there are two explanations for the name of the area: one claim is that it is derived from the portuguese word for the flemish (dutch) invaders who attacked rio during the colonial period, and the other is that it is simply a version of the word flamingo, as these birds used to frequent the local beaches.

more importantly, flamengo beach is where the modern term carioca was born as a reference to rio de janeiro's inhabitants. when the first colonial settlement was built on flamengo beach, the local indigenous tribes started to refer to the area with the words 'kara'i oca', meaning 'white house' or 'house of the white man'.