Alvaro

Álvaro is a masculine given name widely used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions, and also found in Italian contexts. Its precise origin is uncertain, but it is generally considered to derive from Germanic roots and to be related to older names such as Alvar. In Spanish and Portuguese practice the accent on the initial syllable signals pronunciation; the form Álvaro is the standard spelling in many countries, while unaccented variants such as Alvaro appear in international contexts.

Today, Álvaro is among the common given names in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. It appears in historical records dating to the Middle Ages and has been borne by rulers, saints, and scholars in various Iberian cultures. The name has several variants and equivalents in other languages, and experienced continued popularity in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Notable people named Álvaro include Álvaro Obregón, Mexican general and president; Álvaro Uribe Vélez, former president of Colombia; Álvaro Morata, Spanish footballer; Álvaro Arbeloa, Spanish footballer; Álvaro Siza Vieira, Portuguese architect; and Álvaro Bautista, Spanish motorcycle racer. In literature, Álvaro de Campos is a heteronym of the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa.