100 Italian Baby Names: Meanings & Origins

Whether you have Italian roots or you simply love the way Italian names roll off the tongue, there are many choices of Italian names for your baby boy or girl. Much like the other Romance languages, Italian baby names may have originated in Latin, or they may be Latinized versions of names from other languages.

Traditionally, Italian parents choose their children's names based on the name of a grandparent, choosing names from the father's side of the family first and then from the mother's side.

Some Italians have also followed the tradition of naming their child after a patron saint. By knowing the Italian equivalent of a name, you can keep this tradition alive even if one side of your family isn't Italian. Or, you might choose a name with ancient Roman roots.

Popular Italian Baby Names for Girls

These names include those that are popular in Italy, as well as those with Ancient Roman or Latin roots.

Alessandra

Origin: Italian form of Greek Alexandra
Meaning: Defender of mankind
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alessa, Sandra, Alexandra
Famous Namesakes: Model Alessandra Ambrósio, actress Alessandra Torresani, Italian politician Alessandra Mussolini
Peak Popularity: Alessandra has long been a popular name in Italy, though less so in recent years, reaching the 35th most popular in 2010. In the U.S. it has gained in popularity over the past two decades and ranked 368 in 2020.

Fun Fact: St. Alexandra, the Empress of Rome, was a noblewoman and the wife of Emperor Diocletian or Dacian, a Roman Prefect, who was secretly converted to Christianity and died a martyr in the year 303.

Alice

Origin: Old French, which was derived from German
Meaning: Noble type (German Adalheidis)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alicia, Alecia, Alisha, Alyce, Alys, Alise
Famous Namesakes: Writer Alice Walker, actress Alice Ghostley, St. Alice of Schaerbeek (feast day June 15 in her honor)
Peak Popularity: Alice has been a consistently popular girl's name in Italy for the past two decades, ranking 5th in 2019. In the U.S., it was in the top ten in 1906 and remained in the top 50 names through World War II before dropping slightly. Alice has had a resurgence since 2010 and was the 76th most popular in 2020.

Fun Fact: In Italian, the pronunciation of Alice is a-LEE-cheh.

Angelica

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Angelic
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anjelica, Angelique, Angela, Angelina
Famous Namesakes: Actress Anjelica Huston, singer Angelica Hale
Peak Popularity: Angelica was most popular in the 1990s in the U.S., when it ranked near the top 100.

Fun Fact: The Catholic church has honored St. Angela Merici, an educator, as well as the Blessed Angelica of Milazzo and Blessed María Angélica Pérez.

Arianna

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Most holy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ariana, Ariadna, Ariadne
Famous Namesakes: Journalist and author Arianna Huffington, singer Ariana Grande
Peak Popularity: Arianna has long been popular in Italy, ranking in the top 25 over the past couple of decades. In the U.S., it entered the top 1,000 in 1982 and reached a high of 40 in 2014.

Fun Fact: Arianna comes from Ariadne of Greek mythology. She was the daughter of King Minos who fell in love with Theseus and helped him escape the labyrinth. Abandoned by Theseus and left to die, she was rescued by Dionysus, the god of wine, revelry, and dance, whom she married and became immortal.

Aurora

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dawn, luminous, dazzling
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aurore
Famous Namesakes: Professional race car driver Aurora Straus, Harry Potter character Aurora Sinistra, and the late poet Aurora de Albornoz
Peak Popularity: Aurora was the second most popular girl name in Italy in 2019. It has surged in the U.S. since 2009 and ranked 36 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Aurora was the Roman goddess of morning.

Beatrice

Origin: Latin
Meaning: She who makes happy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Beatrix, Beatriz, Bea, Trixie
Famous Namesakes: Author Beatrix Potter, actress Beatrice Straight, Princess Beatrice of York
Peak Popularity: Beatrice has long been popular in Italy and ranked 8 in 2019. In the U.S., it was popular early in the 20th century and then fell out of favor. It ranked 550 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The Italian poet Dante Alighieri (known simply as Dante) portrays Beatrice Portinari as his guide through paradise in "Divine Comedy," which was completed in 1320—a year before his death. Beatrice is also a main character in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing."

Benedetta

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blessed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bettina
Famous Namesakes: Italian actress and model Benedetta Barzini, Italian saint Blessed Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello
Peak Popularity: Benedetta has ranked in the top 50 girl names in Italy for over 20 years. It is not in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Benedetta is the female version of Benedictus, after St. Benedict who was the founder of the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino in the sixth century and is known as the father of monasticism in the West.

Bianca

Origin: Italian
Meaning: White, pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Blanca, Blanche
Famous Namesakes: Tennis player Bianca Andreescu, human rights advocate and former actress Bianca Jagger, singer Bianca Ryan
Peak Popularity: Bianca ranked 18 in Italy in 2019. In the U.S., it ranked 423 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Shakespeare liked the name Bianca well enough to give it to characters in both "Othello" and "Taming of the Shrew."

Camilla

Origin: Latin and possibly Etruscan
Meaning: Servant for the temple, free-born, noble
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Camille, Camila, Millie, Milly
Famous Namesakes: Actress Camilla Luddington, British Royal Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Peak Popularity: Camila has been popular in Italy for decades, and was at number 19 in 2019. In the U.S., it has new popularity and was at number 257 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Camillus was an ancient Roman first name, with Camilla being used by females. A legendary warrior maiden named Camilla was featured in the "Aeneid" by the Roman poet Virgil.

Carlotta

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Free man (from Charles)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carla, Carlota
Famous Namesakes: Journalist Carlotta Gall, actress Carlotta Monti, Empress Carlota of Mexico
Peak Popularity: Carlotta is usually in the top 50 names in Italy, but it rarely makes it into the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Carlotta is the Italian version of Charlotte, which itself is the feminine version of Charles.

Carmen

Origin: Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Meaning: Ode, poem, or charm
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carmel, Carmenta
Famous Namesakes: Actress and model Carmen Electra, singer Carmen Miranda
Peak Popularity: Carmen was most popular as a girl name in the U.S. in the 1960s.

Fun Fact: Carmen can be a unisex name, although it has less popularity as a boy name than as a girl name.

Caterina

Origin: Greek, Italian, Portuguese
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Catherine, Katrina, Katarina, Tina
Famous Namesakes: Businesswoman Caterina Fake, Italian nun St. Catherine of Bologna, Italian noblewoman and queen of France Catherine (Caterina) de' Medici
Peak Popularity: Caterina has been in the top 50 girl names in Italy for the past 20 years. It is never in the top 1,000 in the U.S., where the English versions of Katherine or Catherine have always been preferred.

