Editing Spanish naming customs

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{About|naming customs in Spain|Hispanic America|Naming customs of Hispanic America}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

'''Spanish names''' are the traditional way of identifying, and the official way of registering, a person in [[Spain]]. They are composed of a [[given name]] (simple or composite){{Efn|A composite given name comprises two (or more) single names; for example Juan Pablo is considered not to be a first and a second forename, but a single composite forename.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ley de 8 de junio de 1957 sobre el Registro Civil|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1957-7537&p=20110722&tn=1#ciii|website=BOE|quote=Articles 53 & 54|language=es}}</ref>|name=composite}} and two [[surname]]s (the first surname of each parent). Traditionally, the first surname is the father's first surname, and the second is the mother's first surname. Since 1999, the order of the surnames in a family in Spain is decided when registering the first child, but the traditional order is nearly universally chosen (99.53% of the time).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/3373406/0/apellidos-bebes-libre-eleccion-no-aumenta-uso-materno/|title=La libre elección del orden de los apellidos no incrementa el uso del materno en primer lugar |last=Larrañeta |first=Amaya |date=2018-07-02|website=20minutos.es – Últimas Noticias|language=es|access-date=2019-05-01}}</ref>{{efn|The decree was ratified in February 2000, backdated to be in effect for registrations from November 1999, allowing parents to choose a name order that must be applied to all their children.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Royal Decree 193/2000, Of 11 February, Amending Certain Articles Of The Civil Registration Regulations (Spain)|url=https://www.global-regulation.com/translation/spain/1453748/royal-decree-193-2000%25252c-of-11-february%25252c-amending-certain-articles-of-the-civil-registration-regulations-in-matters-concerning-the-name-and-order-of.html|access-date=2023-11-29|website=www.global-regulation.com}}</ref><ref>Spanish Yearbook of International Law: 1999-2000 {{isbn|9789041121929}} p. 251</ref>}}

{{chart/start|align=center | summary=An example family tree}}
{{chart| | | JGT |y| MAG | | |JGT=José '''{{font color|blue|García}} Torres'''|MAG=María '''{{font color|red|Acosta}} Gómez'''|}}
{{chart| | | | | |!| | | | | | | }}
{{chart| | | | |  PGA  | | | | | |PGA=Pablo '''{{font color|blue|García}} {{font color|red|Acosta}}'''| }}
{{chart/end}}

The practice is to use one given name and the first surname generally (e.g. "[[Penélope Cruz]]" for Penélope Cruz Sánchez); the complete name is reserved for legal, formal and documentary matters. Both surnames are sometimes systematically used when the first surname is very common (e.g., [[Federico García Lorca]], [[Pablo Picasso|Pablo Ruiz Picasso]] or [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]]) to get a more distinguishable name.<ref>{{cite web|title=Normalización del nombre de autor en las publicaciones científicas|url=https://biblioteca.ulpgc.es/normalizar_firma|website=Biblioteca Universitaria LPGC|access-date=14 June 2017|quote=Puedes usar sólo el primer apellido si es poco frecuente. Ejemplo: Germán Oramas|language=es}}</ref> In these cases, it is even common to use only the second surname, as in "Lorca", "Picasso" or "Zapatero". This does not affect alphabetization: "Lorca", the Spanish poet, must be alphabetized in an index under "García Lorca", not "Lorca" or "García".

Spanish naming customs were extended to countries under Spanish rule, influencing [[naming customs of Hispanic America]] and [[Filipino name|Philippines]] to different extent.

==Basic structure==
Currently in Spain, people bear a single or composite [[given name]] (''{{Lang|es|nombre}}'' in Spanish) and two [[surnames]] (''{{Lang|es|apellidos}}'' in Spanish).

A composite given name is composed of two (or more) single names; for example, ''Juan Pablo'' is considered not to be a first and a second forename, but a single composite forename.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ley de 8 de junio de 1957 sobre el Registro Civil |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1957-7537&p=20110722&tn=1#ciii |website=BOE |quote=Articles 53 & 54 (in Spanish)}}</ref>

The two surnames refer to each of the parental families. Traditionally, a person's first surname is the father's first surname (''{{Lang|es|apellido paterno}}''), while their second surname is the mother's first surname (''{{Lang|es|apellido materno}}''). For example, if a man named ''Eduardo Fernández Garrido'' marries a woman named ''María Dolores Martínez Ruiz'' (note that women do not change their name with marriage) and they have a child named ''José'', there are several legal options, but their child would most usually be known as ''José Fernández Martínez''.

Spanish [[gender equality]] law has allowed surname transposition since 1999,<ref name="Orden de apellidos">{{cite web |url=http://www.boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=1999/21569 |title=''Ley 40/1999, de 5 de noviembre, sobre nombre y apellidos y orden de los mismos'' |date=6 November 1999 |publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado |quote=''Si la filiación está determinada por ambas líneas, el padre y la madre de común acuerdo podrán decidir el orden de transmisión de su respectivo primer apellido, antes de la inscripción registral. Si no se ejercita esta opción, regirá lo dispuesto en la ley. El orden de apellidos inscrito para el mayor de los hijos regirá en las inscripciones de nacimiento posteriores de sus hermanos del mismo vínculo.'' (If the affiliation is determined by both lines, the father and mother may by agreement determine the order of transmission of its respective first name before registration. If this option is not exercised, the provisions of law shall apply. The order of names registered for the eldest sibling governed the registration in subsequent siblings of the same link.) |access-date=13 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429075843/http://www.boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=1999%2F21569 |archive-date=29 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> subject to the condition that every sibling must bear the same surname order recorded in the ''{{Lang|es|Registro Civil}}'' ([[civil registry]]), but there have been legal exceptions. Since 2013, if the parents of a child were unable to agree on the order of surnames, an official would decide which is to come first,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://elpais.com/diario/2011/05/05/sociedad/1304546415_850215.html |title=''El orden de los apellidos lo decidirá un funcionario si no hay acuerdo'' |journal=El País |access-date=2016-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220072145/http://elpais.com/diario/2011/05/05/sociedad/1304546415_850215.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |date=2011-05-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2011-12628 |title=''Ley 20/2011, de 21 de julio, del Registro Civil. Artículo 49.2'' |access-date=2016-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209182203/http://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2011-12628 |archive-date=9 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=Jul 14, 2011 |title=El Congreso aprueba que un funcionario elija el orden de los apellidos si no hay acuerdo |url=http://www.noticias.com/el-congreso-aprueba-que-un-funcionario-elija-el-orden-de-los-apellidos-si-no-hay-acuerdo.1206187 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928132017/http://www.noticias.com/el-congreso-aprueba-que-un-funcionario-elija-el-orden-de-los-apellidos-si-no-hay-acuerdo.1206187 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |access-date=2011-07-17 |website=Noticias.com}}</ref> with the paternal name being the default option. The only requirement is that every son and daughter must have the same order of the surnames, so they cannot change it separately. Since June 2017, adopting the paternal name first is no longer the standard method, and parents are required to sign an agreement wherein the name order is expressed explicitly.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/30/spain-scrap-sexist-double-barrelled-names-policy/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/30/spain-scrap-sexist-double-barrelled-names-policy/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Spain to scrap 'sexist' double barrelled names policy|journal=The Telegraph|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-07-10|date=2017-06-30|last1=Strange|first1=Hannah}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.elmundo.es/sociedad/2017/05/30/592dba4d268e3e44738b476a.html |title=''El apellido del padre dejará definitivamente de tener preferencia en España a partir del 30 de junio'' |work=ELMUNDO |access-date=2017-07-10 |language=es}}</ref><ref name="elmundo2">{{Cite news |url=http://www.elmundo.es/sociedad/2017/07/06/595babe922601d9d7c8b4661.html |title=Si le ponemos primero el apellido de la madre, sería como si no fuera mi hijo, ¿no? |work=ELMUNDO |access-date=2017-07-10 |language=es}}</ref> The law also grants a person the option, upon reaching adulthood, of reversing the order of their surnames. However, this legislation only applies to Spanish citizens; people of other nationalities are issued the surname indicated by the laws of their original country.<ref name="elmundo2" />

Each of these two surnames can also be composite in itself, with the parts usually linked by:
*the conjunction ''y'' or ''e'' (and),
*the preposition ''de'' (of), or
*a hyphen.
For example, a person's name might be ''Juan Pablo Fernández de Calderón García-Iglesias'', consisting of a forename (''Juan Pablo''), a paternal surname (''Fernández de Calderón''), and a maternal surname (''García-Iglesias'').

===Forms of address===
{{Refimprove|section|date=May 2023}}
A man named ''José Antonio Gómez Iglesias'' would normally be addressed as either ''señor Gómez'' or ''señor Gómez Iglesias'' instead of ''señor Iglesias'', because ''Gómez'' is his first surname. Furthermore, Mr. Gómez might be informally addressed as
# ''José Antonio''
# ''José''
# ''Pepe'' (nickname for José)
# ''Antonio'' 
# ''Toño'' (nickname for Antonio)
# ''Joselito, Josito, Joselillo, Josico'' or ''Joselín'' (diminutives of José)
# ''Antoñito, Toñín'', ''Toñito, Ñoño'' or ''Nono'' (diminutives of Antonio)
# ''Joseán'' ([[Apocope|apocopation]]).
Very formally, he could be addressed with an honorific such as ''[[Don (honorific)|don]] José Antonio'' or ''don José''.
<!-- Colombian writer [[Gabriel García Márquez]] is sometimes incorrectly referred to in English media as ''Mr. Márquez'', when it should be ''Mr. García Márquez'' or, simply, ''Mr. García''. (Not a Spaniard) -->

It is not unusual, when the first surname is very common, like ''García'' in the example above, for a person to be referred to formally using both family names, or casually by their second surname only. For example, [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] (elected President of the Spanish Government in the 2004 and 2008 general elections) is often called simply Zapatero, the name he inherited from his mother's family since Rodríguez is a common surname and may be ambiguous. The same occurs with another former Spanish Socialist leader, [[Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba]], with the poet and dramatist [[Federico García Lorca]], and with the painter [[Pablo Picasso|Pablo Ruiz Picasso]]. As these people's paternal surnames are very common, they are often referred to by their maternal surnames (Rubalcaba, Lorca, Picasso). It would nonetheless be a mistake to index Rodríguez Zapatero under Z or García Lorca under L. (Picasso, who spent most of his adult life in France, is normally indexed under "P".)

{{anchor|Hyphenation}}In an English-speaking environment, Spanish-named people sometimes [[hyphen]]ate their surnames to avoid Anglophone confusion or to fill in forms with only one space provided for the last name:<ref>{{cite news|title=Curiosities: Why are so many Hispanic names hyphenated?|url=https://news.wisc.edu/curiosities-why-are-so-many-hispanic-names-hyphenated/|publisher=University of Wisconsin-Madison|date=2010-08-23|language=en}}</ref> for example, U.S. Representative [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]], who is of Puerto Rican heritage, is named "Ocasio-Cortez" because her parents' surnames are Ocasio-Roman and Ocasio-Cortez (née Cortez). She has publicly corrected people who referred to her as "Cortez" rather than "Ocasio-Cortez".<ref>{{cite news|title=Ocasio-Cortez takes aim at Laura Ingraham, Fox guest for mocking pronunciation of her name|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/435042-ocasio-cortez-takes-aim-at-fox-host-for-mocking-her-name-pronunciation|work=The Hill|date=2019-03-20}}</ref>

In Spanish-speaking countries, hyphenated surnames arise when someone wants both the paternal and maternal surnames passed to future generations, and the next generation receives the two, hyphenated, as a single (paternal) surname. Occasionally the two are fused into a simple (unhyphenated) name, such as [[Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos | Jovellanos]] (from Jove and Llanos). Rarely, the two names are left unhyphenated, such as [[José López Portillo | López Portillo]], which may lead to confusion.

