Mexico Names: Name Structure
In Mexico, the naming structure is deeply influenced by Spanish traditions and reflects the country's rich cultural heritage. A typical Mexican name consists of a first name (nombre) followed by two surnames (apellidos). The first name is chosen by the parents and often has Spanish origins, though indigenous and other cultural influences are also present. The dual surname system includes the paternal surname first, followed by the maternal surname. This practice, inherited from Spanish colonial times, underscores the importance of both paternal and maternal family lines, showcasing the value placed on family heritage in Mexican culture. While the first surname (from the father) is generally used for formal identification, both surnames are used in legal and official documents. Over time, contemporary naming practices have also embraced global influences, adding to the diversity of names in modern Mexican society. This naming convention in Mexico not only serves as a means of identification but also symbolizes the connection to one's lineage and cultural identity.
Name Format / Sequence
Given Name(s) | Father’s Paternal Surname | Mother’s Paternal Surname
People in Mexico typically have one or two given names followed by two surnames (family names), one from each parent.
Examples:
- Carlos Fuentes Macías, Mexican author (male)
- Frida Kahlo de Rivera, Mexican painter (female)
- Octavio Paz Lozano, Mexican poet (male)
- Emiliano Zapata Salazar, Mexican Revolutionary and agrarian movement leader (male)
- Guillermo del Toro Gómez, Mexican film director, screenwriter, and producer (male)
- José Doroteo Arango Arámbula, Mexican Revolutionary general known as Pancho Villa (male)
- Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Mexican Catholic priest and leader of the Mexican War of Independence (male)
Given Name
Mexicans have one or two personal names chosen by their parents. People with a second given name usually drop it in everyday use, but some are known by their second name. Many people have two-part composite names (e.g., Juan Carlos or María Elena), where both names are always used. There are also composite names of three or more words; these usually refer to a particular location or attribute associated with the Virgin Mary (e.g., Maria de los Ángeles, meaning “Mary of the Angels”).
Given names in Mexico tend to be in Spanish, but many Mexicans have indigenous names, and such names are becoming increasingly common with the movement to reclaim native heritage. Mexico is home to a number of indigenous groups, many of whom speak Mayan and Nahuatl (Aztec) languages. Mayan given names include Itzayana (female) and Yunuen (male); Nahuatl names include Xochitl (female) and Tlacaelel (male).
Examples:
- Antonio (male)
- Francisco (male)
- José (male)
- Juana (female)
- María (female)
- Verónica (female)
- Xmucane (female)
Surname
Mexicans have two surnames, in keeping with Hispanic naming customs. The first is the father’s paternal (his first) surname, and the second is the mother’s paternal surname. For instance, Paulina Peña Pretelini is the daughter of former president Enrique Peña Nieto and Mónica Pretelini Sáenz. The second surname is usually dropped in everyday use, but sometimes a person is known by both surnames (Enrique Peña Nieto being a prominent example). Many Spanish surnames are composites consisting of more than one word (e.g., Del Toro is a single surname, as is Gómez del Campo).
Most surnames in Mexico are of Spanish origin. However, many indigenous people have native surnames. One of the most common surnames in Mexico is Chan, a Mayan name. Other popular Mayan surnames include Pech, May, and Uc. Nahuatl surnames include Coyotécatl, Mixcohua, and Tzompaxtle.
Examples:
- Martínez
- García
- Hernández
- González
- López
- Rodríguez
- Flores
- Canul
Married / Maiden Name
Mexican women keep their birth surnames when they marry. They may, however, choose to append their husband’s first surname to their own, preceded by the word de (of). In doing so, the woman drops her maternal surname (only for social purposes; legally she retains both her surnames). For instance, Marta Sahagún Jiménez, the wife of former Mexican president Vicente Fox, is known as Marta Sahagún de Fox.
Diminutives / Nicknames
Like other Latin Americans, Mexicans are fond of shortening names to nicknames. Spanish names often have a number of possible nicknames, which may look quite different from the original name (Manuel, for instance, may be called Manu, Meme, or Lolo). Some nicknames combine a person’s first and second names (e.g., Anamari is short for Ana María). When addressing family members and friends, Mexicans often express affection with a diminutive of their name, formed by adding a suffix meaning “little” (usually -ito or -cito for males and -ita or -cita for females). For example, Carlos would be called Carlito, and Lola (a nickname for Dolores) would be Lolita.
Examples:
- Ernesto: Erne, Erni, Nesti, Neto, Tito (male)
- Gilberto: Beto, Gil (male)
- María Teresa: Maite, Mayte (female)
- Paz: Pachi (female)
Forms of Address / Honorifics / Titles
When first introduced to someone, and in formal and professional contexts, Mexicans use professional titles and surnames. A person is addressed by his or her professional title and first surname (or, less commonly, both surnames). For instance, a professor named Eduardo Flores García would be addressed as Profesor Flores. Titles are usually gendered; the feminine version is formed by changing the end of the word to the letter a (e.g., Profesor/Profesora). Other common professional titles include Licenciado/Licenciada (used for anyone with a bachelor’s degree), Doctor/Doctora (used for physicians and people with PhDs), and Ingeniero/Ingeniera (engineer).
If a person’s professional title is not known, he or she is addressed with the general titles Señor (Mr.), Señora (Ms./Mrs.), or Señorita (Miss), followed by the first surname (or both surnames). Mexicans use the honorifics Don (Sir) and Doña (Madam) when addressing a respected older person. These titles are used with a person’s given name, never with the surname alone.
Examples:
- Señora Castillo (Ms. Castillo)
- Señora Flores Ruiz (Ms. Flores Ruiz)
- Licenciada López (Ms. López, who has a college degree)
- Arquitecta Jiménez (Architect Jiménez, a woman)
- Doña Luisa (Madam Luisa)
Article written for World Trade Press by Anne Healey.
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