Fun Fact: Catherine (Caterina) de' Medici was known as the "mother of kings." An Italian noblewoman, she was the queen of France by marriage to King Henry II. Her sons became King Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. She ruled France as regent from 1560 to 1574.

Chiara

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Bright, luminous, clear
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Clair, Claire, Clara, Clare, Kiara
Famous Namesakes: Actress Chiara Zanni, Italian physicist Chiara Nappi, St. Clare (Chiara) of Assisi (feast day is August 11 in her honor)
Peak Popularity: Chiara has been in the top 10 girl names in Italy for the past 20 years and was the second most popular in 2000 and 2001. It has never been in the top 1,000 girl names in the U.S., but the variants Claire and Clara are in the top 100 in recent years.

Fun Fact: In Italian, Chiara is pronounced KYA-ra.

Claudia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Derived from Latin "claudus," meaning lame or crippled, but also an ancient Roman name for women in the patrician family
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gladys, Claude
Famous Namesakes: First Lady Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson, Italian-Tunisian actress Claudia Cardinale, model Claudia Schiffer
Peak Popularity: Claudia reached number 181 in the 1980s in the U.S. In Italy, it was number 26 in 1999.

Fun Fact: Women of the noble Roman family Claudius would bear the name Claudia, including two mentioned in the New Testament. One was the wife of Pontius Pilate and the other was St. Claudia, an early convert to Christianity.

Drusilla

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Fruitful or dewy-eyed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dru, Druscilla, Cilla, Drusa
Famous Namesakes: Drusilla (daughter of Herod Agrippa), writer Drusilla Modjeska
Peak Popularity: Drusilla has always been a rare name in the U.S., reaching a high of 612 in 1886, and it is not in the top 1,000 today.

Fun Fact: Drusilla was used as a given name by members of the Claudia family in ancient Rome.

Elena

Origin: Greek, Italian, Spanish
Meaning: Torch or light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ellen, Lena, Helen
Famous Namesakes: Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, tennis player Elena Vesnina
Peak Popularity: Elena was in the top 20 girl names in Italy from 2000 to 2011, and ranked at 27 in 2019. It is increasingly popular in the U.S., with a new high at 55 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Elena is the Italian version of Helen, who was the beautiful mythological daughter of Zeus and Leda. Helen of Troy was "the face that launched a thousand ships" and the cause of the Trojan War.

Eleonora

Origin: Greek, Italian
Meaning: Shining light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elinor, Eleanor, Eleanora, Ella, Nell, Lenora, Nora
Famous Namesakes: Holy Roman empress and queen of Bohemia Eleonora Gonzaga, Italian actress Eleonora Duse
Peak Popularity: Eleonora reached number 18 for girl names in Italy in 2002. It has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S. for over a century. However, the English variant Eleanor is making a huge surge with a new high at 22 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Eleanor and its variants became popular throughout Europe in the 12th century as Eleanor of Aquitaine was first the queen of France by marriage to Louis VII and then queen of England by marriage to Henry II. She was the mother of King Richard the Lionheart and King John and ruled as regent when Richard went on the Third Crusade.

Elisa

Origin: Greek
Meaning: My God is a vow
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eliza, Elsa, Lisa
Famous Namesakes: Actress Elisa Donovan, artist and designer Elisa Jimenez
Peak Popularity: Elisa is very popular in Italy, ranking 29th in 2019. In the U.S., it usually ranks about 500.

Fun Fact: Elisa is a form of Elisabeth and Elizabeth, used by the Italians as well as the Spanish, Portuguese, Germans, and English. In French, Elisa is Élise.

Emilia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rival or excel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Emily
Famous Namesakes: Actress Emilia Clarke
Peak Popularity: Emilia is consistently popular in Italy, ranking in the top 200. In the U.S., it has skyrocketed in popularity in the past 10 years and had a new high at 40 in 2020. The variant Emily is at number 12.

Fun Fact: Emilia is a derivative of Aemilia, which comes from the Latin nomen Aemilius. Shakespeare liked the name Emilia so much that it is a character name in "Othello," "The Comedy of Errors," and "The Winter's Tale."

Emma

Origin: German
Meaning: Whole or universal
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ema, Irma, Emily
Famous Namesakes: Actress Emma Stone, St. Emma (Hemma) of Gurk (feast day is April 19 in her honor)
Peak Popularity: Emma was the top girl name in the U.S. from 2014 to 2020 and in the top 10 in Italy since 2010, peaking at sixth place in 2019.

Fun Fact: Emma is hugely popular as a name in countries throughout Europe, North America, and South America.

Flavia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blonde, golden, yellow-haired
Famous Namesakes: Princess Flavia of Ruritania in "The Prisoner of Zenda," St. Flavia
Peak Popularity: Flavia ranked at number 56 in Italy in 2011, but it hasn't been in the top 1,000 in the U.S. since 1884.

Fun Fact: Flavius was an ancient Roman family name, carried by several Roman emperors including Constantine, the first Roman emperor who converted to Christianity.

Francesca

Origin: Latin, Italy
Meaning: Frenchman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Frances, Franca, Francine, Fran, Franny
Famous Namesakes: Italian tennis player Francesca Schiavone, photographer Francesca Woodman, author Francesca Simon
Peak Popularity: Francesca is one of the most popular names in Italy, ranking in the top 30. In the U.S. it ranked 456 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Francesca appears as a character in Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" and in Dante's "Inferno."

Gabriella

Origin: Hebrew (from Gabriel)
Meaning: Strength of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gabriela, Gabriele, Gabriel, Gabi, Gabby
Famous Namesakes: Tennis player Gabriela Sabatini, politician Gabrielle (Gabby) Giffords, actress and model Gabriella Wilde
Peak Popularity: Gabriella has surged in popularity in the U.S. since the 1990s, with a high at number 33 in 2009 and 2010.

Fun Fact: Gabriella is the feminine version of Gabriel, an angel who appears in the Old Testament, New Testament, and Quran.

Gaia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Earth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gaea
Famous Namesakes: Gaia in Greek mythology
Peak Popularity: Gaia is popular in Italy, ranking in the top 15 over the past two decades. It doesn't make the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Gaia is the personification of the planet Earth in Greek mythology, the wife and mother of the sky god Uranus, and mother of the Titans and the Giants as well as the sea god Pontus.

Giada

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Jade or precious stone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jade, Jada, Jayda, Jayde
Famous Namesakes: Italian-American chef, writer, and television personality Giada de Laurentiis, Italian author Giada Trebeschi
Peak Popularity: Giada is very popular in Italy, ranking 10th in 2006. In the U.S., the name entered the top 1,000 in 2007 and ranks in the 700s to 900s until 2013.

