Choosing a baby name for your baby boy can seem like a chore for most but it becomes even more challenging when you want to bridge cultures and even languages. In 2016, 22% of children in the United States, slightly more than 12 million kids total, used a language other than English at home. This rate has risen 2%, by 1.2 million kids, in the last decade. At the state level, the percentage of kids who do not speak English at home varies widely, from a high of 44% in California to a low of 2% in West Virginia. This makes Spanish baby boy names very attractive to parents in the US today.
The majority of bilingual households in the US are Spanish-English environments which make Spanish baby names for boys an obvious place for exploration. We decided to take a look into the attractive Hispanic baby boy names that honor heritage that are already beloved in with English speakers. We discovered a variety of baby names that should appeal to a number of parents who switch from calling a little boy “mijito” to “baby” in the same sitting. Check out these perfect Spanish baby boy names for bilingual parents!
25. Angel
Pronounced AN-hel in most Spanish-speaking communities, Angel proves a favorite for a reason. Angel is very popular, and very traditionally masculine, in the Latino community. Angel has been in the US top 1000 most baby names for boys since 1888, last year it was the 72nd most chosen appellation.
24. Sebastián
Latin adopted Sebastian from Greek as a name meaning “from Sebastia.” Spanish adopted the name and offered a novel spelling with Sebastián. The name is wildly popular in the US today because the name appeals to many different parents and traditions. Sebastian is high on the lists in countries as widespread as Austria, Denmark, Romania, Australia, and Chile.
23. Rodrigo
Rodrigo is a Spanish baby boy name that is also found in Portuguese tradition and beloved by many new parents in the US today. Rodrigo has been a popular name in the US since the 1960s and it was a top 500 choice last year. Rodrigo shares its roots with Roderick, the name means “famous ruler.”
22. Manuel
A staple of the Hispanic community, Manuel is a Spanish baby boy name that shares its roots with Emmanuel, a name meaning “God is with us.” Manual has been a very popular name for boys in the US appearing in the top 500 every year since 1880 when records began.
21. Cristóbal
Cristóbal Balenciaga is probably the most famous person with this amazing name. Beloved by Spanish-speakers, this Spanish baby boy name is simply another form of the name Christopher, which means “bearer of Christ.”
20. Alejandro
Alejandro has exploded in popularity in recent decades. The name has consistently been in the top 1000 in the US since the 1920s. Last year, this Spanish baby boy name ranked at 199th. Softer and smoother than Alexander, this classic name means “defending men.”
19. Juan
Juan is the Spanish form of John, and as with it, Juan is very popular around the world. Juan is a casual and easy Spanish baby boy name that means “the Lord is gracious.” It ranked at 138 on the top 1000 list last year.
18. Julian
Another J-name, but with a little more nuance is rising star Julian. Julian is a Spanish baby boy name with Latin origins, stemming from Julius. Thus, Julian means “youthful.” The name has always been in the top 500 in the US but it reached new heights last year when it landed in the 31st spot!
17. Julio
One more J-name! Julio is another favorite form of Julius. Julio is a more playful Spanish baby boy name and a preferred form of Julius for many! Julio is completely familiar to the non-Hispanic community and would make a great choice for a bicultural family. The name has been trending down in recent years in the US, but we hope new parents keep this one alive!
16. Carmen
While the variation Carmine is more familiar for boys, Carmen has also been used as a masculine name especially in the Italian and Hispanic community. This was once one of America’s most beloved Spanish baby boy name but it fell out of fashion by the 1980s. Carmen means “vivid red” or “song.”
15. Cruz
For a single-syllable Latino surname, this new popular kid on the block packs a lot of energy and charm and is one of the most stylish Spanish baby boy names. Cruz is very much a unisex name and is also a common surname, as in Penelope and Celia. Cruz means “cross.” It’s on the upward climb and reached the 306th position on the top 1000 list last year.
14. Emilio
A truly dashing and dapper choice, Emilio is a perfect Spanish baby boy name that you will also find in Italian tradition as well as a form of Emil. Emilio means “rival” which might put some parents off, but we do not find it to be a dealbreaker. Emilio has been popular in the US since 1882 and it has (slowly) climbed the popularity charts ever since. Last year, the name enjoyed its most favored year ever placing at 240th.
