When it comes to choosing a name for their little one, many parents are drawn to Italian names, even those without any Italian roots! Whether it’s a girl or a boy, we’ve got some of the cutest names that will just melt your heart.
Here’s a look at the top 25 Italian names that are trending in the US right now. We hope you are able to find a baby name that is absolutely perfecto for you and your family!
25. Andrea (ANN-dree-a) or (AHN-dree-a) or (ahn-DRAY-a)
Andrea is one of few gender neutral names on this list. While it’s traditionally a boys name, as the Italian origin meaning is “strong and manly,” Andrea is also considered to be a feminine spin on Andrew (another popular male name in several European cultures).
This name has never been overly popular, but it has remained in the Top 100 baby names consecutively since 1962. That was until it got booted out in 2013. Even though it lost its spot in the Top 100, Andrea still ranks relatively well at #142.
Another selling point with this name is that parents can have a little bit of fun with the pronunciation. It can be pronounced as ANN-dree-a, AHN-dree-a, or even ahn-DRAY-a.
24. Angelo (aan-JEH-loh)
Do you think of your baby boy as your little angel? If so, maybe he needs to be named Angelo! This Italian name means “angel, messenger” and while it ranks pretty high up in the 300’s in terms of popularity, it’s definitely one of the more common names used by Italians.
It’s an old-school favorite which means it ain’t going out of style anytime soon! In fact, Adele just named her son Angelo which means it’s only likely to become more trendy as time goes on.
23. Antonio (AAN-to-nee-o)
Every child is considered a priceless gift, but Antonio is quite literally a “priceless gift” as that is the Spanish and Italian origin meaning behind the name. If this name sounds familiar, it’s because Antonio is also the Spanish and Italian variation of Anthony. This name was commonly used by Shakespeare and appears in five different plays. It’s always been a popular choice for parents in Spanish speaking countries, which is where the nickname Tonio came to be.
Even though Antonio is considered a Spanish, Italian name, its reach is far and wide. It’s been one of the top boy names in the US for a long time and remained in the Top 1000 since record-keeping started in 1880. As of 2019, it ranks at #170 in terms. of popularity for boys.
22. Aria (AHR-ee-ah)
No doubt about it, Aria will be a big hit in 2021. This name currently ranks as the 20th most popular girl name overall. Aria is of Hebrew, Italian origin meaning “air, song, or melody.” According to Nameberry, in Italian culture, this name is considered to be a musical term for a melody or song, whereas the Hebrew variation means “lion.”
So why is this name so popular? We suspect it’s probably because it’s so light and airy. It’s unique, but not too far outside the box. Parents began using this name more regularly in 2000 and it has quickly topped the charts ever since. It definitely helped that this name was featured in popular shows like Pretty Little Liars and Game of Thrones.
21. Ariana (ah-ree-ah-nah)
This name is probably now most widely recognized from the pop princess Ariana Grande. It might also be why this name is currently a fan favorite among expecting parents, particularly those looking for an Italian name that is very sweet and feminine.
Ariana is the Italian variation of the Greek name Ariadne. It means “most holy.” You can also spell this name Arianna. Both are widely used and accepted as the same name.
20. Bella (BELL-ah)
What better name for a beautiful baby girl than the name Bella, which has the Italian origin meaning “beautiful.” In fact, Bella is related to the word “beautiful” in several languages including Spanish, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, and Greek. Might we also point out that Belle in French is “beautiful.”
You’ll hear this name again later on in this list and that’s because it’s a diminutive of Isabella, as well as any other names with the suffix bella. Nameberry points out that essentially all names with “ella” are extremely trendy right now and Bella is one of them.
19. Dante (DAHN-tay)
Dante is short and sweet and just rolls of the tongue. This male name is of Italian, Latin origin meaning “enduring.”
This name seems to be common among poets, so maybe your little one will be a master with words? There’s the great medieval poet Dante Alighieri and British pre-Raphaelite Dante Gabriel Rosetti. Dante would make a super cute name for any little boy and is quite commonly used among Italian-American communities.
18. Elena (ELL-AI-nuh)
This name actually has Spanish, Italian, and Green origin in which it means “bright, shining light.” We all think our children are a bright light, but Elena may shine the brightest!
Elena ranks in the Top 100 of girl names sitting at #60. It’s popularity in the U.S. may be thanks to the rising trend of EL names. People also like this name because it’s more exotic than the typical Eleanor or Ellen names, but still very sophisticated.
Americans pronounce this name as “eh-LAY-na” whereas in Italy it’s more commonly pronounced as “ELL-AL-nuh.”
17. Emilia (eh-MEE-lee-ah)
Emilia is a female name of Spanish, Italian, and Hungarian origin meaning “rival.” According to Nameberry, it’s the feminine form of the Roman clanae Aemilius. You might recognize it from Shakespeare’s Othello, as Emilia was the wife of Iago and the confidante of Desdemona.
