Camillo

Camillo is a masculine given name of Italian origin. It derives from the Latin Camillus, meaning a boy or youth serving in a temple; in Roman times camilli were ceremonial attendants. The name is common in Italy and has variants in other languages, notably Camilo in Spanish and Portuguese, and Camillus in Latin.

Notable bearers include the Italian physician Camillo Golgi, 1843–1926, a Nobel laureate who helped describe the Golgi apparatus; and Camillo Benso, Conte di Cavour, 1810–1861, the statesman central to the unification of Italy. Camillo Borghese, who became Pope Paul V, led the papacy from 1605 to 1621. Camillo Sbarbaro, 1889–1967, was an Italian poet and critic. These figures reflect the name’s historical association with leadership and intellectual achievement.

In literature, Camillo is a character in William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, serving as a trusted courtier and an agent who fosters reconciliation and safe passage for others.

The name remains in use in Italian-speaking communities and carries connotations of tradition and intellect. It is typically used as a given name, with rare occurrences as part of longer family names or historical references. See also Camilo, the variant commonly found in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking contexts.