13. Pablo
Pablo, the commonly used Spanish version of Paul, has the added bonus of some wonderful artistic bearers: painter Picasso, cellist Casals, and poet Neruda. Pablo simple means “small.” This Spanish baby boy name has been in the top 500 since the sixties!
12. Diego
Diego is a Spanish baby boy name that means “supplanter.” It’s simply another form of James. The energetic Diego is rising rapidly along with a lot of other authentically Spanish baby names that work perfectly well with surnames of any origin. It enjoyed its best year ever last year ranking just outside of the top 100 last year.
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11. Carlos
Notable namesakes include musician Santana, writers Fuentes and Castaneda, and numerous athletes. Carlos is a Spanish baby boy name and perennial favorite for many, many parents. The name Carlos has been in the top 500 in the US since records began. It was the 137th most popular name for boys last year!
10. Francisco
With the adorable nickname Cisco, you pretty much have no other choice but to consider the Spanish baby boy name Francisco. This adorable name is another form of Francis, which means “free man.” Like Carlos, Francisco has been in the top 500 since records began! The name is popular in both Spain and Portugal and across Latin America and beyond today.
9. Javier
One of the most popular Spanish baby boy names in the US, Javier is embodied for many Americans in the captivating persona of Spanish-born Oscar-nominated actor Javier Bardem. Javier is the Spanish form of Xavier a name meaning “new house” or “bright.” This name has been popular in the US since 1940s!
8. Cesar
Cesar is the sleeker version of Caesar, as in emperor Julius, used in the US most frequently by Hispanic parents who put the emphasis on the second syllable. Cesar means “head of hair.” This Spanish baby name has been as popular in the US as Javier has, ranking in the top 500 last year.
7. Tadeo
A Spanish baby boy name that new parents are discovering, or rediscovering, is Tadeo. Tadeo sounds totally fresh even though it is the Spanish form of the stuffy name Thaddeus. Tadeo has tons of charm which is why it debuted in the US top 1000 in 2016. Last year it was the 729th most popular choice! It’s on fire and we’re thrilled about it.
6. Elizar
Elizar is a Spanish baby boy name that presents parents with an alternative to Eleazer and Lazarus. It’s based on an Old Testament Hebrew name meaning “God is my helper.” Elizar, while based on an ancient name, feels spunky and fresh. We hope new parents give it a shot!
5. Ramon
The Latin Ramon has been in the US top 1000 since the beginning of baby-naming records in the US. Ramon is the perfect blend of exotic and familiar, with a rocker edge. We have Spanish-speaking parents to thank for the staying power of this name. Raymond comes from a Catalan form of Raymon, a name meaning “wise protector.”
4. Tomaz
While you will find this name more commonly spelled Tomás, was are fond of the Tomaz for the spunky Z-ending. Tomás is the most popular variant of Thomas worldwide found from Scandinavia to Latin America. We think that gives new parents a little room to experiment with spelling to give it some edge. The Aramaic origins of this name mean “twin.”
3. Hector
Previously used primarily by Latino families, Hector has been charming newcomers to the name in recent years keeping it in the US top 500 for decades. Hector can trace its roots to Greek as great hero of the Trojan War. Hector means “holding fast.”
2. Rafael
Rafael is perhaps the ultimate romantic Latino name, not a bad gift to give your son. This Spanish baby boy name is another form of Raphael, which means “God has healed.” This baby name has been given liberally in the US for the past several decades and it’s no mystery why. It’s a beauty.
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1. Mateo
The Spanish baby boy name Mateo has exploded in recent years in the US and around the world. Last year, this name saw its most popular year ever in US reaching the 26th spot. It’s creeping up on Matthew which was the 23rd name. This name and others very similar are the Latinate form and you will find it in Italian, Spanish, French, etc. This charmer means “gift of God.”
There you go! We hope you enjoyed these Spanish baby boy names and feel inspired to honor heritage or simply find an approachable name for speakers of many different languages. These Spanish baby boy names offer parents the opportunity to celebrate the cultures and traditions that are woven into the fabric of America.