By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 187 pages
of 187
Italian
"pilgrim to Rome, Roman"
It wasn't so long ago that Romeo was considered as outre for an American baby as Casanova or Cupid. But that really changed when David and Victoria Beckham chose it for their second son in 2002, a…
"angel, messenger"
Old-school Italian name that could find new fans thanks to singer Adele, who chose it for her son after months of baby name mystery. Angelo is in the same name category as Rocco, the name of…
Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese variation of Lucian
"light"
A vibrant, operatic choice with plenty of flair and plenty of familiarity too. Popular in Italy, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, it also ranks in the Top 500 in France and the US. Operatic tenor Luciano…
Spanish, Portuguese
"free man"
Francisco is one of the more popular Spanish names for boys in the US, which is unsurprising given its popularity back in Spain and Portugal as well as Latin America, coupled with its classic status.…
Finnish form and Croatian and Slovene short form of Nicholas, Greek
"victory of the people"
Popular in Croatia, Spain, New Zealand, and Slovenia, Niko has also been rising up the US popularity charts for boys since the late 2000s. Fresher than Nicholas, spikier than Nico, it currently ranks…
Egyptian place-name, Arabic
"the conqueror, the victorious"
Cairo is an exciting place name possibility with upbeat o ending and an on-trend first syllable. Debuting in the US Top 1000 in 2015, it has been climbing ever since, and, as of 2023, it is given to…
"little saint"
A name introduced here by The Godfather: James Caan played the anything-but-saintly Santino "Sonny" Corleone, and comedian Adam Carolla used it for his son.
Italian and Spanish form of Mark
"warlike"
Simple and universal, Marco is a Latin classic that would make a much livelier namesake for an Uncle Mark. It was used for her son by actress Jill Hennessy and goes well with surnames of any…
Latinized form of Hugh
"mind, intellect"
Hugo, the Latin form of Hugh, has more heft and energy than the original -- and of course we love names that end (or begin, for that matter) with an o. This one is especially appealing because it's…
Portuguese and Spanish variation of Richard
"dominant ruler"
Richard is far from fashionable, but Ricardo is one of the most popular Spanish names for boys in the US. And it does sound far more appealing that the English version.
Spanish and Portuguese variation of Ferdinand
"bold voyager"
Can you hear the drums Fernando? Although 58% of Nameberries prefer Ferdinand to Fernando, the Iberian variant has a softer, more romantic feel that makes it a better fit with all those Javiers,…
Italian, Spanish
"sun"
Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Derived from the Roman Aelius and the Greek Helios, it has an appealing…
Spanish and Portuguese variation of Marcellus, Latin
"little warrior"
Elegant but upbeat, Marcelo has steadily climbing up the US Top charts since the mid-90s. Also popular in Spain, Uruguay, Chile, and Mexico, it ranked in the US Top 500 for the first time in a recent…
Variation of Kyle, Scottish
"narrow spit of land"
The original Kyle has sparked many variations, including Kylie, Kyler, and Kylo, after Kylo Ren, the villain played by Adam Driver in the seventh Star Wars movie, released in December 2015. .Kylo,…
Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian variation of Leander
"lion-man"
Leandro is a variation of the Ancient Greek name Leander, created by combining the Latin words leo and Andro together, to get a meaning that suggests strength, power, and bravery. The Hero and…
Spanish and Italian variation of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
A stalwart of Latin nomenclature that could work just as well for Anglos. Proof lies with the celebrity birth announcement — Hilaria and Alec Baldwin named their fifth child Eduardo Pau Lucas in…
Spanish variation of Thaddeus
Has a lot of energy and charm, as does the Italian form, Taddeo.
Spanish variation of Paul
"small"
Pablo, the commonly used Spanish version of Paul, has the added bonus of some fantastic artistic bearers: painter Picasso, cellist Casals, and poet Neruda. Pablo has been consistently in the US…
Italian variation of Marius, form of mythological name Mars
Many may associate Mario with the popular platform game - unsurprising when it's the 5th best-selling video game worldwide, and was voted the 2nd best game ever by IGN in 2024. The titular plumber…
Italian and Spanish variation of Sergius, Roman family name
"servant"
Widely heard in both Italian and Spanish households, Sergio and his many international brothers are rooted in Sergius, one of the original Roman family names. The meaning is unknown, but possibly is…
