The name "Playa Flamenco" comes from the flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) that once inhabited the nearby Flamenco Lagoon on the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico. Specifically, "flamenco" means "flamingo" in Spanish. The beach was thus named because of the presence of these vibrant birds, which created a distinctive and picturesque background during the winter months when they visited the lagoon.