Fun Fact: Giada is a departure from the Italian tradition of using saint names.

Ginevra

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Fair one, white wave, blessed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Guinevere, Ginny, Jennifer, Jenny
Famous Namesakes: Fictional character Ginevra "Ginny" Weasley in the Harry Potter series
Peak Popularity: Ginevra was the fourth most popular girl name in Italy in 2019. It has never been in the top 1,000 in the U.S., where the English version Jennifer is far more common.

Fun Fact: Ginevra is the Italian spelling for Geneva, and is also the Italian variation of Guinevere, the wife of the legendary King Arthur.

Gioia

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Joy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joy
Famous Namesakes: Italian-American singer Gioia Bruno, philanthropist Gioia Marconi Braga
Peak Popularity: Gioia is increasingly popular in Italy, reaching number 34 in 2019.

Fun Fact: Gioia is also the name of a weekly women's fashion magazine published in Milan, Italy.

Giorgia

Origin: Latin, from Greek
Meaning: Farmer, agriculturist
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Georgiana, Giorgina, Gina, Georgia
Famous Namesakes: Italian singer Giorgia Todrani, artist Georgia O'Keefe
Peak Popularity: Giorgia has been in the top 10 girl names in Italy for the past 20 years, reaching number seven in 2019. It has never been in the top 1,000 in the U.S., though the alternative spelling, Georgia, appears more frequently, ranking 176 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The name day for Giorgia is April 23, in memory of San Giorgio (George) di Lydda, martyred for failing to refuse his Christian faith.

Giovanna/Gianna/Gia

Origin: Italian
Meaning: God is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gia, Gianna, Giannina, Giovannetta, Nina, Vanna
Famous Namesakes: Italian actress Gianna Maria Canale, Italian pediatrician and patron saint Gianna Beretta Molla
Peak Popularity: Gianna is the most popular variant in the U.S., ranking at a high of 12 in 2020, and Gia ranked 328 that year. In Italy, the popularity of Giovanna has slowly declined in the last 20 years.

Fun Fact: Giovanna was a popular name during the Italian Renaissance, ranking at 347 in 1427.

Giulia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: The gens Julia (Julius) was an ancient Roman patrician name, also means youthful
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Julia, Julie, Guiliana
Famous Namesakes: Italian-television entertainment reporter Giuliana Rancic, Olympic gymnast Giulia Steingruber
Peak Popularity: Giulia has often been the top girl name in Italy, and has been in the top five since 1999. It has never been in the top 1,000 in the U.S., but Julia has been perennially popular and has ranked in the top 100 for over a century.

Fun Fact: The feast day for Giulia is May 21, in memory of St. Julia the Virgin, martyred in Corsica for refusing to participate in a pagan ritual and put to death by crucifixion sometime around the year 303 (though the date is uncertain).

Ilaria

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Cheerful, merry
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hilaria, Hilary, Hillary
Famous Namesakes: Italian fencer Ilaria Salvatori, Italian journalist Ilaria Alpi, Italian virologist and former politician Ilaria Capua
Peak Popularity: Ilaria was the 17th most popular girl name in Italy in 2000. It has never been in the top 1,000 in the U.S., where Hilary and Hillary are more common.

Fun Fact: St. Hilary (Hilarius) of Poitiers was a theologian in the fourth century.

Isabella

Origin: Hebrew, Spanish, Italian; Latin form of Isabel
Meaning: Pledged or devoted to God; derived from Hebrew "God is my oath"
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Isabel, Isabela, Isabelle, Izabella, Bella
Famous Namesakes: American-Italian actress Isabella Rossellini, Queen Isabel I of Castile
Peak Popularity: Isabel is perennially popular in Italy. In the U.S., Isabella has surged in popularity and ranked seventh in 2020.

Fun Fact: Bella and Isabella became popular names in the U.S. with the success of the Twilight young adult novels.

Lara

Origin: Latin, Greek, Russian
Meaning: Bright, talkative, citadel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Larunda
Famous Namesakes: Actress Lara Flynn Boyle, journalist Lara Logan, fictional character Lara Croft
Peak Popularity: Lara is a popular name in Italy, ranking in the top 100 in for the last 20 years. While it stays in the top 1,000 in the U.S., it was most popular at 222 in 1969.

Fun Fact: Lara (Larunda) comes from the name of a Roman mythological water nymph who was overly talkative. She revealed Jupiter's affair to his wife Juno and he had her tongue removed. She had two children by the god Mercury.

Laura

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Laurel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lora, Lauretta, Loretta, Lorita
Famous Namesakes: Author Laura Ingalls Wilder, actress Laura Linney, former First Lady Laura Bush
Peak Popularity: Laura is a popular name in Italy, ranking in the top 50 in 2014. In the U.S., it was most popular in the 1970s, ranking as high as number 20, but it has since dropped to 357 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The Italian poet Petrarch penned sonnets of platonic love to Laura de Noves, the daughter of a knight.

Lelia

Origin: Latin, Greek, Italian
Meaning: Well spoken
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Laelia
Famous Namesakes: St. Lelia of Limerick, first female attorney in Massachusetts Lelia J. Robinson
Peak Popularity: Lelia was most popular in the U.S. the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Fun Fact: Laelius was an ancient Roman family name.

Livia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Envious, blue
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Liv
Famous Namesakes: Author Livia Bitton-Jackson, Livia (wife of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus), Actress Liv Tyler
Peak Popularity: Livia was rare in the U.S. before 2004, and ranked 812 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Livius was a family name in ancient Rome, and women of the family would often be called Livia. It has a different origin than the name Olivia, although it sounds like a diminutive of it.

Luciana

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lucinda, Lucy, Lucia, Luce
Famous Namesakes: Italian actress Luciana Paluzzi, Shakespearean character Luciana in "The Comedy of Errors"
Peak Popularity: Luciana was an uncommon name in the U.S., only showing up in the top 1,000 in the 1970s. It has resurged in recent years and was at 408 in 2020.

Fun Fact: This feminine name comes from Lucius, which was the most common Roman given name until the second century.

Ludovica

Origin: German
Meaning: Derived from Ludwig, which means famous warrior
Famous Namesakes: Italian Roman Catholic noblewoman Blessed Ludovica Albertoni, artist Ludovica Thornam
Peak Popularity: Ludovica was the 15th most popular girl name in Italy in 2019. It has never been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Blessed Ludovica was known for her religious ecstasies and her service to the poor. Bernini created a memorable sculpture of her.