===Forenames===
Parents choose their child's [[given name]], which must be recorded in the ''{{Lang|es|Registro Civil}}'' (Civil Registry) to establish their legal identity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite?c%3DOrgPaginaREG%26cid%3D1080215934018%26pagename%3DPortal_del_ciudadano%2FOrgPaginaREG%2FTpl_OrgPaginaREG |title=Ministerio de Justicia |access-date=2007-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228203600/http://www.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite?c=OrgPaginaREG&cid=1080215934018&pagename=Portal_del_ciudadano%2FOrgPaginaREG%2FTpl_OrgPaginaREG |archive-date=28 February 2007 }}</ref> With few restrictions, parents can now choose any name; common sources of names are the parents' taste, honouring a relative, the [[General Roman Calendar]] ''nomina'' (nominal register), and traditional Spanish names. Legislation in [[Spain under Franco]]'s dictatorship legally limited cultural naming customs to only [[Christianity|Christian]] (Jesus, Mary, saints)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ellwood |first1=Sheelagh M. |title=Franco |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-87467-6 |page=117 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fGjXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA117 |language=en}}</ref> and typical Spanish names (Álvaro, Jimena, etc.). Although the first part of a composite forename generally reflects the gender of the child, the second personal name need not (e.g. [[José María Aznar]]). At present, the only naming limitation is the dignity of the child, who cannot be given an insulting name. Similar limitations applied against diminutive, familiar, and colloquial variants not recognized as names proper, and "those that lead to confusion regarding sex";<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite?c%3DTramite%26cid%3D1060583996709%26pagename%3DPortal_del_ciudadano%2FTramite%2FTramite%26lang%3Den_gb |title=Ministerio de Justicia |access-date=2007-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003557/http://www.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite?c=Tramite&cid=1060583996709&pagename=Portal_del_ciudadano%2FTramite%2FTramite&lang=en_gb |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}</ref>
however, current law<ref name="''Identidad de género''">{{cite web |url=http://www.boe.es/g/es/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=2007/05585 |title=''LEY 3/2007, de 15 de marzo, reguladora de la rectificación registral de la mención relativa al sexo de las personas'' |publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado |quote=Para garantizar el derecho de las personas a la libre elección del nombre propio, se deroga la prohibición de inscribir como nombre propio los diminutivos o variantes familiares y coloquiales que no hayan alcanzado sustantividad |date=15 March 2007 |access-date=24 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207093953/http://www.boe.es/g/es/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=2007%2F05585 |archive-date=7 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> allows registration of diminutive names.<ref name="Pepe">''[[El Periódico de Catalunya|El Periódico]]'', [http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=397625&idseccio_PK=1021 ''Una familia puede por fin inscribir a su hijo como Pepe tras dos años de papeleo''], 17 April 2007.</ref>

====María, José and Jesús in composite given names====
{{Refimprove|section|date=May 2023}}
[[File:Concentracion apellidos por provincias España.png|thumb|right|400px|Spanish provincial surname concentrations: percentage of population born with the ten most-common surnames for each province (source: [[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]] 2006)
]]
Girls are often named ''María'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.es/daco/daco42/nombyapel/nombres_mas_frecuentes.xls#ESPAÑA_100_mujeres!A1 |title=''Nombres más frecuentes por provincia de residencia'' |website=Ine.es |access-date=2016-09-25}}</ref> honouring the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Virgin Mary]], by appending either a shrine, place, or religious-concept suffix-name to ''María''. In daily life, such women omit the "Mary of the&nbsp;..." nominal prefix, and use the suffix portion of their composite names as their public, rather than legal, [[Personally identifiable information|identity]]. Hence, women with [[Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)|Marian]] names such as ''María de los Ángeles'' (María of the Angels), ''María del Pilar'' ([[Our Lady of the Pillar|María of the Pillar]]), and ''María de la Luz'' (María of the Light), are normally addressed as ''Ángeles'' (Angels), ''Pilar'' (Pillar), and ''Luz'' (Light); however, each might be addressed as ''María''. Nicknames such as ''Maricarmen'' for ''María del Carmen'', ''Marisol'' for "María (de la) Soledad" ("Our Lady of Solitude", the Virgin Mary), ''Dolores'' or ''Lola'' for ''María de los Dolores'' ("Our Lady of Sorrows"), ''Mercedes'' or ''Merche'' for ''María de las Mercedes'' ("Our Lady of Mercy"), etc. are often used. Also, parents can simply name a girl ''María'', or ''Mari'' without a suffix portion.

It is common for a boy's formal name to include ''María'', preceded by a masculine name, e.g. [[José María Aznar]], [[Juan María Vicencio de Ripperdá]] or [[Antonio María Rouco Varela]]. Equivalently, a girl can be formally named ''María José'' , e.g. skier [[María José Rienda]], and informally named ''Marijose'', ''Mariajo'', ''Majo'', ''Ajo'', ''Marisé'' or even ''José'' in honour of St. Joseph. ''María'' as a masculine name is often abbreviated in writing as ''M.'' (José M. Aznar), ''Ma.'' (José Ma. Aznar), or ''M.ª'' ([[José María Morelos|José M.ª Morelos]]).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://elpais.com/sociedad/2014/10/08/actualidad/1412769600_1412780725.html |title=Entrevista con José Mª Martín Moreno |journal=El País |access-date=2018-07-31 |date=2014-10-08 }}</ref> It is unusual for any names other than the religiously significant ''María'' and ''José'' to be used in this way except for the name ''Jesús'' that is also very common and can be used as ''Jesús'' or ''Jesús María'' for a boy and ''María Jesús'' for a girl, and can be abbreviated as ''Sus'', ''Chus'' and other nicknames.

===Registered names===
{{Unreferenced|section|date=May 2023}}
The ''{{Lang|es|Registro Civil}}'' (Civil Registry) officially records a child's identity as composed of a [[given name|forename]] (simple or composite) and the two [[family name|surnames]]; however, a child can be religiously [[Baptism|baptized]] with several forenames, e.g. [[Felipe Juan Froilán de Marichalar y Borbón|Felipe Juan Froilán de Todos los Santos]]. Until the 1960s, it was customary to baptize children with three forenames: the first was the main and the only one used by the child; if parents agreed, one of the other two was the name of the day's saint. Nowadays, baptizing with three or more forenames is usually a [[royal family|royal]] and [[nobility|noble]] family practice.

===Marriage===

In Spain married people keep their original surnames (unlike in some near cultures in which they may adopt the spouse's family name as a [[Maiden and married names|married name]]). In some instances, such as high society meetings, the partner's surname can be added after the person's surnames using the preposition ''de'' (of). An example would be a ''Leocadia Blanco Álvarez'', married to a ''Pedro Pérez Montilla'', may be addressed as ''Leocadia Blanco de Pérez'' or as ''Leocadia Blanco Álvarez de Pérez''. This format is not used in everyday settings and has no legal value.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://medbib.com/Spanish_naming_customs |title=medbib.com |publisher=medbib.com |access-date=2016-09-25}}</ref>  <!-- For example, in chapter V, part 2 of ''[[Don Quixote]]'' (1605, 1615), [[Teresa Panza]] reminds her husband Sancho that, properly, she should be addressed as ''Teresa Cascajo'', by her surname, not her ''marital surname'': "Teresa I was named in baptism, a clean and short name, without additions or embellishments, or [[Don (honorific)|''dons'']] and ''doñas''; 'Cascajo' was my father; and people call me, as your wife, 'Teresa Panza', though by right I ought to be called Teresa Cascajo&nbsp;..."<ref>{{Cite book |title=Don Quixote |first=Miguel de |last=Cervantes Saavedra |url= http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Don_Quixote/Volume_2/Chapter_V}}</ref> -->

Similarly, a widow may be identified using "viuda de" ("widow of" in Spanish) or its abbreviation "vda." for, as in ''Leocadia Blanco vda. de Pérez''.

===Generational transmission===
[[File:Spanish surnames by province of residence.png|thumb|right|400px|Surname distribution: the most common surnames in Spain, by [[Provinces of Spain|province]] of residence]]
In the generational transmission of surnames, the paternal surname's precedence eventually eliminates the maternal surnames from the family [[Lineal descendant|lineage]]. Contemporary law (1999) allows the maternal surname to be given precedence, but most people observe the traditional paternal–maternal surname order. Therefore, the daughter and son of ''Ángela López Sáenz'' and ''Tomás Portillo Blanco'' are usually called ''Laura Portillo López'' and ''Pedro Portillo López'' but could also be called ''Laura López Portillo'' and ''Pedro López Portillo''. The two surnames of all siblings must be in the same order when recorded in the ''{{Lang|es|Registro Civil}}''. Spanish naming customs include the [[orthography|orthographic]] option of conjoining the surnames with the [[Grammatical conjunction|conjunction]] particle ''[[#The particle "y" (and)|y]]'', or ''e'' before a name starting with 'I', 'Hi' or 'Y', (both meaning "and") (e.g., ''[[José Ortega y Gasset]]'', ''Tomás Portillo y Blanco'', or ''[[Eduardo Dato e Iradier]]''), following an antiquated [[aristocracy (class)|aristocratic]] usage.
 
Patrilineal surname transmission was not always the [[Norm (sociology)|norm]] in Spanish-speaking societies. Prior to the mid-eighteenth century,{{Citation needed |date=July 2010}} when the current paternal-maternal surname combination norm was adopted, Hispanophone societies often practised matrilineal surname transmission, giving children the maternal surname and occasionally giving children a grandparent's surname (borne by neither parent) for prestige – being perceived as [[gentry]] – and profit, flattering the [[matriarchy|matriarch]] or the [[patriarchy|patriarch]] in hope of [[inheritance|inheriting]] land. A more recent example can be found in the name of ''[[Francis Franco|Francisco de Asís Franco y Martínez-Bordiú]]'' (born 1954), who took first the name of his mother, [[Carmen Franco]], rather than that of his father, [[Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú, 10th Marquis of Villaverde]], in order to perpetuate the family name of his maternal grandfather, the ''[[Caudillo]]'' [[Francisco Franco]].<ref name="mundo">{{cite news |last1=Galiach |first1=Juan Luis |title=La saga Franco despega de nuevo (The Franco saga takes off again) |url=https://www.elmundo.es/cronica/2003/422/1069077765.html |access-date=22 March 2022 |work=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] |date=16 November 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413143902/https://www.elmundo.es/cronica/2003/422/1069077765.html |archive-date=13 April 2021 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

Not every surname is a single word; such conjoining usage is common with doubled surnames (maternal-paternal), ancestral composite surnames [[inheritance|bequeathed]] to the following generations – especially when the paternal surname is socially undistinguished. ''[[José María Álvarez del Manzano|José María Álvarez del Manzano y López del Hierro]]'' is an example, his name comprising the composite single name ''José María'' and two composite surnames, ''Álvarez del Manzano'' and ''López del Hierro''. Other examples derive from church place-names such as San José. When a person bears doubled surnames, the means of disambiguation is to insert ''y'' between the paternal and maternal surnames.

