Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Alonso

Alonso is another Spanish variant of Alfonso and Alonzo. All three of these names were taken from the Visigoths who occupied Italy and Spain during certain periods of history starting in the early 5th century. In fact, it was the Visigoths who successfully sacked Rome in 410 A.D. and shortly thereafter set up camp in Spain and Portugal. This is how the ancient Italians and Spanish/Portuguese became exposed to names of Germanic origin. Alfonso is derivative of the Germanic elements “adal” meaning “noble” and “funs” meaning “ready” (as in battle-ready). Adding literary capital to Alonso, Alonso Quijano is the real name of Miguel de Cervantes’ famous character “Don Quixote” written in the early 1600s (see literary characters below). Alfonso, Afonso, Alonzo and Alonso are all super old names, and the Portuguese version (Afonso) is still quite popular in Portugal (this may have something to do with the fact that it was borne by the first King of Portugal!) Alonso is also still semi-popular in both Spain and Catalonia.

All About the Baby Name – Alonso

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME ALONSO

The Master Number Twenty-Two combines the traits of Twos and Fours into a powerful force. The references to The Master Builder and "large undertakings" serve to underscore the massive potential of this personality. They are extremely capable and therefore almost always successful. Twenty-Twos are courageous leaders, innovative thinkers, extremely wise and highly organized. As such, they are able to manifest something of major importance that will have a lasting impact on this world. Master Numbers carry with them a great sense of responsibility, so it can be a burden. However, Twenty-Twos are executors and action-takers. Further, this personality exhibits traits of the Twos, which brings sensitivity, spirituality and harmony, so their endeavors are likely to benefit mankind in some capacity.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME ALONSO

Alonso only showed up on the U.S. charts in 1984. This is pretty recent considering how widespread Spanish-speakers are in America today. Compared to other Spanish masculine name, Alonso is not one of the more heavily used. It’s also interchangeable with Alonzo with a “z”, which is slightly more popular in America than the “s” version. We love the connection to the gallant Don Quixote from Miguel de Cervantes’ masterpiece. It gives Alonso that added flair and romantic quality. Because all the Alfonso names are all underused in America, they are considered original name choices. Certainly more unique than, say, Juan or Jose!

Quick Facts

ON ALONSO

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

Spanish

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

684

PRONUNCIATION:

ah-LON-so

SIMPLE MEANING:

Noble and ready; Battle-ready

Characteristics

OF ALONSO

The Master Builder

Leader

Large Undertakings

Confidence

Discipline

Organization

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Alonso

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME ALONSO

Alonso Quijano is the real name of Don Quixote in Miguel de Cervantes’ classic of the same name, published in two volumes 10 years apart, in 1605 and 1615. Alonso is a tall, gaunt fifty-year old Spanish nobleman who has read a few too many romances of knights and their ladies, and finally succumbs to the fantasy that he is one of them. Dubbing himself Don Quixote de la Mancha, Alonso dons an old armored suit of his grandfather’s, takes up a rusty sword and rides off in search of gallant adventure on the swayback of his old horse, Rosinante. Persuading a peasant farmer to be his trusty squire, he is joined by Sancho Panza, as short as he is tall, as fat as he is thin, and together this unlikely pair go tilting at windmills and saving the fair maiden, Dulcinea (herself a robust peasant girl named Aldonsa Lorenzo). It matters not that there are no real damsels in distress, no moated castles, no battles for knightly honor – in his vision, Alonso is indeed dreaming the impossible dream; he is meeting life head-on and with exuberant gusto, righting wrongs and doing good. It is for this that we cheer him on and hope against hope that no real harm shall come to him.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME ALONSO

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Alonso


Popular Songs

ON ALONSO

We cannot find any popular or well-known songs with the name of Alonso


Famous People

NAMED ALONSO

Alonso de Ojeda (Spanish explorer/conquistador)
Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga (Spanish poet)
Alonso Pérez de Guzmán (Spanish commander of the Armada)
Alonso Fernández de Lugo (Spanish conquistador)
Alonzo Cano (Spanish painter)
Alonso Sánchez Coello (Spanish painter)
Alonso Álvarez de Pineda (Spanish explorer)
Alonso de León (Spanish explorer)

Children of Famous People

NAMED ALONSO

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Alonso

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME ALONSO

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Alonso