Luisa

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Derived from Ludwig, which means famous battle
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Luisella, Louisa
Famous Namesakes: Anglo-Italian journalist Luisa Baldini, actress Luisa Bradshaw-White
Peak Popularity: Luisa is popular in Italy, with a high rank of 101 in 1999. In the U.S. it just barely breaks into the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: "Luisa Miller" is an opera by Italian composer Guiseppe Verdi.

Margherita

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Daisy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Margarita, Margaret, Greta, Rita
Famous Namesakes: Actress Greta Garbo, Italian astrophysicist and writer Margherita Hack
Peak Popularity: Margherita is among the top 50 names in Italy, and the variant Greta was the ninth most popular name in 2019. In the U.S., Margherita doesn't make the top 1,000 and Greta ranks 743 as of 2020.

Fun Fact: St. Margaret (Margherita) the Barefooted lived in 14th century Italy and walked barefooted to fit in with the poor and sick people she ministered to.

Martina

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dedicated to the Roman god Mars
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Martine, Marta, Tina
Famous Namesakes: Tennis player Martina Navratilova, singer-songwriter Martina McBride
Peak Popularity: Martina was the top girl name in Italy in 1999 and 2002 and is usually in the top five. It is much rarer in the U.S. where it dropped out of the top 1,000 in 2001.

Fun Fact: St. Martina is a patron saint of Rome. She was martyred in 228.

Mia

Origin: Latin, Hebrew, Scandinavian, Italian
Meaning: My, mine, dear, darling, loved one
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Amalia, Amelia, or Maya. Mia is also from the same root as Mary, Marie, and Maria.
Famous Namesakes: Actress Mia Farrow, soccer player Mia Hamm, choreographer Mia Michaels
Peak Popularity: Mia has skyrocketed in popularity both in Italy and the U.S. since 2010. It ranked as the eighth most popular girl name in the U.S. in 2018.

Fun Fact: While Mia is regarded as a variation of Maria, the name also means "mine" in Italian.

Paola

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Small, humble
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paula
Famous Namesakes: Queen Paola of Belgium, tennis player Paola Suárez
Peak Popularity: Paola is relatively popular in Italy, ranking 132 in 2019. In the U.S., it was most popular at number 302 in 2006.

Fun Fact: Paola is the Italian and Spanish feminine version of Paolo, or in English, Paul.

Priscilla

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Ancient, classic, primordial
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Prisca
Famous Namesakes: Actress Priscilla Presley, singer Priscilla Lane, philanthropist Priscilla Chan
Peak Popularity: Priscilla was most popular in the U.S. in the 1940s.

Fun Fact: Priscus was an ancient Roman family name, and women in the family would often be called Priscilla.

Sara

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Lady, princess, noblewoman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sarah, Sarai, Sariah
Famous Namesakes: Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, actress Sara Gilbert, author Sara Paretsky
Peak Popularity: Sara was the number one most popular girl name in Italy in 2001. It peaked in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s, dropping out of the top 100 in 2009. The variant Sarah was always more popular in the U.S. and was in the top 10 from 1978 to 2002.

Fun Fact: In the book of Genesis in the Old Testament, Sarah was the wife of Abraham and, as the mother of Isaac, was childless until she was 90 years old.

Serena

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Clear, tranquil, serene
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sarina, Serina, Sabrina
Famous Namesakes: Tennis player Serena Williams, journalist Serena Altschul
Peak Popularity: Serena ranked in the top 50 girl names in Italy until 2016. In the U.S., it reached a high of 209 in 2000.

Fun Fact: During the late Western Roman Empire, Serena was a Christian noblewoman and niece of the Emperor Theodosius. She was wrongly accused for conspiring with the Visigoths and executed in 409.

Sofia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Wisdom, skill
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sophia, Sophie, Sofiya
Famous Namesakes: Filmmaker Sofia Coppola, Italian actress Sophia Loren (birth name Sofia), model Sofia Richie
Peak Popularity: Sofia was in the top 10 girl names in Italy from 2002 to 2019. It has been in the top 20 in the U.S. since 2011, but Sophia is even more popular, ranking first from 2011 to 2013.

Fun Fact: Sophia Loren was one of the most popular actresses in the world in the 1960s. She is notable for winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in a non-English-speaking performance in "Two Women."

Valentina

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Strong, healthy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tina, Val
Famous Namesakes: Engineer and former cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, mixed martial artist Valentina Shevchenko
Peak Popularity: Valentina was as high as 11 in Italy in 1999. It is skyrocketing in popularity in the U.S. and had a new high at 73 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Valentinus is an ancient Roman cognomen, a third name which distinguished different branches of families.

Veronica

Origin: Latin
Meaning: She who brings victory; true image
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Veronika, Ronnie, Roni
Famous Namesakes: Actress Veronica Lake, singer Veronica Ballestrini
Peak Popularity: Veronica is in the top 100 names in Italy, and it had its peak in the top 100 in the U.S. in the 1970s and 80s.

Fun Fact: Although not depicted in the Bible, St. Veronica was said to have wiped the face of Jesus as he carried his cross to Golgotha. The image of his face was miraculously transferred to her veil. This is commemorated in the sixth station of the cross in the Catholic tradition, and identified with a marker in Jerusalem.

Viola

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Purple
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Violetta, Violeta, Violette, Violet
Famous Namesakes: Actress Viola Davis
Peak Popularity: Viola is very popular in Italy, reaching number 13 in 2012. In the U.S., it was most popular over a century ago, and fell out of the top 1,000 in 1973.

Fun Fact: Viola was a character in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night."

Vittoria

Origin: Latin, Italian
Meaning: Victory, triumphant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Victoria, Tori, Vicki, Vikki, Vicky
Famous Namesakes: Italian poet Vittoria Colonna, Grand Duchess of Tuscany Vittoria della Rovere
Peak Popularity: Vittoria has ranked in the top 20 girl names in Italy from 2012 to 2019. It has never ranked in the top 1,000 in the U.S. where the English form of Victoria is much more common.

Fun Fact: Victoria was the Roman goddess of victory, similar to the Greek goddess, Nike.

Popular Italian Baby Names for Boys

These names for boys are popular in Italy. Many have ancient Roman roots, while others are Italian versions of names from other languages.

Alessandro

Origin: Italian form of Latin Alexander and Greek Alexandros
Meaning: Defender of humankind
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alex, Sandro, Alejandro
Famous Namesakes: Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi), Italian basketball player Alessandro "Sandro" Gamba
Peak Popularity: Alessandro has been in the top five boy names in Italy for more than 20 years. It is rarer in the U.S. and was at number 623 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The name day (onomastico) for Alessandro is August 26 in honor of the martyr St. Alexander, patron saint of Bergamo.

