A Look at Bolivian Names

Like many other countries, Bolivia has its own traditions when it comes to names. Unsurprisingly, names in Bolivia reflect the country’s heritage, history, and customs. Spanish, religious, and family history undertones can all resonate in Bolivian first and last names.

How Do Bolivian Names Work?

As with names in other Spanish-speaking countries, Bolivian names follow the naming customs of Spain, established since the 1100s. The common Spanish naming practice consists of a name with three parts: the given names, the father’s surname, and the mother’s surname. When a woman gets married, she keeps her maiden surname. She does not take any of her husband’s last names.

Here’s an example of the names of a baby boy and his parents:

The father’s surname (the next-to-last name) continues on to subsequent generations, but the father’s surname is not the final element in the child’s name. The final element is the mother’s surname.

Popular Bolivian First Names

Spanish is spoken by about 70 percent of the Bolivian population, so it’s no surprise that Bolivian names follow Spanish patterns. Some first names follow traditional gender patterns, with male names ending in an “o” and female names ending in an “a” (Eduardo and Josephina, for example). Other names stem from biblical backgrounds or Spanish or indigenous history. Here are lists of popular Bolivian first names for boys and girls.

Since religion plays a central part in Bolivian culture, many children are given religious names or names with spiritual meaning. Some of these names are found in the list of popular names above, such as José (Joseph, husband of Mary) and Maria (the Virgin Mary). Names with spiritual meaning include Gabriel (“God is my strength”), Daniel (“God is my judge”), and Juan (“God is gracious”). These names are often made feminine and given to girls as well, by adding an “a” at the end of the name.

Popular Bolivian Surnames

Because Spain controlled Bolivia from the early 1500s to 1824, Spanish surnames became a part of Bolivian heritage and naming traditions. For a time, many native children would be given surnames of Spanish origin by priests when they were baptized. Others would simply be given a religious first name and then later obtain a Spanish surname as generations went on.

Here are 10 common Bolivian surnames with Spanish influence:

While Spanish colonization had a significant role in shaping traditional Bolivian surnames today, many surnames also reflect deep indigenous roots. Some Andean tribes found in Bolivia include Aymara, Quechua, Chiquitano, Guaraní, and Moxeño. Surnames from these indigenous groups often have ties to a person’s occupation, personality, or history. For example, the name Quispe means “to shine.”

The chart below lists some common indigenous Bolivian surnames.

Although most Bolivian names follow the Spanish naming structure of using both the father’s and the mother’s surname, other names reflect a rich mix of both Spanish and indigenous surnames, something distinctly Bolivian. When one parent has an indigenous background and one has Spanish ties, the child could receive both an Andean Bolivian name and a Spanish Bolivian name. An indigenous surname may have an indigenous root and a Spanish ending—such as the names Yucra or Huanca.

Read this article in the FamilySearch wiki to learn more about Bolivian naming customs.

Your Bolivian Heritage

Your Bolivian heritage is a rich trove waiting to be discovered!

Bolivian surnames can lead you to your own family’s stories or origins. FamilySearch provides access to millions of historical records that will connect you to your family tree, along with a number of activities to help you engage in your personal history.

One of these activities may lead you to the meaning and origin of your own surname. Check out the surname activity to see variants, origins, popularity, and more about any surname!