100 Italian Baby Names
Find the perfect Italian name for your baby girl or boy and learn its meaning and origin.
Fact checked by Daniella AmatoFact checked by Daniella Amato
Whether you have Italian roots or you simply love the way Italian names roll off the tongue, there are many Italian name options for your baby boy or girl. Much like the other Romance languages, Italian baby names may have originated in Latin, or they may be Latinized versions of names from other languages.
Traditionally, Italian parents choose their children's names based on the name of a grandparent, choosing names from the father's side of the family first and then from the mother's side. Some Italians have also followed the tradition of naming their child after a patron saint. By knowing the Italian equivalent of a name, you can keep this tradition alive, even if one side of your family isn't Italian.
Editor's Note
Although this article separates names by gender, your baby’s assigned sex at birth does not need to dictate the name you choose for them. Names are not inherently gendered or associated with a specific sex, and it's important to select a name that feels right for your little one and your family.
Parents / Brianna Gilmartin
Popular Italian Baby Names for Girls
These Italian girl names names and meanings include names that are popular in Italy, as well as those with Ancient Roman or Latin roots.
Alessandra
Origin: Italian form of Greek Alexandra
Meaning: Defender of mankind
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alessa, Sandra, Alexandra
Alice
Origin: Old French, which was derived from German
Meaning: Noble type (German Adalheidis)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alicia, Alecia, Alisha, Alyce, Alys, Alise
Angelica
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Angelic
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anjelica, Angelique, Angela, Angelina
Famous Namesakes: Actress Anjelica Huston, singer Angelica Hale
Arianna
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Most holy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ariana, Ariadna, Ariadne
Aurora
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dawn, luminous, dazzling
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aurore
Beatrice
Origin: Latin
Meaning: She who makes happy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Beatrix, Beatriz, Bea, Trixie
Benedetta
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blessed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bettina
Bianca
Origin: Italian
Meaning: White, pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Blanca, Blanche
Camilla
Origin: Latin and possibly Etruscan
Meaning: Servant for the temple, free-born, noble
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Camille, Camila, Millie, Milly
Carlotta
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Free man (from Charles)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carla, Carlota
Carmen
Origin: Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Meaning: Ode, poem, or charm
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carmel, Carmenta
Caterina
Origin: Greek, Italian, Portuguese
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Catherine, Katrina, Katarina, Tina
Chiara
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Bright, luminous, clear
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Clair, Claire, Clara, Clare, Kiara
Claudia
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Derived from Latin claudus, meaning "lame" or "crippled," but also an ancient Roman name for women in the patrician family
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gladys, Claude
Drusilla
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Fruitful or dewy-eyed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dru, Druscilla, Cilla, Drusa
Elena
Origin: Greek, Italian, Spanish
Meaning: Torch or light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ellen, Lena, Helen
Eleonora
Origin: Greek, Italian
Meaning: Shining light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elinor, Eleanor, Eleanora, Ella, Nell, Lenora, Nora
Elisa
Origin: Greek
Meaning: My God is a vow
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eliza, Elsa, Lisa
Emilia
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rival or excel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Emily
Emma
Origin: German
Meaning: Whole or universal
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ema, Irma, Emily
Flavia
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blonde, golden, yellow-haired
Francesca
Origin: Latin, Italian
Meaning: Frenchman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Frances, Franca, Francine, Fran, Franny
Gabriella
Origin: Hebrew (from Gabriel)
Meaning: Strength of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gabriela, Gabrielle, Gabriele, Gabriel, Gabi, Gabby
Gaia
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Earth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gaea
Giada
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Jade or precious stone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jade, Jada, Jayda, Jayde
Ginevra
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Fair one, white wave, blessed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Guinevere, Ginny, Jennifer, Jenny
Gioia
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Joy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joy
Giorgia
Origin: Latin, from Greek
Meaning: Farmer, agriculturist
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Georgiana, Giorgina, Gina, Georgia
Giovanna
Origin: Italian
Meaning: God is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gia, Gianna, Giannina, Giovannetta, Nina, Vanna
Giulia
Origin: Latin
Meaning: The gens Julia (Julius) was an ancient Roman patrician name, also means youthful
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Julia, Julie, Guiliana
Ilaria
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Cheerful, merry
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hilaria, Hilary, Hillary
Isabella
Origin: Hebrew, Spanish, Italian; Latin form of Isabel
Meaning: Pledged or devoted to God; derived from Hebrew "God is my oath"
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Isabel, Isabela, Isabelle, Izabella, Bella
Lara
Origin: Latin, Greek, Russian
Meaning: Bright, talkative, citadel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Larunda
Laura
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Laurel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lora, Lauretta, Loretta, Lorita
Lelia
Origin: Latin, Greek, Italian
Meaning: Well-spoken
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Laelia
Livia
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Envious, blue
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Liv
Luciana
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lucinda, Lucy, Lucia, Luce
Ludovica
Origin: German
Meaning: Derived from Ludwig, which means famous warrior
Luisa
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Derived from Ludwig, which means famous battle
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Luisella, Louisa
Margherita
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Daisy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Margarita, Margaret, Greta, Rita
Martina
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dedicated to the Roman god Mars
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Martine, Marta, Tina
Mia
Origin: Latin, Hebrew, Scandinavian, Italian
Meaning: My, mine, dear, darling, loved one
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Amalia, Amelia, or Maya. (Mia is also from the same root as Mary, Marie, and Maria.)