Alessio

Origin: Italian form of Latin Alexius and Greek Alexios
Meaning: Defender
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alexis, Alexius, Alexei
Famous Namesakes: Italian soccer player Alessio Cerci
Peak Popularity: Alessio is a popular name in Italy, ranking as high as 14 in 1999. It has never been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: St. Alessio Falconieri came from a wealthy family in Florence and was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order, in which monks lived lives of poverty and penance.

Andrea

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Force, courage, bravery
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Andre, Andreas, Andrew, Andrei
Famous Namesakes: Italian painter Andrea del Verrocchio, Italian singer-songwriter Andrea Bocelli, physician Andrea Vesalius
Peak Popularity: Andrea is a top name for boys in Italy, ranking first in 2000 and fifth in 2019. In the U.S., it is only rarely used as a boy's name and instead ranks in the top 100 for girls.

Fun Fact: The feast day for Andrea is November 30 in honor of St. Andrew (Andreas) the Apostle.

Angelo

Origin: Latin, from Angelus
Meaning: Angel or messenger from God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Angel, Anjel, Angiolo
Famous Namesakes: Italian soccer player Angelo Peruzzi, Italian astronomer Angelo Secci
Peak Popularity: Angelo ranked in the top 50 names for boys in Italy until 2017. In the U.S., it ranks around 300 with the more popular variant, Angelo, ranking around 70.

Fun Fact: The name day for Angelo is May 5 in honor of St. Angelus of Jerusalem.

Antonio

Origin: Etruscan, derived from Latin Antonius
Meaning: Ancient Roman family name
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anthony, Tony, Anton, Antoni
Famous Namesakes: Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, actor Antonio Banderas, General Antonio López de Santa Anna
Peak Popularity: Antonio is in the top 20 boy names in Italy and was in the top 100 in the U.S. from 1972 to 2007.

Fun Fact: The most famous member of the Roman family of Antonius is Mark Antony who was a lover of Cleopatra. He ruled the Roman Empire in the triumvirate with Caesar Augustus and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.

Carlo

Origin: Italian, Spanish, German
Meaning: Man or free man (from Karl)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carl, Carlos, Charles
Famous Namesakes: Italian particle physicist Carlo Rubbia, Italian politician and 49th Prime Minister of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Italian-American mobster Carlo Gambino
Peak Popularity: Carlo ranks around the top 60 for boy names in Italy. In the U.S., it is less common, falling out of the top 1,000 in 2012, with the variant Carl being somewhat more popular.

Fun Fact: Carlo is the Italian version of Charles.

Carmine

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Poem, song, or garden
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carmelo, Carmen, Carmelino
Famous Namesakes: Actor Carmine Giovinazzo, composer Carmine Coppola, comic book artist Carmine Infantino
Peak Popularity: Carmine is in the top 100 boy names in Italy. In the U.S., Carmine was most popular in the first half of the 20th century. It fell out of the top 1,000 in 2008.

Fun Fact: The pigment carmine is extracted from scale insects that grow on cacti. It is used as a natural food coloring and in lipstick.

Christian

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Follower of Christ
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cristian, Cristiano
Famous Namesakes: Soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, actor Christian Bale, fashion designer Christian Dior
Peak Popularity: Christian ranks in the top 25 boy names in Italy, and peaked at 21 in the U.S. in 2006.

Fun Fact: Ten Danish kings have been named Christian.

Claudio

Origin: Latin
Meaning: From the patrician Roman family name "Claudius," meaning lame or crippled
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Claudius, Claude, Claudi
Famous Namesakes: Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi, Italian conductor Claudio Abbado, soccer player Claudio Reyna
Peak Popularity: Claudio is in the top 100 names for boys in Italy. It is rarely seen in the U.S., only breaking the top 1,000 in the late 1960s into the early 80s.

Fun Fact: Shakespeare included characters named Claudio in "Measure for Measure" and "Much Ado About Nothing."

Cosimo

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Order, decency
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cosmo, Cosma, Cosmas, Kosmas
Famous Namesakes: Italian merchant and prince Cosimo de Medici of Florence
Peak Popularity: Cosimo usually ranks near the top 100 in Italy. It is uncommon in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Saints Cosmas and Damian were brothers thought to be twins who were martyred in the fourth century. They are the patron saints of physicians.

Daniele

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my judge
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Danilo, Daniel, Dan, Dannie, Danny
Famous Namesakes: Italian artist Daniele da Volterra, Italian soccer player Daniele De Rossi
Peak Popularity: Daniele is the most popular form of Daniel in Italy, ranking in the top 20 in the early 2000s. It is uncommon in the U.S. where Daniel was in the top 15 from 2000 to 2020.

Fun Fact: In the Bible, Daniel is best known for being thrown into the lion's den and surviving due to angelic intervention. The feast day for St. Daniel is July 21.

Davide

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Beloved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: David, Dave, Davey, Davie, Davy
Famous Namesakes: Italian race car driver Davide Valsecchi
Peak Popularity: Davide has consistently ranked in the top 20 boy names in Italy from 2000 to 2019. It is uncommon in the U.S., where David is in the top 30 names instead.

Fun Fact: The feast day for Davide is December 29 in honor of King David, who wrote the Psalms and is considered an ancestor of Jesus.

Diego

Origin: Spanish, Greek, Latin
Meaning: Doctrine or teaching (Greek/Latin) or a form of Santiago (Spanish)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Santiago, Sandiego
Famous Namesakes: Soccer player Diego Maradona, artist Diego Rivera, conquistador Diego Velazquez de Cuéllar
Peak Popularity: Diego was the 16th most popular boy name in Italy in 2019. In the U.S., it was uncommon until the 1960s when it started to climb. It was at a high of number 56 in 2006.

Fun Fact: The name day for Diego is that of St. Didacus Alcalá on November 13.

Domenico

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of the Lord
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dom Domenic, Domenick, Dominik, Domingo
Famous Namesakes: Italian painter Domenico Ghirlandaio, Italian mathematician and astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, Italian-American businessman Domenico Canale
Peak Popularity: Domenico is in the top 50 names for boys in Italy. It is rare in the U.S. where Dominic is preferred and ranks in the top 100.

Fun Fact: The name Domenico was traditionally given to children born on Sunday.

