Alfonso

#51 in New Mexico

Meaning of Alfonso

Alfonso strolls in with old-world swagger yet a twinkle of modern ease. Born from the Visigothic Adalfuns, it means “noble and ready,” a pairing that feels equal parts velvet robe and rolled-up sleeves. Spoken in Spanish or Italian as ahl-FAHN-soh, the name once crowned a parade of medieval monarchs—most famously Alfonso X “the Wise,” lover of science, song, and big ideas. Stateside, Alfonso has hovered in the steady middle of the popularity charts for more than a century, a friendly reminder that classic doesn’t have to be common. Today’s Alfonsos range from Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón to power-hitting baseball star Alfonso Soriano, proving the name can leap from art house to ballpark without breaking a sweat. Rich in history, rhythmic on the tongue, and bright with Latin flair, Alfonso offers any little boy a birthright of quiet dignity and ready-for-anything spirit.

Pronunciation

Spanish

  • Pronunced as ahl-FAHN-soh (/alˈfon.so/)

Italian

  • Pronunced as ahl-FOHN-zoh (/alˈfɔn.zo/)

U.S. Popularity Chart

States Popularity Chart

Notable People Named Alfonso

Alfonso VI of León and Castile -
Alfonso XIII -
Alfonso the Battler -
Alfonso V of Aragon -
Alfonso Cuarón -
Alfonso Ribeiro -
Alfonso Enríquez -
Alfonso González -
Alfonso Reyes -
Alfonso A. Ossorio -
Alfonso V of León -
Alfonso II d'Este -
Alfonso Robelo -
Alfonso I of Asturias -
Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora -
Laura Hamilton
Curated byLaura Hamilton

Assistant Editor