Umberto

Umberto is a masculine given name of Italian origin. It is the Italian form of the medieval Germanic name Humbert, which circulated on the Italian peninsula from the Middle Ages and was borne by several nobles and rulers. The name has remained part of Italian naming traditions and remains in use among Italian speakers and communities abroad.

Throughout Italian history, several rulers and statesmen bore the name, notably Umberto I, king of Italy from 1878 to 1900, and Umberto II, the last king, who reigned briefly in 1946 before the monarchy was abolished. In the arts and intellect, Umberto Eco (1932–2016) gained fame as a novelist and semiotician; Umberto Boccioni (1882–1916) was a leading Futurist painter and sculptor; Umberto Giordano (1867–1948) was a composer known for opera; Umberto Saba (1883–1957) was a poet. In modern times, figures such as Umberto Agnelli (1921–2004), a Fiat executive and businessman; Umberto Veronesi (1925–2016), an oncologist and medical leader; and Umberto Pelizzari (born 1965), a world-class freediver, have carried the name into other fields.

Today, Umberto remains a recognizable Italian given name, used in Italy and among Italian communities around the world, reflecting its historical associations with cultural and public life in Italy.