Edoardo

Origin: Italian, from Old English Edward
Meaning: Rich guard
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Edward, Eduardo, Ed
Famous Namesakes: Italian director Edoardo Ponti (son of actress Sophia Loren), fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti
Peak Popularity: Edoardo was the 10th most popular boy name in Italy in 2019. It is uncommon in other countries. In the U.S., Edward is preferred, but it is becoming less popular, falling below the top 100 in 1998.

Fun Fact: The feast day for Blessed Bishop Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz is May 3.

Elia

Origin: Hebrew, from Eliana and Elijah
Meaning: God has answered
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elijah, Eliya, Elias, Ilias, Eli
Famous Namesakes: Director Elia Kazan, Italian cyclist Elia Viviani
Peak Popularity: Elia ranked 28 in Italy in 2019, but this form is rare in the U.S. where Elijah was the fourth most popular name in 2020.

Fun Fact: Elijah was one of the main prophets of the Old Testament. Rather than dying, he was carried to heaven on a chariot of fire.

Emanuele

Origin: Hebrew, from Emmanuel
Meaning: God is with us
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Manuel, Manuele, Emmanuel
Famous Namesakes: Former Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, Italian racing driver Emanuele Pirro
Peak Popularity: Emanuele is consistently popular, ranking 33 in 2019 in Italy. It is rare in the U.S., where Emmanuel is more popular, ranking 150 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice and the heir to the last king of Italy Umberto II, was a contestant in the Italian version of "Dancing With the Stars."

Emiliano

Origin: Italian and Spanish, from Latin Aemilianus
Meaning: Rival
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Emil, Emilio
Famous Namesakes: Soccer player Emiliano Sala, Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata
Peak Popularity: Emiliano ranks in the top 200 in Italy. It is newly popular in the U.S. since 1997, and ranked at a new high of 175 in 2020. The variant, Emilio, ranked at 229 that same year.

Fun Fact: Emiliano comes from the ancient Roman cognomen Aemilianus.

Federico

Origin: From German, Friedrich
Meaning: Peaceful ruler
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Federigo, Fredo, Frederick, Fredric, Fred
Famous Namesakes: Poet Federico García Lorca, Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini
Peak Popularity: Federico consistently ranks in the top 15 boy names in Italy. It is uncommon in the U.S., where Frederick usually ranks around 500.

Fun Fact: Frederick was a common name for rulers of the Holy Roman Empire.

Filippo

Origin: From Greek, Philippos
Meaning: Friend of horses
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Phillip, Filip, Phil, Felipe
Famous Namesakes: Italian painter Fra Filippo Lippi, St. Philip Neri
Peak Popularity: Filippo consistently ranks in the top 25 boy names in Italy, and was popular during the Italian Renaissance. It is rare in the U.S., where Philip is preferred, but even that name has taken a dive to 451 in 2020.

Fun Fact: St. Philip was one of the 12 apostles in the New Testament. The feast day is celebrated on May 3 in the West.

Francesco

Origin: From Latin, Francis
Meaning: Free one
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Franco, Francis, Frans, Frank
Famous Namesakes: Italian sculptor Francesco Laurana, Italian scholar and poet Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch), St. Francis of Assisi
Peak Popularity: Francesco has been the top name for boys in Italy since 2001. It rarely breaks into the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: The name day for Francesco is October 4 in memory of Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy.

Gabriele/Gabriel

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my strength or God's warrior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gabriel, Gabe, Gabi, Gavril
Famous Namesakes: Actor Gabriel Byrne, novelist Gabriel García Márquez
Peak Popularity: In Italy, Gabriele ranks in the top 10 boy names, while Gabriel is in the top 35. In the U.S., Gabriel peaked at 21 in 2010 and Gabriele is an uncommon name for boys.

Fun Fact: The feast day for Gabriele and Gabriel is September 29 in honor of St. Gabriel the Archangel.

Giacomo

Origin: From Latin, Jacobus
Meaning: The supplanter (Hebrew)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: James, Jacob
Famous Namesakes: Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, Italian adventurer and author Giacomo Casanova
Peak Popularity: Giacomo ranks in the top 40 names in Italy, but it is rare elsewhere.

Fun Fact: Giacomo is an Italian name for James and Jacob. Two of the 12 apostles were named James.

Gioele

Origin: Latin, Greek, Hebrew
Meaning: Jehova is his God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joel
Famous Namesakes: Italian cyclist Gioele Bertolini
Peak Popularity: Gioele reached a new high of popularity in Italy at number 31 in 2018, and ranked 35 in 2019. It is rarely seen in other countries, but Joel ranks at 207 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Joel is a prophet in the Christian Old Testament and Hebrew Bible.

Giorgio

Origin: Italian, from Greek
Meaning: Earth worker, farmer
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gino, George, Giorgino
Famous Namesakes: Former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, Italian soccer player Giorgio Chiellini, Italian composer Giorgio Moroder
Peak Popularity: Giorgio consistently ranks in the top 50 in Italy, and was popular during the Italian Renaissance. It is rare in the U.S., where George ranks in the top 150.

Fun Fact: St. George was a Roman soldier who was martyred in the early fourth century. Legends grew about him slaying a dragon, and he is often depicted in that endeavor in medieval art.

Giovanni

Origin: Hebrew and Italian
Meaning: God is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gian, Gianni, Giannino, Nino, Vanni, John
Famous Namesakes: Actor Giovanni Ribisi, Italian painter Giovanni Bellini, Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace
Peak Popularity: Giovanni is consistently in the top 20 names in Italy. In the U.S., it has surged in popularity and ranked 120 in 2020. The variant Gianni had a new high at 354 that same year.

Fun Fact: Giovanni is the Italian version of John. The feast day for St. John the Baptist is celebrated on June 24.

Giulio

Origin: From Latin, Julius
Meaning: Roman family name meaning youth; origin unknown. It could come from the Roman god Jupiter, or it could be derived from the Greek "Joulus," meaning downy-bearded.
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Julius, Julio
Famous Namesakes: Italian politician Giulio Andreotti, Italian composer Giulio Romolo Caccini, Roman dictator Gaius Julius Caesar
Peak Popularity: Giulio usually ranks in the top 50 boy names in Italy. It is rare in the U.S.

Fun Fact: The Roman family Julius believed they were descendants from Aeneas, the son of Aphrodite and Anchises.

Giuseppe

Origin: Italian from Hebrew, Yosef (Joseph)
Meaning: God will add
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joseph, Beppe, Peppe, Jose, Jo, Joe, Joey
Famous Namesakes: Italian military leader Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte
Peak Popularity: Giuseppe is consistently in the top 15 boy names in Italy. It is rare in the U.S., where Joseph is preferred and ranked 26 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Giuseppe is the Italian name for Joseph.

