New Leader Prefers His Shoemaker Moniker

Spaniards generally have two last names, one from the mother and one from the father. The paternal surname is listed next to last but is the dominant one.

By the rules of the Spanish custom, then, the new prime minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, should be called Rodriguez or Rodriguez Zapatero on second reference.

Yet he is known as Zapatero -- “shoemaker.” He signs “R. Zapatero,” according to his aides.

The reason goes to a peculiarly Spanish affectation. If the paternal last name is considered too common, too run-of-the-mill, then a person -- especially one who strives for a position of power, fame or fortune -- may use the maternal surname if it is more appealing.

The Spanish media have not completely resolved this dilemma, however. The new prime minister is at times Zapatero, at other times Rodriguez Zapatero.

One or two commentators even tried simply Rodriguez. It didn’t stick.

The last Socialist prime minister, Felipe Gonzalez Marquez, who left office in 1996, also deemed his paternal surname as too common. But his solution was to use his first name, so he became known universally as Felipe or Felipe Gonzalez.

-- Tracy Wilkinson