Puerto Rican Names
Puerto Rican names reflect the island’s layered history: Spanish Catholic classics like José, Carmen and Milagros; names honoring the Taíno people who called the island Borikén; and a playful, creative streak that gave the island names like Yaritza, Keishla and Yadiel. Close ties with the US mainland add English favorites too, so a Puerto Rican family might have a Wilfredo, a Kiara and a Liam around the same table.
Here are 100+ Puerto Rican names with meanings and stories. For full lists, see Puerto Rican boy names, Puerto Rican girl names and Puerto Rican last names, or compare with our Cuban names.
Puerto Rican Names: browse all lists
Popular Puerto Rican boy names
Spanish classics and bilingual names that work in San Juan and the Bronx alike. More in Puerto Rican boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Sebastián | “Venerable” | Greek |
| Adrián | “From Hadria” | Latin |
| Mateo | “Gift of God” | Hebrew |
| Dylan | “Son of the sea” | Welsh |
| Liam | “Strong-willed protector” | Irish |
| Ian | “God is gracious” | Scottish |
| Lucas | “From Lucania” | Greek/Latin |
| Gael | Possibly “generous” or “Gaelic” | Celtic |
| Joshua | “God is salvation” | Hebrew |
| Luis | “Famous warrior” | Germanic |
| Ángel | “Messenger, angel” | Greek |
| Diego | Possibly “teacher” or a form of James | Spanish |
| Andrés | “Manly, brave” | Greek |
Popular Puerto Rican girl names
Latin elegance meets modern bilingual style. See the full Puerto Rican girl names list for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Mía | “Mine”, or short for María | Spanish |
| Valentina | “Strong, healthy” | Latin |
| Camila | “Young attendant” | Latin |
| Victoria | “Victory” | Latin |
| Isabella | “God is my oath” | Hebrew via Italian |
| Kiara | Possibly “bright, clear” (from Chiara) | Italian/Irish |
| Paola | “Small, humble” | Italian |
| Génesis | “Origin, beginning” | Greek |
| Nicole | “Victory of the people” | Greek via French |
| Alondra | “Lark” | Spanish |
| Emma | “Whole, universal” | Germanic |
| Luna | “Moon” | Latin |
| Amanda | “Worthy of love” | Latin |
Distinctly Puerto Rican names
From the 1970s onward, Puerto Rican parents embraced inventive names, often starting with Y, J or K. Many have no single dictionary meaning — their style is the point.
| Name | Style / note | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Yadiel | Modern favorite; possibly inspired by Yariel and Adiel | Boy |
| Jadiel | Popular 2000s name; Hebrew-sounding blend | Boy |
| Yandel | Made famous by reggaeton artist Yandel | Boy |
| Yariel | Soft, modern and very Puerto Rican | Boy |
| Yaritza | A 1980s–90s classic of the island | Girl |
| Yamilet | Popular in PR and Central America; possibly from Arabic Jamila, “beautiful” | Girl |
| Yarelis | Playful blend with the -elis ending | Girl |
| Keishla | Distinctive Puerto Rican spelling | Girl |
| Yahaira | Widely used across the Caribbean | Girl |
| Xiomara | Possibly from Guiomar, “famous in battle” | Girl |
| Zuleika | Possibly Persian or Arabic, “brilliant beauty” | Girl |
| Nayeli | Often said to mean “I love you” in Zapotec | Girl |
Taíno names and words from Borikén
The Taíno were the island’s Indigenous people, and their leaders and deities are honored in town names and baby names. Explore more Indigenous names in Native American names.
| Name | Who or what | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Agüeybaná | Principal cacique (chief) of Borikén when the Spanish arrived | A proud boy’s name |
| Yuisa | Female cacica of the Loíza region | The town of Loíza is named for her |
| Urayoán | Cacique who tested whether the Spaniards were immortal | Known in 1511 history |
| Guanina | Taíno heroine of a famous Puerto Rican legend | Romantic, rare girl’s name |
| Jumacao | Cacique of the eastern coast | The town of Humacao bears his name |
| Caguax | Cacique of the central valley | The city of Caguas bears his name |
| Hayuya | Mountain cacique | The town of Jayuya bears his name |
| Orocobix | Cacique of the Jatibonicu region | Strong and rare |
| Atabey | Taíno mother goddess of fresh water and fertility | Used as a girl’s name |
| Yúcahu | Supreme god of cassava and the sea | Linked to El Yunque |
| Guabancex | Goddess of storms; hurricane comes from Taíno huracán | Powerful, unusual |
| Borinquen | From Borikén, the Taíno name of the island | Used as a girl’s name |
Classic Puerto Rican family names
These are the names of abuelos and abuelas across the island. Some, like Wanda and Wilfredo, became surprisingly common in Puerto Rico in the 20th century. See also Hispanic names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| José | “God will increase” | Boy |
| Juan | “God is gracious” | Boy |
| Carlos | “Free man” | Boy |
| Miguel | “Who is like God?” | Boy |
| Pedro | “Rock” | Boy |
| Ramón | “Wise protector” | Boy |
| Rafael | “God heals” | Boy |
| Héctor | “Holding fast” | Boy |
| Wilfredo | “Desiring peace” | Boy |
| Edwin | “Rich friend” | Boy |
| Carmen | From Our Lady of Mount Carmel; “garden” | Girl |
| María | Mary; possibly “beloved” | Girl |
| Ana | “Grace” | Girl |
| Luz | “Light” | Girl |
| Milagros | “Miracles” | Girl |
| Gloria | “Glory” | Girl |
| Iris | “Rainbow” | Girl |
| Wanda | From a legendary Polish princess; well loved in PR | Girl |
| Nilda | Short for Brunilda; “armored battle maiden” | Girl |
| Aida | “Visitor” or “returning”; also Verdi’s opera | Girl |
Names of famous Puerto Ricans
Name a baby after one of the island’s heroes, artists or athletes.
