfecto, recorded since the 1940s
Puli: Pet form of Apolinario, by way of Spanish Poli
Ambo: Pet form of Pablo, small
Mando: Clipped from a Spanish name meaning soldier

Filipino boy name blends and coinages

Modern Filipino inventions built from saints, parents' names, initials and even spelling backward. The meaning comes from the pieces.

Jomar: Blend of José and María; a Filipino coinage
Jomari: José and María run together into one name
Josemari: The pair José María written as a single name
Joemar: Variant of Jomar, shaped by English Joe
Jejomar: Blend of Jesus, Joseph and Mary
Luzvimindo: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao blended; male form of Luzviminda
Rizalino: Honors national hero José Rizal
Jay Ar: Phonetic spelling of JR, for a junior
Junard: Jun plus -ard, modeled on Bernard or Leonard
Dranreb: Bernard spelled backward, a playful Filipino naming habit
Erap: Pare, buddy, spelled backward; Joseph Estrada's nickname

How to pick the right name

Choose a meaning that travels

Tagalog words like Bayani and Dakila carry a clear meaning to every Filipino relative and are easy for English speakers to say. Check the pronunciation with a native speaker first.

Test the palayaw

Nearly every Filipino boy gets a nickname at home. Say the formal name, then try the home version, such as Vicente to Enteng, before you decide.

Learn the story behind epic names

Names like Lam-ang, Bantugan and Lakandula come from epics and history. Read the tale first so you can tell it when people ask.

Decide on the junior custom

A son named after his father is often called Junior, then Jun or Junjun at home. If you want him to have his own name, give him one.

Filipino boy names: 107 ideas from Nomezo

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Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular Filipino boy name?

Nathaniel. It ranked first among boys' names in Philippine Statistics Authority birth data for 2024, followed by Jayden, Ezekiel, Gabriel and Liam.

What are some Tagalog boy names?

Bayani (hero), Dakila (great, noble), Makisig (gallant), Kidlat (lightning), Lakan (paramount ruler) and Magtanggol (to defend) are real Tagalog words used as boys' names.

Why do Filipino men have nicknames like Enteng and Bongbong?

Filipinos use a palayaw (nickname) in daily life. Common patterns clip the formal name and add -ing, -eng or -oy, as in Vicente to Enteng, or double a syllable, as in Bongbong and Junjun.

What does Jomar mean?

Jomar is a Filipino blend of José and María, honoring Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary. Jomari and Josemari are other versions of the same pair.

What are old Filipino male names?

Older generations often carry Spanish Catholic names such as Diosdado (God-given), Bienvenido (welcome), Restituto (restored) and Crisostomo (golden mouth), a legacy of more than 300 years of Spanish rule.

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