349+ Common Spanish Last Names (BEST Origins & Meanings)
Spanish last names have a rich tradition that reflects the vibrant culture and history of Spain and Latin America. These surnames are a window into the past, allowing us to explore the origins and meanings behind the names families have carried through generations. Understanding the background of these names gives a fascinating insight into your own family history and Hispanic lineage.
The most common Spanish last names often have their roots in patronymic traditions, which means they are derived from the first name of a person’s father, with “son of” appended to the beginning of the name. For example, the name “Rodriguez” signifies “son of Rodrigo.” Other Spanish surnames find their origins in geographical locations, occupations, or even personal characteristics of an individual.
As you delve into the world of common Spanish last names, you’ll find a unique combination of tradition, history, and meaning. Embrace the beauty and significance of these names as you explore your own family’s connection to this rich cultural heritage.
Table of Contents
Best Names
In this section, we will explore some of the best and most common Spanish last names. The names are divided into four subsections: 1-25, 26-50, 51-75, and 76-100. We will also discuss the connection of these names to art, Roman, Basque, and “son of Alvaro.”
1-25 Best Names
- Garcia
- Rodriguez
- Perez
- Gonzalez
- Hernandez
- Lopez
- Martinez
- Sanchez
- Ramirez
- Torres
- Fernandez
- Castro
- Ortega
- Ramos
- Medina
- Reyes
- Morales
- Guerrero
- Rios
- Mendoza
- Cruz
- Vargas
- Castillo
- Jimenez
- Moreno
These first 25 names encompass various origins, like the influence of Roman culture, Basque elements, and many others.
26-50 Best Names
- Romero
- Gomez
- Vazquez
- Silva
- Diaz
- Flores
- Delgado
- Herrera
- Padilla
- Navarro
- Vega
- Aguilar
- Andrade
- Cortes
- Soto
- Campos
- Alvarez
- Gutierrez
- Marquez
- Ochoa
- Valdez
- Cabrera
- Guerra
- Velasquez
- Figueroa
In this list, you can find names connected to “son of Alvaro” and other familial origins. You can also see some names reflecting occupations or geographical names.
51 – 75 Best Names
- Salazar
- Ruiz
- Bernal
- Cordero
- Mata
- Gallego
- Naranjo
- Arroyo
- Estevez
- Cano
- Machado
- Robledo
- Montoya
- Peña
- Bustamante
- Lara
- Franco
- Munoz
- Alonso
- Rendon
- Valencia
- Garza
- Porras
- Bolanos
- Zambrano
This list contains names commonly seen in Spanish artworks and various art forms. Many of them pay homage to cultural or regional identities.
76 – 100 Best Names
- Escobar
- Calderon
- Toro
- Quintana
- Crespo
- Carvajal
- Arteaga
- Zarate
- Espinoza
- Puente
- Vallejo
- Novoa
- Parra
- Ibarra
- Tovar
- Casares
- Blanco
- Salcedo
- Cardenas
- Trejo
- Monge
- Villa
- Solano
- Barros
- Infante
This final list contains a mix of names with Basque origins and other unique elements, making them some of the most diverse and interesting Spanish last names for you to learn about.
Good Names
1-25 Good Names
Here are some friendly suggestions for common and popular Spanish last names in the first group:
- Garcia
- Rodriguez
- Gonzalez
- Fernandez
- Lopez
- Martinez
- Sanchez
- Perez
- Gomez
- Martin
- Ruiz
- Hernandez
- Jimenez
- Moreno
- Alonso
- Navarro
- Torres
- Dominguez
- Ramirez
- Soriano
- Cortes
- Aguilar
- Castillo
- Ortega
- Morales
26-50 Good Names
Continuing with our list, here are some more fantastic name choices from the second group:
- Medina
- Carrasco
- Delgado
- Prieto
- Vidal
- Mendoza
- Ramos
- Guererro
- Andrade
- Villar
- Roldan
- Coronado
- Rosales
- Guerrero
- Arias
- Cabrera
- Campos
- Cardenas
- Castro
- Cordero
- Espinoza
- Flores
- Gutierrez
- Luna
- Mata
51-75 Good Names
The third group includes some fantastic warrior-themed names as well:
- Guerra
- Marquez
- Varela
- Fuentes
- Rojas
- Santos
- Valdez
- Carmona
- Molinero
- Palomo
- Paredes
- Puelles
- Quintanilla
- Quirós
- Roman
- Saenz
- Sala
- Serna
- Vega
- Velasquez
- Villa
- Zarate
- Reyes – A royal-sounding name with a connection to “kings”
- Rey – Another name related to “kings”
- Rivera
76-100 Good Names
Finally, let’s wrap up the list with the last group of delightful surnames to consider:
- Romero
- Rubio – A great choice with perhaps a touch of elegance
- Sandoval
- Sepulveda
- Sierra
- Silva
- Soler
- Soto
- Suarez
- Toro
- Valencia
- Cervantes
- Zamora
- Nieto
- Miranda
- Bautista
- Villegas
- Gallardo
- Herrera
- Crespo
- Duarte
- Henriquez
- Conejo
- Galindo
- Vilches
There you have it! A comprehensive list of good Spanish last names to choose from. Remember to consider the tone and connection with these names while making your decision. Happy name hunting!
