It is the Portuguese word for Flemish, and it was given to the nearby beach (Praia do Flamengo, Beach of the Flemish) because it was the place where the Dutch sailor Olivier van Noort tried to invade the city in 1599.

Flamengo became only the second Brazilian club to win their state championship (2024 Campeonato Carioca), Campeonato Brasileiro, and Copa Libertadores in the same season, after Pel's 1962 Santos team.