Adorable Italian baby names you’ll love
Italy is a magical place. Between the food, the language, and the culture, it’s a dream destination for many travelers. The country has a lot to offer, not the least of which is its gorgeous names. Maybe it’s the lyrical quality that they tend to have, or just the romance of the country lending itself to the names. Whatever it is, Italian names might be some of the most beautiful in the world. Whether or not you have any Italian ancestry, these monikers are charming choices for your baby. They’re infused with the charm of Italy and are often packed with a little of history, too. What’s not to love?
Italian names have a way of rolling off the tongue and are sure to provide a unique conversation starter whenever someone asks your little one where their name comes from. Here are some incredibly adorable Italian baby names that you are sure to fall in love with.
Antonella
The root of the name Antonella likely sounds familiar. This Italian gem of a name has the same origin as the names Anthony and Antonia. While the latter two monikers are more common in the English-speaking world, you can’t deny that Antonella is a charming variation that deserves a chance to shine outside of Italy and Chile, where the name is currently popular. It is actually slowly-but-surely staking its claim in the U.S., where it popped up on the charts for the first time in 2016. It debuted as the 764th most commonly used name of the year, which means that Antonella is still a pretty rare name here, but it’s off to a good start.
The origin of the name Antonella dates back to the ancient Roman family name of Antonius. We know that it is of Etruscan origin, although the meaning of the name is uncertain. While originally a family name, it didn’t take long for various forms of it to become used as a given name, which means that variations of Antonella have been used for centuries.
Francesco
This classic Italian name is one of the most popular in Italy. Francesco is an old name with even older roots, and it has been used in Italy since at least the Renaissance period. The name Francesco can be traced back to the late Latin name Franciscus, which means “Frenchman.” This root name has given us a lot of other names, including Francis, Frank, and Franz. Francesco lends itself well to nicknames, such as Frankie and Franco, so you don’t have to worry about this name being too long for your little one.
The name has a long and notable history. Since Francesco is one of the most common names given to boys in Italy, there have been plenty of notable Italians to bear the name. It was the name of 16th century painter and sculptor Francesco Primaticcio. Other famous Italians include painter Francesco Albani, and composer Francesco Cavalli.
Ginevra
Fans of the Harry Potter franchise will recognize the name Ginevra as the full name of Ginny Weasley, the younger sister of Harry’s best friend Ron. While author J.K. Rowling may have helped to make the name recognizable to international audiences, her use of the name didn’t exactly cause it to soar in popularity around the world. The name Ginevra is wildly popular in its home country Italy, though, where it is also used as the Italian name for the Swiss city of Geneva.
While Ginevra is often linked to the word “ginepro,” which is Italian for “juniper,” the name actually has a far more legendary origin. Ginevra is the Italian version of the name Guinevere, from which we also get the name Jennifer. The name is derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar. Guinevere is commonly remembered as the wife of King Arthur who has an affair with his best friend, Sir Lancelot.
Lorenzo
The name Lorenzo is also used as a Spanish name, although the pronunciation is different in Spanish-speaking countries. In Spain, the name is pronounced “lo-REN-tho,” while in Latin America the name is said as “lo-REN-so.” In Italy, this lyrical name is pronounced “lo-REN-tso.” While it is considered to be both a Spanish and an Italian name, Lorenzo’s roots are in ancient Rome. It comes from the Roman name Laurentius, which means “from Laurentum.” The name was used by people who came from the ancient Italian city of Laurentium, which, in turn, likely got its name from the Latin word “laurus,” meaning “laurel.”
While the English version of the name is Laurence, Lorenzo has been gaining popularity in English-speaking countries over the last few years. At this rate, it might even catch up to the wide usage the name sees in Italy. Lorenzo was a beloved name for boys during the Renaissance period, and remains one of the most common male names in Italy.
Adelina
Adelina isn’t just an Italian name, but Italy is one of the many countries to use the moniker — the name is widely used across Europe. It’s even beloved in Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, and is the name of a village in Poland. While the name is used internationally, it does have Italian roots. Adelina is a Latin variation of Adela, a name that dates back to the ancient Germanic element “adal,” which means “noble.” It’s a long and complex history, but one that only gives this lovely name more character.
