infanti

Infanti is a term with multiple senses in Romance-language contexts. In Iberian royal history, the title infante (for males) or infanta (for females) designated the children of a reigning king or queen who were not the designated heir to the throne. The designation reflected royal status while signaling a place within the dynastic order rather than direct succession. The name derives from Latin infans, meaning child, and became embedded in the ceremonial styles of the Crown of Castile, the Crown of Aragon, and Portugal. Instances appear in chronicles and genealogies across medieval and early modern periods.

Linguistic notes: In Spanish and Portuguese, the standard forms are infante and infanta in the singular, with infantes and infantas as the usual plurals for mixed or male/female groups. The form infanti exists in Italian and appears in some historical or cross-cultural references as a plural form or as a surname; outside Iberian contexts, infanti can be encountered as a family name. The usage and meaning thus vary by language and historical period.

Modern usage: Today, the royal title is largely historical in Spain and Portugal, with only ceremonial or historical references remaining in contemporary discourse. Infanti also exists as a surname and, in some cases, as part of toponymy or personal naming traditions in Romance-language regions. As a surname, Infanti is generally unrelated to current political status and does not imply any official royal function. See also infante.