Paola
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Small, humble
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paula
Priscilla
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Ancient, classic, primordial
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Prisca
Sara
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Lady, princess, noblewoman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sarah, Sarai, Sariah
Serena
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Clear, tranquil, serene
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sarina, Serina, Sabrina
Sofia
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Wisdom, skill
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sophia, Sophie, Sofiya
Valentina
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Strong, healthy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tina, Val
Veronica
Origin: Latin
Meaning: She who brings victory; true image
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Veronika, Ronnie, Roni
Viola
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Purple
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Violetta, Violeta, Violette, Violet
Vittoria
Origin: Latin, Italian
Meaning: Victory, triumphant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Victoria, Tori, Vicki, Vikki, Vicky
Popular Italian Baby Names for Boys
These names for boys are popular in Italy. Many have ancient Roman roots, while others are Italian versions of names from other languages.
Alessandro
Origin: Italian form of Latin Alexander and Greek Alexandros
Meaning: Defender of humankind
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alexander, Alex, Sandro, Alejandro
Alessio
Origin: Italian form of Latin Alexius and Greek Alexios
Meaning: Defender
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alexis, Alexius, Alexei
Andrea
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Force, courage, bravery
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Andre, Andreas, Andrew, Andrei
Angelo
Origin: Latin, from Angelus
Meaning: Angel or messenger from God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Angel, Anjel, Angiolo
Antonio
Origin: Etruscan, derived from Latin Antonius
Meaning: Ancient Roman family name
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anthony, Tony, Anton, Antoni
Carlo
Origin: Italian, Spanish, German
Meaning: Man or free man (from Karl)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carl, Carlos, Charles
Carmine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Poem, song, or garden
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carmelo, Carmen, Carmelino
Christian
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Follower of Christ
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cristian, Cristiano
Claudio
Origin: Latin
Meaning: From the patrician Roman family name "Claudius," meaning lame or crippled
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Claudius, Claude, Claudi
Cosimo
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Order, decency
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cosmo, Cosma, Cosmas, Kosmas
Daniele
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my judge
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Danilo, Daniel, Dan, Dannie, Danny
Davide
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Beloved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: David, Dave, Davey, Davie, Davy
Diego
Origin: Spanish, Greek, Latin
Meaning: Doctrine or teaching (Greek/Latin) or a form of Santiago (Spanish)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Santiago, Sandiego
Domenico
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of the Lord
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dom, Domenic, Domenick, Dominik, Domingo
Edoardo
Origin: Italian, from Old English Edward
Meaning: Rich guard
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Edward, Eduardo, Ed
Elia
Origin: Hebrew, from Eliana and Elijah
Meaning: God has answered
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elijah, Eliya, Elias, Ilias, Eli
Emanuele
Origin: Hebrew, from Emmanuel
Meaning: God is with us
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Manuel, Manuele, Emmanuel
Emiliano
Origin: Italian and Spanish, from Latin Aemilianus
Meaning: Rival
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Emil, Emilio
Federico
Origin: From German, Friedrich
Meaning: Peaceful ruler
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Federigo, Fredo, Frederick, Fredric, Fred
Filippo
Origin: From Greek, Philippos
Meaning: Friend of horses
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Phil, Philip, Phillip, Felipe, Filip
Francesco
Origin: From Latin, Francis
Meaning: Free one
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Franco, Francis, Frans, Frank
Gabriele
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my strength or God's warrior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gabriel, Gabe, Gabi, Gavril
Giacomo
Origin: From Latin, Jacobus
Meaning: The supplanter (Hebrew)
Gioele
Origin: Latin, Greek, Hebrew
Meaning: Jehova is his God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joel
Giorgio
Origin: Italian, from Greek
Meaning: Earth worker, farmer
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gino, George, Giorgino
Giovanni
Origin: Hebrew and Italian
Meaning: God is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gian, Gianni, Giannino, Nino, Vanni, John
Giulio
Origin: From Latin, Julius
Meaning: Roman family name meaning youth; origin unknown. It could come from the Roman god Jupiter, or it could be derived from the Greek "Joulus," meaning downy-bearded.
