A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Fortunato since 1910
Babies named Fortunato per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Fortunato's real moment was 1911.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 109 |
| 1920s | 175 |
| 1930s | 127 |
| 1940s | 82 |
| 1950s | 71 |
| 1960s | 75 |
| 1970s | 97 |
| 1980s | 69 |
| 1990s | 60 |
| 2000s | 24 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 10 |
Meaning & origin
Fortunato is a name with deep roots in Latin and Christian tradition, meaning 'fortunate.' Its peak year in the United States was 1911, during a wave of Italian immigration. After decades of minimal use, the name has shown signs of revival, with a rising trajectory since 2022. In its peak decade of the 1910s, it was among the choices for boys, though it has never broken into the top rankings and remains a rare but distinctive option. The name's one-in-N statistic is not available due to its low frequency.
Fortunato derives from the Latin name Fortunatus, meaning 'fortunate' or 'lucky,' from the word 'fortuna' (fortune). It was a common name among early Christians, borne by several saints, and has been used in Italy, Spain, and Portugal since medieval times.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nato, Tino, Fato
Variants: Fortunatus, Fortunat, Fortunado
Sibling names for Fortunato
Names that share Fortunato's style, for a brother or sister.
