Search 30000 Baby Name Meanings

And get more name ideas later on.

Popular Italian Baby Names

Written by Tracy B. McGinnis

Family is an integral part of life for Italians, with some families in Italy living close to one another, or in some cases in the same house. With family being so central to everyday life, it’s no surprise that preparing for the new baby -- especially, choosing a name -- is an important, traditional experience. Find out the background and meanings behind traditional Italian baby names and examples of the most popular Italian names.

Italian Name Days

The main religion in Italy still remains Roman Catholic, with churches outnumbering most around the world. With faith being such an important part of life, children are often named after specific saints, and not only celebrate their birthday but also their “name day,” celebrating the saint’s feast day. While this tradition is one celebrated in many European and Latin American’s cultures, there are different lists for certain countries.

Italian children may be given a saint’s name on the actual day they were born, or some parents may choose a saint’s name for their child that they feel particularly connected to. For example, the name day for Domenico is January 22nd – this day would be celebrated by people of the same name, celebrating this specific saint.

Traditional Italian Names

Carrying on tradition for Italians is an important part of family life. Most often the eldest members of the family (grandfathers and grandmothers) carry on traditions, whether it is sharing a story of passing down a treasured family recipe. Since elders are treated with such respect in Italian culture, it’s no surprise that children are named after their grandparents.

Italian tradition has often taken the guesswork out of choosing a name for their new baby. Since early on in Italian history, a parent’s first son was given the name of his paternal grandfather. The first daughter would be given the name of her paternal grandmother, and then the second son would be given the name of his maternal grandmother, followed by the second daughter given the name of her maternal grandmother.

If you’re thinking about researching a family name, you may want to start your research by studying a map of Italy and locating where your family lived. Since most families stayed close to one another, chances are they all lived in the same geographic location in Italy. Whether that was the mountain ranges or an Italian coastal city, there will be some differences when it comes to surnames, styles, and dialects. A look through church records, including baptismal, marriage, and death certificates may also be helpful in locating a family name.

Italian Nicknames

Some Italian names can leave you tongue tied, and since early Italian immigrants have been coming to the U.S. they have been giving one another nicknames. There is a shorter name for every Italian name. Some nicknames are very familiar and used often, such as Tony being the nickname for Antonio. Some nicknames may be less common or sound entirely different from the given name. For example, Beppe being a nickname for the given name Giuseppe or Toto for Salvatore, Lele for Gabriele.

Italian Baby Names

Whether you’re looking to carry on a traditional family name or choose a saint’s name for your new baby take time to look through the available lists and talk to family and friends to help you make your decision.

Look at both the name and the meaning behind the name. The meaning behind Italian baby names can be everything from a revered patron saint, to a specific location in Italy, to a popular flower that may be found in the country.

Here is a sampling of Italian baby names for boys and girls.

Italian Girl Baby Names
Amalia
Angela
Fausta
Giada
Natala
Lorenza
Conchetta
Constantina
Edita
Fiorenza
Maria
Anna
Giovanna
Rosa
Giuseppina
Teresa
Lucia
Carmela
Francesca
Caterina

Click here for more Italian girl names

Italian Boy Baby Names:
Alfonso
Alfredo
Giuseppe
Antonio
Mario
Luigi
Angelo
Vincenzo
Carlo
Franco
Paolo
Bruno
Luciano
Vito
Gino
Donatello
Dino
Rocco
Raffaello