Dário

Dário is a masculine given name used in Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly Portugal and Brazil. It is the Portuguese form of the name Dario (Spanish) or Darío, and ultimately derives from the Old Persian name Dārayavahush, via Latin Darius. The meaning is commonly associated with “to possess good” or “wealthy,” reflecting ancient royal and noble associations of the original name.

In Portuguese, the name is typically pronounced roughly as DAH-ree-oh, with stress on the first syllable. The orthography with the acute accent on the a helps indicate the syllabic emphasis in proper spelling. Dário is primarily a first name and is less commonly found as a surname.

Usage and regional presence: Dário is most common in Portugal and Brazil and appears in other Lusophone communities as well. It has cognate forms in other languages, such as Dario in Italian and Darío in Spanish, each with its own pronunciation and accent pattern.

Variants and related forms: The unaccented form Dario is used in Italian contexts; in Portuguese, variants may include diminutives or affectionate forms such as Dari or Dary in informal speech.

Notable bearers: The name has been borne by several public figures in Portuguese-speaking countries, especially in sports and politics, though it does not point to a single prominent individual.

See also: Darius; Darío; Dario (given name).