Ildefons

Ildefons is a masculine given name used primarily in Catalan-speaking regions, where it represents the Catalan form of the name Ildefonso. The form is rooted in the older Latin name Ildefonsus, which itself developed from a Germanic origin and entered Christian Latin usage through saints and liturgical tradition.

Etymology and origins

The name Ildefonsus appeared in Latin texts and hagiography as the name of early church figures. The Catalan variant Ildefons is derived from this Latin form, and it is commonly associated with a Germanic compound meaning related to battle and readiness, though the exact historical meaning is not certain. The association with saints and religious figures helped establish its use in Catholic communities.

Usage and variants

Ildefons is chiefly found in Catalan-speaking areas such as Catalonia and Andorra, where it is the standard form. Related names include Ildefonso in Spanish and Ildefonso in Italian, with Ildefonsus serving as the classical Latin form. The name is typically given to boys and is often encountered in religious or cultural contexts that honor early medieval saints.

Cultural context

A key figure linked to the name is Saint Ildefonsus of Toledo (c. 600–667), a bishop and theologian whose legacy contributed to the spread of the name in Christian Europe. Variants of the name appear in liturgical calendars and historical documents across Romance-language regions, reflecting the cross-cultural transmission of names from Latin through regional forms.

See also

Saint Ildefonsus; Ildefonso (name)