That small Germanic word has had a lot of influence on names. Thanks to their mutual origin from “adal,” Adelina is related to dozens of other names including Adele, Delia, Alice, Heidi, and Alina. This means that you not only get a gorgeous Italian name with Adelina, but you also get a lot of options for adorable nicknames.
Dante
This Italian name was made famous by the 13th century poet Dante Alighieri, who is commonly referred to by his first name. Dante may have lived hundreds of years ago, but his works are still widely studied. He is the author of La Commedia (translated into English as The Divine Comedy) which is considered to be a masterpiece of world literature.
Dante is a shortened form of the name Durante, which was Dante’s full name. Coming from a Latin name, Durans, which means “enduring,” Dante has certainly lived up to its definition — because the popularity of this centuries-old name endures in modern times. The name was used in Renaissance Italy and is still frequently used in Italy, and other European countries, today. Its popularity has even crossed over to the Americas. Dante is used in the United States and, notably, in Chile — where it’s ranked in the top 100 names for baby boys.
Alessia
Alessia, the Italian version of the name in Alexis, is naturally popular in Italy, although it has surprisingly caught on in Romania and Switzerland as well. This name has existed in various forms for centuries, and dates back to ancient Greece. Alessia, and other related names, are derived from the Greek word “alexo” which means “to defend, to help.” If you like flowery names, Alessia provides a lovely and more feminine-sounding alternative to Alexis; while used primarily as a feminine name in English-speaking countries, Alexis is also widely used as a masculine name around the world.
Alessia is just one of many beautiful names derived from the word alexo. Other versions include Alexina, Lexine, and Alexina. Alessia is one of the few versions of the name to lack a “k” or “x,” making it a unique and softer-sounding variation of the name. It also has some adorable nickname options like Ally, Essie, or even Sia.
Marcello
Marcello is derived from the ancient Roman name Marcus. Both names are thought to come from the name Mars. In Roman mythology, Mars was considered the guardian of Rome as well as the god of war. He was one of the most powerful gods, second only to Jupiter. The name Marcus, along with its English variation, Mark, still sees widespread use around the world today, making Marcello a stately alternative to more common versions of the name. While Marcello is popular in Italy, where it has been used for centuries, it is not frequently used in the United States. Mark and Marcus, on the other hand, have long been used in English-speaking countries, as well as throughout Europe.
Marcello has a lot to offer as a baby name. It has a long and powerful history, and is unique enough that it’s not likely to be overused anytime soon. You could even use Mark and Marcus as nicknames for the moniker, or get creative and try one of the other variations of the name such as Marcel or the Dutch nickname Ceel.
Luciana
Like many other popular Italian names, Luciana is also used in Spanish-speaking countries as well as Portugal, although its roots are very much Italian. It is the feminine form of the ancient Roman name Lucianus, a family name coming from the given name Lucius. The root of all of these names is the Latin word “lux,” which means “light.” Lucius was the most popular given name in ancient Rome, which helps to explain why its legacy has stretched over so many generations and has given us so many related names.
Luciana is beloved in Chile and Mexico, and has even started climbing up the charts in the United States. It has the same root as the Italian name Lucia, which also makes an excellent nickname for this lovely moniker. Another possible nickname for Luciana is Lucy, the English version of the name. If Luciana isn’t quite your cup of tea, there are other Italian versions of this name to choose from, including Lucetta and Lucilla.
Claudio
While the name Claudio has a bit of a grim background, you shouldn’t let that stop you from using the name. After all, it’s ancient history. This name comes from the Roman family name Claudius, which might itself come from the Latin word “claudus,” meaning “lame” or “crippled.” According to tradition, the family was founded by Attius Clausus in the 6th century B.C. A Sabine leader, Attius moved to Rome and renamed himself Appius Claudius upon gaining citizenship. From there, the Claudius family would become one of the most important in ancient Rome.
Several first century emperors came from the family, including one known only by his family name, Claudius — he was murdered by his wife so that her son, the infamous Nero Claudius Caesar, could take the throne. The name’s complex legacy hasn’t hurt its popularity, though. It is widely used in Italy and Chile, and is in the top 100 boy names in both countries.
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