Brazilian Names

By the Names.Contact Editorial Team · Updated September 2026 · 101 names

Brazilian Names

Brazilian names are Portuguese at the root but far from purely Portuguese. Five centuries of Indigenous, African, Italian, German, Japanese and Arab influence, a strong Catholic tradition and a playful streak of creativity (think Wellington, Maicon or Kléber) give Brazil one of the most varied naming cultures in the world. Brazilians also love nicknames: footballers from Pelé to Kaká are known by little else.

Here you’ll find 100+ Brazilian names with meanings and simple pronunciation guides, from the names topping recent birth registries to Tupi legends and beloved classics. For longer lists, jump to Brazilian girl names, Brazilian boy names or Brazilian last names, and compare with the European tradition in Portuguese names.

Our top picks: Helena, Miguel, Maria Clara, Davi, Iara, Heitor, Cecília, João Pedro, Aurora, Ravi, Luana, Caio

Brazilian Names: browse all lists

Brazilian Boy Names100+ namesBrazilian Girl Names100+ namesBrazilian Last Names100+ names

Most popular baby names in Brazil right now

These names have sat at or near the top of Brazil’s civil-registry data in recent years. Classic Portuguese names share the list with short international picks like Theo and Ravi.

NameGenderMeaning / origin
MiguelBoyHebrew, “who is like God?”
ArthurBoyCeltic, possibly “bear”
GaelBoyBreton/Celtic, “generous” or “Gaelic”
HeitorBoyPortuguese form of Hector, Greek “holding fast”
TheoBoyGreek, “god”
DaviBoyBrazilian form of David, “beloved”
GabrielBoyHebrew, “God is my strength”
BernardoBoyGermanic, “brave as a bear”
SamuelBoyHebrew, “God has heard”
RaviBoySanskrit, “sun”
HelenaGirlGreek, “light, torch”
AliceGirlGermanic, “noble”
LauraGirlLatin, “laurel”
ValentinaGirlLatin, “strong, healthy”
HeloísaGirlFrench Héloïse, possibly “healthy, wide”
CecíliaGirlLatin, from the Roman family Caecilius
ManuelaGirlHebrew, “God is with us”
LíviaGirlLatin, possibly “bluish” or “envious”
LorenaGirlFrom Lorraine, the French region
AuroraGirlLatin, “dawn”

Compound names: Maria, João and friends

Double first names are hugely popular in Brazil. They honor saints or relatives, and Brazilians usually say the full combination, not just the first half.

NamePronunciationNote
Maria Claramah-REE-ah KLAH-rahA modern classic
Maria Alicemah-REE-ah ah-LEE-seeTop-five girl name recently
Maria Eduardamah-REE-ah eh-doo-AR-dahNicknamed “Duda”
Maria Luísamah-REE-ah loo-EE-zahSoft and elegant
Maria Fernandamah-REE-ah fer-NAN-dahNickname “Nanda”
João Pedrozhoo-OWN PEH-drooThe classic boys’ combo
João Miguelzhoo-OWN mee-GELPopular with modern parents
João Lucaszhoo-OWN LOO-kahsSaint names combined
Pedro HenriquePEH-droo en-HEE-keeVery common since the 1990s
Luiz Felipeloo-EES feh-LEE-peeRoyal-sounding pair
Ana ClaraAH-nah KLAH-rah“Clear, bright grace”
Ana JúliaAH-nah ZHOO-lee-ahFriendly and familiar

Tupi and Indigenous-inspired Brazilian names

Words from Tupi and Guarani became first names through Romantic-era novels like José de Alencar’s Iracema (1865). Many are also listed among Native American girl names.

NameMeaningGender
IaraLady of the waters; a river spirit of legendGirl
JaciMoonGirl
IracemaHoney lips (as explained by Alencar)Girl
UbirajaraLord of the spearBoy
MoacirOne who brings pain (a hero in Iracema)Boy
TaináMorning starGirl
AraciMother of the day; dawnGirl
PotiraFlowerGirl
CauãHawkBoy
JuremaA sacred tree of Northeastern BrazilGirl
GuaraciThe sunBoy
RudáGod of love in Tupi legendBoy
MoemaLegendary Tupinambá woman in the 1781 epic poem CaramuruGirl
LuanaPopular Brazilian name; often linked to Hawaiian “enjoyment”Girl

Classic Brazilian names

Timeless names you’ll find on grandparents and newborns alike, many carried by saints and national figures.

