Mexican names follow Spanish naming customs which differ from English naming conventions in several ways. Here’s a quick overview of how Mexican names are typically structured:
First Name
The first name, or given name, is the name chosen for a child by their parents. There are no restrictions on what can be used as a first name in Mexico, though traditionally biblical and saint names have been most common.
Middle Name
It’s customary to have one or two middle names in Mexico. The first middle name is usually the mother’s maiden name. The second middle name can honor a relative or be chosen for personal reasons.
Last Names
Mexican last names follow the Spanish custom of using two surnames – the first is the father’s paternal surname, and the second is the mother’s paternal surname. For example, someone named Alejandro Reyes Ortiz has Reyes from their father and Ortiz from their mother.
Common Mexican Last Names
Some of the most common last names in Mexico include:
- Hernández
- García
- López
- Martínez
- González
- Pérez
- Sánchez
- Ramírez
- Flores
- Rodríguez
Name Order
In Mexico, a person’s full name follows this order:
- First name
- Middle name(s)
- Paternal last name (from father)
- Maternal last name (from mother)
For example, a full name might be:
Alejandro Manuel Reyes Ortiz
Name Abbreviations
Initials are commonly used to abbreviate Mexican names in informal situations. The standard format is:
First name initial + paternal last name initial + maternal last name initial
Following the previous example, the initials would be:
A. Reyes O.
Married Names
In Mexico, it is customary for a woman to drop her paternal last name and replace it with her husband’s paternal last name once married. Her maternal last name remains. For example, if Alejandra Reyes Ortiz married Juan Ramírez Torres, her married name would be:
Alejandra Reyes de Ramírez
The “de” means “of” and connects her maiden name to her married name. Legally she can be referred to as either Alejandra Reyes Ortiz or Alejandra Reyes de Ramírez.
Children’s Last Names
Children inherit the paternal and maternal last names of their father. For example, if Juan Ramírez Torres and Alejandra Reyes Ortiz had a son named Carlos, his full name would be:
Carlos Ramírez Reyes
Naming Traditions
There are some common Mexican naming traditions, including:
- Compound names: Combining two names into one, such as María José or Juan Carlos.
- Marian names: Names relating to the Virgin Mary like Dolores and Guadalupe.
- Saint names: Names of Catholic saints like Francisco and Ramón.
- Family names: Using the same names over generations to honor relatives.
Nicknames
Nicknames are very common in Mexican culture. Some examples include:
| Formal name | Common nickname |
|---|---|
| Francisco | Paco, Pancho |
| Guadalupe | Lupe |
| Rafael | Rafa |
| José | Pepe |
Naming Laws
Mexico does not have many formal naming laws, but there are a few limitations:
- Names must use the Spanish alphabet. No numbers or non-Spanish characters.
- Profanities, symbols, royal titles, or extremely long names are prohibited.
- Each part of a name (first, middle, last) can only contain up to 40 characters.
Conclusion
Mexican names follow the Spanish custom of multiple surnames derived from the paternal lines. First names are chosen freely, and multiple middle names are common. There is great diversity and tradition behind Mexican names that connect families through generations.