Gaetano Explained

Gaetano Vinaccia
Pronunciation:	pronounced as /it/
Meaning:	"from Caieta" (now Gaeta)

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). The given name has been in use in Italy since medieval period, although it also remained in use as a byname indicating people from Gaeta, as in Thomas Cajetan 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 Gaëtan, 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 (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 Castelli (born 1938), Italian painter and set designer
Gaetano Chiaveri (c. 1689–1770), Italian architect
Gaetano Donizetti (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 (1902–1977), Canadian bandleader
Gaetano Martoriello (circa 1680–1733), Italian painter
Gaten Matarazzo (born 2002), American actor
Gaetano Merola (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 (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 (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 (1858–1941), Italian political scientist, journalist and public servant
Gaetano Polverelli (1886–1960), Italian journalist and politician
Gaetano Salvemini (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 (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, 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