NameGenderMeaning / origin
JoãoBoyHebrew, “God is gracious”
JoséBoyHebrew, “God will add”
AntônioBoyLatin, from the Roman family Antonius
FranciscoBoyLatin, “Frenchman”
CarlosBoyGermanic, “free man”
PauloBoyLatin, “small”
LuizBoyGermanic, “famous warrior”
RafaelBoyHebrew, “God has healed”
LucasBoyGreek, “from Lucania”
MateusBoyHebrew, “gift of God”
CaioBoyLatin Gaius, possibly “to rejoice”
ViníciusBoyLatin, “of wine”
EduardoBoyEnglish Edward, “wealthy guardian”
LeonardoBoyGermanic, “brave as a lion”
RodrigoBoyGermanic, “famous ruler”
GuilhermeBoyGermanic, “will + helmet,” resolute protector
MariaGirlHebrew Miriam, possibly “beloved”
AnaGirlHebrew, “grace”
FranciscaGirlLatin, “Frenchwoman”
AntôniaGirlFeminine of Antônio
JulianaGirlLatin, “youthful”
FernandaGirlGermanic, “bold voyager”
BeatrizGirlLatin, “she who brings happiness”
LuízaGirlFeminine of Luiz, “famous warrior”
GabrielaGirlHebrew, “God is my strength”
CamilaGirlLatin, “attendant at religious rites”
IsabelaGirlHebrew, “pledged to God”
LarissaGirlGreek, a city in Thessaly
LetíciaGirlLatin, “joy”

Uniquely Brazilian creative names

Brazil has a long habit of borrowing English, French and American names and respelling them to fit Portuguese sounds. These names are far more common in Brazil than anywhere else.

NameGenderWhere it comes from
WellingtonBoyThe Duke of Wellington; English place name
WashingtonBoyGeorge Washington
MaiconBoyBrazilian spelling of Michael (“Maicol”)
JeffersonBoyThomas Jefferson
WesleyBoyEnglish, “western meadow”
KléberBoyFrench general Jean-Baptiste Kléber
AndersonBoyEnglish/Scandinavian, “son of Andrew”
EdsonBoyHonoring Thomas Edison; Pelé’s real first name
RayssaGirlModern Brazilian coinage, possibly from Raisa
KayaneGirlModern Brazilian invention
ThaísGirlGreek; an Athenian courtesan of legend
JaquelineGirlFrench Jacqueline, “supplanter”
KetlynGirlBrazilian spelling of Kaitlyn
DayaneGirlBrazilian spelling of Diane

Brazilian nicknames (apelidos)

Brazilians shorten, double and add -inho or -inha (“little”) to almost any name. Many famous Brazilians are known only by a nickname; see our main nicknames page for more.

NicknameShort forExample
PeléEdson (origin unclear, from childhood)Football legend Pelé
KakáRicardo (a younger brother’s mispronunciation)Ricardo Kaká
ZicoArthur (from “Arthurzico”)Football legend Zico
RonaldinhoRonaldo + -inho, “little Ronaldo”Ronaldinho Gaúcho
DuduEduardoCommon family nickname
DudaMaria EduardaVery common for girls
JujuJúlia or JulianaAffectionate
NandoFernandoFriendly
TiãoSebastiãoOld-fashioned and warm
ZéJoséZé Carioca, the Disney parrot
ChicoFranciscoSinger Chico Buarque
BiaBeatrizShort and bright

How to choose a Brazilian name

  • Say it the Brazilian way: final -e sounds like “ee” and -o like “oo,” so Felipe is feh-LEE-pee and Pedro is PEH-droo.
  • Watch the letters j and g (before e/i), both a soft “zh,” and initial r, which sounds like an English “h”: Rafael is hah-fah-EL.
  • Accents matter in writing: Antônio, Lívia and Heloísa keep their marks in Brazil, though many families outside Brazil drop them.
  • A compound name like Maria Clara or João Pedro is a natural way to honor two relatives at once.
  • Remember that Brazilians usually carry both parents’ surnames, mother’s first and father’s last; see Brazilian last names.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular name in Brazil?

In recent registry data, Miguel and Helena have led the boys’ and girls’ lists, with Arthur, Gael, Alice and Laura close behind. Maria, while less common alone, is still Brazil’s most frequent female name overall.

Are Brazilian names the same as Portuguese names?

They share roots, but Brazil uses many names rarely seen in Portugal, including Tupi names, creative spellings like Maicon, and English-inspired names like Wellington. Pronunciation differs too.

Why are so many Brazilians known by one name?

Nicknames are part of everyday life in Brazil, and athletes and artists often keep the one they grew up with, like Pelé, Kaká, Zico or Neymar.

What is a unisex Brazilian name?

Ariel, Darci, Juraci and Irani are used for both boys and girls, but unisex names are fairly rare in Brazil because Portuguese names usually signal gender with -o or -a.

What is a Tupi name for a girl?

Iara, Jaci, Tainá, Araci, Iracema and Potira are popular Tupi-derived girl names.