Bellissimo! 25 Bold & Beautiful Baby Names with Italian Origins

Opera, Pinot Grigio, Parmesan, Pizza, and St. Peter’s Basilica all come to mind when we think about the gifts Italy has given the world. The Italian language is one of the most lyrical and romantic in the world and Italian names for babies are just as poetic. Choosing an Italian name for your baby is a wonderful way for you to honor your Italian heritage. It’s also completely acceptable for parents to be Italophiles and thoroughly enjoy the Italian language and culture. Whatever your motivation, Italian names make for very attractive baby monikers.

From the Italian Alps to the Mediterranean Sea, there’s no shortage of inspiration for Italian baby names. It’s a land rich with art, history, myth, and natural beauty. These 25 Italian baby names celebrate all the wonderful aspects of Italy. Iniziamo!

25. Luca

Luca is widely considered a boy’s name in Italy, however, in the US, it’s being chosen as a unisex name. Actor Jennie Garth gave the name to her daughter. Luca means “man from Lucania” and predates the contemporary Italian language. The name can be traced back to ancient Greek.

24. Ariana

Ariana is a gorgeous Italian name for girls that means “most holy.” A famous Ariana is, of course, singer Ariana Grande. Ariana is both beautiful and fun to say. If Ariana feels like too much of a mouthful for you, you can consider Aria, the Italian word for song.

23. Matteo

Matteo can be spelled with two T’s or simply with one. The name is of Italian origin and means “gift of God.” Matteo has a bit more energy than the English version of the name, Matthew. Matteo is quickly moving up the charts of popular names for boys.

22. Zeta

Zeta has origins in both Greek and Italian. Zeta refers to the letter Z, the last one in the Roman alphabet. Further, the name Zita is also very popular in Italy and means “little girl” or “seeker.” St. Zita was a 13th Century Tuscan saint.

21. Giovanni

Although you might know him as Gianni Versace the famous designer was named Giovanni Versace at birth. Giovanni is one of the most popular names for boys in Italy and has been for centuries. Essentially, it’s the Italian form of “John” and means “God is gracious.”

20. Silvia

Silvia is a girl’s name of Latin origin that can be found in many forms in Italian and Spanish. The name means “from the woods.” The more familiar spelling, Sylvia came much later and now the traditional spelling Silvia seems the freshest. If you’re a nature lover, consider this beautiful Italian classic.

19. Emilio

Emilio and Emiliano are two very popular names for boys in Italy and Spain. The name means “rival.”

18. Po

The Po River is the longest flowing river starting at the Cottian Alps in Italy. Po is a very simple name that has traditionally been given to girls, but many parents are choosing the name for their boys as well.

17. Dante

The Italian name Dante means “enduring.” The name famously belonged to medieval Florentine poet Dante Alighieri. The name enjoys broad favor in Italy as well as in Italian-American families in the US.

16. Ghita

Ghita is Italy’s answer to Greta. Ghita is a gorgeous and unique name that means “pearl.” Most commonly, you’ll hear Ghita as a nickname for Margherita.

15. Sergio

Spaghetti Western film director Sergio Leone famously filmed American-style westerns in Europe. The name Sergio is common in both Spanish and Italian and means. Although the meaning of the name is unclear, the name dates back to at least ancient Rome and scholars suspect it means “soldier.”

14. Rin

Rin is a unique Italian name that started out as a shortened form of Caterina or Rina. Rin means “pure.” Coincidentally, the name Rin is extremely popular for girls in Japan. However, the origin is entirely different. In Japanese, the name means “dignified” or “severe.”

13. Rocco

Rocco is a classic Italian name that’s also popular in German. The name Rocco means “rest.” Madonna gave the name a lot of attention when she gave it to her son in 2000.

12. Giada

Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis helped popularize this Italian name in the US. After her television cooking show premiered, the name spiked in popularity for baby girls. The name means “jade.”

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11. Franco

Franco is an Italian boy’s name that means “Frenchman” or “freeman.” The name was associated with the Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco until his death in 1975. Now, the name is enjoying a resurgence.

10. Allegra

The Italian name Allegra means “joyous.” A term that’s often used in music, allegro refers to a “lively” or “quick” tempo. This happy and upbeat name would be a beautiful choice for your daughter.

9. Maximo

Maximo comes from the Latin name Maximus which means “greatest.” The name enjoys popularity in Italy, Spain, and the US. While it’s common to hear the nickname Max on the playground, choosing Maximo offers more character and a hint of drama.

8. Bianca

Bianca features as a character in two Shakespeare plays, Othello and The Taming of the Shrew. The Italian name means “white” and is meant to be a reference to snow. The name peaked in popularity in the US in the 1990s, but we think it’s ready to come back!

7. Dario

Dario Argento is one of Italy’s most beloved genre filmmakers. The Italian name Dario means “kingly” or “possess well.” Its rhyming cousin Mario is more popular in the US. But, Dario is favored in Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

6. Viviana

Viviana is a Latin name that’s found widely in Italy and Spain. The name means “life.” This snappy name is preferred over its more common English counterpart Vivian.

5. Enzo

Enzo has historically been used as a shortened from the Italian names Vincenzo and Lorenzo. Famously, Enzo Ferrari bears the name. Enzo means “ruler of the estate.”

4. Siena

Siena is a gorgeous name for girls of Italian origin. It refers to a small town in Tuscany. You might be more familiar with seeing the spelling, Sienna. We like both! The name describes the red-clay of the Tuscan region.

3. Angelo

As you might guess, the name Angelo means “angel” or “messenger.” The old-school Italian name received widespread recognition after Adele named her son Angelo.

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2. Gia

The stylish Italian name Gia means “God’s gracious gift.” Although it’s one of the most recognizable Italian names for Americans, it is one of the very best. Cool, easy, and understated. We love the name Gia.

1. Romeo

Romeo is thought to have come from Romulus, one of the legendary twin sons of Mars who established ancient Rome. Romeo is a popular Italian name that means “pilgrim to Rome” or “Roman.” David and Victoria Beckham chose it for their second son in 2002.

You’ll be giving your child la dolce vita if you choose one of these handsome Italian names. Many of these names are timeless classics that have been popular for tens or even hundreds of years in Europe. Italian baby names offer charm and poetry. Ciao for now!