More Name Ideas
Spanish last names often have a variety of origins, including historical, occupational, and geographical names. In this section, we’ll explore more name ideas to help you discover some unique and common Spanish surnames. Remember to consider the different endings such as es, as, is, os, ez, az, de, and y.
1-25 Name Ideas
- García
- Rodríguez
- González
- Fernández
- López
- Martínez
- Sánchez
- Pérez
- Morales
- Jiménez
- Alvarez
- Medina
- Ortiz
- Reyes
- Hernández
- Marquez
- Sosa
- Cortez
- Cabrera
- Castillo
- Estrada
- Gutierrez
- Ruiz
- Vásquez
- Torres
26-50 Name Ideas
- Herrera
- Ramirez
- Flores
- Navarro
- Silva
- Campos
- Ponce
- Gómez
- Vargas
- Ríos
- Rosario
- Valdez
- Guerrero
- Bautista
- Espinoza
- Montes
- Padilla
- Soto
- Solíz
- Mendoza
- Carrasco
- Ibáñez
- Haro
- Delgado
- Galindo
51 – 75 Name Ideas
- Cisneros
- Camacho
- Mata
- Mercado
- Velasquez
- Armas
- Valencia
- Chavéz
- Villarreal
- Andrade
- Peña
- Ayala
- Castro
- León
- Naranjo
- Toro
- Zepeda
- Lara
- Santos
- Salgado
- Bello
- Núñez
- Guijarro
- Zaragoza
- Jaén
76 – 100 Name Ideas
- Burgos
- Conejo
- Crespo
- Dominguez
- Escobar
- Gallo
- Iglesias
- Lobo
- Magaña
- Moreno
- Nieves
- Ochoa
- Piñero
- Ramos
- Saavedra
- Tomás
- Alonso
- Barrios
- Cardenas
- De León
- Espinosa
- Infante
- Manzano
- Paredes
- Rosa
With these name ideas, you’ll have a better understanding of the variety of Spanish last names available. Enjoy exploring and learning more about these unique and diverse surnames!
More Name Ideas (Continued)
In this section, let’s discover more Spanish last name ideas. They are divided into four groups, each with 25 unique names.
1-25 Name Ideas
- Garcia
- Rodriguez
- Hernandez
- Lopez
- Gonzalez
- Perez
- Sanchez
- Gomez
- Martinez
- Ramirez
- Castro
- Ruiz
- Ortiz
- Diaz
- Aguilar
- Montero
- Vazquez
- Soto
- Ponce
- Cabrera
- Rios
- Ibarra
- Reyes
- Olvera
- Vega
26-50 Name Ideas
- Torres
- Vera
- Mora
- Moreno
- Ortega
- Guerrero
- Delgado
- Mendez
- Cortez
- Ochoa
- Luna
- Morales
- Santana
- Leon
- Pineda
- Alvarez
- Aguirre
- Gallego
- Silva
- Paredes
- Campos
- Naranjo
- Andrade
- Urbina
- Nunez
51 – 75 Name Ideas
- Cardenas
- Valencia
- Guerra
- Medina
- Pacheco
- Rosales
- Escobar
- Vargas
- Valdez
- Velazquez
- Bernal
- Arroyo
- Estrada
- Rojas
- Ayala
- Salinas
- Figueroa
- Corona
- Navarro
- Quintero
- Solano
- Montes
- Sotelo
- Mendoza
- Espinoza
76 – 100 Name Ideas
- Peralta
- Padilla
- Cervantes
- Cantu
- Barajas
- Rangel
- Villanueva
- Zamora
- Orellana
- Guillen
- Cordero
- Arias
- Valadez
- Jimenez
- Alonso
- Cisneros
- Peña
- Mares
- Bravo
- Roman
- Quintana
- Acosta
- Galindo
- Leiva
- Vidal
Enjoy exploring these Spanish last names, and hopefully, you find the perfect one for your needs!
Tips For Brainstorming The Perfect Name
When it comes to choosing the perfect Spanish last name for a character or even for yourself, there are a few strategies that you can use to make the process easier and more enjoyable. Below are some tips to help you brainstorm the perfect name.
Explore common surnames: Start by finding the most common Spanish surnames to get a sense of what people in Spanish-speaking countries are usually called. For example, some popular names include Garcia, Martin, Gonzalo, Delgado, Morales, and Iglesias.
Consider patronymic names: Many Spanish last names are derived from male given names, known as patronymic names. These names are created by adding a suffix to the father’s name, resulting in a last name. For instance, if your character’s father is named Gonzalo, their last name could be González.
Look into regional variations: Different regions in Spain and Latin America have unique last names that can give your character a more authentic feel. Research the types of surnames common in the area you are interested in to find a name that fits.
Use a mix of common and unique names: While you may want to choose a popular surname to make your character relatable, don’t be afraid to mix in some unique or rare surnames to make them stand out.
Here are some common and unique Spanish last names to consider:
- Common names: Lopez, Perez, Sanchez, Ramirez, Torres
- Unique names: Zaragoza, Montenegro, Rueda, Ochoa, Querol
Take your time while brainstorming, and remember to have fun in the process. With a little bit of creativity and research, you’ll surely find a Spanish last name that perfectly fits your character or suits your personal taste.