In case of [[Legitimacy (family law)|illegitimacy]] – when the child's father either is unknown or refuses to recognize his child legally – the child bears both of the mother's surnames, which may be interchanged.<ref name="Single-parent">{{cite web |url=http://www.boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=1999/21569 |title=''Ley 40/1999, de 5 de noviembre, sobre nombre y apellidos y orden de los mismos'' |publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado |quote=''En los supuestos de nacimiento con una sola filiación reconocida, ésta determina los apellidos, pudiendo el progenitor que reconozca su condición de tal determinar, al tiempo de la inscripción, el orden de los apellidos.'' (In those cases where only one affiliation is recognized, it is this affiliation that determines the surnames, being the recognizing parent's right to choose, at the moment of inscription, the order of the surnames.) |date=6 November 1999 |access-date=20 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429075843/http://www.boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=1999%2F21569 |archive-date=29 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Occasionally, a person with a common paternal surname and an uncommon maternal surname becomes widely known by the maternal surname. Some examples include the artist [[Pablo Picasso|Pablo Ruiz Picasso]], the poet [[Federico García Lorca]], and the politician [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]]. With a similar effect, the foreign paternal surname of the Uruguayan writer [[Eduardo Galeano|Eduardo Hughes Galeano]] (his father was British) is usually omitted. (As a boy, however, he occasionally signed his name as ''Eduardo Gius'', using a Hispanicized approximation of the English pronunciation of "Hughes".) Such use of the second last name by itself is colloquial, however, and may not be applied in legal contexts.

Also rarely, a person may become widely known by both surnames, with an example being a tennis player [[Arantxa Sánchez Vicario]] – whereas her older brothers [[Emilio Sánchez|Emilio]] and [[Javier Sánchez (tennis)|Javier]], also professional tennis players, are mainly known only by the paternal surname of Sánchez in everyday life, although they would ''formally'' be addressed as ''Sánchez Vicario''.

===Navarrese and Álavan surnames===
Where [[Basque culture|Basque]] and Romance cultures have linguistically long coexisted, the surnames denote the father's name and the (family) [[family|house]] or town/village. Thus the Romance [[patronym]]ic and the place-name are conjoined with the prepositional particle ''de'' ("from"+"provenance"). For example, in the name ''[[José Ignacio López de Arriortúa]]'', the composite surname ''López de Arriortúa'' is a single surname, despite ''Arriortúa'' being the original family name. This can lead to confusion because the Spanish ''López'' and the Basque ''Arriortúa'' are discrete surnames in Spanish and Basque respectively. This pattern was also in use in other Basque districts, but was phased out in most of the Basque-speaking areas and only remained in place across lands of heavy Romance influence, i.e. some central areas of [[Navarre]] and most of [[Álava]]. To a lesser extent, this pattern has been also present in Castile, where [[Basque language|Basque]]-[[Castilian Spanish|Castilian]] bilingualism was common in northern and eastern areas up to the 13th century.

A notable example of this system was ''Joaquina Sánchez de Samaniego y Fernández de Tejada'', with both paternal and maternal surnames coming from this system, joined with an ''y'' ("and").

==Nominal conjunctions==
===The particle "de" (of)===
{{See also|Spanish nobility|Naming customs of Hispanic America#The particle "de" (of)}}

In Spanish, the [[Spanish prepositions|preposition]] particle ''de'' ("of") is used as a [[Spanish grammar|conjunction]] in two different surname styles, and also used in a kind of placeholder role to disambiguate surnames that might be mistaken as additional forenames. The first style is in [[Patronymy|patronymic]] and [[toponymic surname]] formulæ,<ref>{{Cite book |last = Cardenas y Allende |first = Francisco de |author2=Escuela de genealogía |author3=Heráldica y Nobiliaria |title = ''Apuntes de nobiliaria y nociones de genealogía y heráldica: Primer curso.'' |publisher = Editorial Hidalguía |year = 1984 |edition =2nd |location = Madrid |pages = 205–213 |isbn = 978-84-00-05669-8}}</ref> e.g. ''[[Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba]]'', ''[[Pedro López de Ayala]]'', and ''[[Vasco Núñez de Balboa]]'', as in many ''[[conquistador]]'' names.<ref>{{Cite book |last = Cadenas y Vicent |first = Vicente de |title =''Heráldica patronímica española y sus patronímicos compuestos: Ensayo heráldico de apellidos originados en los nombres'' |publisher = Hidalguía |year = 1976 |location = Madrid |isbn = 978-84-00-04279-0}}{{Page needed |date=September 2010}}</ref>

In names of persons, the [[preposition]]al particle ''de'' is written in lower-case when the forename has been included, e.g. ''José Manuel de la Rúa'' ("of the street") and ''Cunegunda de la Torre'' ("of the tower"); when the forename has been omitted, the ''de'' is capitalized, e.g. ''doctor De la Rúa'' and ''señora De la Torre''.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

;Without a patronymic: [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos de Borbón]]. Unlike in French names such as d'Alembert, in [[Spanish orthography]] "de" is written out in full (not replaced by a contraction) when the surname begins with a vowel. The exception is ''de el'' ("of the"), which becomes ''del'', e.g. ''Carlos Arturo del Monte'' (Charles Arthur of the Mountain).

;The patronymic exception: The current (1958) Spanish name law, ''{{Lang|es|Artículo 195 del Reglamento del Registro Civil}}'' (Article 195 of the Civil Registry Regulations) does not allow a person to prefix ''de'' to their surname, except as the clarifying addition of ''de'' to a surname (''apellido'') that might be misunderstood as a forename (''{{Lang|es|nombre}}'');<ref>[http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Privado/rrc.t5.html ''Article 195, Reglamento del Registro Civil'']: "On petition of the interested party, before the person in charge of the registry, the particle ''de'' shall be placed before the paternal surname that is usually a first name or begins with one."</ref> thus, a child would be registered as ''Pedro de Miguel Jiménez'' to avoid the surname ''Miguel'' being mistaken as the second part of a composite name, as ''Pedro Miguel''.

Bearing the ''de'' particle does not necessarily denote a noble family; especially in names from eastern [[Crown of Castile|Castile]], [[Alava]], and western Navarre, the ''de'' usually meant simply "from", and was applied to the place-name (town or village) from which the person and his or her ancestors originated. This differs from another practice established in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, in which ''de'' could be applied to one's own name as a way of denoting the bearer's noble heritage, to avoid the misperception that he or she was either a Jew or a Moor. In that time, many people, regardless of their true origins, used the particle, e.g. ''[[Miguel de Cervantes]]'', ''[[Lope de Vega]]'', etc.; moreover, following that fashion, a high noble such as ''Francisco Sandoval Rojas'' called himself ''Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas''. During the eighteenth century, the Spanish nobility fully embraced the French custom of using ''de'' as a nobility identifier; however, since many commoners also bore the same particle, the use of ''de'' became unclear. Thus, nobility was emphasised with the surname's lineage.

===The particle "y" (and)===
In the sixteenth century,{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} the Spanish adopted the copulative [[Grammatical conjunction|conjunction]] ''y'' ("and") to distinguish a person's surnames; thus the Andalusian Baroque writer [[Luis de Góngora|Luis de Góngora y Argote]] (1561–1627), the Aragonese painter [[Francisco Goya|Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes]] (1746–1828), the Andalusian artist [[Picasso|Pablo Diego Ruiz y Picasso]] (1881–1973), and the Madrilenian liberal philosopher [[José Ortega y Gasset]] (1883–1955). In Hispanic America, this spelling convention was common among clergymen (e.g. Salvadoran Bishop [[Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez]]), and sanctioned by the ''{{Lang|es|Ley de Registro Civil}}'' (Civil Registry Law) of 1870, which required birth certificates to indicate the paternal and maternal surnames conjoined with ''y'' – thus, ''Felipe González y Márquez'' and ''José María Aznar y López'' are the respective legal names of the Spanish politicians [[Felipe González|Felipe González Márquez]] and [[José María Aznar|José María Aznar López]]; however, unlike in [[Catalan language|Catalan]], this usage is infrequent in Spanish. In the [[Philippines]], ''y'' and its associated usages are retained only in formal state documents such as police records, but is otherwise dropped in favour of a more American-influenced naming order.

The conjunction ''y'' avoids denominational confusion when the paternal surname might appear to be a (first) name: without it, the physiologist [[Santiago Ramón y Cajal]] might appear to be named ''Santiago Ramón'' (composite) and surnamed ''Cajal'', likewise the jurist ''Francisco Tomás y Valiente'', and the cleric ''Vicente Enrique y Tarancón''. Without the conjunction, the [[football (soccer)|footballer]] [[Rafael Martín Vázquez]], when referred to by his surnames ''Martín Vázquez'' mistakenly appears to be forenamed ''Martín'' rather than ''Rafael'', whilst, to his annoyance, the linguist [[Fernando Lázaro Carreter]] occasionally was addressed as ''Don Lázaro'', rather than as ''Don Fernando'' (Lázaro can be either forename or surname).

When the conjunction ''y'' is used and the maternal surname begins with an ''i'' vowel sound — whether written with the vowel ''I'' (''Ibarra''), the vowel ''Y'' (''Ybarra'' archaic spelling), or the combination ''Hi'' + consonant (''[[Higueras (surname)|Higueras]]'') — Spanish [[euphony]] substitutes ''e'' in place of the word ''y''; thus the example of the Spanish statesman ''[[Eduardo Dato e Iradier]]'' (1856–1921).

==Denotations==
To communicate a person's [[Identity (social science)|social identity]], Spanish naming customs provide [[orthography|orthographic]] means, such as suffix-letter abbreviations, [[surname]] spellings, and place names, which denote and connote the person's place in [[society]].

===Identity and descent===
'''p.''' (father of): A man named like his son may add the lower-case suffix '''p.''' (denoting ''padre'', father) to his surname. An example of this is ''José Luis Lorena, p.'' , to distinguish him from his son ''José Luis Lorena''; the English analogue is "Sr." (''senior'').

'''h.''' (son of): A man named like his father may append the lower-case suffix '''h.''' (denoting ''hijo'', son) to his surname, thus distinguishing himself, ''Juan Gómez Marcos, h.'', from his father, ''Juan Gómez Marcos''; the English analogue is "Jr." (''junior'').

====The suffix -ez====
Following the [[Visigoth]]ic invasion of the Iberian peninsula, the local population adopted to a large extent a [[patronymic]] naming system: the suffix ''-icī'' (a [[Latin]] [[genitive]] meaning ''son of'') would be attached to the father's forename to create a patronymic for the son.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Penny|first1=Ralph|title=A history of the Spanish language|date=2002|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=9780521011846|edition=2.|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofspanish0000penn/page/16 16]|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofspanish0000penn|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Moran|first1=Steve|title=LINGUIST List 15.1432|url=https://linguistlist.org/issues/15/15-1432/|website=The LINGUIST List|access-date=13 September 2014|date=2004-05-05}}</ref> This suffix gradually evolved into different local forms, depending on the language. For example, the son of [[Ferdinand|Fernando]] would be called:
* [[Basque language|Basque]]: Fernanditz<ref name="Fernanditz">{{cite web |last1=Onomastika Batzordea |title=Fernanditz – Deiturak – EODA |url=https://www.euskaltzaindia.eus/index.php?option=com_ecoeoda&task=deituraIkusi&Itemid=799&lang=en&kodea=10934&mota=deiturak |website=Batzar agiriak |publisher=Onomastika batzordeko agiritegia – Euskaltzaindia |access-date=20 August 2020 |location=Bilbo |language=eu, en |date=2012-03-21 |quote=fernandez > fernanditz [...] Onomastika batzordeak Olatzagutian izandako bileran onartutako deitura}}</ref>
* [[Spanish language|Castillan]]: Fernández
* [[Catalan language|Catalan]]: Ferrandis
* [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] and [[Galician language|Galician]]: Fernandes

This system was most common in, but not limited to, the central region of [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]]. Bare surnames, i.e. the father's name without the suffix -itz/-ez/-is/-es, can also be found, and are especially common in [[Catalonia]]. This said, mass migration in the 20th century has led to a certain levelling of such regional differences.

