Rodri, Pedri, Gavi, Xavi: Why do some Spain players only use one name?

Of the 1,248 players selected for the 2026 World Cup, only 21 generally go by just one name. Ten of them play for Brazil, the country of Pelé, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, while Cape Verde, where Portuguese is also spoken, have four. Spain is the only other team with more than one: Rodri, Pedri and Gavi.

Of course, the norm for the vast majority of players, and indeed people in general, is to be known by one first name and one surname. Naming conventions in Spanish and Portuguese, however, mean each individual has multiple surnames, which can make it confusing when deciding which name soccer players wear on the back of their jerseys.

Why do Spanish players have two surnames?

Spanish naming conventions dictate using two surnames. In most cases, after the first name or names, the father’s first surname comes first, followed by the mother’s first surname.

New Real Madrid signing Marc Cucurella’s full name, for instance, is Marc Cucurella Saseta, “Cucurella” being his father’s first surname and “Saseta” his mother’s.

In Spain’s World Cup squad, 22 of the 26 players generally use that naming structure, only using their second surname in formal situations.

Some Spaniards are known by their second surname rather than their first, although it is much less common. Thankfully, Dani Olmo, whose second surname is Carvajal, does not do this, which would make things rather complicated.

Ironically, Barcelona legend Gerard Piqué’s second surname is Bernabéu, much to the amusement of Real Madrid fans.

Why are Rodri, Pedri and Gavi known by one name?

Of the four players who don’t generally go by their surnames, three are known by just one name, the one that appears on the back of their jerseys.

Captain Rodri, full name Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, uses the shortened form of Rodrigo, which he was frequently referred to as earlier in his career.

The story goes that fellow midfielder Pedri (Pedro González López) was given that name because there was already an older boy named Pedro on one of his youth teams, and the nickname stuck.

Meanwhile, Barcelona teammate Gavi, full name Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, is referred to by his nickname, which comes from the shortened form of his mother’s surname. That was also the result of him playing on a youth team with another player called Pablo.

There are, of course, no rules about how and when a one-name moniker is used. It is largely based on personal experiences, the names that stick at a young age and, perhaps, even vibes.

Why isn’t Lamine Yamal’s surname Yamal?

The odd man out is star man Lamine Yamal. Born to a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, the Barcelona attacker was born in Catalonia and follows Spanish naming customs. However, Yamal is not his surname, which is part of the reason he always has both “Lamine” and “Yamal” on his jersey, whether with Barça or Spain.

The teenager’s full name is Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, with Nasraoui being his father’s surname and Ebana his mother’s.

According to Tribuna, the player has a compound given name and was named after two people: one called “Lamine,” which means “the trustworthy” in Arabic, and another called “Yamal,” which translates to “beauty.” Both helped his parents financially and emotionally before he was born.

Why do Brazilian players use one name?

Portuguese naming conventions are more flexible. In Portugal, people can legally have as many as four surnames, normally two from their father’s side and two from their mother’s, while there is no strict limit in Brazil.

We can logically assume that is why Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa Pessoa goes by Endrick, and why Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima was known simply as Ronaldo.

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