Italian Names
Italian names carry centuries of history in a few musical syllables. Most come from Latin, the Bible or the calendar of saints, and many families still pass down the grandparents’ names, so a Giuseppe or a Maria turns up in almost every generation. Below are more than 70 favorites, from the names topping Italy’s birth charts today to the surnames you’ll find on shop signs from Milan to Palermo.
Each name comes with its real meaning. For longer lists, see our pages of Italian boy names, Italian girl names and Italian last names. If you love the ancient roots behind them, our Latin names go back even further.
Italian Names: browse all lists
Popular Italian boy names today
These names regularly appear near the top of Italy’s national birth statistics (ISTAT). Browse our full list of Italian boy names for 100 more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Leonardo | Brave lion | Germanic, via Latin leo |
| Francesco | Frenchman; made famous by St. Francis of Assisi | Latin Franciscus |
| Alessandro | Defender of men | Greek Alexandros |
| Lorenzo | From Laurentum, a town linked to laurel | Latin Laurentius |
| Mattia | Gift of God | Hebrew, via Greek |
| Tommaso | Twin | Aramaic |
| Gabriele | God is my strength | Hebrew |
| Riccardo | Brave ruler | Germanic |
| Edoardo | Wealthy guardian | Old English Eadweard |
| Andrea | Manly, brave (a boy’s name in Italy) | Greek |
| Matteo | Gift of God | Hebrew, via Latin Matthaeus |
| Giuseppe | He will add | Hebrew Yosef |
Popular Italian girl names today
Soft vowel endings give Italian girl names their lyrical sound. For many more, see our Italian girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Sofia | Wisdom | Greek |
| Aurora | Dawn | Latin; Roman goddess of the dawn |
| Giulia | From the Roman family name Julius | Latin |
| Ginevra | Italian form of Guinevere; also “juniper” | Welsh / Italian |
| Vittoria | Victory | Latin |
| Beatrice | She who brings happiness; Dante’s muse | Latin |
| Ludovica | Famous warrior | Germanic |
| Matilde | Strength in battle | Germanic |
| Chiara | Clear, bright | Latin clara |
| Bianca | White, fair | Italian |
| Camilla | Possibly “attendant at religious rites” | Latin |
| Gioia | Joy | Italian |
Timeless Italian names with famous namesakes
These classics have been used for centuries and are recognized everywhere, which is why so many Italian-American families chose them too.
| Name | Meaning | Famous namesake |
|---|---|---|
| Dante | Enduring, steadfast | Poet Dante Alighieri |
| Giovanni | God is gracious | Giovanni Boccaccio, author |
| Marco | Of Mars, the Roman war god | Explorer Marco Polo |
| Luca | Man from Lucania (southern Italy) | Painter Luca della Robbia |
| Enzo | Short form of names like Lorenzo and Vincenzo | Carmaker Enzo Ferrari |
| Galileo | From Galilee | Astronomer Galileo Galilei |
| Lucia | Light | St. Lucy of Syracuse |
| Isabella | God is my oath | Isabella d’Este, Renaissance patron |
| Caterina | Pure | St. Catherine of Siena |
| Rosa | Rose | Countless Italian grandmothers |
| Elena | Torch, bright light | Author Elena Ferrante (pen name) |
| Maria | Italian form of Mary; possibly “beloved” | The Virgin Mary |
Common Italian last names and what they mean
Many Italian surnames began as descriptions of hair color, trade or hometown. Our full guide to Italian last names explains 100 of them; compare them with Spanish last names, which follow similar patterns.
