Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, but its official language is Spanish, and its motto is Latin. This is the kind of chaos you get when you mix Spanish colonialism, American influence, and a dash of ancient Rome. The motto was adopted in the early 20th century, probably by some government official who wanted to sound like a Roman senator at a beach party.
Imagine you’re that official. You have the power to pick a slogan for a beautiful island with rainforests, beaches, and mofongo. And you choose “John is his name.” Why? Because tradition is a stubborn beast. Also, back then, Latin made everything seem more important. It’s the same reason why universities have Latin mottos. “Knowledge is power” is fine, but “Sapientia potentia est” sounds like it belongs on a wizard’s tombstone.
Puerto Rico Feature
Speaking of universities, did you know the motto of Harvard is “Veritas” (Truth)? Yale’s is “Lux et Veritas” (Light and Truth). Puerto Rico’s is “John is his name.” One of these things is not like the others. But honestly, I love it. It’s humble. It’s specific. It’s like the island is constantly saying, “Hey, remember John? He was a cool guy.”
The surprising truth: nobody uses it in daily life.
Here’s the kicker: if you go to Puerto Rico and ask a local, “Hey, what’s your territory’s motto?” they’ll probably stare at you like you just asked for the WiFi password to the past. Most people don’t know it exists. It’s not on license plates, it’s not in commercials, and it’s definitely not on T-shirts. The unofficial, real-world motto of Puerto Rico is something far catchier: “Puerto Rico lo hace mejor” — “Puerto Rico does it better.”
That’s right. While the official motto is a dusty Latin relic, the people have voted with their hearts and their hashtags. You’ll see “Puerto Rico lo hace mejor” on bumper stickers and in proud conversations. It’s a flex. It’s a brag. And it’s way more fun than quoting a 12th-century church hymn.
But wait, there’s more! Puerto Rico also has a coat of arms that includes a lamb, a yoke, and a key. The key represents the island as a “key to the Indies,” which is both symbolic and sounds like a great name for a tiki bar. And you know that Latin motto? It sits on a ribbon beneath the lamb, like a tiny, confused afterthought.
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