Rinaldo

Rinaldo is a masculine given name of Italian origin, the Italian form of Reynold or Reinoldo. It derives from the Germanic name Raginwald, from the elements ragin- “counsel” or “advice” and wald “rule” or “power,” and is commonly interpreted as “ruler with counsel” or “strong adviser.” The name has appeared in Italian literature and has been adopted in various European contexts.

In literature, Rinaldo is the principal Crusader knight in Torquato Tasso's epic Gerusalemme liberata (Jerusalem Delivered), where he is depicted as a brave and skillful warrior. The name also became associated with later works drawing on the same chivalric tradition.

The best-known musical adaptation is Handel's opera Rinaldo, first performed in 1711 in London. The Italian-language opera, with a libretto by Giacomo Rossi based on Tasso, helped popularize Baroque opera seria and features celebrated arias such as Lascia ch'io pianga, though the work remains best known for its emblematic character of the eponymous knight.

As a given name, Rinaldo remains primarily used in Italian-speaking contexts, though its forms and derivatives appear in other languages. Variants include Reynoldo, Reinoldo, and related names such as Reynold, Reynolds, and Reynoldo in different regions; the name has contributed to several surname and place-naming traditions in Europe.

Outside of given-name use, Rinaldo may appear as a personal name for fictional or historical figures and sometimes as a toponym in regional contexts.