Modesti

Modesti is a term used in Italian with linguistic and onomastic roles. In Italian, modesti is the masculine plural form of the adjective modesto, meaning modest or humble. The feminine plural form is modeste. In grammar, modesti can modify masculine nouns or function as a substantive phrase, as in “i modesti,” referring to people who are modest or who embody modesty.

As a surname, Modesti is of Italian origin. Surnames derived from adjectives were common in Italy, and Modesti likely originated as a nickname or descriptor for an ancestor regarded as modest. Over time, it became a family name found in Italian records and among people with Italian heritage, including communities abroad due to migration and diaspora.

In contemporary usage, Modesti appears primarily as a proper noun in the context of a surname. It may be encountered in public life across fields such as academia, arts, and sports, reflecting individual bearers rather than a single representative figure for the name.

Related terms include Modesto, a given name and surname in Italian (and Modesto in Spanish-language contexts). The word is also connected to the English concept of modesty, which carries cultural and ethical connotations beyond its linguistic usage.

See also: Modesto, modesty.