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The basic structure
In Spain, a full name commonly contains one or more given names and two surnames.
Given name(s)
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First surname
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Second surname
Ana María
García
López
Ana Maríagiven name(s)
Garcíafirst surname
Lópezsecond surname
Important: the two surnames are not the same as an English-style “middle name”.
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Where do given names come from?
Spanish given names can come from many sources. Traditionally, family and religion have played an important role.
Family choice
Parents choose the name
A child may receive one name or more than one given name.
Family tradition
Names from relatives
Names may be repeated across generations.
Religion
Saints and religious names
Historically, Catholic naming traditions were very influential.
Compound names
Miguel Ángel
Two words can function together as one given name.
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Nicknames are very common
In everyday Spanish, many traditional given names have familiar short forms or nicknames.
Dolores → Lola / Loli / Lolita
Miguel Ángel
This is a compound given name, not “first name + middle name”.
A nickname may look very different from the original name, so do not always expect a simple shortened form.
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What about baptismal names?
Historically, some people received several religious or baptismal given names.
That can make the complete formal name much longer than the name used in everyday life.
Everyday identity
Pablo Ruiz Picasso
A person can have several given names in formal or religious records but use only one in daily life.
For beginners, the key idea is simple: a long formal name does not mean that every part is used every day.
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How do the two surnames work?
Traditionally, a child receives one surname from the father and one surname from the mother.
Father
Carlos García Pérez
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Mother
Laura López Martín
In modern Spain, parents can agree on the order of the surnames. The traditional father-first pattern is still a useful starting point for understanding the system.
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Names can be much longer
A person may have:
- more than one given name,
- two ordinary surnames,
- and, historically, additional religious names in formal records.
Given name(s)
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First surname
+
Second surname
Daily usage is usually much shorter than the complete legal or historical form.
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Pablo Picasso: a famous example
Commonly used form
Pablo Picasso
Shorter full name
Pablo
Ruiz
Picasso
Pablogiven name
Ruizfather's surname
Picassomother's surname
His father was José Ruiz Blasco and his mother was María Picasso López.
As an artist, he became famous simply as Picasso.
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Think about your own name
How is your name structured in your language?
Question 1
Which part is your family name?
Question 2
Which part is your given name?
Question 3
Do people in your culture normally have one surname or more than one?
Question 4
Do you have a nickname?
Compare: Chinese names usually place the family name first, while Spanish names normally place the given name(s) first.