Jacopo

Origin: From Latin, Iacobus
Meaning: Follower of God; God has protected
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jacob, Iacopo, Giacobbe, Giacomo, Lapo
Famous Namesakes: Italian painter Jacopo Tintoretto (Comin), Italian composer Jacopo Corsi, Italian author and archbishop Blessed Jacopo De Fazio (Jacobus da Varagine)
Peak Popularity: Jacopo ranks in the top 40 names for boys in Italy. It is rare elsewhere.

Fun Fact: Jacopo comes from the same root as Giacomo.

Leonardo

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Brave lion
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Leonard, Leo
Famous Namesakes: Italian polymath and Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Italian mathematician Leonardo Bonacci (Fibonacci of Pisa)
Peak Popularity: Leonardo had a new high at the number one most popular name in Italy in 2018. It has been rising sharply in the U.S. and broke into the top 100 in 2016.

Fun Fact: The feast day for Leonardo is November 6 in memory of St. Leonard of Noblac who died in the sixth century.

Lorenzo

Origin: Italian and Spanish from Latin, Laurentius
Meaning: Ancient Roman surname meaning from the laurel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Enzo, Renzo, Loris, Laurence, Lawrence
Famous Namesakes: Italian statesman Lorenzo de' Medici, Italian Renaissance artist Lorenzo Ghiberti, actor Lorenzo Lamas
Peak Popularity: Lorenzo is in the top five names in Italy. In the U.S., it rose into the top 200 in 2017.

Fun Fact: St. Lawrence is the patron saint of cooks and comedians due to his quip while being roasted alive on a gridiron, "Turn me over, this side is done."

Luca

Origin: Italian from Greek, Loukas; possibly Latin, Lucus
Meaning: From Lucania in southern Italy; possibly "sacred wood"
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lucas, Luc, Luke
Famous Namesakes: Italian sculptor Luca della Robbia
Peak Popularity: Luca was most popular in Italy at number five in 1999 and 25 in 2019. It is gaining popularity sharply in the U.S. and was at 67 in 2020, while Lucas ranked eighth most popular.

Fun Fact: St. Luke (also known as St. Luke the Evangelist) was a physician who traveled with the apostle Paul. He was the author of the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

Luigi

Origin: From German, Ludwig, and Latin, Ludovicus
Meaning: Famous warrior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lodovico, Ludovico, Gino, Luigino, Louis, Luis
Famous Namesakes: Italian novelist and dramatist Luigi Pirandello, Italian physician and physicist Luigi Galvani
Peak Popularity: Luigi is in the top 50 boy names in Italy. It has rarely been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Luigi is one of the Mario Brothers in the Nintendo video game franchise.

Marco

Origin: Latin and Estrucan, from Marcus
Meaning: To harvest, also associated with Mars, the Roman god of war
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marcus, Mark, Marko, Markus
Famous Namesakes: Italian merchant and explorer Marco Polo, soccer player Marco Fabián, politician and U.S. senator Marco Rubio
Peak Popularity: Marco was in the top 10 names in Italy in the early 2000s and dropped to 23 in 2019. In the U.S., it ranks in the 300s and is decreasing in popularity.

Fun Fact: Mark is ascribed as the author of the second gospel and is the patron saint of Venice.

Mario

Origin: Latin, probably of Estrucan origin, from Marius
Meaning: Mars, the Roman god of war
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marius
Famous Namesakes: Italian-American retired racing driver Mario Andretti, politician and former New York governor Mario Cuomo, actor and television host Mario Lopez
Peak Popularity: Mario was in the top 50 names in Italy until 2016. In the U.S., it was most popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

Fun Fact: Mario comes from the Roman family name Marius, held by the Roman general and consul Gaius Marius, among others.

Matteo

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mateo, Matthew, Mathew, Matt
Famous Namesakes: Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi, Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci
Peak Popularity: Matteo has been in the top 10 boy names in Italy since the year 2000, and dropped to 11 in 2019. It is skyrocketing in popularity in the U.S., breaking into the top 200 in 2015. But the variant Mateo is even more popular, ranking with a new high of 20 in 2020.

Fun Fact: St. Matthew was a tax collector called to be one of the apostles and is ascribed the authorship of the first gospel in the New Testament.

Mattia

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Matthew, Mathew, Matt, Matthias, Matias, Mattheaus
Famous Namesakes: Italian soccer player Mattia De Sciglio
Peak Popularity: Mattia has been in the top 10 boy names in Italy since 2003, and was third most popular in 2015. It is rare in the U.S., but the Spanish version Matias ranked at 216 in 2020 and Matthias ranked at 435.

Fun Fact: Mattia comes from St. Matthias, the apostle called to replace Judas Iscariot.

Michele

Origin: Hebrew, Latin
Meaning: Who is like God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Michael, Micheal, Mikael, Michal, Mike, Mick, Mickey, Miguel, Mikhail
Famous Namesakes: Italian businessman Michele Ferrero, Italian racing driver Michele Alboreto, banned Italian sports physician Michele Ferrari
Peak Popularity: Michele is in the top 30 names for boys in Italy. In the U.S., it is rarely used, with Michael being preferred.

Fun Fact: Michele Ferrero invented Nutella and developed a chocolate empire. He was the richest person in Italy and 20th richest worldwide when he died in 2015.

Nicola/Nicolo

Origin: Latin, from Greek, Nikolaos
Meaning: Victory of the people
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Niccolo, Nicolao, Nicolas, Nicholas, Nico, Niko
Famous Namesakes: Italian violinist Niccolo Paganini, Italian merchant and explorer Niccolo de Conti, Italian sculptor Nicola Pisano
Peak Popularity: In Italy, Nicolo ranks in the top 20 while Nicola is in the top 50 for boys. These names are rare in the U.S., with Nicola used mostly as a female name during the 1970s. Nicholas is the more popular form and was in the top ten in the early 2000s. It ranked in the top 100 in 2018.

Fun Fact: St. Nicholas, also known as the Wonderworker, is the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants, among others.

Paolo

Origin: From Latin, Paulus
Meaning: Small or humble
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paulus, Paul, Pablo
Famous Namesakes: Author Paulo Coelho de Souza, Former Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Italian painter and mathematician Paolo Uccello
Peak Popularity: Paolo ranked in the top 50 in popularity for boys in Italy until 2015. It is an uncommon name in the U.S., where Paul is preferred.

Fun Fact: Paulus was an ancient Roman family name. St. Paul (originally Saul of Tarsus) was a Jewish Roman citizen who adopted the name upon his conversion to Christianity.

