Fortunato Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: for-TOO-nah-toh //forˈtuːnɑːtoʊ//
Origin: Italian; Latin
Meaning: Italian: fortunate; Latin: lucky
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Fortunato has its roots in the Latin word "fortunatus," which means "fortunate" or "lucky." This term is derived from the noun "fortuna," referring to fortune or luck, which was personified in Roman mythology as a goddess who governed fate and prosperity. The name transitioned into various forms through the centuries, appearing in medieval texts and evolving into the Italian form "Fortunato," which became more widely recognized during the Renaissance period.
The adoption of the name into English occurred primarily through the influence of Italian culture and literature, particularly during the 19th century. Historically, the name Fortunato has been borne by several notable figures, including saints and scholars.
One of the most significant was Saint Fortunatus, a 6th-century bishop of Poitiers, who is venerated in both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. His contributions to early Christianity and the establishment of church communities in Gaul helped cement the name's religious significance.
Additionally, the name appears in literary works, most famously in Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado," published in 1846, where the character Fortunato embodies themes of irony and fate. Culturally, the name Fortunato carries connotations of good fortune and prosperity, which have contributed to its enduring appeal.
The association with luck and success has made it a favorable choice in various cultures, particularly in Italian-speaking regions. The diminutive form "Fortu" may also be encountered, reflecting a more affectionate or familiar usage.
Overall, Fortunato encapsulates a rich historical and cultural narrative, linking linguistic roots with significant historical figures and literary references.
Famous people named Fortunato
In this section, you will find notable people named Fortunato. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Fortunato who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Fortunato who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Fortunato Depero was an artist and designer best known for his work in the Futurist movement, the creation of the Campari bottle, and his innovative stage designs.
Fictional characters named Fortunato
The following list of fictional characters named Fortunato is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Fortunato is a fictional character from the short story "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe. He is a wine connoisseur who becomes the victim of a darkly humorous revenge plot.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Fortunato, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Fortunato. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Fortunato was first seen in the United States in 1910.
Fortunato has ranked as high as #3111 nationally, which occurred in 1922, and has been most popular in Texas, New York, California, and New Jersey.
In the past 5 years the name Fortunato has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Fortunato is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Fortunato was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Fortunato.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 |
| 2003 | 8 | 8 |
| 2002 | 6 | 6 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 |
| 1999 | 5 | 5 |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 |
| 1997 | 9 | 9 |
| 1996 | 5 | 5 |
| 1994 | 8 | 8 |
| 1993 | 6 | 6 |
| 1992 | 7 | 7 |
| 1991 | 7 | 7 |
| 1990 | 7 | 7 |
| 1989 | 5 | 5 |
| 1988 | 6 | 6 |
| 1987 | 5 | 5 |
| 1986 | 8 | 8 |
| 1985 | 7 | 7 |
| 1984 | 5 | 5 |
| 1982 | 18 | 18 |
| 1981 | 10 | 10 |
| 1980 | 5 | 5 |
| 1979 | 8 | 8 |
| 1978 | 7 | 7 |
| 1977 | 14 | 14 |
| 1976 | 13 | 13 |
| 1975 | 9 | 9 |
| 1974 | 18 | 18 |
| 1973 | 16 | 16 |
| 1972 | 12 | 12 |
| 1969 | 9 | 9 |
| 1968 | 10 | 10 |
| 1967 | 7 | 7 |
| 1966 | 7 | 7 |
| 1964 | 9 | 9 |
| 1963 | 6 | 6 |
| 1962 | 11 | 11 |
| 1961 | 9 | 9 |
| 1960 | 7 | 7 |
| 1959 | 5 | 5 |
| 1958 | 10 | 10 |
| 1957 | 11 | 11 |
| 1956 | 6 | 6 |
| 1955 | 5 | 5 |
| 1953 | 14 | 14 |
| 1952 | 8 | 8 |
| 1951 | 6 | 6 |
| 1950 | 6 | 6 |
| 1949 | 9 | 9 |
| 1948 | 13 | 13 |
| 1947 | 10 | 10 |
| 1946 | 6 | 6 |
| 1944 | 7 | 7 |
| 1943 | 8 | 8 |
| 1942 | 10 | 10 |
| 1941 | 10 | 10 |
| 1940 | 9 | 9 |
| 1939 | 9 | 9 |
| 1938 | 13 | 13 |
| 1937 | 8 | 8 |
| 1936 | 14 | 14 |
| 1935 | 6 | 6 |
| 1934 | 9 | 9 |
| 1933 | 11 | 11 |
| 1932 | 16 | 16 |
| 1931 | 23 | 23 |
| 1930 | 18 | 18 |
| 1929 | 17 | 17 |
| 1928 | 18 | 18 |
| 1927 | 23 | 23 |
| 1926 | 17 | 17 |
| 1925 | 13 | 13 |
| 1924 | 21 | 21 |
| 1923 | 20 | 20 |
| 1922 | 24 | 24 |
| 1921 | 10 | 10 |
| 1920 | 12 | 12 |
| 1919 | 6 | 6 |
| 1918 | 15 | 15 |
| 1917 | 23 | 23 |
| 1916 | 15 | 15 |
| 1915 | 13 | 13 |
| 1914 | 11 | 11 |
| 1913 | 9 | 9 |
| 1911 | 11 | 11 |
| 1910 | 6 | 6 |
Top States for Fortunato (1990)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |