Italian boy names and meaning list

Cute Italian Boy Names And Meanings

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Alessia Spampinato

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Congratulations! You’re pregnant — and you just found out it’s a baby boy! Or maybe you’re keeping it a surprise, but want to start gathering a few name ideas for both genders.

If that’s the case, I also have an article on Beautiful Italian Baby Girl names and Meanings — you can read that one next!

Now, back to the sweet boys. This article is all about cute Italian boy names and meanings. If you love Italy, Italian culture, and can’t wait to choose a name that sounds beautifully Italian, I’ve got plenty of ideas for you — from classic and popular to truly unique.

So, grab a cup of decaffeinated tea (or maybe a cozy matcha latte) and get comfy!


PIN IT FOR LATER



baby boy names

Just like I did for the baby girl names, I have looked at Istat (Italy’s National Institute of Statistics) last years’ reports and compiled a list of the most popular boy names used in Italy.

Before I share them with you, let me suggest you read the Baby Girl Names article, if you are curious about how Italian mums and dads name their babies. That holds true for both genders, but I am not going to repeat it here.

Back to the most popular Italian boy names, here comes the list in order from most to least used. However, keep in mind that these are all very frequently picked names. If you are someone who wants a more unique one, perhaps read this list to know which ones not to pick!

10 Most Popular Italian Names In Italy (as at 2023, which is the last available Istat report):

  1. Leonardo
  2. Edoardo
  3. Tommaso
  4. Francesco
  5. Alessandro
  6. Mattia
  7. Lorenzo
  8. Gabriele
  9. Riccardo
  10. Andrea

If you are American and want to pick an Italian name that’s not very popular in your country, according to this article, you should avoid Leonardo, Alessandro, and Lorenzo as they are among the top 1000 most popular boy names in the US.

Here are a few resources if you happen to be living in another country:
Most popular boy names in Canada
Most popular boy names in Australia
Most popular boy names in the UK


Italian Boy Names By Region

I also thought it would be nice for you to know which Italian boy names are most popular in the different Italian regions. That’s especially sweet if you conceived your baby boy in one of those regions, while on holiday in Italy. But it’s equally meaningful to pick a name that’s especially close to your favorite area in Italy. Have a look!

popular Italian boy names by region


Piedmont – Leonardo

Aosta Valley – Mattia

Lombardy – Tommaso

Trentino Alto Adige – Noah

Veneto –Tommaso

Friuli Venezia Giulia – Leonardo

Liguria – Edoardo

Emilia Romagna – Edoardo

Tuscany – Leonardo

Umbria – Edoardo

Marche – Leonardo

Lazio – Tommaso

Abruzzo – Leonardo

Molise – Francesco

Campania – Antonio

Puglia – Alessandro

Basilicata – Antonio

Calabria – Francesco

Sicily – Giuseppe

Sardinia – Edoardo


Throughout the World

As for the rest of the world, according to this Wikipedia article, these are the most frequently picked Italian male names.



old Italian boy names

Old Italian Boy Names

If you love history, perhaps you may want to name your little boy after a king, or pick a name that has a lot to tell. If so, have a look at this section for the oldest Italian boy names. You will find both very current names as well as unique names that are no longer so popular, but perhaps one of those is what you are looking for!

Ancient Roman Names

Adriano – From Hadrianus, meaning from Hadria, a town in northern Italy.
Antonio – Priceless, praiseworthy.
Ascanio – From Ascanius, legendary founder of Alba Longa, son of Aeneas.
Attilio – From Attilius, meaning father-like or belonging to Attilius.
Augusto – From Augustus, meaning venerable, exalted, majestic.
Bardo – Possibly warrior or singer, of uncertain Latin origin.
Benedetto – From Benedictus, meaning blessed.
Calvino – From Calvinus, meaning bald or little bald one.
Claudio – From Claudius, meaning lame or limping.
Clemente – From Clementis, meaning merciful, gentle.
Cornelio – From Cornelius, meaning strong-willed or of the horn.
Costanzo – From Constantius, meaning steadfast, constant.
Duccio – From Duccius, of uncertain origin, possibly leader.
Duilio – From Duilius, meaning warrior or of the people.
Emiliano – From Aemilianus, meaning eager, striving, rival.
Emilio – From Aemilius, meaning rival or eager.
Fabio – From Fabius, meaning bean grower.
Fabrizio – From Fabricius, meaning craftsman, maker.
Fausto – From Faustus, meaning fortunate, lucky.
Flavio – From Flavius, meaning golden-haired, fair.
Florio – From Florius, meaning flowering, in bloom.
Fulvio – From Fulvius, meaning tawny, golden-yellow.
Giulio – From Julius, meaning youthful, downy-bearded.
Livio – From Livius, meaning envious or bluish, possibly linked to liveo.
Lorenzo – From Laurentius, meaning crowned with laurel.
Lucio – From Lucius, meaning light.
Manlio – From Manlius, meaning morning or of the morning light.
Marco – From Marcus, meaning warlike.
Marzio – From Marcius, meaning dedicated to Mars.
Massimo – From Maximus, meaning the greatest.
Orazio – From Horatius, meaning keeper of time or of the hours.
Ottavio – From Octavius, meaning eighth.
Ovidio – From Ovidius, meaning sheep herder.
Valente – From Valentius, meaning strong, vigorous.
Virgilio – From Vergilius, meaning flourishing or staff bearer.
Virginio – From Verginius, meaning pure or chaste.




X Italian Boy Names and Meanings

While I hope you’ve already found value and inspiration in the previous section, this is the meat and potatoes of this article. I will be listing you all Italian names that I know, including their meaning, and organized by letter. Here you go.


Italian boy name and meanings

Baby Boy Names starting with A

Achille – pain of the people
Adolfo – noble wolf
Adriano – from Hadria
Agostino – venerable, majestic
Aiace – of the earth, heroic
Alberto – noble, bright
Aldo – old, wise
Alessandro – defender of mankind
Alessio – helper, defender
Alfio – elf, supernatural being
Alfonso – noble and ready
Alfredo – wise counselor
Ambrogio – immortal
Amedeo – lover of God
Amerigo – ruler of the home
Amleto – helmeted protector
Andrea – brave, manly
Angelo – messenger, angel
Anteo – giant, strong
Antonello – priceless, worthy of praise
Antonino – priceless, worthy of praise
Antonio – priceless, worthy of praise
Armando – soldier, warrior
Arnaldo – eagle ruler
Arrigo – ruler of the home
Arturo – noble, courageous
Ascanio – mythic founder of Rome
Attila – little father, ruler
Attilio – fatherly, noble
Augusto – majestic, venerable
Aurelio – golden


Italian Boy Names that start with B

Bartolomeo – son of Talmai
Bastiano – revered, venerable
Battista – baptist, one who baptizes
Benedetto – blessed
Beniamino – son of the right hand, favorite
Bernardo – brave as a bear
Biagio – stammerer, lisping
Brando – sword, firebrand
Bruno – brown, dark


Italian boy name and meanings

Baby Boy Names starting with C

Calogero – beautiful elder
Camillo – attendant at religious ceremonies
Carlo – free man
Carmelo – garden, orchard
Carmine – garden, orchard
Cassio – helm
Celestino – heavenly, celestial
Cesare – long-haired, emperor
Ciro – of the sun, lordly
Claudio – lame, crippled
Clemente – merciful, gentle
Corrado – brave counsel
Cosimo – order, decency
Costante – steadfast, constant
Costantino – steadfast, constant
Crescenzo – growing, increasing
Cristiano – follower of Christ


Italian Boy Names that start with D

Damiano – to tame, subdue
Daniele – God is my judge
Danilo – God is my judge
Dante – enduring, steadfast
Dario – wealthy, possessive
Davide – beloved
Diamante – diamond
Dino – little lord
Dionisio – follower of Dionysus
Domenico – dedicated to the Lord
Domiziano – gentle
Donatello – gifted
Donato – given, gifted
Doriano – precious gift


Baby Boy Names starting with E

Edmondo – wealthy protector
Edoardo – wealthy guardian
Egidio – young goat, protector
Elia – my God is my Lord
Elio – sun
Elpidio – hope
Emanuele – God is with us
Emiliano – rival, eager
Emilio – rival, eager
Enea – praised, praiseworthy
Ennio – destined
Enrico – ruler of the home
Enzo – short for Vincenzo, Lorenzo and Renzo
Ermanno – soldier, army man
Ernesto – serious, determined
Eros – love
Ettore – steadfast, holding fast
Eugenio – well-born, noble
Evaristo – well-pleasing
Ezio – eagle


Italian boy name and meanings

Italian Boy Names that start with F

Fabiano – bean grower
Fabio – bean grower
Fabrizio – craftsman, smith
Fausto – fortunate, lucky
Federico – peaceful ruler
Felice – happy, fortunate
Ferdinando – bold voyager, brave traveler
Fernando – adventurous, courageous
Filippo – lover of horses
Flaminio – religious
Flavio – yellow-haired, blonde
Fortunato – lucky, fortunate
Francesco – Frenchman, free man
Franco – free man
Fulvio – red head


Baby Boy Names starting with G

Gabriele – God is my strength
Gaetano – from Gaeta
Galano – festive, elegant
Gastone – guest, stranger
Gennaro – born in January
Gerardo – strong spear
Germano – brotherly, Germanic
Giacinto – hyacinth flower
Giacobbe – follower of God
Giacomo – follower of God
Giampiero – John Peter
Giancarlo – John Charles
Gianfranco – John Frank
Gianluca – John Luke
Gianluigi – John Louis
Gianmarco – John Mark
Gianmaria – John Mary
Gianmario – John Mario
Gianni – God is gracious
Gianpiero – John Pierre
Gianpietro – John Peter
Gigi – from Luigi
Gilberto – skilled in the use of the spear
Gino – famous man
Giordano – descendent of Jordan
Giorgio – farmer, earthworker
Giovanni – God’s gift
Giuliano – descendent of Julius
Giulio – descendent of Julius; brave
Giuseppe – God will grow the family
Graziano – graceful, merciful
Gregorio – vigilant, watchful
Gualtiero – ruler of the army
Guglielmo – resolute protector
Guido – guide, leader
Gustavo – sustainer of the Goths


Italian boy name and meanings

Italian Boy Names that start with I

Iacopo – follower of God
Ignazio – fiery, ardent
Ilario – cheerful, happy
Isaia – God is salvation
Ismaele – God will hear
Italo – Italian
Ivano – God is gracious (from Giovanni)
Ivo – yew wood, archer


Baby Boy Names starting with L

Leonardo – brave lion
Leone – lion
Leonida – son of a lion
Libero – free
Livio – pale, envious
Lodovico, Ludovico – famous warrior
Lorenzo – crowned with laurel
Luca – bringer of light
Luciano – born in the light
Lucio – light
Luigi – famous warrior


Italian boy name and meanings 6

Italian Boy Names that start with M

Manuele – God is with us
Marcello – young warrior
Marco – warlike
Mariano – dedicated to Mars
Marino – of the sea
Mario – male, virile
Martino – dedicated to Mars
Marziano – warlike, of Mars
Marzio – warlike, of Mars
Massimiliano – greatest
Massimo – greatest
Matteo – gift of God
Mattia – gift of God
Maurizio – dark-skinned, Moorish
Mauro – dark-skinned, Moorish
Michelangelo – who is like God + angel
Michele – who is like God
Mirco – peaceful


Baby Boy Names starting with N

Narciso – handsome, vain, confident
Natale – born at Christmas
Nazario – from Nazareth
Nicola – people’s victory
Nicolò – people’s victory
Nunzio – messenger


Italian Boy Names that start with O

Oliviero – peace bringer
Orazio – keeper of time
Oreste – mountain dweller
Orlando – famous land
Osvaldo – divine power
Otello – wealthy, prosperous
Ottaviano – eighth-born
Ottavio – eighth-born
Otto – eight


Italian boy name and meanings 7

Baby Boy Names starting with P

Pablo – small, humble
Paolo – young, humble
Pasquale – born at Easter
Patrizio – nobleman, patrician
Patroclo – glory of the father
Pierandrea – rock, strong and manly
Piergiorgio – rock, farmer or worker of the earth
Pierluigi – rock, famous warrior
Piero – rock, stone
Pierpaolo – rock, small and humble
Pietro – rock, stone
Pio – pious, devout
Pippo – diminutive of Filippo, lover of horses
Pompeo – guide, fivefold


Italian Boy Names that start with Q

Quarto – fourth-born
Quintiliano – fifth-born, related to the number five
Quinto – fifth-born


Baby Boy Names starting with R

Raffaele – God has healed
Raffaello – God has healed
Remo – legendary founder of Rome (brother of Romolo)
Renato – reborn
Renzo – short for Lorenzo, from Laurentum, crowned with laurel
Riccardo – strong ruler
Roberto – bright fame
Rocco – tall
Rodolfo – famous wolf
Rodrigo – famous ruler
Romano – Roman, from Rome
Romeo – pilgrim to Rome
Romolo – founder of Rome
Romualdo – famous ruler
Rosario – garland of roses
Ruggero – famous spear


Italian Boy Names that start with S

Salvatore – savior
Salvo – short for Salvatore, savior
Samuele – God has heard
Sandro – defender of men (short for Alessandro)
Santo – holy, saintly
Saverio – bright, new house
Sebastiano – venerable, revered
Serafino – fiery, burning one
Sergio – guardian, protector
Silvano – of the forest, woodland
Silvestro – of the woods, wild
Silvio – from the forest
Simone – he has heard
Sirio – shining, burning (from the star Sirius)
Stefano – crowned one


Italian boy name and meanings

Baby Boy Names starting with T

Tancredi – thoughtful counselor
Tarquinio – from Tarquinia (an ancient Etruscan city)
Tazio – old one
Teo – gift of God (short for Teodoro or Matteo)
Teodoro – gift of God
Timeo – to honor, to revere
Tiziano – fiery, passionate
Tommaso – twin


Italian Boy Names that start with U

Ubaldo – bold mind, brave spirit
Ugo – perceptive mind
Ulisse – angry, irritated
Umberto – bright warrior


Baby Boy Names starting with V

Valentino – strong, healthy, brave
Valeriano – strong, healthy
Valerio – strong, powerful
Valter – ruler of the army
Vasco – from Spain
Vincenzo – conqueror, victorious
Virgilio – pure man
Vito – life, alive
Vittorio – victor, conqueror


Italian Boy Names that start with Z

Zaccaria – God remembers
Zaffiro – pure, wise
Zefiro – west wind, gentle breeze
Zeno – gift of Zeus




cute boy names from Italy

More Baby Boy Names From Italy

Short Italian Boy Names

If you are looking for a short name, here is a list. Some of these names I might have listed earlier, but a few ones are new to this list. In that case, you’ll find their meaning here.


Extra Long Italian Male Names (Sound Like Old Money Names)

In this section, I am listing the longest Italian boy names I could find, including those compound names that are made of two separate Italian boy names, but they are often also written as one word. They sound very formal and important, the kind of names given to noble Italian boys. If that’s your vibe, maybe this is the list for you.

Over 10 Letter Names

Compound Names


baby boy names list

Unique Italian Boy Names

Many of the long names happen to also be quiet unique, but if that’s not enough inspiration, I am giving you a whole section of very unique Italian male names. Have a look.

Alberico – king of the elves and mountains
Alvaro – guardian, defender
Amaro – bitter
Amilcare – warrior
Anchise – hero
Argo – swift, shining
Clodoveo – famous warrior
Diomede – of the people, heroic
Guelfo – impartial
Lapo – beloved
Lupo – wolf
Manlio – morning
Paride – warrior
Perseo – to destroy, avenger
Saturnino – dedicated to the god Saturn
Vinicio – wine lover


Sicilian Boy Names

If a Sicilian name is what you are after, and perhaps Giuseppe is not the one, then let me list the most popular male names in Sicily, so you can pick your favorite. Enjoy browsing!

Accursio – one who brings aid, protector
Agostino – venerable, majestic
Alberto – noble, bright (in short Bertu, Birtinu)
Alfio – elf, supernatural being or son of Alfio (in short Faro)
Alfonso – noble and ready (in short Fofò, Fonziu)
Angelo – messenger, angel
Carlo – free man
Carmelo – garden, orchard (also Carmine, Melo)
Castrenze / Castrenze – Enzo – ruler of the home/fortress
Cateno – likely derived from Catenus, meaning chain or linked
Cono – brave, bold (short form of Conone)
Damiano – to tame, subdue
Decimo – tenth (used for a tenth-born child)
Domenico – of the Lord (from Latin Dominicus; in short Mimmo and Minicu)
Egidio – young goat or protector
Emanuele – God is with us (in short Lele, Neno)
Felice – happy, fortunate
Ferdinando – bold voyager, brave traveler
Fernando – same as Ferdinando; adventurous, courageous (in short Nando)
Filippo – lover of horses (in short Fifi or Pippo)
Gandolfo – wand of the wolf or staff of the wolf
Gaspare – treasurer, bearer of treasure
Gerlando – spear, lance (Germanic origin)
Gesualdo – God’s gift
Giacchino – diminutive of Giacomo; supplanter (in short Ino)
Giacinto – hyacinth flower (symbolic)
Giacomo – supplanter
Girolamo – sacred name, devoted to God (in short Mommo, Mumminu, Mimmo)
Giuseppe – God will increase (in short Peppe, Pino, Pinuzzo)


unique Italian boy names

Ignazio – fiery, ardent (in short Ino, Gnazio)
Leoluca – bright lion
Leonardo – brave lion (in short Nardu, Lelè)
Liborio – liberated, free (in short Dorio)
Lorenzo – from Laurentum, crowned with laurel
Luciano – light, shining (in short Ciano)
Luigi – famous warrior (also Gigi, Gino)
Manfredi – peaceful man or man of peace
Mariano – dedicated to Mars or male devoted to Mary
Mario – male, virile, manly
Michele – who is like God?
Natale – born on Christmas Day (also Natalino)
Nicola – victory of the people
Nicolò – variant of Nicola
Onofrio – he who is constantly happy (also Nuccio, Nofriu)
Orazio – keeper of time, hour
Pasquale – born at Easter (also Pasqualino, Lino)
Pietro – rock, stone (also Pitrino, Piero)
Raimondo – wise protector
Rosario – rose, garland of roses (in short Saro)
Ruggero – famous spear (in short Gero)
Salvatore – savior (also Toto, Turiddu, Salvo, Salvuccio, Sasà)
Santo – holy, saintly (also Santino)
Saverio – bright, new house or prosperous
Sebastiano – venerable, revered (also Bastiano, Bastianazzu)
Simone – he has heard
Stefano – crown, crowned one
Tindaro – of Mount Tyndareus, strong and noble
Tommaso – twin (also Saru, Masiddu, Masì)
Vincenzo – conqueror, victorious (also Ciecio, Enzo, Vicio)
Vito – life, alive (also Vituzzo)

In the brackets of most Sicilian names above I have listed additional versions that are often used as nicknames to either shorten the name or give a more affective one. Those shorter names are even more Sicilian, and it’s quiet popular in Sicily to have a second way of being called especially around family and friends.



A Few Words Before You Go

Thank you so much for reading my article. I hope you found it helpful and interesting, but most importantly I hope you took note of a few names you love. I suggest coming back and reading this list a few more times, or even better, reading a section a day, so you don’t overwhelm yourself.

Let me remind you that I have another baby names article, dedicated to baby girls. You can read that here.

For anyone doing book character research, I also suggest reading this article – Most Popular Italian Surnames.

And if you are a pregnant mum who loves Italy, cooking, and fashion, I invite you to join my newsletter. I send one email every Sunday, and it’s a cosy chat about Italian life, my favorite recipes, travel notes, and outfit ideas. You can join via one of the sign up boxes in this article. I hope to see you there!

Take care.

A presto,
Alessia

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Alessia
Alessia Spampinato
Alessia is the founder of Italy with an Italian. She is an Italian, born and raised in Sicily, with a big passion for content creation – writing, photography and anything in between – almost as big as her love for travelling, biscotti al burro and Italian vistas.