"When I think of Italy, I picture Renaissance artwork, historic architecture, delicious cuisine, and trendsetting fashion. Italy evokes beauty and a more relaxed pace of life—la dolce vita. And it’s no secret people are drawn to the country and the culture whether they have Italian ancestry or not—including when looking for baby name ispirazione.
For those unfamiliar, Italian male names often end in -o or -e, and female names often end in -a, meaning the base version of a name can be made masculine or feminine—for example, Antonio and Antonia. This can be a great solution for those that want to use an Italian name but are unsure of the baby’s sex. An ending of -ina /-ino, -etto/-etta, or -ello/-ella turns a name into its affectionate diminutive form. Read on for 50 Italian baby names and their beautiful meanings—like strength, loyalty, and light.
The Most Popular Boy Names With Italian Origins
Preply’s analysis of cultural origin and name meaning shows that these are the top five Italian boy’s names used in America:
Mateo — (6/500 U.S. name popularity)
Officially the most popular Italian boy’s name in the U.S., Mateo means “gift of God”. While this name has strong connections to Italian culture, it also shares links to the Spanish and Hebrew languages.
Sebastian — (13/500 U.S. name popularity)
While Sebastian has Greek and Latin roots, the Italian version, Sebastiano, is where this classic name gets its cultural link to Italy. Meaning “venerable” or “revered”, Sebastian comes from the name Sebaste.
Leo – (18/500 U.S. name popularity)
Short, strong, and effortlessly cool, Leo is often a nickname for the quintessential Italian name Leonardo, meaning “brave lion,” this name is shared with Renaissance figure Leonardo da Vinci and of course American actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Luca – (24/500 U.S. name popularity)
Luca means “bringer of light,” which your little boy is sure to do. Disney/Pixar fans may also remember Luca as the titular character from the 2021 film. Rooted in Latin, it’s tied to the ancient region of Luciana in southern Italy.
Julian – (33/500 U.S. name popularity)
Julian means “youthful” or “downy” and with ancient roots, this Italian name will never go out of style.
More Italian-Inspired Baby Boy Names and Their Meanings
- Aldo: This name is perfect if your firstborn is a boy since it means “elder.”
- Alessio: Meaning “defender of man,” this name gives your newborn a strong start in life.
- Alonzo: A fierce and memorable name meaning “ready for battle.”
- Carlo: For your new little guy, this name means “free man.”
- Dante: A mother’s love for her son is forever, and this strong name means “enduring,” so what could be a better fit? One of the most well-known Italian poets is named Dante Alighieri.
- Dario: A classic name meaning “possessing goodness” suits a sweet new bundle of joy.
- Elio: Elio has a light and airy feel and means “the sun.”
- Ettore: Unique and lovely, this name means “loyal” and comes from a Greek word meaning “holding fast.”
- Ezio: A name with a similar but slightly harder sound than Elio, this name means “eagle.”
- Gianni: Short for Giovanni, and the Italian version of Johnny, this classic Italian name is shared with designer Gianni Versace and means “God is gracious.”
- Marco: This fierce but simple name means “warlike” and is shared with Italian figures Marco Polo and Marco Ricci.
- Mariano: This handsome moniker means “related to the god Mars.” Mars is the Roman god of war and the month of March is named after him, making this a strong contender for babies with March due dates.
- Nico: Simple and strong, this Italian name means “people of victory” and also has Greek roots.
- Rocco: This effortlessly cool name comes from the German word for “rest” and is shared with Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s son, Rocco Ritchie.
- Romeo: This memorable name couldn’t be more Italian—it literally means “from Rome,” and is known from William Shakespeare’s tragedy about young Italian lovers. It’s also a celebrity baby name thanks t David and Victoria Beckham’s middle son.
- Sante: Light and airy, this name means “holy” and is rooted in the Latin word “Sanctus.”
- Teo: Short and sweet, this name means “God” and is related to the Greek name “Theo.”
