1357 Italian Baby Names With Meanings

Italian Baby Names With Meanings

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Venice, Tuscany, Rome, Milan – Italy isn't just about great places. It also boasts gorgeous, lilting, and rhythmic Italian baby names. After all, who can resist the beautiful-sounding Carmela or Allesandro? Italian names either have Latin origin or are Italian versions of monikers originating in other countries. Italian names roll off the tongue like a melody and often stand apart due to their distinctiveness. Generally, Italians have firm rules regarding naming. The first son, for instance, is named after the paternal grandfather, whereas the second son is named after the maternal grandfather. As for the females, the first daughter is named after the paternal grandmother, and the second daughter is named after the maternal grandmother. The subsequent children can be named after parents, aunts, uncles, deceased relatives, or saints. This all-pervasive convention has led to many Italian families with children of similar ages having the same names. Typical male and female Italian names end in vowels a, e, i, and o. Some classic examples are Adreano, Adela, Assissi, and Cammie. Many Italian names also have deep biblical roots, often paying homage to revered saints or local patrons. Those named after a saint celebrate twice: their actual birth date and their onomastico – the day in the General Roman Calendar honoring their saint. Certain Italian names are also aligned with the child's birth season. Pasquale or Pasqua herald Easter, while Natale, Natalina, Nicole, or Nicola emerge during Christmas (1). This nomenclatural interplay weaves a rich cultural fabric, fusing faith and temporal cadences. From traditional Evelina to modern Amalia, we have compiled a list of beautiful Italian girl and boy names with meanings. Explore the list to find meaningful monikers that complement your child's personality.

NameGenderMeaning
heart image Trota heart image baby boy sign Girl A philosophical and self sufficient being
heart image Tuff heart image baby boy sign Unisex Type of rock made up of volcanic ash; Someone or something strong, resilient, or durable
heart image Tulliu heart image baby boy sign Boy A form of Tullius; A famous king
heart image Turin heart image baby boy sign Boy Ancient city in Italy
heart image Tuscany heart image baby boy sign Unisex A region in central Italy
heart image Ubaldo heart image baby boy sign Boy Bold; Wise
heart image Uberto heart image baby boy sign Boy Bright mind; Intelligent; Bright Spirit; Italian form of Hubert
heart image Ugo heart image baby boy sign Unisex Heart; Mind
heart image Umberto heart image baby boy sign Boy Bright or renowned warrior
heart image Valente heart image baby boy sign Boy Valiant or brave
heart image Valentina heart image baby boy sign Girl Strong; Vigourous; Healthy
heart image Valentino heart image baby boy sign Boy Brave; Strong
heart image Valerio heart image baby boy sign Boy Strong and admirable
heart image Velia heart image baby boy sign Girl Concealed; Hidden
heart image Vella heart image baby boy sign Unisex Beautiful
heart image Vendetta heart image baby boy sign Unisex A bitter, prolonged feud or conflict often marked by retaliatory actions
heart image Venecia heart image baby boy sign Unisex Goddess of beauty and love
heart image Venette heart image baby boy sign Girl Woman of Venice
heart image Venezia heart image baby boy sign Unisex City of canals
heart image Venice heart image baby boy sign Unisex Italian place name
heart image Venicia heart image baby boy sign Girl From Venice; Graceful; Enchanting
heart image Venti heart image baby boy sign Unisex Twenty
heart image Verdi heart image baby boy sign Unisex Green
heart image Vernice heart image baby boy sign Girl Bringing victory or success
heart image Veron heart image baby boy sign Unisex Strength and truth
heart image Verona heart image baby boy sign Unisex True image of love
heart image Versace heart image baby boy sign Unisex Fashion, luxury, Italian
heart image Vianca heart image baby boy sign Girl Canadian variant of Bianca; White
heart image Vicenzu heart image baby boy sign Boy A variant of Vincentius; To conquer
heart image Vico heart image baby boy sign Unisex Conqueror; Victor
heart image Vietta heart image baby boy sign Unisex Life
heart image Vincentius heart image baby boy sign Boy To conquer
heart image Vincenza heart image baby boy sign Unisex Victorious or winner
heart image Vincenzo heart image baby boy sign Boy To conquer
heart image Vinci heart image baby boy sign Unisex To conquer
heart image Vinnie heart image baby boy sign Unisex Conquering; Winner
heart image Vinny heart image baby boy sign Unisex Cconquering; Winning
heart image Vio heart image baby boy sign Unisex Color violet; A short form of the name Violet
heart image Viola heart image baby boy sign Unisex Violet flower
heart image Violante heart image baby boy sign Unisex Purple; Violet
heart image Vito heart image baby boy sign Boy Derived from Vitus; Life
heart image Vittoria heart image baby boy sign Girl Victory and triumph
heart image Vittorio heart image baby boy sign Boy Victorious, powerful, conqueror
heart image Vivaldi heart image baby boy sign Unisex Vibrant; Musical genius
heart image Viviana heart image baby boy sign Girl One who is lively
heart image Wojciech heart image baby boy sign Boy He who is happy in battle
heart image Xiomara heart image baby boy sign Girl Ready for battle
heart image Yossarian heart image baby boy sign Boy Fictional name of the protagonist of Catch-22
heart image Ysabelle heart image baby boy sign Girl Consecrated to God
heart image Zanara heart image baby boy sign Unisex Unique; Exotic; Mysterious
heart image Zandon heart image baby boy sign Unisex Unique or one of a kind
heart image Zanetta heart image baby boy sign Girl God's gracious gift
heart image Zelinda heart image baby boy sign Girl Beautiful, strong, and bright
heart image Zoel heart image baby boy sign Unisex God's favorite; Blessed by God
heart image Zoyla heart image baby boy sign Girl Variant of Zoila; Life

