The first name Salvador
A boy’s name from Spanish meaning “savior”, “to save”, “holy savior”.
Pronounced /ˈsælvədɔɹ/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Spanish origin
Salvador means “savior”, “to save”, “holy savior” in Spanish.
From Spanish and Portuguese Salvador, chiefly various placenames honoring Jesus Christ, from Spanish and Portuguese salvador (“savior”), from Latin salvator, from salvāre (“to save”) + -tor (forming agent nouns). In Spanish placenames, frequently a clipping of Spanish San Salvador (“Holy Savior”). Doublet of savior, Salvator, and Salvatore.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 16 boys were named Salvador, making it the 1,613th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 23 births (#1,187).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Salvador with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Salvador at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 341 boys born in the United States were named Salvador, the 756th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1992, when 922 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Salvador in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Salvador in Portuguese and Spanish too.
Famous people named Salvador
21 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Salvador Allende28th president of Chile (1908–1973)
- Salvador EspriuCatalan writer (1913–1985)
- Salvador NasrallaFirst Vice President of Honduras from 2022 to 2024
- Salvador MoncadaBritish pharmacologist (1944-)
- Salvador SeguíCatalan anarchist (1887-1923)
- Salvador MinuchinArgentine psychotherapist (1921–2017)
- Salvador of HortaFranciscan friar and saint (1520-1567)
- Salvador Brotons i SolerCatalan composer, flutist and conductor, born 1959
- Salvador Cisneros BetancourtCuban politician; 2nd (wartime) President of Cuba (1828-1914)
- Salvador LazoFilipino traditionalist Catholic bishop (1918–2000)
- Salvador MirandaAmerican bibliographer, librarian and historian (1939-2024)
- Salvador AlonsoArgentine chess player, born 1974
More Spanish boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Salvador mean?
- Salvador means “savior”, “to save”, “holy savior” in Spanish.
- What is the origin of the name Salvador?
- From Spanish and Portuguese Salvador, chiefly various placenames honoring Jesus Christ, from Spanish and Portuguese salvador (“savior”), from Latin salvator, from salvāre (“to save”) + -tor (forming agent nouns). In Spanish placenames, frequently a clipping of Spanish San Salvador (“Holy Savior”).…
- How popular is the name Salvador?
- In 2025, 16 boys born in England and Wales were named Salvador, ranking 1,613th. Its peak was 2016, with 23 births.
- Is Salvador a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 49,788 US babies named Salvador since 1880 were boys.
- When was Salvador most popular?
- 1992 in the United States, when 922 babies were named Salvador, its highest rank at 292nd.
- How do you pronounce Salvador?
- Salvador is /ˈsælvədɔɹ/, 3 syllables.
- Is Salvador also a surname?
- Yes. Salvador is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.