Gaetano (anglicized '' Cajetan'') is an Italian masculine given name. It is also used as a surname. It is derived from the Latin ''Caietanus'', meaning "from ''Caieta''" (the modern

Gaeta Gaeta (; ; Southern Latian dialect, Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a seaside resort in the province of Latina in Lazio, Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples. The city has played ...

). The given name has been in use in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

since medieval period, although it also remained in use as a byname indicating people from Gaeta, as in

Thomas Cajetan Thomas Cajetan ( ; 20 February 14699 August 1534), also known as Gaetanus, commonly Tommaso de Vio or Thomas de Vio, was an Italian philosopher, theologian, the Master of the Order of Preachers 1508 to 1518, and cardinal from 1517 until his de ...

or ''Gaetanus'' (1469–1534). The modern given name can be traced to Saint Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene (1480–1547) who was canonized in 1671. Other variants of the name exist in other Romance languages, the French form of the name is Gaétan'', Gaétan'', the Portuguese form is '' Caetano'', and the Spanish form is '' Cayetano''. The feminine form is ''Gaetana'' (also ''Caetana'' and ''Cayetana'').

People with the given name

Academics

* Gaetano Borriello (1958–2015), Italian-American computer scientist * Gaetano Cozzi (1922–2001), Italian historian * Gaetano Arturo Crocco (1877-1968), Italian space scientist, aeronautics pioneer and founder of the Italian Rocket Society * Gaetano De Sanctis (1870–1957), historian and senator *

Gaetano Filangieri Gaetano Filangieri (22 August 1753 – 21 July 1788) was an Italian jurist and philosopher. Filangieri was born in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, in the Kingdom of Naples. He was born the third son of a sibship of the noble family of Filangieri, wh ...

(1753–1788), Italian jurist and philosopher * Gaetano Kanizsa (1913–1993), Italian psychologist and perception scientist * Gaetano Milanesi (1813–1895), Italian scholar and writer * Gaetano Sanseverino (1811–1865), Italian philosopher and theologian * Gaetano da Thiene (philosopher) (1387–1465)

Arts and entertainment

* Gaetano Aronica (born 1963), Italian actor * Gaetano Berenstadt (1687–1734), Italian alto castrato * Gaetano Braga (1829–1907), Italian composer and cellist * Gaetano Brunetti (1744–1798), prolific Italian composer *

Gaetano Bruno Gaetano Bruno (born 26 July 1973) is an Italian actor. Early life Bruno was born in Palermo Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region o ...

(born 1973), Italian actor * Gaetano Castelli (born 1938), Italian painter and set designer *

Gaetano Chiaveri Gaetano Chiaveri ( in Rome – 5 March 1770) was an Italian architect and master builder, most notable for his work as part of the second phase of the Dresden Baroque. His works include the Cathedral in Dresden and a new wing of the Royal Castl ...

(c. 1689–1770), Italian architect *

Gaetano Donizetti Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 – 8 April 1848) was an Italian Romantic music, Romantic composer, best known for his almost 70 operas. Along with Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, he was a leading composer of the ''be ...

(1797–1848), Italian opera composer * Gaetano Gandolfi (1734–1802), Bolognese painter * Gaetano Greco (c. 1657–1728), Italian Baroque composer * Gaetano Guadagni (1729–1792), Italian mezzo-soprano castrato singer * Gaetano Lapis (1704–1776), Italian painter *

Guy Lombardo Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was a Canadian and American bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane racing, hydroplane racer whose unique "sweet jazz" style remained popular with audiences for nearly five decade ...

(1902–1977), Canadian bandleader * Gaetano Martoriello (circa 1680–1733), Italian painter *

Gaten Matarazzo Gaetano John "Gaten" Matarazzo III ( , ; born September 8, 2002) is an American actor. He began his career on the Broadway stage as Benjamin in '' Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'' (2011–12) and as Gavroche in ''Les Misérables'' (2014–15) ...

(born 2002), American actor *

Gaetano Merola Gaetano Merola (4 January 1881 – 30 August 1953) was an Italian conductor, pianist and founder of the San Francisco Opera. Biography Merola was born in Naples, the son of a Neapolitan court violinist and studied piano and conducting at t ...

