Quinto

Quinto is an Italian masculine given name, derived directly from the Latin Quintus.

Etymology

The root name Quinto comes from the Roman praenomen Quintus, meaning "fifth" in Latin. In early Republican Rome, it was originally spelled Quinctus. The name was traditionally given to the fifth child, or possibly to a child born in the fifth month (May, in the pre-Julian calendar when March was the first month). Although other numerical names like Sextus (sixth) and Decimus (tenth) were used, Quintus was by far the most popular.

Notable Bearers

Under the Roman Republic and Empire, Quintus was common among patrician families. The most famous bearer is the poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, known in English as Horace. In modern times, notable Quinto figures include Italian-born individuals such as Quinto Maganini (1897–1974), a composer and conductor; Quinto Martini (artist) (1908–1990), an Italian artist and writer; and Quinto Quintieri (1894–1968), an Italian banker and politician.

Cultural Significance

Although Quinto is less common in Italy today than in classical times, it remains in limited use as both a given name and a surname (Zachary Quinto, an American actor, being a notable bearer of the surname). The name retains its etymological connection to the number five, and is typical of the tradition of numeral names in Roman onomastics.

• Meaning: "fifth"
• Origin: Latin (via Italian)
• Type: given name
• Usage: Italian, but also Roman