| Name | Famous bearer | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Roberto | Roberto Clemente, baseball legend and humanitarian | “Bright fame” |
| Rita | Rita Moreno, EGOT-winning actress | Short for Margarita, “pearl” |
| Sonia | Sonia Sotomayor, US Supreme Court Justice (Puerto Rican parents) | “Wisdom” |
| Julia | Julia de Burgos, poet | Latin family name |
| Lola | Lola Rodríguez de Tió, poet of the revolutionary “La Borinqueña” | Short for Dolores, “sorrows” |
| Benicio | Benicio del Toro, Oscar-winning actor | “Well-behaved, blessed” |
| Raúl | Raúl Juliá, stage and screen actor | “Wolf counsel” |
| Ricky | Ricky Martin, singer | Short for Enrique, “ruler of the home” |
| Benito | Benito Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny | “Blessed” |
| Lin-Manuel | Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of <em>Hamilton</em> | Manuel, “God with us” |
Puerto Rican nicknames
Boricuas love a nickname, and some are so common they almost replace the real name. For more, see our nicknames page.
| Nickname | Usually for | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Cheo | José | Boy |
| Chago | Santiago | Boy |
| Moncho | Ramón | Boy |
| Wiso | Luis | Boy |
| Papo | A boy, especially a namesake son | Boy |
| Nando | Fernando | Boy |
| Tito | Any name ending in -to, or “little one” | Boy |
| Nena | Any girl; “baby girl” | Girl |
Common Puerto Rican last names
Puerto Ricans use two surnames, father’s then mother’s, as in Spain. Full meanings are in our Puerto Rican last names.
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rivera | “Riverbank” | Among the most common on the island |
| Rodríguez | “Son of Rodrigo” | Patronymic |
| González | “Son of Gonzalo” | Patronymic |
| Hernández | “Son of Hernando” | Patronymic |
| Colón | “Dove”; Spanish form of Columbus | Very Puerto Rican |
| Torres | “Towers” | Place |
| Rosario | “Rosary” | Religious |
| Ortiz | “Son of Orti” (Fortún) | Patronymic |
| Santiago | “Saint James” | Religious |
| Vázquez | “Son of Vasco” | Patronymic |
| Negrón | “Dark one” | Common in PR |
| Figueroa | “Fig tree place” | Galician origin |
| Quiñones | From a Spanish place name | Common in PR |
| Ocasio | Origin uncertain | Strongly associated with Puerto Rico |
How to choose a Puerto Rican name
- Think bilingual. Names like Sebastián, Adrián, Camila and Luna are easy in both Spanish and English — ideal for families split between the island and the mainland.
- Honor the Taíno heritage. Yuisa, Guanina, Atabey or Agüeybaná connect a child to the island’s Indigenous roots.
- Remember the double surname. A child is legally named with father’s and mother’s surnames, e.g., Sofía Rivera Colón.
- Keep the accent marks. Sebastián, Adrián and Génesis carry an accent that shows where the stress falls.
- Look across the Caribbean. Compare with our Cuban names and Spanish names for shared traditions.
Frequently asked questions
What are common Puerto Rican names?
Classic names include José, Juan, Luis, Carlos, María, Carmen and Luz. Among recent babies, names like Sebastián, Adrián, Mateo, Valentina, Camila and Mía are especially popular.
What are Taíno names?
Taíno names come from the Indigenous people of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Well-known examples include Agüeybaná, Yuisa, Urayoán, Guanina and the goddess Atabey; several towns, such as Caguas and Jayuya, are named after Taíno leaders.
Why do Puerto Ricans have two last names?
Following Spanish custom, Puerto Ricans carry their father’s first surname followed by their mother’s first surname. In the US mainland, many drop the second or hyphenate them.
What is the most common last name in Puerto Rico?
Rivera is often cited as the most common surname in Puerto Rico, alongside Rodríguez, González, Hernández, Colón and Torres.
What does Boricua mean?
Boricua is a proud term for a Puerto Rican, from Borikén (Borinquen), the Taíno name for the island.