Italian Baby Names

Italian Baby Names

The best Italian baby names include those that are currently common in the US, such as Aria and Leonardo, as well as unique choices rarely heard outside of Italy, such as Benedetta and Domenico. Italian names are known for their attractive rhythms and romantic style, which feature heavily among the names on this list.

Along with Aria and Leonardo, other Italian baby names within the US Top 500 include Emilia, Gianna, Luca, Giovanni, Enzo, Lucia, Emiliano, and Bianca. Italian place names make great baby names, such as Como, Genoa, Milan, Sicily, Siena, and Verona. Great Italian names that are common in both the US and Italy include Francesca and Alessia for girls, Lorenzo and Matteo for boys. Below, our recommendations of the best Italian baby names today.

  1. Elio
    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "sun"
    • Description:

      Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Elio is also currently popular in France, ranking in the Top 250.
  2. Luca
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Luke and Lucas
    • Meaning:

      "man from Lucania"
    • Description:

      The related Lucas and Luke are both hugely popular boy names in the US and internationally, and now Luca has joined them on boys' popularity lists around the world.
  3. Enzo
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Henry, also diminutive of Vincenzo and Lorenzo
    • Description:

      You may be surprised to know that Enzo is now a Top 100 boy name in the US, where it has been climbing straight uphill since the turn of this century.
  4. Aria
    • Origin:

      Italian and Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "air; song or melody; lion"
    • Description:

      Aria is a multi-cultural name with two extremely popular versions: this more word-like one along with Arya, the spelling used for the feisty young heroine of Game of Thrones. There were about 6400 baby girls named Aria in the US last year alog with 2400 named Arya, which counted together places the name in the Top 10.
  5. Emilia
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Emil, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "rival"
    • Description:

      Emilia is the feminine form of the Roman clan name Aemilius, which derived from the Latin aemulus, meaning "rival." In Shakespeare’s Othello, Emilia is the wife of Iago and confidante of Desdemona. Amelia, although homonymous, has a different root and meaning.
  6. Lucia
    • Origin:

      Italian, feminine variation of Lucius, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      Lucia is a lush, rich Latinate equivalent of Lucy, popular in Spain and throughout Latin America and also a cross-cultural favorite. You might be surprised to know that Lucia has ALWAYS ranked among the Top 1000 girl names in the US, though she's really taken off only since the turn of this century.
  7. Dante
    • Origin:

      Latin diminutive of Durant
    • Meaning:

      "enduring"
    • Description:

      Though closely associated with the great medieval Florentine poet Dante Alighieri -- who's so famous most people skip the last name -- it's not as much of a one-man name as you might think. Heck, it's not even a one-poet name, thanks to British pre-Rapahaelite Dante Gabriel Rosetti. Though especially well used in the Italian-American community, it would make a striking name for any little boy.
  8. Francesca
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Frances
    • Meaning:

      "from France or free man"
    • Description:

      Francesca is a lighter and much more feminine choice than the classic Frances, and one that is increasingly popular with upscale parents.
  9. Bianca
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "white"
    • Description:

      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.
  10. Matteo
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      This attractively energetic Italian version of the classic Matthew is primed to move further and further into mainstream American nomenclature. Mateo is technically the Spanish version, but many parents in the US use the two spellings interchangeably.
  11. Gia
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Gia is a cute if slight name that calls to mind stylish sisters Mia, Lea, Pia, Tia, and Nia. One of the most familiar Italian baby names in the US, Gia is a short form of Gianna, which in turn is a diminutive of Giovanna, the feminine form of Giovanni, the Italian equivalent of John—all of them meaning "God is gracious."
  12. Alessia
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Alexis
    • Meaning:

      "defending warrior"
    • Description:

      Young Canadian pop singer Alessia Cara has given this spicy-sounding name a new lease on life, propelling it into the Top 1000 in 2016. It was one of the fastest rising girl names of the year in 2016, then again in 2023. As a form of Alexander, Alessia could make a wonderful honor for any of Alexander's variants—Alexandra, Alexis—or as an alternative to Alexa, now best known as Amazon's AI voice.
  13. Gianna
    • Origin:

      Italian, diminutive of Giovanna or feminization of Gianni, forms of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      The Italian Gianna undoubtedly owes much of its popularity in the US to its status as an honor name for John. Before the importation of Gianna, there was no truly workable feminine form of John, so Gianna found widespread favor among American parents with Italian roots and far beyond.
  14. Giovanni
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Giovanni is a venerable Italian classic that suddenly sounds fresh and cool. Ubiquitous in Italy, it has countless notable namesakes, from writer Boccaccio to designer Versace (nn Gianni).
  15. Chiara
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "light, clear"
    • Description:

      Chiara is a lovely and romantic Italian name that's familiar but not widely used here: a real winner. You might consider Chiara instead of Claire, Clara, Cara, or even Keira.
  16. Lorenzo
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Laurence
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentium"
    • Description:

      Latinizing Lawrence gives it a whole new lease on life. Like Leonardo, Lorenzo has been integrated into the American stockpot of names, partly via actor Lorenzo Lamas. Other associations are with Lorenzo de' Medici, the Florentine Renaissance merchant prince and art patron, Renaissance artists Ghiberti and Lotto, and the upstanding young man who married Shylock's daughter Jessica in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
  17. Aldo
    • Origin:

      Italian from German
    • Meaning:

      "old and wise"
    • Description:

      A spirited German name very popular in Italy and occasionally used here, Aldo is one of the unique baby names with international flair. And names that mean wise have an enduring appeal.
  18. Aurelio
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Aurelius
    • Meaning:

      "the golden one"
    • Description:

      Aurelio is an energetic Italian name rarely heard here, with an attractive aura. As the female version Aurelia gains greater notice, we expect to hear more from Aurelio too. In fact, Aurelio has recently entered the Top 1000 in the US in 2022. Next to follow might be latinate versions Aurelius and Aurelian.
  19. Orlando
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Roland
    • Meaning:

      "famous throughout the land"
    • Description:

      Orlando, the ornate Italianate twist on the dated Roland, with a literary heritage stretching back to Shakespeare and before, has appealing book-ended o's, and is open to combination with almost any last name, a la British actor, Orlando Bloom.
  20. Rocco
    • Origin:

      Italian from German
    • Meaning:

      "rest"
    • Description:

      Madonna did much to polish up the image of this old-neighborhood Italian choice when she picked it for her son with British director Guy Ritchie, and several years later it was also used by Rose Byrne and Bobby Canavale for their son. It now feels much more mainstream than many celebrity baby names, sharing the quirky appeal of some other so-far-out-they're-in baby names as Bruno and Hugo.