Refugio

Meaning & origin

Refugio, meaning "refuge" in Spanish, entered U.S. records in 1885 and enjoyed its peak year in 1927. Despite falling out of common use for decades, the name has been rising steadily since 2017, suggesting a modest revival. Its popularity in the 1920s era, though not among the top names today, shows a cultural resonance among Spanish-speaking families, especially in states with large Hispanic populations. With a current incidence of 1 in 189,786 births, Refugio remains a distinctive name with deep religious and cultural roots, most notably tied to the Virgin of Refuge.

Refugio is the Spanish word for "refuge" or "shelter," derived from Latin refugium. It has long been used as a given name in Spanish-speaking cultures, particularly in Mexico and the southwestern United States, often in reference to the Marian title Nuestra Señora del Refugio (Our Lady of Refuge). The name was historically given to both boys and girls, though it has become predominantly masculine in modern usage.