Jacinto

Jacinto is a masculine given name used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cultures. It is derived from the hyacinth flower. A feminine form, Jacinta, exists in similar linguistic regions. The name appears in historical records, literature, and contemporary naming practices.

Etymology and cultural background: The given name traces to the Latin Hyacinthus, from the Ancient Greek Hyakinthos. In Greek mythology, Hyacinthus was a youth associated with Apollo, and the hyacinth flower bears his name. The plant-name spread into modern usage as a personal name in Iberian-speaking communities.

Jacinto also designates the hyacinth itself in Spanish. The hyacinth is a spring-flowering bulbous plant in the genus Hyacinthus, cultivated for its fragrant, compact flower spikes. Hyacinths come in a range of colors and varieties and are common in ornamental gardens and floral arrangements.

Notable people named Jacinto include Jacinto Benavente (1866–1954), a Spanish dramatist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1922 for his plays and literary contributions.