This name has been steadily rising in popularity along with many other “Em” names. It’s often used as an alternative to the more common and traditional names, Emily and Emelia. It’s trendiness may also be due to the fact that one of the main characters from the hugely popular HBO show, Games of Thrones, is named Emilia Clarke.
16. Emiliano (e-MEE-lee-aa-no)
Yet another “Em” name, Emiliano is of Spanish and Italian origin meaning “work.” It’s their variation of Emil and remains a very traditional choice for little boys. While it’s not a show stopper by any means on the charts, it does rank well. In the year 2019, it landed just under the Top 200 boy names at #175 which is an improvement from the previous year.
Emiliano may have gained popularity in Spanish-speaking countries thanks to Emiliano Zapata Salazar who was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution. According to Nameberry, he helped establish modern Mexico.
15. Enzo (ehn-soh)
Enzo is exactly what we’d think of when we think of Italian boy names. Surprisingly, it’s actually the Italian variation of the German name Henry, but also used as a short form for Vincenzo and Lorenzo.
It’s a popular choice for parents of all backgrounds. It’s also a very solid name choice for a boy. It’s confident, cultural, and in addition to being a hot commodity in Italy, it’s also a popular choice for parents in France.
14. Gabriella (GAB-ree-EH-luh)
This name is of Spanish and Italian origin meaning “God is my strength.” It’s the Italian feminine version of Gabriel. You’ll find this name among various cultures, particularly in the U.S. it’s used by Italian Americans, Latinos, and the Jewish community.
It entered the list of Top 1000 girl names in 1984, then cracked the Top 100 in 2000 where it has remained ever since. As of 2019, Gabriella is the 76th most popular girl name in the U.S. It also ranks very high in Australia and Canada.
13. Gianna (JAHN-ah)
Another “gia” name is Gianna, a name of Italian origin meaning “the Lord is gracious.” This name originated as a diminutive of Giovanna, the Latin feminization of John. According to Nameberry, the root name behind both of these is the Hebrew name Yochanen, which also means “the Lord is gracious.” Some of the common nicknames for Gianna are Gia, Gigi, and the English variation is Joanna.
While this name has long been popular in Italy, lately it’s gained a lot of traction outside of Italian culture. It’s known in the US for being a classic, traditional Italian name, but also one that Americans love to use. It made the Top 100 in 2006 and has been used by celebrities like Kobe Bryant, as well as Matt Damon and Mario Lopez who used the short-form Gia.
12. Giovanni (joh-VAHN-ee)
Giovanni is an Italian boy’s name with the origin meaning “God is gracious.” It also known as the Italian variation of John. Parents love this name because not only is it a traditional name, but it also somehow sounds very modern and fresh. The best of both worlds!
Italians are no stranger to this name, it can be found all over the country. Most notably, there are several well known people with this name, such as writer Boccaccio and the famous designer Versace (nn Gianni). In 2019, Giovanni ranked just under the Top 150 boy names at #142.
11. Isabella (ee-ZAA-bel-laa)
One of the reasons Isabella is so popular is because it’s cross-cultural. It’s a girls name of Hebrew, Spanish, and Italian origin meaning “pledged to God.” It is the Latin variation of Isabel, as well as another variation of Elizabeth, which originally came from the Hebrew name Elisheba. So much to keep track of here! All of these variations are appealing choices for parents. Both Isabel and Isabelle are popular. There’s even the Scottish version Isobel.
This name is hugely popular and has long been ranked as one of the top girl names. It was the number one girls name in the U.S. in both 2009 and 2010. Nameberry suspects this might have been due to the Twilight movie franchise, as the lead character’s name was Isabella “Bella” Swan. Either way, this name is both modern and cultural with a feminine ring to it which is why so many parents choose this name for their baby girls.
10. Leonardo (loh-REHN-zoh)
Leonardo is of Spanish, Italian origin meaning “brave lion” making it the perfect choice for little boys! For centuries this name was only used in Latin culture as it was associated with the Italian Renaissance painter-scientist-inventor, Leonardo da Vinci. This is no longer the case as the name is now used all over the world, including the U.S.
This name is one of the most popular boys names of all time. In 2019, it made the coveted list of Top 100 boys names landing at #86, which is an improvement from the previous year. We may have famous actor Leonardo DiCaprio to thank for its popularity. Apparently he was given the name by his mother because she first felt him kick when she was looking at a da Vinci painting in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
9. Liliana (li-lee-ah-nuh) or (lily-ahna)
Liliana is such a sweet, feminine name. Perfect for any baby girl. It’s the Italian and Spanish variation of Lilian meaning “lily, a flower.” Unlike most Italian names, Liliana is actually quite popular, according to Nameberry. It’s so close to cracking the Top 100 girl names as it sits in at #109.
