Find out how popular the first name Afonso has been for the last 14 years (from 2006 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Afonso by gender

Based on the last 14 years of data, Afonso is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Afonso.

The history of the first name Afonso

The name Afonso has its origins in the Germanic languages, specifically from the Gothic name Alfuns, which is a compound of the elements alf meaning "elf" and gunds meaning "war" or "combat." It evolved into the Spanish and Portuguese form of Alfonso or Afonso.

The name gained widespread popularity in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages, particularly among the Portuguese and Spanish royal families. One of the earliest documented uses of the name can be found in the 8th century, when Alfonso I became the first King of Asturias, a kingdom in northern Spain, in the year 739.

Afonso Henriques, born in 1109, was a significant historical figure who became the first King of Portugal in 1139 after successfully leading the struggle for independence from the Kingdom of León. His reign marked the establishment of the Portuguese monarchy and the consolidation of the country's borders.

Throughout the centuries, the name Afonso has been borne by several notable individuals, including Afonso X, also known as Alfonso the Wise, who ruled as the King of Castile and León from 1252 to 1284. He was renowned for his patronage of the arts, literature, and intellectual pursuits, as well as his contributions to the development of the Castilian language.

In the 15th century, Prince Afonso V, later known as Afonso V of Portugal, reigned as the King of Portugal from 1438 to 1481. His reign was marked by military conflicts, including the conquest of several North African territories and the Wars of the Castilian Succession.

Another prominent figure was Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese explorer and military commander, born in 1453. He played a crucial role in establishing the Portuguese Empire in the Indian Ocean, capturing key strategic locations such as Goa, Malacca, and Hormuz.

While the name Afonso has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in former Portuguese and Spanish colonies, reflecting the cultural and linguistic influence of these nations throughout history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Afonso was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Afonso, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!