Fernando is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Ferdinand, a Germanic name usually read as "bold traveler" or "daring journey". King Fernando II of Aragon financed Columbus's first voyage, and racing driver Fernando Alonso and ABBA's song Fernando keep the name in the ear. In the United States Fernando was number 150 in 2000 and has eased downward to number 387 in 2025, still a steady choice among Hispanic families.