In [[Països Catalans|Catalan speaking areas]], the suffixed surname ''Ferrandis'' is most common in the South (the [[Valencian Country]]) while in the North ([[Catalonia]]) the bare surname ''Ferran'' is more common. Furthermore, language contact led to the creation of multiple hybrid forms, as evidenced by the multiple Catalano-Castillan surnames, found especially in the Valencian Country: ''Fernàndez'', ''Fernandis'', ''Fernàndiz'', ''Ferrandez'', ''Ferràniz'', ''Ferranis'', etc.

Not every surname that resembles this pattern is patronymic. Due to the letters ''z'' and ''s'' being pronounced alike in American dialects of Spanish, many non-patronymic surnames with an ''-es'' have come to be written with an ''-ez''. In American [[Spanish language|Spanish]], the ''-ez'' spellings of ''Chávez'' ([[Hugo Chávez]]), ''Cortez'' ([[Alberto Cortez]]) and ''Valdez'' ([[Nelson Valdez]]) are not patronymic surnames, but simply variant spellings of the [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberian]] Spanish spelling with ''-es'', as in the names of [[Manuel Chaves González|Manuel Chaves]], [[Hernán Cortés]] and [[Víctor Valdés]]. For more on the ''-z'' surnames in Spanish see [[Influences on the Spanish language]].

A number of the most common surnames with the patronymic suffix -ez:
{{div col |colwidth=36em}}
* ''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, Gomo
* ''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
* ''Muñoz'' – the son of Munio
* ''Núñez'' – the son of Nuño
* ''Peláez'' – the son of Pelayo
* ''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
* ''Téllez'' – the son of Tello
* ''Vásquez, Vázquez'' – the son of Vasco, Velasco
* ''Velázquez, Velásquez'' – the son of Velasco
* ''Vélez'' – the son of Vela
{{div col end}}

===Foundlings===
Anonymous [[child abandonment|abandoned children]] were a problem for civil registrars to name. Some such children were named after the town where they were found ([[toponymic surname]]). Because most were reared in church orphanages, some were also given the surnames ''Iglesia'' or ''Iglesias'' (church[es]) and ''Cruz'' (cross). ''Blanco'' (with the meaning "blank", rather than "white") was another option. A toponymic first surname might have been followed by ''Iglesia(s)'' or ''Cruz'' as a second surname.

Nameless children were sometimes given the surname ''Expósito''/''Expósita'' (from [[Latin]] ''exposĭtus'', "exposed", meaning "abandoned child"), which marked them, and their descendants,<ref>{{cite book|title=American Surnames|page=[https://archive.org/details/americansurnames0000smit/page/277 277]|last=Coles Smith|first=Elsdon|edition=4th|year=2003|orig-year=1969|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Company|location=MD, US|isbn=9780806311500|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/americansurnames0000smit/page/277}}</ref> as of a low [[caste]] or [[social class]]. Due to this, in 1921 Spanish law started to allow holders of the surname ''Expósito'' to legally change their surname.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elalmanaque.com/lexico/exposito.htm |title=Léxico – Etimologias – Origen De Las Palabras – Expósito |website=Elalmanaque.com |access-date=2016-09-25}}</ref> In the [[Catalan language]], the surname ''Deulofeu'' ("made by God") was often given out to these children, which is similar to ''De Dios'' ("from God") in Castilian.

Furthermore, in [[Aragon|Aragón]] abandoned children would receive the surname ''Gracia'' ("grace") or ''de Gracia,'' because they were thought to survive by the [[Grace (Christianity)|grace]] of God.

===Foreign citizens===
In Spain, foreign immigrants retain use of their cultural naming customs,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.registrocivil.gva.es/intranet/web/registrocivil/cambio-de-nombre-y/o-apellidos |title=Conselleria de Justicia y Administraciones Públicas – Registro Civil |access-date=2012-04-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401200727/http://www.registrocivil.gva.es/intranet/web/registrocivil/cambio-de-nombre-y/o-apellidos |archive-date=1 April 2012 }}</ref> but upon becoming Spanish [[citizenship|citizens]], they are legally obliged to assume Spanish-style names (one forename and two surnames).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/sociedad/extranjeros-nacionalizados-espana-deberan-apellidos_1_4801485.html | title=Los extranjeros nacionalizados en España deberán tener dos apellidos | date=5 July 2007 }}</ref> If the [[nationality|naturalized]] citizen is from a one-surname culture, either their current surname is doubled or their mother's [[Maiden and married names|maiden name]] is adopted as the second surname. For example, a Briton with the name "Sarah Jane Smith" could become either "Sarah Jane Smith Smith" or "Sarah Jane Smith Jones" upon acquiring Spanish citizenship. Formally, Spanish naming customs would also mean that the [[Given name|forename]] "Sarah" and [[middle name]] "Jane" would be treated as a compound forename: "Sarah Jane".

===Flamenco artists===
Historically, [[flamenco]] artists seldom used their proper names. According to the flamenco guitarist [[Juan Serrano (Flamenco)|Juan Serrano]], this was because flamenco was considered disreputable and they did not want to embarrass their families:

{{blockquote|We have to start with the history of the gypsies in Spain. They gained a bad reputation because of the minor crimes they had to commit to survive. They did not have any kind of jobs, they had to do something to live, and of course this created hostility. And Flamenco was the music of the Gypsies, so many high society people did not accept it – they said Flamenco was in the hands of criminals, bandits, et cetera. And the girls, that maybe liked dancing or singing, their parents said, "Oh no, you want to be a prostitute!".|Juan Serrano|interview in ''Guitar International'', Nov 1987}}

This tradition of not using one's proper name has persisted to the present day, even though flamenco is now legitimate. Sometimes the artistic name consists of the home town appended to the first name ([[Manolo Sanlúcar]], [[Ramón de Algeciras]]); but many, perhaps most, such names are more eccentric: Pepe de la Matrona (because his mother was a midwife); [[Perico del Lunar]] (because he had a mole); [[Tomatito]] (son of a father known as ''Tomate'' (tomato) because of his red face); [[Sabicas]] (because of his childhood passion for green beans, from ''niño de las habicas''); [[Paco de Lucía]], born Francisco ("[[Paco]]") Gustavo Sánchez Gomes, was known from infancy after his Portuguese mother, Lucía Gomes (de Lucía = [son] of Lucía). And many more. When referring to these artists by their assumed names, it makes no sense to shorten the name to its qualifier, such as "Lucía" or "de Lucía"; Paco, or perhaps "el de Lucía", are the only options.

===Spanish hypocoristics and nicknames===
Many Spanish names can be shortened into [[hypocoristic]], affectionate "[[baby talk|child-talk]]" forms using a [[diminutive]] suffix, especially '''-ito''' and '''-cito''' (masculine) and '''-ita''' and '''-cita''' (feminine). Sometimes longer than the person's name, a [[nickname]] is usually derived via [[linguistics|linguistic]] rules.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.razonypalabra.org.mx/anteriores/n21/21_mespinosa.html |title=De Alfonso a Poncho y de Esperanza a Lancha: los Hipocorísticos |language=es |trans-title=From Alfonso to Poncho and from Esperanza to Lancha: the Hypocorísticos |author=Margarita Espinosa Meneses |access-date=2009-02-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202114852/http://www.razonypalabra.org.mx/anteriores/n21/21_mespinosa.html |archive-date=2 December 2008 }}</ref> However, in contrast to English use, hypocoristic names in Spanish are only used to address a person in a very familiar environment – the only exception being when the hypocoristic is an artistic name (e.g. [[Nacho Duato]] born Juan Ignacio Duato). The common English practice of using a nickname in the press or media, or even on business cards (such as [[Bill Gates]] instead of William Gates), is not accepted in Spanish, being considered excessively colloquial. The usages vary by country and region; these are some usual names and their nicknames:

