Portuguese Name - Spelling of Names

Spelling of Names

Traditionally, most Portuguese names have one standard spelling that is used in an almost universal fashion. Names are perceived as words, and are thus subject to the customary grammar and orthographical rules of the Portuguese language. The spelling of many names has evolved through times and with orthography reforms, and archaic forms of names are considered misspellings and have little use in Portugal.

In Portugal – Given names have a standard spelling that is considered the norm (even for non-contemporary figures). Misspelt and archaic forms are considered incorrect (e.g., Isabel and not Izabel; Luís and not Luiz). Names containing foreign letters - k, y, w - are usually not allowed, but this is slowly changing (e.g., Katia, rejected by the Civil Registration Office in 1969, is nowadays acceptable as a variant of the more standard spelling Cátia). However, older people who were registered with archaic forms have continued to use them (examples include Manoel de Oliveira – the modern spelling would be Manuel). Regarding surnames, there is no legal restrictions, and as such many people continue to use archaic spellings of family names, as in Athayde (modern form Ataíde), Telles (modern form Teles). This is usually done in the upper classes, with the purpose of making the surname look more unusual or dignified.

In Brazil – There are no laws concerning names, and as such many archaic spellings and cognate forms of the same names coexist (Teresa, Thereza, Tereza). Names of international inspiration are common and diacritics are also omitted at times. The parents can make up any type of name, and the economic lower classes usually use suffixes to give foreign allure to their offspring names, such as "-son" for boys and "-elly" for girls (Deividson, Joeldson, Maiksson, Nadrielly, Andrielly, Marcelly, Nathyelly etc.). This phenomenon can be easily seen on Brazilian soccer players' names.