Introduction
Throughout his life, José Rizal carried different names that reflected the various roles he played: son, brother, student, traveler, doctor, and eventually, a man under suspicion. These names shaped how people related to him and how he moved through a colonial world where identity was both personal and political.
Unlike the pen names he used in his writings, the everyday names explored here were connected to family life, community interactions, and practical needs. They show the human side of Rizal — the boy called “Pepe,” the medical student with a German reputation, and the man who traveled under an assumed surname to stay safe. Understanding these names helps us see the richness of his personal life beyond his writings and accomplishments.
Pepe
Pepe is the most well-known childhood nickname of José Rizal. Like many Spanish boys named José, he received this affectionate nickname from family and close friends.
In the Calamba home, “Pepe” was the name called during meals, play, and family gatherings. It followed him into school days in Binãn and Manila, and even into adulthood when writing affectionate letters to his sisters or parents. The simplicity of the name contrasts with the immense historical weight he would later carry.
Ute / Ote
Several of Rizal’s family members and childhood friends used the nicknames Ute or Ote. These shorter, more intimate names reflected the playful tone of family life.
Older siblings, especially Saturnina and Paciano, sometimes used these variations when speaking to or about him in informal settings. Though rarely found in written records, these names were part of the household vocabulary that shaped his early years.
Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda
This was Rizal’s full baptismal name when he was born on June 19, 1861. Over time, the family gradually stopped using “Mercado” due to political surveillance and fear of persecution. The surname “Rizal” — originally a second surname intended for legal distinction — became the family’s main identifier.
This full name appears on baptismal documents, early school records, and formal Spanish-era paperwork where complete legal names were required.
Jose Mercado
Jose Mercado was the alias Rizal used when he left the Philippines for Europe in 1882. The Mercado family had fallen under the scrutiny of Spanish authorities due to Paciano’s association with Father Burgos.
To travel safely, Rizal needed a name that would avoid immediate detection. He used “Mercado,” a surname associated with earlier generations of the family and not yet closely monitored. Under this alias, he boarded the ship Salvadora and began the journey that changed his life — and the nation’s future.
Doctor Uliman (or “Doctor Aleman”)
In Calamba, Rizal gained the nickname “Doctor Uliman” — meaning “German doctor.” After returning from Europe with advanced training in ophthalmology, he treated patients using techniques unfamiliar to many locals. His European habits, scientific approach, and occasional use of German made townspeople associate him with that culture.
The nickname was a mixture of admiration and curiosity, reflecting both the novelty and respect he commanded as a young physician.
The German Doctor (Aleman) in Dapitan
During his exile in Dapitan, locals sometimes referred to him as “the German doctor” because of his European training, his proficiency in German literature and language, and his scientific activities.
Although not a formal alias, this title highlighted how his intellectual identity impressed those around him. It also gave him a kind of buffer from colonial suspicion — an intelligent foreign-trained doctor who improved local life rather than a political agitator.
The Indio Bravo
The title “Indio Bravo” — “The Brave Indio” — was given to Rizal by Spanish liberals in Madrid who admired his brilliance, discipline, and courage. Although it was not a nickname used by family or friends, it became part of the way reformists understood him.
The phrase symbolized how Rizal represented Filipino talent and dignity at a time of deep racial prejudice. It appeared in letters, speeches, and writings by those who supported the Propaganda Movement.
The Pride of the Malayan Race
This honorific came later, applied by fellow Southeast Asians and admirers who saw Rizal as proof of the intellectual ability and cultural sophistication of Malay peoples.
While not a nickname he used personally, it became part of the symbolic language surrounding his legacy. It reflects how Rizal’s achievements resonated far beyond the Philippines.
The Latin Genius
Rizal earned this appellation among some European acquaintances due to his exceptional command of languages, literature, and the humanities.
His facility with classical languages, poetry, and rhetoric impressed professors, scientists, and friends who saw in him a model of humanistic education. This label highlighted the scholarly side of his identity — the side that moved comfortably in international intellectual circles.
Why Rizal Used Different Personal Names
The many names of José Rizal were shaped by cultural expectations, family traditions, and practical safety. Nicknames like Pepe and Ute belonged to the warmth of home, while names like Jose Mercado were used for survival under political suspicion.
Titles such as Doctor Uliman reflected how communities interpreted his identity, while honorifics like Indio Bravo emerged from admiration abroad. These names offer a complete picture of a man whose life moved across different cultures, continents, and political realities.
Personal Names Versus Pen Names
Unlike the pen names of José Rizal, which were used in published essays and political writings, the names discussed in this article belong to his everyday life. They came from family, friends, neighbors, admirers, and even critics.
Understanding this distinction prevents common historical confusion and helps organize your website content clearly. His pen names were tools of strategy; his personal names were reflections of how he lived and how people perceived him.
Conclusion
The many names of José Rizal — from Pepe to Jose Mercado to Doctor Uliman — reveal the depth and diversity of his life. They show him as a son, a friend, a traveler, a healer, and a man constantly navigating the expectations and dangers of his time.
These names give us a more intimate picture of Rizal beyond the heroism and the legend, reminding us that he lived many identities, each shaped by the people and circumstances around him.