{{div col |colwidth=36em}}
* ''Adelaida'' = ''Ade, Adela''
* ''Adelina'' = ''Deli, Lina''
* ''Adrián'' (Male) or ''Adriana'' (Female) = ''Adri''
* ''Alberto'' = ''Alber, Albertito, Beto, Berto, Tico, Tuco, Tito, Albi''
* ''Alejandra/Alexandra'' = ''Sandra, Ale, Álex, Alexa, Lexa, Aleja, Jandra, Chandra, Jana, Lala''
* ''Alejandro'' = ''Ale, Álex, Alejo, Jandro, Jano, Cano, Sandro, Pando''
* ''Alfonso'' = ''Alfon, Fon, Fonso, Fonsi, Poncho, Loncho''
* ''Alfredo'' = ''Fredi, Fredo''
* ''Alicia'' = ''Ali, Licha''
* ''Ana Isabel'' = ''Anabel''
* ''Anacleto'' = ''Cleto''
* ''Apolinar'' = ''Polo''
* ''Andrea'', ''Andreo'', ''Andrés'', ''Andressa'' = ''Andi'', ''Andresito'', ''Andresita'' 
* ''Agustín'' = ''Agus'', ''Gusto'', ''Tin''
* ''Antonia'' = ''Toña, Tona, Toñi, Toñita, Tonia, Antoñita''
* ''Antonio'' = ''Antón, Tonio, Toni, Tono, Tonino, Tonito, Toño, Toñín, Antoñito, Antuco, Antuquito''
* ''Antonino'' = ''Nino''
* ''Anunciación'' = ''Chona, Nunci''
* ''Apolinar'' = ''Polo''
* ''Ariadna'' = ''Ari''
* ''Arturo'' = ''Arturito, Turito, Art, Archie, Lito''
*''Arcángel'' = ''Ángel''
* ''Arcenio''/''Arsenio'' = ''Arcenito, Cheno''
* ''Armando'' = ''Mando, Mandi''
* ''Ascensión'' = ''Ascen, Choni''
* ''Asunción'' = ''Asun, Susi, Suni, Suza''
* ''Aurelio'' = ''Yeyo, Aure''
* ''Bartola'' = ''Tola'', ''Barta''
* ''Bartolomé'' = ''Bartolo, Barto, Tomé, Tolo''
* ''Beatriz'' = ''Bea, Beti (o Betty), Betina''
* ''Begoña'' = ''Bego''
* ''Benjamín'' = ''Ben, Benja, Benjas, Benji, Jamín''
* ''Berenice'' = ''Bere''
* ''Bernabé'' = ''Berna''
* ''Bernardino'' = ''Bérnar, Nino''
* ''Bernardo'' = ''Bérnar, Ber, Nardo''
* ''Basílio'' = Silio
* ''Basília'' = Sília
* ''Basílica'' = Biqui
* ''Bonifacio'' = ''Boni''
* ''Buenaventura'' = ''Ventura, Ventu, Venturi''
* ''Candelaria'' = ''Can, Cande, Candi, Candelita, Canda, Candela''
* ''Cándido/a'' = ''Candi''
* ''Caridad'' = ''Cari, Carita, Caruca, Cuca''
* ''Carla'' = ''Carlita''
* ''Carlos'' = ''Carlito, Carlitos, Carlo, Calo, Calín, Carlines, Litos, Charli, Chepe''
* ''Carmen'' = ''Mamen, Carmita, Carmenchu, Menchu, Carmencha, Carmencita, Carmelita, Carmela, Carmina, Mecha, Mencha''
* ''Carolina'' = ''Caro, Cárol, Caroli, Carito''
* ''Catalina'' = ''Cata, Lina, Cati, Catina, Caty''
* ''Cayetano'' = ''Caye, Tano, Cayo''
* ''Cecilia'' = ''Ceci, Cece, Cilia, Chila, Chili''
* ''Celestino'' = ''Celes, Cele, Tino''
* ''César'' = ''Checha, Cesito, Cesítar''
* ''Ciro'' = ''Cirino''
* ''Claudia'' = ''Clau, Claudi''
* ''(Inmaculada) Concepción'' = ''Conchi, Conchita, Concha, Conce, Ciona, Cione, Chon, Choni, Inma, Macu''
* ''Consolación'' = ''Conso''
* ''Constantino'' = ''Tino''
* ''Consuelo'' = ''Consu, Chelo, Coni, Conchi, Conchis''
* ''Covadonga'' = ''Cova, Covi''
* ''Cristian'' = ''Cris, Cristo''
* ''Cristina'' = ''Cris, Cristi, Crista, Tina''
* ''Cristóbal'' = ''Cris, Cristo, Toba''
* ''Cristóforo'' = ''Cuco, Chosto''
* ''Cruz'' = ''Crucita, Chuz''
* ''Dalia'' = ''Dali''
* ''Dalila'' = ''Lila''
* ''Daniel'' (Male) or ''Daniela'' (Female) = ''Dani''
* ''David'' = ''Davo, Davilo''
* ''Diego'' = ''Didi, Dieguito''
* ''Dolores'' = ''Lola, Loli, Lolita, Loles''
* ''Eduardo'' = ''Edu, Lalo, Eduardito, Duardo, Guayo''
* ''Eladio'' = ''Lalo, Yayo''
* ''Eliana'' = ''Eli, Elia, Liana''
* ''Elena'' = ''Nena''
* ''Eloísa'' = ''Elo''
* ''Encarnación'' = ''Encarna, Encarni, Encarnita''
* ''Enrique'' = ''Quique, Quico, Kike, Kiko''
* ''Ernesto'' = ''Neto, Netico, Tito''
* ''Esmeralda'' = ''Esme, Mera, Lala''
* ''Esperanza'' = ''Espe, Pera, Lancha, Pancha, Peri''
* ''Esteban'' = ''Estebi''
* ''Estefanía'' = ''Estefa, Estefi''
* ''Eugenia'' = ''Genita, Kena''
* ''Eugenio'' = ''Genio, Genín, Genito''
* ''Eulalia'' = ''Lali, Lala, Leya''
* ''Eva'' = ''Evita''
* ''Facundo'' = ''Facu''
* ''Federico'' = ''Fede, Fico, Quico''
* ''Felícita'' = ''Feli, Felacha''
* ''Felipe'' = ''Fele, Pipe, Lipe''
* ''Faustino'' = ''Tino, Tinín, Fausto''
* ''Fermín'' = ''Mincho, Fermo''
* ''Fernanda'' = ''Fer, Nanda, Feña''
* ''Fernando'' = ''Fer, Nando, Nano, Ferni, Feña, Fercho''
* ''Florencia'' = ''Flor, Flora, Florci, Florcita, Florchi, Florchu, Lencha''
* ''Florencio'' = ''Floro, Lencho''
* ''Francisca'' = ''Fran, Paqui, Paquita, Sisca, Cisca, Pancha, Curra, Paca, Quica, Panchita, Panchi''
* ''Francisco'' = ''Fran, Francis, Paco, Sisco, Cisco, Chisco, Curro, Quico, Kiko, Franco, Frasco, Frascuelo, Pacho, Pancho, Panchito''
* ''Gabriel'' = ''Gabo, Gabri''
* ''Gabriela'' = ''Gabi, Gabrielita''
* ''Gerardo'' = ''Gera, Yayo, Lalo''
* ''Germán'' = ''Mancho''
* ''Gertrudis'' = ''Tula''
* ''Gloria María'' = ''Glorimar''
* ''Gonzalo'' = ''Gonza, Gon, Gonzo, Gonchi, Lalo, Chalo, Talo, Tali''
* ''Graciela'' = ''Chela''
* ''Gregorio'' = ''Goyo, Gorio''
* ''Griselda'' = ''Gris, Celda''
* ''Guadalupe'' = ''Lupe (female & male), Guada, Pupe, Lupita, Lupilla (female) & Lupito, Lupillo (male), Pita (female)''
* ''Guillermo'' = ''Guille, Guíller, Guillo, Meme, Momo, Memo''
* ''Gumersindo'' = ''Gúmer, Gume, Sindo''.
* ''Héctor'' = ''Tito, Torín, Hertico''
* ''Hermenegildo'' = ''Hildo''
* ''Hipólito'' = ''Polo''
* ''Hortensia'' = ''Horten, Tencha''
* ''Humberto, Huberto, Adalberto'' = ''Berto, Beto''
* ''Ignacia'' = ''Nacha, Nacia, Ina''
* ''Ignacio'' = ''Nacho, Nacio, Nachito, Naco, Iñaqui, Iñaki''
* ''Inocencia'' = ''Chencha, Checha''
* ''Inocencio'' = ''Chencho, Checho''
* ''Isabel'' = ''Bela, Beli, Belica, Sabel, Sabela, Chabela, Chavela, Chavelita, Chabelita, Isa''
* ''Ismael'' = ''Isma, Mael, Maelo''
* ''Israel'' = ''Irra, Rai''
* ''Iván'' = ''Ivi, Ivo''
* ''Jacobo'' = ''Cobo, Yaco, Yago''
* ''Jaime'' = ''Jaimón, Jimmy''
* ''Javier'' = ''Javi, Javo, Javito''
* ''Jorge'' = ''Jorgecito, Jorgis, Jorgito, Gorge, Jecito, Coque, Koke''
* ''Jerónimo'' = ''Jero, Jeronimillo''
* ''Jesús'' = ''Jesu, Chus, Xus, Chuso, Chusi, Chucho, Chuchi, Chuy, Suso, Susi, Chuyito''
* ''Jesús Alberto'' = ''Jesusbeto, Chuybeto''
* ''Jesús Manuel'' = ''Jesusma''
* ''Jesús María'' = ''Chumari, Chusma, Jesusmari''
* ''Jesús Ramón'' = ''Jerra, Jesusra, Chuymoncho, Chuymonchi''
* ''Jesusa'' = ''Susi, Sus, Chusa, Susa, Chucha, Chuy, Chuyita''
* ''Jimena''/''Ximena'' = ''Jime, Mena''
* ''Joaquín'' = ''Joaco, Juaco, Quin, Quim, Quino, Quincho''
* ''José'' = ''Jose, Pepe, Chepe, Pepito, Chepito, Pito, Pepín, Pepu, Chechu, Cheo''
* ''José Ángel/José Antonio'' = ''Josean, Josan''
* ''José Carlos'' = ''Joseca'', ''Seco''
* ''José Luis'' = ''Joselo, Joselu, Pepelu, Selu''
* ''José Manuel'' = ''Josema, Chema/Xema, Chemita/Xemita, Chemanu/Xemanu''
* ''José María'' = ''Chema/Xema, Chemari/Xemari, Josemari, Josema''
* ''José Miguel'' = ''Josemi, Jomi, Chemi''
* ''José Ramón'' = ''Peperramón, Joserra, Cherra''
* ''Josefa'' = ''Pepa, Pepi, Pepita, Pina, Fina, Fini, Finita''
* ''Josefina'' = ''Jose, Fina, Pepa, Pepita, Chepina, Chepa, Chepita''
* ''Juan'' = ''Juanito, Juanín, Juancho, Juanelo, Juampi, Juanci''
* ''Juan Andrés'' = ''Juanan''
* ''Juan Camilo'' = ''Juanca, Juancho, Juanqui, Juanquis''
* ''Juan Carlos'' = ''Juanca, Juáncar, Juanqui''
* ''Juan Cristóbal'' = ''Juancri, Juancris''
* ''Juan Ernesto'' = ''Juáner''
* ''Juan Esteban'' = ''Juanes''
* ''Juan Felipe'' = ''Juanfe, Pipe''
* ''Juan Fernando'' = ''Juánfer''
* ''Juan Francisco'' = ''Juanfran''
* ''Juan Ignacio'' = ''Juancho''
* ''Juan Javier'' = ''Juanja''
* ''Juan José'' = ''Juanjo, Juancho''
* ''Juan Leonardo'' = ''Juanle''
* ''Juan Luis'' = ''Juanlu''
* ''Juan Manuel'' = ''Juanma''
* ''Juan Miguel'' = ''Juangui, Juanmi''
* ''Juan Pablo'' = ''Juampa, Juampi, Juampis''
* ''Juan Rafael'' = ''Juanra''
* ''Juan Ramón'' = ''Juanra''
* ''Juan Salvador'' = ''Juansa''
* ''Juan Vicente'' = ''Juanvi''
* ''Julián'' = ''Juli, Julianito, Julianillo''
* ''Julio'' = ''Julín, Julito, Juli''
* ''Laura'' = ''Lalita, Lala, Lauri, Lauris, Lau, Laurita''
* ''Leticia'' = ''Leti''
* ''Leonardo'' = ''Leo, León, Leoncito''
* ''Libertad'' = ''Libby, Libia, Berta, Beta''
* ''Liborio'' = ''Libo, Borio, Boro''
* ''Lorena'' = ''Lore, Lora''
* ''Lorenzo'' = ''Lencho, Enzo, Renzo''
* ''Lourdes'' = ''Lourditas, Lulú''
* ''Lucía'' = ''Luci, Lucita, Chía, Chita''
* ''Luciano'' = ''Chano, Ciano, Lucho''
* ''Luis'' = ''Lucho, Luisito, Güicho, Luisín, Sito''
* ''Luis Felipe'' = ''Luisfe''
* ''Luis Manuel'' = ''Luisma''
* ''Luis María'' = ''Luisma''
* ''Luis Mariano'' = ''Luisma''
* ''Luis Miguel'' = ''Luismi''
* ''Luisa'' = ''Lisa, Lía, Luisita, Luchita''
* ''Luz Ángela'' = ''Luzán, Lusán''
* ''Luz Maria'' = ''Luzma''
* ''Macarena'' = ''Maca, Cara''
* ''Magdalena'' = ''Magda, Mada, Malena, Mane, Manena, Lena, Leni, Lenita, Nena''
* ''Manuel'' = ''Manu, Lolo, Mano, Meño, Manuelito, Lito, Lillo, Mani, Manué, Manel, Mel, Nel, Nelo''
* ''Manolo '' = ''Lolo, Manolito, Mano, Manolillo, Lito, Lillo, Manolín''
* ''Marcelina'' = ''Lina, Marce, Celina, Chela''
* ''Marcelo'' = ''Chelo, Marce''
* ''Margarita'' = ''Marga, Margari, Magui, Rita, Mague''
* ''María'' = ''Mari, Maruja, Marujita, Marica, Marita, Mariquita, Mariquilla, Iah''
* ''María Aurora'' = ''Marora''
* ''María Auxiliadora'' = ''Chilo, Mauxi, Mausi, Mauchi, Dori, Dora, Madora''
* ''María de Dolores'' = ''Lola, Loles, Loli, Lolita, Mariló''
* ''María de Jesús'' = ''Marichúy, Marichusa''
* ''María de la Cruz'' = ''Maricruz''
* ''María de la Luz'' = ''Mariluz, Luz, Malú''
* ''María de las Nieves'' = ''Marinieves, Nieves''
* ''María de los Ángeles'' = ''Marielos, Marian, Ángeles, Ángela, Angie, Angy, Mariángeles''
* ''María de Lourdes'' = ''Malula, Marilú, Lulú''
* ''María del Carmen'' = ''Maricarmen, Mamen, Mai, Maica, Mayca, Mayka, Mari''
* ''María del Mar'' = ''Marimar, Mar''
* ''María del Rosario'' = ''Charo, Chari, Charito, Chayo''
* ''María del Refugio'' = ''Cuca, Cuquis''
* ''María del Socorro'' = ''Maricoco, Coco, Socorro''
* ''María del Sol/María de la Soledad'' = ''Marisol, Sol, Sole, Sola, Chole, Chola''
* ''María Engracia'' = ''Graci, Gracita''
* ''María Elena'' = ''Malena, Marilena''
* ''María Eugenia'' = ''Maru, Marugenia, Maruja, Yeni, Kena, Kenita''
* ''María Fernanda'' = ''Mafe, Mafer, Marifer''
* ''María Fuensanta'' = ''Mari Santi, Tanti, Fuen''
* ''María Isabel'' = ''Maribel, Mabel, Marisabel, Marisa, Risa''
* ''María José''/''María Josefa'' = ''Cote, Coté, Jose, Josefa, Mai, Ajo, Majo, Mariajo, Marijó, Marijose, Maripepa, Maripepi, Pepa, Pepi, Pepita''
* ''María Laura'' = ''Malala''
* ''María Luisa'' = ''Marisa, Mariluisa, Malu, Maluli, Magüi''
* ''María Milagros'' = ''Mila, Milagritos, Mili, Mimi, Marimili''
* ''María Paz'' = ''Maripaz, Paz, Pacita''
* ''María Pilar/María del Pilar'' = ''Pilar, Pili, Mapi, Maripí, Maripili''
* ''María Teresa'' = ''Maritere, Maite, Mayte, Teté, Mari, Mariate, Marité''
* ''María Victoria'' = ''Mariví, Mavi''
* ''Marina'' = ''Marita, Ina, Mari''
* ''Mario'' = ''Marito, Mayito''
* ''Marta'' = ''Martuqui, Tuqui''
* ''Martina'' = ''Tina, China, Tinita''
* ''Mauricio'' = ''Mau, Mauro, Mauri''
* ''Máximo'' = ''Maxi, Max, Maximino, Mino''
* ''Mayra'' = ''Mayrita, Mayris''
* ''Mayola'' = ''May, Maya''
* ''Melissa'' = ''Meli, Melo,''
* ''Mercedes'' = ''Merce, Merche, Merchi, Merceditas, Meche, Meches, Mechas''
* ''Micaela'' = ''Mica''
* ''Miguel'' = ''Migue, Míchel, Miki''
* ''Miguel Enrique'' = ''Ige, Ike, Mige, Mike, Migo, Miko''
* ''Minerva'' = ''Mine, Míner''
* ''Míriam'' = ''Miri''
* ''Mónica'' = ''Moni, Mona, Nona, Mo, Niquita''
* ''Montserrat'' = ''Monse, Montse, Moncha, Mon, Serrat, Cherra, Rat, Rateta, Tat or Tóna''
* ''Natalia'' = ''Nati/Natis, Nata/Natas, Talia,''
* ''Natividad'' = ''Nati, Tivi, Nava''
* ''Nestor'' = ''Teto''
* ''Nicanor'' = ''Cano, Nico, Nica, Niqui''
* ''Nicolás'' = ''Nico, Coco, Colás''
* ''Nicolasa'' = ''Nico, Nica, Colasa''
* ''Norberto'' = ''Nórber, Berto, Bertín''
* ''Norma'' = ''Normi, Normita, Tita''
* ''Olimpo'' = ''Limpo, Limpio''
* ''Oriana'' = ''Ori, Nana, Nanita, Ana, Anita''
* ''Orlando'' = ''Lando''
* ''Pablo'' = ''Pablete, Pablín, Pablito, Blete, Blin, Blito''
* ''Pacificación'' = ''Paz''
* ''Paloma'' = ''Palo''
* ''Paola'' = ''Pao, Paolita, Payoya''
* ''Paula'' = ''Pau''
* ''Paulina'' = ''Pau, Pauli''
* ''Patricia'' = ''Patri, Tricia, Pato, Pati''
* ''Patricio'' = ''Pato, Patri''
* ''Pedro'' = ''Perucho, Pedrito, Perico, Peyuco, Peret, Pedrín''
* ''Pilar/María del Pilar'' = ''Pili, Pilarín, Piluca, Pilarica, Petita, Maripili''
* ''Presentación'' = ''Presen''
* ''Primitivo'' = ''Pivo, Tivo''
* ''Purificación'' = ''Pura, Puri, Purita''
* ''Rafael'' = ''Rafaelito, Rafa, Rafi, Rafita, Rafo, Fael, Falo, Fali, Felo, Fefo, Fefi''
* ''Ramón'' = ''Mon, Moncho, Monche, Monchi, Mongo, Monguito, Ramoncito''
* ''Raúl'' = ''Rauli, Raulito, Raulillo, Rul, Rulo, Rule, Ral, Rali ''
* ''Refugio'' = ''Cuca, Cuquita''
* ''Reinaldo'' = ''Rey, Naldo''
* ''Remedios'' = ''Reme''
* ''Reposo'' = ''Repo''
* ''Ricardo'' = ''Rica, Rícar, Richi, Rici, Rocho, Ríchar''
* ''Roberto'' = ''Robe, Róber, Berto, Robertito, Tito, Beto''
* ''Rocío'' = ''Roci, Chio, Ro, Roco''
* ''Rodolfo'' = ''Fito, Fofo, Rodo, Bofo, Rudi''
* ''Rodrigo'' = ''Rorro, Rodriguito, Rodri, Ruy, Roy, Ro''
* ''Rogelio'' = ''Roge'', ''Coque''
* ''Rosalía'' = ''Chalia, Rosa, Rosi, Rosita''
* ''Rosalva/Rosalba'' = ''Chava, Rosa''
* ''Rosario'' = ''Charo, Chayo, Chayito, Rosa''
* ''Salomé'' = ''Salo''
* ''Salomón'' = ''Salo''
* ''Salvador'' = ''Salva, Chava, Chavito, Chavita, Salvita, Salvi, Chavi, Salvidor''
* ''Santiago'' = ''Santi, Yago, Diego, Chago, Tiago''
* ''Sara'' = ''Sarita''
* ''Sebastián'' = ''Sebas, Seba''
* ''Serena'' = ''Sere, Siri''
* ''Sergio'' = ''Chucho, Checo, Chejo, Checho, Chencho, Keko, Yeyo''
* ''Simón'' = ''Monsi''
* ''Sofía'' = ''Sofi, Fía''
* ''Soledad'' = ''Sol, Sola, Solita, Sole, Chole, Chol''
* ''Susana'' = ''Susi, Sus, Su, Susa, Chucha''
* ''Teodoro'' = ''Teo, Doro''
* ''Teófilo'' = ''Teo''
* ''Teresa'' = ''Tere, Teresita, Teresica, Teresina''
* ''Timoteo'' = ''Timo, Teo, Teín, Tín''
* ''Trinidad'' = ''Trini, Trina''
* ''Tomás'' = ''Tomi, Tomasito, Tomasín''
* ''Valentina'' = ''Val, Vale, Valen, Tina, Tinita, Valentinita''
* ''Valentino'' = ''Val, Vale, Valen, Tino, Tinito, Valente, Valentinito''
* ''Verónica'' = ''Vero, Nica, Verito, Veru''
* ''Vicente'' = ''Chente, Vicen, Vicho, Sento''
* ''Víctor, Victorio'' = ''Vítor, Vis, Vico, Vito''
* ''Victoria'' = ''Vico, Viqui, Vicky, Tori, Toria, Toya''
* ''Visitación'' = ''Visi''
* ''Xiomara'' = ''Xiomi'', ''Chomi'', ''Mara''
* ''Yolanda'' = ''Yola, Yoyi, Yoli''
{{div col end}}