Pasquale

Origin: From Latin, Paschalis
Meaning: Relating to Easter
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pasqual, Pascal, Pasco, Pascale, Pasqualino, Lino
Famous Namesakes: Italian opera composer Pasquale Anfossi
Peak Popularity: Pasquale has ranked as high as 50 in Italy in 1999. It hasn't been in the top 1,000 in the U.S. since 1973.

Fun Fact: The root of Pasquale, paschalis, relates to the time around Easter and Passover. It might be given to a child born that time of year.

Pietro

Origin: From Greek, Petros
Meaning: Stone or rock
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Peter, Piero, Petrus, Pier, Pierre, Piotr
Famous Namesakes: Italian painter Pietro Perugino, Italian general and political leader Pietro Badoglio, Olympic sprinter Pietro Paolo Mennea
Peak Popularity: Pietro is in the top 25 names in Italy, but it is uncommon in the U.S., where Peter is preferred.

Fun Fact: Pietro is the Italian name for St. Peter, the apostle who is considered to be the first pope.

Riccardo

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Brave; powerful or great leader
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ricardo, Richard, Rich, Rick
Famous Namesakes: Actor Ricardo Montalbán, American-Italian astrophysicist Riccardo Giacconi, Italian conductor Riccardo Muti
Peak Popularity: Riccardo was the ninth most popular name in Italy in 2019, but it is uncommon in the U.S. The variant Ricardo is more popular and had its high point in the 1990s.

Fun Fact: The name day for Riccardo is April 3 in honor of Richard of Chichester (died 1253).

Romeo

Origin: Italian, from Latin, Romaeus
Meaning: A pilgrim to Rome; from Rome; a Roman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Roman, Roma, Romano
Famous Namesakes: Singer Romeo Santos
Peak Popularity: Romeo has surged in popularity in both Italy and the U.S. in recent years. It ranked 151 in Italy in 2019 and 377 in the U.S. in 2020.

Fun Fact: Romeo is best known as one half of the young star-crossed lovers in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

Salvatore

Origin: From Latin
Meaning: Savior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sal, Salvador, Salvator, Salvo, Tory
Famous Namesakes: Medal of Honor recipient Salvatore Giunta, singer, actor, and politician Salvatore "Sonny" Bono, Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo
Peak Popularity: Salvatore is in the top 40 boy names in Italy. It was most popular in the U.S. in the 1920s, breaking into the top 150.

Fun Fact: Several notable gangsters and mafiosos were named Salvatore, including the birth name of Italian mobster Charles "Lucky" Luciano.

Samuel/Samuele

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Name of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sam, Sammy, Sami, Ismaiel, Ismael, Ismail, Ishmael
Famous Namesakes: Politician and a leader of the Texas Revolution Sam Houston, actor Sam Shepard, novelist and playwright Samuel Beckett, singer Sam Cooke
Peak Popularity: Samuele and Samuel are both popular in Italy, but Samuele wins at number 20 for 2019 while Samuel was at number 41. Always in the top 50 in the U.S., Samuel reached a high of 21 from 2016 to 2018, which it has not seen since the late 1800s.

Fun Fact: The feast day for St. Samuel is August 20.

Simone

Origin: Hebrew; Greek
Meaning: God has heard or flat-nosed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Simon, Simeon, Symeon, Shimon
Famous Namesakes: Italian painter Simone Martini, Italian tennis player Simone Bolelli
Peak Popularity: Simone was in the top 10 boy names in Italy from 1999 to 2006, and ranked at 26 in 2019. It is primarily a feminine name in the U.S.

Fun Fact: The name day for St. Simon the Zealot is October 28.

Stefano

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Crown or victorious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Stephano, Stephen, Steven, Stevan, Stefan, Steffan, Esteban, Steve, Stefen, Stefon, Stephon, Stevon
Famous Namesakes: Italian fashion designer and co-founder of Dolce & Gabbana Stefano Gabbana, Italian Olympic marathoner Stefano Baldini, singer Stefano Langone
Peak Popularity: Stefano is in the top 50 boy names in Italy. It is rare in the U.S. where its equivalent Stephen was most popular in the late 1940s through the 1960s when it ranked in the top 25. Since 2000, it has dropped out of the top 100.

Fun Fact: Shakespeare included characters named Stephano in both "The Merchant of Venice" and "The Tempest."

Tommaso/Thomas

Origin: From Aramaic, Taóma
Meaning: Twin; equal to himself
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tomas, Thom, Tommy, Toma, Tom
Famous Namesakes: Founding Father and third president of the United States Thomas Jefferson, Italian theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, Olympic swimmer Tommaso D'Orsogna
Peak Popularity: Tommaso is in the top 10 boy names for Italy, with Thomas in the top 40. In the U.S., Tommaso is rare, with Thomas being preferred and entering the top 50 in 2016.

Fun Fact: The name day for Tommaso and Thomas is January 28 in honor of the philosopher and friar St. Thomas Aquinas (died 1274).

Valentino

Origin: From Latin, Valentinus
Meaning: Strong, healthy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tino, Val, Valenti, Valent, Valente, Valentin
Famous Namesakes: Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, Italian actor Valentino Musetti, Italian motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi
Peak Popularity: Valentino ranks about 100 in Italy. It reached a new high in the U.S. at 619 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Valentinus was an ancient Roman family name. St. Valentine's feast day is February 14.

Vincenzo

Origin: Latin
Meaning: To conquer or win
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vincente, Enzo, Vincent
Famous Namesakes: Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, Italian cyclist Vincenzo Nibali, philanthropist and television personality Vincenzo Guzzo, Italian entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari
Peak Popularity: Vincenzo is in the top 40 names in Italy. It ranked at 736 in the U.S. in 2020. The variant Enzo is popular at number 173 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Vincentius was an ancient Roman family name. The name day for Vincenzo is January 22, for St. Vincent of Saragossa, who was martyred in the year 304.

6 Sources

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Italian Geneology. Italian naming traditions and their ramifications.
Italian National Institute of Statistics. How many babies are named ...?
Vatican News. St. Julia, Virgin and Martyr of Corsica.
Sivan H. Galla Placidia: The Last Roman Empress. New York: Oxford University Press; 2011.
English Heritage. 9 Things You Didn't Know About St. George.
Bramen L. To Grill or Not to Grill: Commemorating a Saint’s Martyrdom. Smithsonian Magazine.

By Wendy Bumgardner
Wendy Bumgardner is a freelance writer covering walking and other health and fitness topics and has competed in more than 1,000 walking events.

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