| Surname | Meaning | Where it’s common |
|---|---|---|
| Rossi | Red-haired | Most common surname in Italy, especially the north |
| Russo | Red-haired (southern form) | Southern Italy and Sicily |
| Ferrari | Blacksmith | Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna |
| Esposito | Exposed; once given to foundlings | Naples and Campania |
| Bianchi | White-haired or fair | Northern Italy |
| Romano | From Rome | Nationwide, especially the south |
| Colombo | Dove | Lombardy, especially Milan |
| Ricci | Curly-haired | Central and northern Italy |
| Greco | Greek | Southern Italy |
| Bruno | Brown-haired | Nationwide |
| Conti | Count (the noble title) | Central Italy |
| De Luca | Son of Luca | Southern and central Italy |
| Moretti | Little Moor; dark-haired | Northern and central Italy |
| Marino | Of the sea | Coastal regions, Sicily |
| Giordano | Jordan (the river) | Southern Italy |
| Lombardi | From Lombardy | Central and southern Italy |
Italian nicknames and family diminutives
Italians rarely use full names at home. Diminutive endings like -ino, -etto and -uccio, or a doubled first syllable, create affectionate short forms. See more ideas in our nicknames collection.
| Nickname | Short for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Beppe | Giuseppe | Warm and informal; also Peppe and Peppino |
| Gigi | Luigi | Also used for Luigia and Gilda |
| Pippo | Filippo | Also Goofy’s name in Italian |
| Totò | Salvatore or Antonio | Famous Neapolitan comic actor |
| Ciccio | Francesco | Southern Italian; also a word for “chubby” |
| Nino | Giovanni, Antonio, Saturnino | From names ending in -nino |
| Sandro | Alessandro | Used by Botticelli |
| Gino | Luigino, Giorgino and similar | Now a given name on its own |
| Pina | Giuseppina | Classic grandmother nickname |
| Betta | Elisabetta | Also Bettina |
| Lella | Raffaella or Gabriella | Common in Rome and Naples |
| Nella | Antonella, Giovanna, Brunella | Soft and old-fashioned |
Italian names that work well in English
Easy to spell and pronounce, these travel well beyond Italy. Compare them with our Latin boy names and Latin girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Leo | Lion | Short, strong and hugely popular in the US |
| Nico | Victory of the people | Friendly short form of Nicolò |
| Gianna | God is gracious | Feminine of Gianni; a US top-100 name |
| Mia | Mine | Italian and Scandinavian; simple everywhere |
| Luna | Moon | A top US girl name with an Italian feel |
| Paolo | Small, humble | Soft alternative to Paul |
| Stella | Star | Vintage and elegant |
| Aria | Air; also an opera solo | Musical and modern |
| Rocco | Rest, or possibly “crow” | Bold and cheerful |
| Serena | Calm, serene | Familiar yet refined |
How to choose an Italian name
- Say it the Italian way. Every vowel is pronounced: Chiara is KYAH-rah, Giulia is JOO-lyah, and Andrea is ahn-DREH-ah.
- Mind the gender endings. Names ending in -o are usually masculine and -a feminine, but Andrea, Luca, Nicola and Elia are boys’ names in Italy.
- Honor the family pattern. Traditionally the first son is named after the paternal grandfather and the first daughter after the paternal grandmother.
- Check the name day. Many Italians celebrate an onomastico on their patron saint’s feast day, a nice bonus for names like Lucia (December 13) or Giuseppe (March 19).
- Look at the surname too. A flowing first name like Aurora pairs well with a crisp surname; two long, vowel-heavy names can run together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Italian name?
In recent ISTAT data, Leonardo has been the top boy name in Italy and Sofia the top girl name, with Francesco, Tommaso, Aurora and Giulia close behind.
What is the most common Italian last name?
Rossi, meaning “red-haired,” is the most common surname in Italy, followed by Russo, Ferrari, Esposito and Bianchi.
Why do so many Italian surnames end in -i?
The -i ending is a plural or genitive form, roughly meaning “of the family of.” Rossi means “(of) the Rosso family,” so it points to a whole household rather than one person.
Is Andrea a boy or girl name in Italian?
In Italy, Andrea is traditionally a boy’s name, the Italian form of Andrew. It is used for girls in most other countries, and some Italian parents now use it for girls too.
What are traditional Italian naming customs?
Many families name the first son after the father’s father and the first daughter after the father’s mother, with the next children named after the mother’s parents.