==Spain's other languages==
The official recognition of Spain's [[regional language|other written languages]] – [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Basque language|Basque]], and [[Galician language|Galician]] – legally allowed the autonomous communities to re-establish their vernacular [[identity (social science)|social identity]], including the legal use of personal names in the local languages and written traditions; these had been banned since 1938.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mariño Paz|first=Ramón|title=Historia da lingua galega|year=1998|publisher=Sotelo Blanco|location=Santiago de Compostela|isbn=978-84-7824-333-4|page=353|edition=2.}}</ref> This has sometimes been accomplished by re-spelling names to change Castilian Spanish forms into their original languages.

===Basque names===
{{See also|Basque language|Basque surnames}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2010}}
The Basque-speaking territories (the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Autonomous Community]] and [[Navarre]]) follow Spanish naming customs (given names + two family names, the two family names being usually the father's and the mother's).

The given names are officially in one language or the other (Basque or Spanish), but often people use a translated or shortened version. A bilingual Basque-Spanish speaker will not necessarily bear a Basque name, and a monolingual Spanish speaker can use a Basque name or a Basque hypocoristic of an official Spanish name; e.g. a ''Francisco'' (official Spanish name) may be known as ''Patxi'' (Basque hypocoristic).

Some Basque-language names and surnames are foreign transliterations into the Basque tongue, e.g., ''[[Ander]]'' (English: "[[Andrew]]"; Spanish: ''Andrés''), ''Mikel'' (English: "Michael"; Spanish: ''[[Miguel (disambiguation)|Miguel]]''), or ''Ane'' (English: "[[Anne]]"; Spanish: ''Ana''). In some cases, the name's [[Calque|original-language denotation is translated]] to Basque, e.g., ''Zutoia'' and ''Zedarri'' denote the Spanish ''[[Our Lady of the Pillar|Pilar]]'' (English: "Pillar"). Moreover, some originally Basque names, such as ''Xabier'' and ''Eneko'' (English "[[Xavier (given name)|Xavier]]" and "[[Inigo]]"), have been transliterated into Spanish (''[[Javier (name)|Javier]]'' and ''[[Íñigo]]'').

Recently, Basque names without a direct equivalent in other languages have become popular, e.g. ''[[Aitor]]'' (a legendary patriarch), ''Hodei'' ("cloud"), ''[[Iker]]'' ("to investigate"), and ''[[Amaia]]'' ("the end"). Some Basque names without a definable meaning in Spanish are unique to the Basque language, for instance, ''Eneko'', ''[[Garikoitz]]'', ''[[Urtzi]]''. After Franco's death and the restoration of democracy in Spain, many Basque adults changed their Spanish names to their Basque equivalents, e.g. from ''Miguel'' to ''Mikel''.

