A baby receives the name Cristiano-Ronaldo: why did the civil registry accept it, when it would normally be banned?

It was a soccer-loving parent who welcomed a little boy to Sète (Hérault) last week.

As reported by Midi Libre on May 23, 2023, they decided to honor their passion by choosing a first name accordingly for their son! One of his three first names is Cristiano-Ronaldo. The fact that he was authorized by the civil registry questions, because such a small name could normally be prohibited.

Cristiano Ronaldo being so well known, it is impossible that even if the parents are not football fans, they ignore the reference. It may come as a surprise that this compound name was allowed at the time of birth registration.

As the local daily newspaper reminds us, merging a celebrity’s first and last names to name a baby is not normally allowed. “Choosing the surname of a famous person as a first name” is forbidden, explains the government website Public Service.

So, how do you explain that the first name Cristiano-Ronaldo was accepted? Several factors may be taken into account. If Ronaldo is the surname used by CR7, it is also a first name. A bit like Martin or Bertrand, which are first names but also family names common in France.

Moreover, it is not the real surname of the footballer, but his middle name! The full name of the one who was sacred five times Ballon d’Or is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. His last name being very long, it is difficult to float on a jersey. The footballer therefore chose to use his second name, which is shorter and easier to remember.

Finally, concerning the first name Cristiano-Ronaldo, Midi Libre explains that the registrar may have made an exception by authorizing it because it is not the main first name of the little boy.

His parents gave it to him in third name, so the person in charge of registering his birth potentially made a concession by considering that, with such a position in his full name, it did not risk harming the interests of the child or being used regularly.

These parents are not the only ones who have called their child Cristiano-Ronaldo

Celebrities inspire many to choose their children’s first names, and it’s not just these Sétois parents who chose to name their son in honor of CR7.

After the 2022 Football World Cup, Peru recorded the birth of as many as 30,000 babies named Ronaldo or Cristiano Ronaldo!