Italian baby names blend Latin roots and international adaptations, often stemming from biblical sources. These names hold deep connections to saints and follow strict naming conventions. Consequently, it's common for Italian children of similar ages to share names. In light of this, we have presented an array of charming Italian girl and boy names with their meanings in the above list. Scroll through the list to find a suitable name that effortlessly projects your faith and aspirations behind selecting a name for your child.

Infographic: Irresistible Italian Names To Grace Your Baby

Italian baby names are tantalizing, giving your child a hint of Mediterranean refinement. Our infographic presents a diverse array of charming Italian names. Each name is accompanied by its profound significance, helping you better appreciate the name.

captivating italian baby names and their meanings (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do Italian baby names reflect the country's culture, history, and religious and spiritual significance?

Many Italian baby names are based on or inspired by Catholic figures and saints or influential characters in Italian culture and history. This connection to culture and history helps preserve and continue the legacy of such names. Some names inspired by saints include Laura, Marco, Roberto, Rocco, and Viviana. Names based on prominent artists are Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raffaello, and Giovanni.

2. What are some unique Italian baby names not commonly heard outside of Italy?

Some unique Italian names that are not very popular outside of Italy are Agnella, the feminine form of Agnello meaning 'lamb'; Ambra, a variant of amber which refers to the yellow gemstone; and Fausta, the feminine form of Faustus meaning 'auspicious,' or 'lucky.'

3. Are there any traditional Italian baby naming conventions?

Italian baby names usually consist of a given name (nome) followed by a surname (cognome). Traditionally, babies inherit their father's family name, but an Italian court has ruled that both parents' surnames can be inherited [2]. It is common for a portion of the name to come from a name day, a day to celebrate their baptismal name shared with a Biblical character or saint. These name days are determined by the General Roman Calendar [3].

4. What are some famous or notable people with Italian names and what do their names mean?

Leonardo, a name borne by the world-renowned painter and scientist Leonardo da Vinci, means 'brave lion.' Dante Alighieri was a philosopher, poet, and writer; his name means 'enduring.' Giacomo, a name borne by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini known for his operas. The name is a variant of Jacob which means 'he who supplants.'

5. What nicknames or pet names can be derived from Italian baby names?

Sandro, Ale, Alex, and Andy are pet forms of the name Alessandro. Cat, Cate, Cathy, and Rina are some nicknames for Caterina. Nicknames for Isabella are Isa, Bella, Isabel, Belle, Libbie, Libby, Sabella, and Ibbie.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. The bellissima style of Italian names.
    https://casa-belvedere.org/the-bellissimo-style-of-italian-names/
  2. Double-barrelled name law in Italy – a work in progress.
    https://www.ibanet.org/double-barrelled-name-law-italy
  3. Liturgical Calendar.
    http://www.gcatholic.org/calendar/2023/General-A-en.htm
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