Why Is Cristiano Ronaldo Called “Ronaldo” - When It’s Not a Traditional Portuguese Name
Cristiano Ronaldo’s full name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro — where “dos Santos” and “Aveiro” are family names, but “Ronaldo” is not his surname. Instead, “Ronaldo” is part of his given name. That raises a natural question: given that “Ronaldo” isn’t a traditional Portuguese first name, why did his parents choose it?
A Surprising Inspiration: A Former U.S. President and Hollywood Actor
The story goes back to Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, who named his son in homage to Ronald Reagan. Before becoming U.S. President in 1981, Reagan had a decades-long career in Hollywood - and his films were widely known in Europe, including Portugal.
According to Ronaldo himself - in a 2016 interview recounted by The Washington Post:
My parents named me after him because they both liked this name and thought it sounded strong
He added that his father admired Ronald Reagan long before he entered politics, back when he was an actor.
So it wasn’t about politics - it was personal and cultural: a working-class man from Madeira choosing a name that sounded strong, international, and distinctive, inspired by an actor whose films he admired and whose on-screen presence left a lasting impression.
A Name Ahead of Its Time
When Cristiano was born on 5 February 1985 in Funchal, “Ronaldo” was not a common name in Portugal. That rarity made the name distinctive from the start. For his father, the name evoked the image of a strong, aspirational figure - someone who went from cinema to the world stage, embodying “the dream.”
Little did anyone know that this unlikely name would one day become one of the most globally recognizable names in sport and in the world - even more iconic than many traditional surnames.
The name Cristiano was chosen by his aunt, his mother’s sister. Given that, despite attempts at abortion, the baby was eventually born, she suggested the name to symbolize a higher will, following the family’s Catholic faith, since Cristiano means Christian. The name Ronaldo was chosen by his father, a great admirer of the actor and former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. He already liked the films Reagan starred in during the 1940s and 50s and continued to admire him when he became president, a position he had held since 1981 and still held at the time Cristiano was born. For his father, Reagan symbolized the American dream: someone who went from cinema to become the most powerful man in the world.
Wikipedia: Cristiano Ronaldo
A President’s Name, a Footballer’s Legacy
The irony is rich: a name borrowed from the strongest presidents in the world, into the identity of one of the greatest footballers ever. Today, “Ronaldo” is less a reference to political history, and more a symbol of sporting excellence - a testament to how simple origins, global influences, and a single name can change the trajectory of a life.
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