Naming Conventions in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Usually, a person has three (or four) names

Ex:

Leonardo Israel León Pinzón

Leonardo Israel León Pinzón

Leonardo – This is his first name, just like you have a first name.

Israel – This is his middle name. It is more common to not have a middle name in Spanish-speaking countries than it is in the USA.

León – This is his father’s last name. Usually, this name always comes first in the last name. Pinzón – This is his mIn Spanish, it’s called el apellido paternal (the paternal last name).

other’s last name. Usually, this name comes second. In Spanish, it’s called el apellido materno (the maternal last name).

On an everyday basis, he’d be known as “Leonardo León”.

Marriage

Let’s say Leonardo marries a woman named “Rosalita Gonzalez Rodriguez”.

After marriage, Rosalita can be socially known as “Rosalita Gonzalez Rodriguez de León”. This is not her legal name, however.

After a few years of marriage, they have a child. They name him Gabriel.

His name would be “Gabriel León Gonzalez”.

Another Generation

Let’s say that Gabriel León Gonzalez grows up and marries a woman named Josefa Dominguez Morelos.

They have a child named David. What would his full name be?

David León Dominguez

María

Mary is so highly revered in Spanish-speaking countries that many girls are named after her.

Mary’s esteem is so great that even boys can be named after her. For example: José María isn’t an uncommon name.

-ez

As you’ve probably noticed, many Spanish last names end with the suffix –ez.

This suffix indicated “son of…”.

This is the same thing as someone’s last name being “Johnson” or “Jameson”.

•Álvarez – the son of Álvar, Álvaro•Antúnez – the son of Antón, Antonio•Benéitez, Benítez – the son of Benito•Díaz, Díez, Diéguez – the son of Diego•Domínguez – the son of Domingo•Enríquez – the son of Enrique•Estévez – the son of Esteve, Estevo, Esteban•Fernández – the son of Fernando•Giménez, Jiménez, Ximénez – the son of Gimeno, Jimeno, Ximeno•Gómez – the son of Gome•González – the son of Gonzalo•Gutiérrez – the son of Gutierre, Gutier•Hernández – the son of Hernando•Ibáñez – the son of Iván, Juan•López – the son of Lope

Márquez – the son of Marco, Marcos

Méndez – the son of Mendo

Míguez, Miguélez – the son of Miguel

Martínez – the son of Martín

Núñez – the son of Nuño

Pérez – the son of Pedro

Rodríguez – the son of Rodrigo

Ruiz – the son of Ruy, Roy

Ramírez – the son of Ramiro

Sánchez – the son of Sancho

Suárez – the son of Suero

Vázquez – the son of Vasco, Velasco

Velázquez – the son of Velasco

Vélez – the son of Vela

Common Nicknames

Alicia = Ali, Licha

Antonio = Toño

Beatriz = Beti

Carlos = Carlitos

Carolina = Caro

Daniel = Dani

Francisco = Pancho

Guillermo = Meme

Isabel = Chabela

Jesús = Chuy

Josefina = Pepita

Juan = Juancho

Luis = Lucho

Maria = Maruja

Pablo = Pablito

Roberto = Beto

Sofia = Sofi

Tomas = Tomi

Victoria = Viqui