Darío

Darío is a masculine given name commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries. It features in many Latin American and Iberian contexts and has equivalents in other languages, such as Dário in Portuguese and Dario in Italian. In Spanish, the accented i indicates the stress on the second syllable, giving da-RÍ-o when spoken.

The name derives from the Old Persian name Darayavahush, which entered Greek as Dareios and Latin as Darius before reaching the Spanish form Darío. The usual interpretation of its meaning is related to possessing goodness or virtue, often summarized as “he who holds good” or “possessing goodness.”

In culture and usage, Darío has been borne by several notable figures, most prominently Rubén Darío (1867–1916), the Nicaraguan poet who helped launch Modernismo in Spanish-language literature. Other contemporary or modern figures include Darío Grandinetti (born 1959), an Argentine actor; Darío Benedetto (born 1990), an Argentine football forward; and Darío Barassi (born 1983), an Argentine comedian and television presenter. The name remains in regular use across Spanish-speaking countries and has cognates in related languages, with pronunciation and spelling variations such as Dário or Dario in different linguistic contexts.