Amaro is a Spanish, Galician, and Portuguese masculine given name with uncertain origins. It is possibly derived from Latin amarus meaning "bitter", or from the Visigothic name Amalric, which comes from the Gothic elements amals ("unceasing, vigorous, brave") and reiks ("ruler, king"). Etymology and History The root Amalric was a name borne by a 6th-century king of the Visigoths, Amalaric, and later by two Crusader rulers of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem (Amalric I and II). The meaning "bitter" (if from Latin amarus) associates the name with the emotion of bitterness, though in a saintly context. Saint Amaro The name's fame in Spain and Portugal is largely due to the saint Amaro, a legendary figure who, according to medieval tradition, sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to a terrestrial paradise. Saint Amaro is especially venerated in Galicia and Asturias in northern Spain, where his feast day is celebrated and many churches are dedicated to him. Distribution and Usage As a given name, Amaro is uncommon but traditional in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions. In some contexts, Amaro also appears as a surname; in the United States it ranks as the 3042nd most common surname, primarily among Hispanic and Latino communities. Additionally, in West Africa—notably Benin, Togo, and Nigeria—the term Amaro (also Aguda) refers to descendants of freed Afro-Brazilian slaves who settled there. Feminine forms of the name include Amara (Spanish). Meaning: Uncertain, likely "bitter" (Latin) or derived from a Gothic royal name Origin: Latin / Gothic (via Visigothic) Type: Given name, also used as a surname Usage regions: Spain, Portugal, Galicia, Asturias; also Hispanic communities globally; as a community name in West Africa