Fortunato

Fortunato is a masculine given name of Italian origin meaning “fortunate” or “lucky.” It derives from the Latin fortunatus. In Italian usage, Fortunato is used as a first name across Italy and among Italian communities abroad; it is rarely used as a surname.

Notable people and historical usage: Fortunato Depero (1892–1960) was a prominent Italian Futurist artist and designer who contributed to graphic design, illustration, and textile work, helping shape 20th-century Italian avant-garde aesthetics. There are also several early Christian saints named Fortunatus, reflecting the name’s historical usage in religious tradition.

In literature and popular culture: The name Fortunato appears in Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Cask of Amontillado (1846). In the tale, Fortunato is a wine connoisseur who is lured into Montresor’s catacombs and sealed behind a brick wall as part of a calculated revenge. The character’s name is frequently discussed as an example of irony, contrasting fortune with misfortune within the narrative.

Overall, Fortunato remains in use primarily as an Italian given name, carrying historical and literary associations that reflect both cultural tradition and linguistic meaning.