Gaetano Name Meaning & Origin: What Does It Mean In Italian?
07 March 2024 by Gaetano DiNardi
My grandfather Gaetano passed away on October 14th, 2023. He was the patriarch of my family. Since I am named after him, I’ve reflected upon how two men with the same name (Gaetano), same blood, from one generation apart have grown to serve the world in different ways.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME, GAETANO?
The name Gaetano is derived from “Gaeta” which is a historical city located in the Italian province of Lazio, roughly 50 miles from Napoli.
The modern popularity of the name comes from Saint Gaetano Catanoso – a devout Italian priest who possessed divine healing powers. Research from the Vatican confirmed that Saint Gaetano was responsible for two healing miracles documented in Italy in the mid 1900’s.
WHAT DOES GAETANO MEAN IN ITALIAN?
The name Gaetano is pronounced like: Guy-tano.
The short name or nick name in English is typically Nino, although many people think it’s Thomas or Tommy.
Thomas in Italian is actually translated to Tommaso. Gaetano in English is Cajetan.
The first name of Cardinal Cajetan first name was Tommaso di Vio Gaetano.
GRANDPA GAETANO’S CALLING
Now that you know my grandfather & I were named after Saint Gaetano, let’s get into the interesting stuff. Like most Italian immigrants, my grandfather came to the United States with nothing.
He and my grandmother, Luisa, both came here chasing the classic American Dream. They were flat broke, illiterate, scared, but had one common goal – to create a better life for themselves and our family.
Reflecting back on the journey my grandparents made, it’s pretty remarkable what they were able to accomplish with all those odds against them. After working odd jobs in construction and factories for several years, they were finally able to save up enough money to open their own restaurant.
Here’s a video I put together of my Grandpa Gaetano taking us back to the old glory days. He gets jazzy with his pizza techniques and talks about the components of a great pizza, along with some life lessons. Just a note, he mentions my grandmother Luisa who is no longer with us. She sadly passed away a few months ago after a 17 year battle with cancer.
TRIBUTE TO MY GRANDMA LUISA
After my grandmother’s passing, I wrote and produced a heartfelt tribute to her titled, “Angel Back.” She loved angels. She used to give me pendants of Saint Michael, The Arch-Angel to keep on me. When I reflect on everything, I certainly know God exists because he placed an angel as beautiful and loving as my grandmother to be a part of my life. For that, I’m forever grateful.
ME AND MY GRANDPA GAETANO
It was a blessing to have all 4 of my grandparents become a part of my life. Although this article in particular is a reflection of my grandpa’s birthday, the truth is that all 4 of my grandparents made a long lasting impact on my life.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY GRANDPARENTS: GAETANO & LUISA DINARDI
To get in touch with Gaetano, follow him on Instagram: @official_gaetano