This girly name is a common choice for parents in Hispanic communities, but also parents of all ethnicities. The reason for this is likely because it translates well to the English-speaking world and offers a unique choice that’s not too unusual for parents looking to step outside that traditional box.
8. Lorenzo (loh-REHN-zoh)
Another common Italian name is Lorenzo, the Italian variation of Laurence. As of 2019, Lorenzo sits within the Top 150 boy names at #146.
Similar to Leonardo, despite it being a primarily Spanish and Italian name, Lorenzo has made the transition into the American stockpot of names. This may be thanks to reality star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi who used this name for her son. Nicknames that work well with this name are Enzo and Renzo.
7. Luca (LOO-kah)
While we’ve included this name on this list due to it’s popularity as a boys name, Luca is actually a unisex name. People began viewing Luca as gender neutral after actress Jennie Garth used it for her daughter. It’s popularity goes even further because it’s also considered a “place name” which is another popular trend around the world, even in Italy. If the spelling is changed to Lucca, it can represent the Italian city and join the club with other Italian place names for girls like Venezia, Roma, and Milana.
When used for boys, Luca is considered to be the Italian variation of Luke and Lucas. It’s Italian origin meaning is “man from Lucania.” The appeal of this name spreads far and wide as it’s now become a common choice for parents across Europe and America. The US charts reflect that because in 2019, Luca moved up the charts significantly and now ranks at #87.
6. Lucia (loo-SEE-a) or (loo-CHEE-a) or (LOO-sha)
Does the thought of your little baby girl just light up your face? We’ve got the perfect name for you! This Italian girl name isn’t too feminine, but also isn’t too trendy or unusual. It’s just the right amount of everything. Plus, the meaning behind Lucia is “light.” It was traditionally given to babies born as daylight was breaking.
Lucia is the Italian, feminine variation of Lucius. It ranks quite well considering it isn’t the average American name. Overall, it sits at #159 (as of 2019). Despite it’s Italian roots, Lucia has been the Number 1 girl name in Spain for several years.
5. Luna (LOO-nah)
Even though this name means “moon” in Italian, it’s quickly becoming a rising star among trending names. Luna comes directly from the Latin word for moon.
While it’s still considered a very unique name, Luna is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. Back in 1881 it ranked somewhere in the 400’s in terms of popularity, but today it’s the 16th most popular girl name.
According to Nameberry, the popularity of this name may be due to the loveable Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood. It might also have to do with the trove of celebrities who’ve used this name such as Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, as well as Penelope Cruz and Ellen Pompeo.
4. Mario (mAH-rih-oh)
Mario is another old-school Italian name. It’s the Italian variation of Marius and means “Mars.” It also has some Spanish roots. While this name isn’t by any means widely popular, it sits somewhere in the 300’s in terms of ranking overall, but it’s one of those names that will never be off the table because it’s a timeless classic.
And if you’re expecting twins you can always name them Mario and Luigi. Just kidding!
3. Matteo (mah-TAY-oh)
Matteo is a super popular Italian name as it’s the Italian variation of Matthew. The meaning of this name can be traced back to “gift of God.” While it might seem outside the box in the U.S., Matteo is becoming a much more attractive name to American parents as it moves further into mainstream nomenclature.
To see just how trendy this name is, in 2019, Matteo landed in the place of #179 when ranking all the boy names in the U.S. That’s pretty good considering the volume of names out there! It’s been used by the actor Colin Firth for his son, as well as Ricky Martin, the Benjamin Bratt’s and Tom Colicchio’s.
2. Mia (MEE-ah)
Mia is a female Italian, Scandinavian name with the origin meaning “mine or bitter.” This name has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the charts and is now among the 10 most popular girl names in the U.S.! Mia even surpassed the name it originated from, Maria, and is considered the number 1 girls name beginning with the letter “M.”
According to Nameberry, the popularity behind this name is largely attributed to Mia Farrow (born Maria). This name entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 1964, the same year Farrow gained wide recognition for her work, particularly her role in Peyton Place. Other names similar to Mia are Nina, Maya, or even possibly Mary. It’s a traditional name, but also very simple and modern which may be why it appeals to so many parents. It’s also a very feminine name for little girls.
1. Romeo (ROH-mee-oh)
Romeo is an Italian boy’s name meaning “pilgrim to Rome, Roman.” This name was put on the map by William Shakespeare and one of his most famous plays of all time, the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet.
Prior to David and Victoria Beckham using this name for their son in 2002, Americans generally didn’t use this name. In fact, for the most part it was thought of as a very unusual name. After the Beckhams chose it, Jon Bon Jovi also used Romeo as the name for his son, making this name even more trendy!