(1881–1953), Italian conductor * Gaetano Pesce (born 1939), Italian architect and designer * Gaetano Polidori (1764–1853), Italian writer and scholar * Gaetano Pollastri (1886–1960), professional violinist * Gaetano Previati, artist * Gaetano Pugnani (1731–1798), Italian violinist * Gaetano Sabatini (1703–1734), Italian draftsman and painter * Gaetano Sgarabotto (1878–1959), Italian violinmaker * Gaetano Trentanove (1858–1937), Italian-American sculptor * Gaetano Zompini (1700–1778), Italian printmaker and engraver

Crime

Gaetano Badalamenti Gaetano Badalamenti (; 14 September 1923 – 29 April 2004) was a powerful member of the Sicilian Mafia. ''Don Tano'' Badalamenti was the capofamiglia of his hometown Cinisi, Sicily, and headed the Sicilian Mafia Commission in the 1970s. In 1 ...

(1923–2004), powerful member of the Sicilian Mafia * Gaetano Gianola, early 20th century Italian-American mobster * Gaetano Lococo (1895–1993), Italian-American mobster * Gaetano Reina (1889–1930), Sicilian-American mobster

Politics and journalism

Gaetano Arfé Gaetano Arfé (12 November 1925, Somma Vesuviana – 13 September 2007) was an Italian politician, historian, and journalist. From 1966 to 1976 he published '' Avanti!'', the official newspaper of the Italian Socialist Party, which he represent ...

(1925–2007), Italian politician, historian and journalist * Gaetano Bresci (1869–1901), Italian-American anarchist * Gaetano Giuliano (1929–2023), Italian politician * Gaetano Manfredi (born 1964), Italian politician * Gaetano Martino (1900–1967), Italian politician *

Gaetano Mosca Gaetano Mosca (; 1 April 1858 – 8 November 1941) was an Italian political scientist, journalist and public servant. He is credited with developing the elite theory and the doctrine of the political class and is one of the three members const ...

(1858–1941), Italian political scientist, journalist and public servant * Gaetano Polverelli (1886–1960), Italian journalist and politician *

Gaetano Salvemini Gaetano Salvemini (; 8 September 1873 – 6 September 1957) was an Italian socialist and anti-fascist politician, historian, and writer. Born into a family of modest means, he became a historian of note whose work drew attention in Italy and ab ...

(1873–1957), Italian anti-fascist politician, historian and writer * Gaetano Saya (born 1956), Italian politician * Gaetano Tanti (1956/1957–2023), Maltese trade unionist

Religion

* Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene (1480–1547), Catholic saint * Gaetano Alibrandi (1914–2003), Catholic archbishop * Gaetano Bedini (1806–1864), Italian Catholic ecclesiastic, cardinal and diplomat * Gaetano Bisleti (1856–1937), Catholic cardinal * Gaetano Catanoso (1879–1963), Italian parish priest * Gaetano Cicognani (1881–1962), Italian Catholic prelate * Gaetano Pace Forno (1809–1874), Maltese Catholic bishop *

Gaetano Moroni Gaetano Moroni (17 October 1802, Rome – 3 November 1883, Rome) was an Italian writer on the history and contemporary structure of the Catholic Church and an official of the papal court in Rome. He was the author of the well-known ''Diziona ...

(1802–1883), Italian Catholic official and writer about the Catholic Church

Sports

* Gaetano Berardi (born 1988), Swiss footballer * Gaetano Belloni (1892–1980), Italian road racing cyclist * Gaétan Boucher (born 1958), Canadian speed skater * Gaetano Caridi (born 1980), Italian footballer * Gaetano D'Agostino (born 1982), Italian footballer * Gaetano De Rosa (born 1973), Italian footballer * Gaetano Fontana (born 1970), Italian footballer * Gaetano Giallanza (born 1974), Swiss footballer * Gaetano Orlando (born 1962), Italian-Canadian ice hockey player * Gaetano Scirea (1953–1989), Italian footballer * Gaetano Starrabba (born 1932), Italian racing driver * Gaetano Vasari (born 1970), Italian footballer * Gaetano Vastola (born 1978), Italian footballer

Other fields

* Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone (born 1943), Italian businessman * Gaetano Casati (1838–1902), Italian explorer of Africa * Gaetano Gagliano (1917–2016), Canadian businessman

People with the surname

* Gianluca Gaetano (born 2000), Italian professional footballer * Giuseppe de Gaetano (born 1966), Italian race walker *

Juan Gaetano The Manila galleon (; ) refers to the Spanish trading ships that linked the Philippines in the Spanish East Indies to Mexico (New Spain), across the Pacific Ocean. The ships made one or two round-trip voyages per year between the ports of Man ...

, Spanish pilot who may have been, in 1555, one of the first Europeans to find Hawaii * Nick Gaetano, 21st century book illustrator * Paul DiGaetano (born 1953), American politician * Rino Gaetano (1950–1981), Italian singer-songwriter