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Julius, Julio
Giuseppe
Origin: Italian from Hebrew, Yosef (Joseph)
Meaning: God will add
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joseph, Beppe, Peppe, Jose, Jo, Joe, Joey
Jacopo
Origin: From Latin, Iacobus
Meaning: Follower of God; God has protected
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jacob, Iacopo, Giacobbe, Giacomo, Lapo
Leonardo
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Brave lion
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Leonard, Leo
Lorenzo
Origin: Italian and Spanish from Latin, Laurentius
Meaning: Ancient Roman surname meaning from the laurel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Enzo, Renzo, Loris, Laurence, Lawrence
Luca
Origin: Italian from Greek, Loukas; possibly Latin, Lucus
Meaning: From Lucania in southern Italy; possibly "sacred wood"
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lucas, Luc, Luke
Luigi
Origin: From German, Ludwig, and Latin, Ludovicus
Meaning: Famous warrior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lodovico, Ludovico, Gino, Luigino, Louis, Luis
Marco
Origin: Latin and Estrucan, from Marcus
Meaning: To harvest, also associated with Mars, the Roman god of war
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marcus, Mark, Marko, Markus
Mario
Origin: Latin, probably of Estrucan origin, from Marius
Meaning: Mars, the Roman god of war
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marius
Matteo
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mateo, Matthew, Mathew, Matt
Mattia
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Matthew, Mathew, Matt, Matthias, Matias, Mattheaus
Michele
Origin: Hebrew, Latin
Meaning: Who is like God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Michael, Micheal, Mikael, Michal, Mike, Mick, Mickey, Miguel, Mikhail
Nicola/Nicolo
Origin: Latin, from Greek, Nikolaos
Meaning: Victory of the people
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Niccolo, Nicolao, Nicolas, Nicholas, Nico, Niko
Paolo
Origin: From Latin, Paulus
Meaning: Small or humble
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paulus, Paul, Pablo
Pasquale
Origin: From Latin, Paschalis
Meaning: Relating to Easter
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pasqual, Pascal, Pasco, Pascale, Pasqualino, Lino
Pietro
Origin: From Greek, Petros
Meaning: Stone or rock
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Peter, Piero, Petrus, Pier, Pierre, Piotr
Riccardo
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Brave; powerful or great leader
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ricardo, Richard, Rich, Rick
Romeo
Origin: Italian, from Latin, Romaeus
Meaning: A pilgrim to Rome; from Rome; a Roman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Roman, Roma, Romano
Salvatore
Origin: From Latin
Meaning: Savior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sal, Salvador, Salvator, Salvo, Tory
Samuel/Samuele
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Name of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sam, Sammy, Sami, Ismaiel, Ismael, Ismail, Ishmael
Simone
Origin: Hebrew; Greek
Meaning: God has heard or flat-nosed
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Simon, Simeon, Symeon, Shimon
Stefano
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Crown or victorious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Stephano, Stephen, Steven, Stevan, Stefan, Steffan, Esteban, Steve, Stefen, Stefon, Stephon, Stevon
Tommaso
Origin: From Aramaic, Taóma
Meaning: Twin; equal to himself
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tomas, Thomas, Thom, Tommy, Toma, Tom
Valentino
Origin: From Latin, Valentinus
Meaning: Strong, healthy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tino, Val, Valenti, Valent, Valente, Valentin
Vincenzo
Origin: Latin
Meaning: To conquer or win
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vincente, Enzo, Vincent
More Baby Names
For more baby name inspiration, take a look at the following lists:
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