The Most Popular Girl Names With Italian Origins
Three of the 10 most popular girl’s names are of Italian origin, according to Preply’s analysis:
Mia – (6/500 U.S. name popularity)
Officially the most popular Italian girls name in America, Mia is a modern favorite among U.S. parents. Meaning “mine” in Italian, it’s often considered a diminutive of Maria, a classic Italian name.
Isabella – (7/500 U.S. name popularity)
If you’re seeking a regal name with endless possibilities for adorable nicknames, Isabella is an ideal choice. The seventh most popular girl’s name in the U.S., Isabella is the Italian form of Isabel, has Hebrew roots, and means “My God is abundance” or “Devoted to God”.
Luna – (10/500 U.S. name popularity)
Luna continues to work its way up the popular baby name charts, now ranking as the tenth most popular girl’s name in America. It’s also common in Italy and means “moon.”
Sofia – (12/500 U.S. name popularity)
Sofia comes directly from the Greek word for “wisdom”. While this Italian spelling ranks 12th in the U.S., Sophia is even more popular at number six.
Gianna – (21/500 U.S. name popularity)
Gianna is the shortened form of Giovanna which is the Italian equivalent of Joanna or Jane. It’s also considered the feminine version of the Hebrew name John, and means “God is gracious”.
More Italian-Inspired Baby Girl Names and Their Meanings
- Alessandra: This name means “defender” or “protector.” Don’t we want our little girls to grow up strong, courageous, and brave?
- Alessia: The name Alessia has a similar meaning as the name Alessandra but is shorter if you like the meaning but want a simpler name.
- Amara: A sweet name meaning “everlasting,” which represents the love you’ll have for your new little one.
- Aurora: A celestial name meaning “dawn,” this name invokes the tranquility of the morning light and the fresh feeling of a new day. The Roman god of dawn is Aurora.
- Bria: With a name meaning “noble,” your little one will have a built-in guide to do what is moral and right.
- Camilla: Meaning “free-born,” “noble,” and “ceremonial attendant,” this spirited name has ties to ancient Rome. And according to the experts at Nameberry, “in Roman myth, Camilla was a swift-footed huntress so fast she could run over a field without bending a blade of grass.”
- Carina: This sweet, delicate name means “dear” and “pure” and is the diminutive for the name Cara.
- Chiara: The perfect unique Italian girl name for a budding bright light, Chiara means “luminous.”
- Elena: Meaning “shining light,” this name is shared with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Elena Kagan.
- Gabriella: This beautiful, elegant, and timeless name means “God is my strength.”
- Gemma: Emeralds, amethysts, and sapphires encapsulate the sparkle of your new little girl—and Gemma means “precious stone.”
- Giorgia: A strong and notable moniker meaning “farmer,” this name captures the spirit of nature, growth, and cultivating new life.
- Leandra: The feminine form of the male name Leander meaning “lion man,” this name is majestic and bold like the animal it honors.
- Luciana: This pretty name, shared with Matt Damon’s longtime wife Luciana Barroso, means “light,” signifying what your new baby will bring to your life.
- Marella: Meaning “shining sea,” this name is perfect for those that feel most at home near the water.
- Natalia: Have a late December due date? Add this pretty name to your list. Natalia comes from the Latin word natale domini, which means Christmas Day.
- Nicola: A strong Italian girls’ name meaning “victory of the people,” suitable for your future powerful crusader on values they hold dear.
- Serafina: Another celebrity baby, this Italian girls’ name shared with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s daughter, this name means “fiery,” the right fit for your bold little one.
- Sienna: This name means “orange-red” and is shared with the beautiful, old Tuscan city Siena for those that want to truly encapsulate the magic of Italy in a name.
- Viviana: Meaning “lively,” this name sets your little girl up for a hopeful future of living life to the fullest. Viviana is also a unique name alternative for today’s popular baby girl names, Olivia and Vivian.