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.

Since then, they have remained successful in Brazilian football, having won 7 Campeonato Brasileiro Srie A, the 1987 Copa Unio, 4 Copa do Brasil, and a record 37 Campeonato Carioca.