Our Salvadoran name database contains 1.203 Salvadoran surnames and 5.440 Salvadoran first names categorized by gender and frequency. After payment you can download the Salvadoran name database in CSV, SQL or JSON format. The Salvadoran names are validated using official governmental databases we received in other countries which contained Salvadoran names as well. To create the Salvadoran name database we used 35.062 validated Salvadoran social media profiles. We have a detailed explanation of our methodology and illustrate our approach with several examples.

Popular Salvadoran surnames

This table show popular Salvadoran surnames. In El Salvador, the surname typically follows the traditional Hispanic naming convention, with the father's surname being passed down to the children as their first surname, and the mother's surname being passed down as the second surname. For example, if a man named Juan Rodriguez marries a woman named Maria Hernandez, their children would have the surname Rodriguez Hernandez. It is also common for individuals to use both surnames in formal settings.

Surname Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Hernandez 859 2.4% Mexican American Spanish
Martinez 690 2.0% Spanish American Mexican
López 628 1.8% Spanish American Mexican
Rodríguez 615 1.8% Spanish American Mexican
Garcia 536 1.5% Spanish Mexican American
Gonzalez 446 1.3% Spanish Mexican American
Flores 437 1.2% Mexican American Spanish
Ramirez 390 1.1% Mexican American Colombian
Rivera 378 1.1% American Mexican Colombian
Rivas 328 0.9% Venezuelan Spanish American
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 35.062 Salvadoran social media profiles.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this surname also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Salvadoran first names

In El Salvador, parents typically choose a first name for their child based on a combination of personal preference, cultural and religious traditions, and family history. Many parents choose names that have special meaning to them or are significant in their culture, such as names of saints or biblical figures. Family names are also often passed down to children, with the first-born son usually being named after the father and the first-born daughter named after the mother. Ultimately, the decision on a first name is made by the parents and is a personal and meaningful choice for them.

Popular Salvadoran male names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Carlos 851 3.6% Spanish Mexican American
José 531 2.2% Spanish Venezuelan American
Luis 436 1.8% Mexican Spanish Venezuelan
Alex 364 1.5% American British Spanish
Oscar 333 1.4% Spanish Mexican American
David 322 1.3% American British Spanish
Mario 307 1.3% Spanish American Mexican
Daniel 298 1.2% American British Spanish
Jorge 295 1.2% Spanish Mexican American
Eduardo 293 1.2% Brazilian Mexican Spanish
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 35.062 Salvadoran social media profiles from which 23.911 (68%) is male.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Popular Salvadoran female names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Karla 196 1.8% Mexican American Venezuelan
Claudia 151 1.4% Spanish American Italian
Gabriela 150 1.3% Brazilian Venezuelan Mexican
Andrea 138 1.2% Italian American Spanish
Alejandra 116 1.0% Mexican Colombian Spanish
Karen 98 0.9% American British Mexican
Monica 97 0.9% American Spanish Mexican
Elizabeth 93 0.8% American British Mexican
Verónica 89 0.8% American Spanish Italian
Vanessa 88 0.8% American Brazilian Spanish
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 35.062 Salvadoran social media profiles from which 11.151 (32%) is female.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.