Italian Names that Start With B

Beatrice is back. Stored in the attic for almost a century, the lovely Beatrice with its long literary (Shakespeare, Dante) and royal history is being looked at with fresh eyes by parents seeking a classic name with character and lots of upbeat nicknames, like Bea and Bee.

Bianca, the livelier Italian and Shakespearean version of Blanche, has been chosen by many American parents since the 1990s, just as Blanca is a favorite in the Spanish-speaking community. Its meaning of white relates to snow, making it one of the prime names for winter babies.

Everything ella, from Ella to Bella to Arabella, is red hot right now. Bella is one of the most, well, beautiful girl names starting with B. It carried a hint of a nice Old World grandmotherly veneer, until it became attached to Twilight's Bella Swan.

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.

Sweet and sparky but maybe a little bit stuck in the 90s for some, Bria is a nickname-y style choice with various origins.

Musical term with a lot of energy.

Saint John Bosco is well-known to Catholic School children, but Bosco is perhaps better known as a chocolate syrup.

A Beretta is a gun, so named because of the Italian firearms manufacturer that makes it. And now Beretta is also a badass baby name, used in the middle for daughter Breeze by Bristol Palin baby daddy Levi Johnston. What a Tripp.

Possibility for a dark-haired babe.

This Italian form of Benedict sidesteps the Benedict Arnold association that still clouds the English version.

Derived from Italian bello "beautiful" and vedere "view", Belvedere is a dramatic name that was used for a cartoon hound dog in George Webster Crenshaw's comic strip by the same name, which ran from 1962 to 1995.

A rarely heard saint's name -- Saint Charles Borromeo is the patron of apple orchards and stomach diseases.

Battista is a masculine Italian name derived from the Latin 'baptista,' meaning 'baptist.' The name has strong religious associations, primarily referring to John the Baptist from Christian tradition. Historically popular throughout Italy, particularly during the Renaissance period, Battista often appeared in noble and artistic families. Many notable Italian historical figures bore this name, including artists, composers, and scholars. While less commonly given today, it remains recognized in Italian communities and diaspora populations. The name carries a sense of classical dignity and cultural heritage, with the distinctive double 't' creating a rhythmic pronunciation. Battista offers parents seeking Italian heritage names an option with historical depth and religious significance that's less commonly used than names like Giovanni or Francesco.

Though Beatrice has the lovely Italian pronunciation bay-uh-TREE-chay, Bice has the problematic BEE-chay -- a bit too close to a word that would cause playground probs in the US. Italian cross-country skier Bice Vanzetta won two bronze medals at the Winter Olympics of 1992 and 2994.

Bello is as handsome as Bella is beautiful, but rarely heard outside the Italian community. With its energetic 'o' ending, it could be ripe for export.

Battiste is a masculine name of Italian and French origin, derived from the Latin name 'Baptista,' meaning 'baptist' or 'one who baptizes.' It's ultimately connected to Saint John the Baptist from Christian tradition. This distinctive name is more common in French-speaking regions and Italy, where it's sometimes used as a surname as well. Battiste has a strong, classic sound while remaining uncommon in English-speaking countries. The name carries religious undertones and historical significance without being overly common. Pronunciation may vary slightly between cultures, with French speakers often dropping the final 'e' sound.

Better saved for a doll.

Benjamino is a masculine name that represents an Italian elaboration of Benjamin, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'son of the right hand' or 'son of my days.' The Italian suffix '-ino' adds an affectionate, diminutive quality to the biblical classic. While Benjamin is widely used across many Western countries, Benjamino is considerably rarer, primarily found in Italian families or those with Italian heritage. The name carries a musical, romantic quality characteristic of Italian naming traditions. Benjamino blends biblical gravitas with Mediterranean charm, offering a distinctive alternative to the more common Benjamin. This elaborate form might appeal to parents seeking a name with cross-cultural appeal that honors Italian ancestry while maintaining biblical connections.

In Italy, often refers to the joy at the birth of a long-awaited child.