What name can I give my child?
Conditional: there are strict IRN rules, but registration is free. A name can have at most 6 words: up to 2 given names + 4 surnames (Civil Registry Code, art. 103) — particles (de, da, do, e) don't count. Names must be Portuguese or adapted to Portuguese and not raise doubt about sex. The IRN publishes the list of "permitted or non-permitted words", which is guidance and precedent, not a closed menu — new names can be approved if they meet the rules. Foreign spellings are allowed if the child is foreign/dual-national/born abroad, if one parent is foreign, or if the name comes from a Portuguese-speaking country. In short: yes, under the IRN's composition and spelling rules.
📋 The rules
- At most 6 words: 2 given names + 4 surnames
- Names Portuguese or adapted, no doubt about sex
- The IRN list: guidance, not a closed menu
- Foreign spelling: if a foreign parent or a lusophone name
- Particles (de/da/do/e): don't count
🔓 Exceptions
- Foreign/dual-national/born-abroad child
- Names from Portuguese-speaking countries
- Adult name change: via the Registry (~€200)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no "fine" — there are composition and spelling limits. A name that doesn't meet the rules is refused by the registry, and the parents must choose another. An adult name change is done at the Central Registry and costs about €200; whereas a name and sex change under Law 38/2018 (self-determination, from age 18, no medical report) is free. Beware a myth: "Portugal has a fixed list you must choose from" — false; the list is guidance and new names can be approved. And Brazil's loose foreign-spelling freedom doesn't apply in Portugal. To register the name: respect the maximum of 2 given names + 4 surnames, choose Portuguese or adapted names (or use the foreign-spelling exception where applicable), and check the IRN list if in doubt.
📎 Official sources
- Civil Registry Code — art. 103 →
- IRN — name composition / permitted words →
- Law 38/2018 — self-determination (name and sex) →
❓ Frequently asked
What name can I give my child?
You can give up to two given names and four surnames, a maximum of six words, not counting particles like de or da. The names must be Portuguese or adapted to Portuguese and can't create doubt about the child's sex. The IRN has a guidance list of permitted names.
Can I use a foreign spelling?
As a rule, no, except in specific cases. Foreign spellings are allowed if the child is foreign, dual-national or born abroad, if one parent is foreign, or if the name comes from a Portuguese-speaking country. Outside these cases, the Portuguese spelling is required.
Does Portugal have a fixed list of names?
Not exactly. The IRN publishes a list of permitted and non-permitted words, but it's guidance based on decisions, not a closed menu. New names can be approved if they meet the composition and spelling rules. It's a myth that you must choose only from a closed list.
Can I change my name as an adult?
Yes. An adult can request a name change at the Central Registry, in a process costing about €200. The change must respect the same composition rules. A name change linked to gender self-determination, under Law 38/2018, is free.
How many names and surnames can I have?
The full name can have at most six words: up to two given names and up to four surnames. Linking particles, such as de, da, do or e, aren't counted towards this limit. This rule applies to registering babies and to name changes.
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