Italian Names for Girls

This sweet and underused name is a multicultural choice with a surprising number of meanings. It is used as a diminutive of Lívia and Lídia in Hungary (meaning "envy" and "from Lydia" respectively), as a variation of the Arabic Lila in Hindi (meaning "night"), and as a variant of Lillian, Lillia, and Lily in English, associating it with the flower.
 
It is also a word name in Italy, Sweden, and Denmark, where it means "lilac", "little" and "purple" respectively, adding to the sweet, floral appeal of it.

Lilla

This pretty, international feminization of Matthew was chosen by Mira Sorvino for her daughter, Mattea Angel. 

As the Spanish Mateo and the Italian Matteo become more popular for baby boys throughout Europe, the English-speaking world, and the Americas, Mattea is sure to get wider recognition. And as Theo and Thea have become fashionable names, Teo and Tea are rising too.

Mattea

The Spanish and Italian variation of the sophisticated French Delphine is also the word for "dolphin". A popular choice in Uruguay and Argentina, the name is rarely used in the US. 

Delfina

A name made famous by Marisas Berenson and Tomei, never became as saturated as its cousin Melissa, so still a feasible choice. Marisa is one of those Spanish and <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/505/italian-names-for-girls">Italian names for girls</a> that sounds at once unusual and familiar, which makes it truly an international choice.

 The meaning of Maria is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Marisa

A  feminine form of Stephen, with a touch more flair than Stephanie. Popular in Romania, Poland, and Moldova, familiar in Italy, England and Wales, and Czechia, diminutives include the Greek Fani and the Polish Stefcia. 

Stefania

Verona is a scenic place-name with the added attraction of a Shakespearean connection, as in Two Gentlemen of....

Verona

This name of one of the most romantic cities in the world could easily find its way onto an American baby girl's birth certificate. 

Venice

Bruna

An elaborate diminutive of Carmela or Carmel, this name has elegance and sweetness. Derived from Hebrew, it is interpreted as meaning "garden" — or sometimes "garden of God" — and is related to the Marian title "Our Lady of Mount Carmel".  Ranking in the US Top 1000 until the 1970s, popular in France during the 1960s, and it Italy until the mid-2000s, it's an elegant name with brightness and star quality.

Carmelina

Though often Anglicized as Phoebe, Phebe has separate roots. It originated as a variation of Afua, an Akan day name, and commonly used among enslaved people in America.

Phebe

Rosina is a delicate feminine name with Italian and Latin roots, functioning as a diminutive of Rosa, meaning 'rose.' The name carries the beauty and fragrance associations of the flower it references, with the suffix '-ina' adding a touch of endearment and delicacy. Rosina appears in classical opera, most notably as the clever heroine in Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville.' While never reaching widespread popularity in English-speaking countries, it has maintained consistent usage particularly in Italian communities. Rosina offers a slightly more elaborate and romantic alternative to the simpler Rose or Rosa, with a melodic quality that resonates particularly well in musical languages. The name suggests femininity, grace, and classical beauty.

Rosina

Vincenza makes romance of Vincent. Vincenza Gerosa was one of the founders of the Sisters of Charity of Lovere and was later made a saint.

Vincenza

Much fresher and more energetic than Dominique.

Domenica

A bright, musical name, Gisella is the Italian form of the French Giselle. With its zippy "Zella" sound and potential nickname Gigi too, it could make an underused and appealing choice.
 
Associated with the first queen of Hungary and the wife of King Stephen through its similar sounding Hungarian form, Gizella, Gisella has also been borne by the composer Gisella Delle Grazie, the actress Gisella Sofio and the author and Holocaust survivor Gisella Perl.

Gisella

Teodora is an extremely attractive and international choice, with several equally attractive, user-friendly nicknames. Appealing short forms might include Tea, Dora, or Dory for English speakers, however, classic diminutives include the Spanish, Italian, Serbian and Portuguese Dora, the Bulgarian Todorka, and the Swedish Thea.

Teodora

Sarita is a delicately pretty name all but unknown in the US, where it can make an original honor name for an ancestral Sara....or Rita. Rita is a midcentury favorite tiptoeing back into style among adventurous parents.

Sarita

Prettier than Joy and just beginning to be used here. 

Gioia

Raffaella is the Italian form of the lovely name Raphaela, the female version of the angel's name Raphael, gorgeous in any spelling or international variation. Raffaella is one of the most appealing <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/166/italian-names">Italian baby names</a> for girls.

Raffaella

Although Disney's cute deer was a male, Bambi has always been used for girls. It first appeared on the charts in 1943, the year after the Disney movie was released. Bambi featured in the Top 1000 from 1954-1964 — a decade where girl names ending in I, like Lori and Teri, were big — and again from 1977-1982.
 
We once said that Bambi sounds far too flimsy to face the modern world, but the times are changing. Names that end in I are once again en vogue, and Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague recently named her daughter Bambi. It's too early to tell, but a Bambi renaissance may be upon us.

Bambi

Arty and elegant, Ginevra is one of the most popular girls' names in Italy at the moment, ranking at #3 in a recent year. Ultimately from the Arthurian Guinevere, it's a relative of Jennifer, meaning "white wave, white shadow" or "white phantom".
 
Ginevra is also used as the Italian name for the city of Geneva in Switzerland, and may additionally be associated with the word ginepro meaning "juniper". As such, it ticks plenty of boxes as a historical name, a mythical name, a place name, and a nature name.
 
Despite its popularity in Italy, it remains a rare choice in the US, given to just 25 girls in a recent year, and as such, it could make an unexpected honor for a family Jennifer. Nicknames Ginny and Gigi add to its appeal.

Ginevra

Italian girl names almost invariably have several syllables and end in the letter "A," both fashionable in many countries today. This makes many Italian girls’ names — Mirabella, Serenella, Alessandra — sound downright luxurious. In the US, the most popular Italian names for girls include Isabella, Mia, and Arianna.

 in the US include Angelina, Elena, Gabriella, Luna, Liliana, Amara, Sienna, and Lucia. 

 include Sofia, Ginevra — the Italian variation of Guinevere — Chiara, Noemi, and Alessia.

Female forms of classic Italian male names

 such as Gianna and Giovanna are being used more widely in America. Italian names are a staple of opera houses around the world and for this reason, Italian names for girls are known far beyond Rome and Milan.

Browse our full list of Italian baby girl names here. The names are ordered according to their current popularity on Nameberry.

Italian girl names including top and unique names for girls of Italian origin, with meaning and popularity. (Page 7)

300+ Italian Girl Names