A source for modern Basque names is [[Sabino Arana]]'s ''[[Deun-Ixendegi Euzkotarra]]'' ("Basque saint-name collection", published in 1910). Instead of the traditional Basque adaptations of Romance names, he proposed others he made up, and which in his opinion were truer to the originals and adapted better to Basque phonology. For example, [[Luis Arana (politician)|his brother Luis]] became ''Koldobika'', from Frankish ''Hlodwig''. The traditional names ''Peru'' (from Spanish "[[Pedro]]"), ''Pello'' or ''Piarres'' (from French "[[Pierre]]"), all meaning "[[Peter (name)|Peter]]", became ''Kepa'' from Aramaic כיפא (Kepha). He believed that the suffix ''-[n]e'' was inherently feminine, and new names like ''Nekane'' ("pain"+''ne'', "[[Dolores (given name)|Dolores]]") or ''Garbiñe'' ("clean"+''ne'', "[[Immaculate Conception|Immaculate [Conception]]]") are frequent among Basque females.

[[Basque surname]]s usually denote the paternal house (in its literal sense of a dwelling place) of the bearer; e.g. ''[[Etxebarria]]'' – "the new house", from ''etxe'' (house) + ''barri'' (new) + ''a'' (the), denotes "related to a farmhouse of that name"; in the same way, ''Garaikoetxea'' – "the house in the heights", ''garai'' ("height") + ''etxe'' ("house") + ''a'' (the). Sometimes, surnames denote not the house itself but a characteristic of the place, e.g. ''Saratxaga'' – "willow-place", from ''saratze'' ("willow") + ''-aga'' ("place of"); ''Loyola'', from ''loi'' ("mud") + ''ola'' ("iron smithery"); ''[[Arriortua]]'' – "stone orchard", from ''harri'' ("stone") + ''ortua'' ("orchard"). Before the 20th century all Basque men were considered [[Hidalgo (Spanish nobility)|nobles]] (indeed, some Basque surnames, e.g. ''Irujo'' or ''Medoza'', were related to some of the oldest Spanish noble families), and many of them used their status to emigrate with privileges to other regions of the Spanish Empire, especially the Americas; thus some Basque surnames became common in the Spanish-American world, e.g. ''Mendoza'' – "cold mountain", from ''mendi'' ("mountain" + ''hotza'' ("cold"); ''[[Salazar (surname)|Salazar]]'' – "old hall", from ''sala'' ("hall") + ''zahar'' ("old"). Until 1978, Spanish was the single official language of the Spanish civil registries, and Basque surnames had to be registered according to the Spanish phonetical rules (for example, the Spanish "ch" sound merges the Basque "ts", "tx", and "tz", and someone whose surname in [[Standard Basque]] would be "Krutxaga" would have to write it as "Cruchaga", the letter "k" also not being used in Spanish). Although the restoration of democracy ended this policy and allowed surnames to be officially changed into their Basque orthography, surnames of Basque origin now often have more than one spelling, even within the same family: a father born before 1978 would be surnamed "Echepare" and his children, "Etxepare". This policy even changed the usual pronunciation of some Basque surnames. For instance, in Basque, the letter "z" maintained a sibilant "s"-like sound, while Spanish changed it; thus, a surname such as ''Zabala'' in Basque is properly read similar to sabala" ({{IPA|eu|s̻abala}}), but in Spanish, where the "z" denotes a "th" sound ({{IPAblink|θ}}), it would be read as "Tha-bala" ({{IPA|es|θaˈβala}}). However, since the letter "z" exists in Spanish, the registries did not force the Zabalas to transliterate their surname.

In the Basque provinces of [[Biscay]] and [[Gipuzkoa]], it was uncommon to take a surname from the place (town or village) where one resided, unless one was a foundling; in general, people bearing surnames such as ''Bilbao'' (after the Basque city of [[Bilbao]]) are descendants of foundlings. However, in the Basque province of [[Alava]] and, to a lesser extent, in [[Navarre]], it was common to add one's birth village to the surname using the Spanish particle ''de'' to denote a ''toponymic'', particularly when the surname was a common one; for instance, someone whose surname was ''Lopez'' and whose family was originally from the valley of ''Ayala'' could employ ''Lopez de Ayala'' as a surname. This latter practice is also common in [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]].

Basque compound surnames are relatively common, and were created by combining two discrete surnames, e.g. ''Elorduizapaterietxe'' – ''Elordui'' + ''Zapaterietxe'', a practice denoting family allegiances or the equal importance of both families. Since compound surnames could themselves be used to create new compounds, this custom sometimes resulted in incredibly long surnames. For example, the longest surname recorded in Spain is the compound Basque name ''Burionagonatotoricagageazcoechea'',<ref name="Albaigès">{{cite book |last1=Albaigès |first1=Josep M. |title=Enciclopedia de los nombres propios |date=1995 |publisher=Planeta |isbn=84-08-01286-X |language=es}}</ref> formed by ''Buriona''+ ''Gonatar'' + ''Totorika'' + ''Beazcoetxea''.

Basque nationalist leader Sabino Arana pioneered a naming custom of transposing the name-surname order to what he thought was the proper Basque language syntax order; e.g. the woman named ''Miren Zabala'' would be referred to as ''Zabala'taŕ Miren'' – the surname first, plus the ''-tar'' suffix denoting "from a place", and then the name. Thus, ''Zabala'taŕ Miren'' means "Miren, of the Zabala family". The change in the order is effected because in the Basque language, declined words (such as ''Zabala'taŕ'') that apply to a noun are placed before the noun itself; another example of this would be his pen name, ''Arana ta Goiri'taŕ Sabin''. This Basque naming custom was used in nationalist literature; in formal official documents, the Castilian naming order is observed.

===Catalan names=== 
<!-- "Catalan language" and "Catalan names" redirect here. See [[MOS:HIDDENLINKADVICE]]. -->
{{Further|:Category:Catalan-language surnames}}
The [[Catalan language|Catalan]]-speaking territories mainly abide by Spanish naming customs, though discrete surnames are usually joined with the word ''i'' ("and") instead of the Spanish ''y''; this practice is very common in formal contexts. For example, the former [[president of the Generalitat de Catalunya]] (Government of Catalonia) is formally called ''El Molt Honorable Senyor [[Pere Aragonès i Garcia]]''. The national language policy enumerated in article 19.1 of Law 1/1998 stipulates that "the citizens of Catalonia have the right to use the proper regulation of their Catalan names and surnames and to introduce the conjunction between surnames".{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

The correction, translation, and change of surnames are regulated by the ''Registro Civil'' (Civil Registry) in decree 138/2007 of 26 June, modifying decree 208/1998 of 30 July, which regulates the accreditation of the linguistic correctness of names. Decree 138/2007 of 26 July regulates the issuance of language-correction certificates for [[translation|translated]] Catalan names by the ''[[Institut d'Estudis Catalans]]'' (Institute of Catalan Studies) in Barcelona. Nevertheless, there are Catalan surnames that conform to neither the current spelling rules nor the traditionally correct Catalan [[spelling]] rules; a language-correction certification can be requested from the institute, for names such as these:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iec.cat/coneixement/entrada_c.asp?c_epigraf_num=28 |title=Institut d'Estudis Catalans: l'acadèmia catalana de les ciències i les humanitats. Portal de coneixement |website=Iec.cat |access-date=2016-09-25}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* Aleñá→Alenyà
* Caballé→Cavaller
* Cañellas→Canyelles
* Casas→Cases
* Corominas→Coromines
* Fábregas→Fàbregues
* Farré→Ferrer
* Figueras→Figueres
* Gabarra→Gavarra
* Gafarot→Gaferot
* Gumbau→Gombau
* Doménech→Domènec
* Jufré→Jofré
* Junqueras→Jonqueres
* Mayoral→Majoral
* Montañà→Montanyà
* Perpiñán→Perpinyà
* Pijuan→Pijoan
* Piñol→Pinyol
* Puyol→Pujol
* Roselló→Rosselló
* Rusiñol→Rossinyol 
* Tarradellas→Tarradelles
* Viñallonga→Vinyallonga
* Viñes→Vinyes
{{div col end}}

====Catalan hypocoristics and nicknames====
Many Catalan names are shortened to [[hypocoristic]] forms using only the final portion of the name (unlike Spanish, which mostly uses only the first portion of the name), and with a diminutive suffix (''-et, -eta/-ita''). Thus, shortened Catalan names taking the first portion of the name are probably influenced by the Spanish tradition. The influence of Spanish in hypocoristics is recent since it became a general fashion only in the twentieth century {{citation needed span|date=December 2020|and especially since [[Francisco Franco]]'s dictatorship}}; example Catalan names are:
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* Antoni/Antònia = ''Toni, Tònia, Tonet/a''
* Bartomeu = ''Tomeu''
* Concepció = ''Ció''
* Cristina = ''Tina''
* Dolors = ''Lloll, Dolo, Loles''
* Elisabet/h = ''Bet, Beth, Eli, Lis''
* Eulàlia = ''Laia, Olaia, Lali''
* Francesc/a = ''Cesc, Quico/a, Xesco/a, Xisco/a, Cisco/a, Sisquet/a''
* Gabriel = ''Biel''
* Ignasi = ''Nasi''
* Isabel = ''Bel, Bet''
* Jacint = ''Cinto''
* Joaquim/a = ''Quim/a, Ximo/a'' (in [[Valencian Community|Valencia]])
* Jordi = ''Toti''
* Jordina = ''Jordi''
* Josefina = ''Fina, Fineta''
* Josep Maria = ''Pemi''
* Josep/a = ''Pep/o/a, Pepet/a, Pepito/a''
* Magdalena = ''Talena, Magda''
* Manel = ''Nel, Nelo, Nel·lo''
* Maria del Mar = ''Mar''
* Maria dels Àngels = ''Mariàngels, Àngels, Màngels''
* Maria Lluïsa = ''Marissa''
* Maria Soletat = ''Marissol''
* Mariona = ''Ona, Miona''
* Meritxell = ''Txell, Meri''
* Montserrat = ''Serrat, Montse, Munsa, Muntsa''
* Narcís/isa = ''Narciset/a, Ciset/a, Ciso/a''
* Núria = ''Nuri''
* Onofre = ''Nofre''
* Oriol = ''Uri''
* Rafel = ''Fel, Feló, Rafa''
* Salvador = ''Vadó, Voro'' (in [[Valencian Community|Valencia]])
* Sebastià/ana = ''Tià/ana, Sebas''
* Sergi = ''Keki''
* Vicent = ''Vicentó, Cento''
* Xavier = ''Xavi, Xevi, Javi'' (the J is pronounced as in English)
{{div col end}}

===Galician names===
The [[Galician language|Galician]]-speaking areas also abide by the Spanish naming customs. The main differences are the usage of Galician given names and surnames.

==== Galician surnames ====
{{Further|:Category:Galician-language surnames}}
Most Galician surnames have their origin in local [[toponymy|toponymies]], including Galician regions ('''Salnés''' < [[Salnés]], [[Carnota]], [[Bergantiños]]), towns ([[Ferrol, Galicia|Ferrol]], [[Noia]]), parishes or villages (as [[Andrade]]). Just like elsewhere, many surnames were also generated from jobs or professions ('''Carpinteiro''' 'carpenter', '''Cabaleiro''' 'Knight', '''Ferreiro''' 'Smith', '''Besteiro''' 'Crossbowman'), physical characteristics ('''Gago''' 'Twangy', '''Tato''' 'Stutterer', '''Couceiro''' 'Tall and thin', '''Bugallo''' 'fat', '''Pardo''' 'Swarthy'), or origin of the person ('''Franco''' and '''Francés''' 'French', '''Portugués''' 'Portuguese').

