Candido

Candido is a masculine given name of Italian origin, used in various Romance-language countries in forms such as Candido (Italian), Cándido (Spanish), and Cândido (Portuguese). It is derived from the Latin candidus, meaning white, pure, or bright, and has historically carried connotations of light or clarity. The name has spread to countries with Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese heritage and remains in use today in Brazil, Portugal, Italy, and Spanish-speaking nations.

In usage, Candido and its variants appear across different regions and cultures that share Latin linguistic roots. The form with diacritics (Cándido, Cândido) reflects Spanish and Portuguese orthography, respectively, while the unaccented form is common in English-language texts or Italian contexts.

Notable individuals with the name include the Brazilian painter Cândido Portinari (1903–1962) and the Brazilian explorer Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon (1865–1958). The name also appears in geography, such as Cândido Godói, a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The name’s continued use in Latin America and Southern Europe reflects historical patterns of migration and cultural exchange within Romance-language-speaking communities.