Although many Galician surnames have historically been adapted to Spanish phonetics and orthography, they are still clearly recognizable as Galician words: '''Freijedo''', Spanish adaptation of ''freixedo'' 'place with ash-trees'; '''Seijo''' from ''seixo'' 'stone'; '''Doval''' from ''do Val'' 'of the Valley'; '''Rejenjo''' from ''Reguengo'', Galician evolution of local Latin-Germanic word ''Regalingo'' 'Royal property'.

Specially relevant are the Galician surnames that originated from medieval [[patronymics]], present in local documentation since the 9th century, and popularized from the 12th century on. Although many of them were historically adapted to Spanish orthography,<ref>{{cite book|last=Vaquero Díaz|first=María Beatriz|title=Libro das posesións do Cabido Catedral de Ourense (1453)|year=2005|publisher=Universidade de Vigo|isbn=978-84-8158-291-8|pages=175–208|language=gl}}</ref> phonetics and traditions, many are still characteristically Galician; the most common ones are:
* '''Alonso''' (medieval form ''Afonso'', from the latinicized Germanic name ''Adefonsus'').
* '''Álvarez''' (from medieval Alvares, from the Germanic name ''Halvar(d)'', latinicized as ''Alvarus'').
* '''Ares''' (from the name ''Arias'' or the town of [[Ares, Spain|Ares]]).
* '''Bermúdez''' (medieval form ''Vermues'', from the latinicized Germanic name ''Veremodus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Bernárdez''' (from the Frankish name ''Bernard'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Vieitez, Vieites''' (from the name ''Bieito'', from Latin ''Benedictus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Diz, Díaz''' (from the name Didacus + suffix -ici-).
* '''Domínguez''' (medieval form ''Domingues'', derived of the name ''Domingo'', from Dominicus, + suffix -ici-).
* '''Enríquez''' (medieval form ''Anrriques'', from the Frankish name ''Henric'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Estévez''' (medieval form ''Esteves'', from the name ''Estevo'', derived of ''Stephanus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Fernández''' (medieval form ''Fernandes'', from the name ''Fernando'', derived from the Germanic name ''Fredenandus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Froiz''' (medieval form ''Froaz'', from the Germanic name ''Froila'' 'Lord' + suffix -ici-).
* '''García''' (medieval form ''Garçia'', from the name ''Garcia'').
* '''Giance''' (from the name ''Xian'', old orthography ''Jiam'', derived of Latin ''Iulianus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Gómez''' (medieval form ''Gomes'', from the name ''Gomes'').
* '''González''' (medieval form ''Gonçalves'', from the latinicized Germanic name ''Gundisalvus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''López''' (medieval form ''Lopes'', from the Latin nickname ''Lupus'' 'wolf').
* '''Lourenzo, Lorenzo''' (medieval form ''Lourenço'', from the Latin name ''Laurentius'').
* '''Martínez, Martín, Martís''' (from the Latin name ''Martinus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Méndez''' (medieval form ''Meendes'', from the name ''Mendo'', from ''Menendus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Miguéns''' (from the name ''Miguel'', derived of ''Michael'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Núñez''' (medieval form ''Nunes'', derived from the name ''Nunnus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Paz, Paes, Pais''' (from the name ''Paio'', derived from ''Pelagius'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Pérez''' (medieval form ''Peres'', from the name ''Pero'', derived of ''Petrus'', + suffix -ici-).
* '''Raimúndez''' (from the Frankish name ''Raimund'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Rodríguez''' (from the name ''Rodrigo'', from the latinicized Germanic form ''Rodericus'' + suffix -ici-).
* '''Rois''' (from the name ''Roi'', nickname of ''Rodrigo'' + suffix -ici-): Spanish 'Ruiz'.
* '''Sánchez''' (medieval form ''Sanches'', from the name ''Sancho'', derived from Latin Sanctius + suffix -ici-).
* '''Sueiro, Suárez''' (medieval forms ''Sueiro, Suares'', from the name ''Suarius'', with and without suffix -ici-).
* '''Vázquez''' (medieval form ''Vasques'', from the name ''Vasco'', from ''Velasco'', + suffix -ici-).
* '''Yanes''' (medieval forms ''Eanes'', ''Ianes''. from ''Iohannes,'' Yohannes + suffix -ici-).
Some of them (namely Páez, Méndez, Vázquez) show characteristic Galician dropping of intervocalic -l-, -d-, -g- and -n- (although [[Lugo]] is the only province in Spain with a majority of people surnamed ''López'').

==== Galician given names and nicknames ====
Some common Galician names are:<ref>{{cite book|last=Feixó Cid|first=Xosé|title=Dicionario Galego dos Nomes|year=2003|publisher=Xerais|isbn=978-84-9782-052-3|language=gl}}</ref>

{{div col}}
* ''Afonso'' [m]: nicknames ''Fonso'', ''Pocho''.
* ''Alberte'' [m] ''Alberta'' [f]: ''Berto'', ''Berta''.
* ''Alexandre'' [m]: ''Xandre'', ''Álex''.
* ''Anxo'' [m]: ''Xeluco''.
* ''Antón'' [m], ''Antía'' [f]: ''Tonecho''.
* ''Artai'' [m].
* ''Brandán'' [m], ''Brenda'' [f] (Celtic origin, "distinguished warrior)
* ''Baldomero'' [m]: ''Mero''
* ''Brais'' [m]
* ''[[Breogán]] '' [m] (name of a mythological Galician Celtic warrior).
* ''Carme'' [f]: ''Carmiña'', ''Mela'', ''Carmela'', ''Carmucha'', ''Carmuxa''.
* ''Catarina'' [f]: ''Catuxa''.
* ''Cibrao'',''Cibrán'' [m] (Greek origin meaning "Cypriot")
* ''Edelmiro'', ''Delmiro'' [m]: ''Edel'', ''Miro''.
* ''Erea'' [f] (Greek origin meaning "peace")
* ''Estevo'' [m]
* ''Fernán'' [m]
* ''Francisco'' [m]: ''Farruco'', ''Fran''.
* ''Icía'' [f]
* ''Iago'' [m]
* ''Loaira'' [f] (Galician for "first sun rays that peep through the clouds after the rain")
* ''Lois'' [m]: ''Sito''
* ''Lúa'' [f] (moon)
* ''[[Maeloc]]'' [m] (brythonic origin)
* ''María'' [f]: ''Maruxa'', ''Marica''.
* ''Manuel'', ''Manoel'' [m]: ''Manolo'', ''Lolo''.
* ''Olalla'', ''Baia'' [f]
* ''Paio'' [m]
* ''Paulo'' [m], ''Paula'' [f]
* ''Roi'' [m]
* ''Sabela'' [f]: ''Beluca''
* ''Tareixa'' [m]
* ''Uxío'' [m] ''Uxía'' [f]
* ''Xavier'' [m]
* ''Xacobe'' [m]
* ''Xaquín'' [m]: ''Xocas''.
* ''Xela'' [f]
* ''Xián'' [m]
* ''Xoán'', ''Xan'' [m]
* ''Xosé'' [m]: ''Che'', ''Pepe''.
* ''Xurxo'' [m]
{{div col end}}

Nicknames are usually obtained from the end of a given name, or through derivation. Common suffixes include masculine -iño, -ito (as in ''Sito'', from ''Luisito''), -echo (''Tonecho'', from ''Antonecho'') and -uco (''Farruco'', from ''Francisco''); and feminine -iña, -ucha/uxa (''Maruxa'', ''Carmucha'', from ''Maria'' and ''Carme''), -uca (''Beluca'', from ''Isabeluca''), and -ela (''Mela'', from ''Carmela'').

===Ceuta and Melilla===
As the provincial ''Surname distribution'' map (above) indicates, [[Muhammad (name)|Mohamed]] is an often-occurring [[surname]] in the autonomous Mediterranean North African cities of [[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]] (respectively registered 10,410 and 7,982 occurrences),<ref name="INE">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070922235454/https://idapadron.ine.es/fapel/FAPEL.INICIO Territorial distribution of surnames] (Register data on 1 January 2006). (People born to that first surname) + (people with it as second surname) – (people named "Mohamed Mohamed")</ref> <!-- There are some 76,000 registered people residing in Ceuta; the current populace is ca. 65,000. --> [[Spanish language|Hispanophone]] Muslims use the Spanish "Mohamed" spelling for "[[Muhammad]]". As such, it is often a component of [[Arabic name]]s for men; hence, many Ceutan and Melillan Muslims share surnames despite not sharing a common ancestry. Furthermore, ''Mohamed'' (Muhammad) is the most popular name for new-born boys,<ref name="INEExcel">[http://www.ine.es/en/daco/daco42/nombyapel/nombres_por_fecha_en.xls Most frequent names by date of birth and province of birth] Born in the 2000s, 78,4 [[per mille]] in Ceuta, 74,3 per mille in Melilla</ref> thus it is not unusual to encounter a man named ''Mohamed Mohamed Mohamed'': the first occurrence is the given name, the second occurrence is the paternal surname, and the third occurrence is the maternal surname.<ref>Luis Gómez, "[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/paginas/polvorin/Ceuta/elpepusoceps/20070520elpepspag_3/Tes El polvorín de Ceuta]". ''El País'', 18 May 2007</ref>

== Indexing ==

In English, the [[Chicago Manual of Style]] recommends that Spanish and Hispanophone names be [[Subject indexing|indexed]] by the family name. When there are two family names, the indexing is done under the father's family name; this would be the first element of the surname if the father's and mother's or husband's family names are joined by a ''y''. Depending upon the person involved, the particle ''de'' may be treated as a part of a family name or it may be separated from a family name. The indexing of Hispanophone names differs from that of Portuguese or [[Portuguese name|Lusophone names]], where the final element of the name is indexed because the Portuguese custom is for the father's surname to follow, rather than precede, the mother's. The effect is that the father's surname is the one indexed for both Spanish and Portuguese names.<ref>"[http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/CHIIndexingComplete.pdf Indexes: A Chapter from The Chicago Manual of Style]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150226005234/http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/CHIIndexingComplete.pdf Archive]). [[Chicago Manual of Style]]. Retrieved on 23 December 2014. p.&nbsp;27 (PDF document p.&nbsp;29/56).</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Spain}}
* [[Basque surnames]]
* [[Filipino name]]s
* [[French name]]s
* [[Gitanos]]
* [[Personal name#Naming conventions|List of personal naming conventions]] (for other languages)
* [[List of common Spanish surnames]]
* [[Maiden and married names]]
* [[Name]] for general coverage of the topic
* [[Naming customs of Hispanic America]]
* [[Nobiliary particle]]
* [[Portuguese name]]s

==Footnotes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.heraldaria.com Hispanic Heraldry] – Information about Hispanic surnames {{in lang|es}}
*[http://www.scgenealogia.org/ Catalan Society of Heraldry] – Information about Catalan surnames {{in lang|ca}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091223031834/https://idapadron.ine.es/fapel/FAPEL.INICIO?lang=EN Territorial distribution of surnames] (Data from the Register on 1 January 2006) and [http://www.ine.es/en/daco/daco42/nombyapel/nombyapel_en.htm several] [[Microsoft Excel|Excel]] tables about name and surname distribution by age and province, from the [[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|''Instituto Nacional de Estadística'' (Spain)]].

{{Names in world cultures}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spanish Naming Customs}}
[[Category:Spanish-language names| ]]
[[Category:Culture of Catalonia|Names]]
[[Category:Culture of Spain]]
[[Category:Names by country]]