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Italian boy names: 150+ Italian men's names with meanings and pronunciation

163 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Popular Italian boy names include Leonardo, Edoardo and Tommaso, the top three names for baby boys born in Italy in 2025, according to ISTAT. Among Italian men's names, classics such as Giovanni, Giuseppe and Francesco are still heard in every Italian town.

This list of 150+ real Italian boy names covers popular, classic, unique, short, vintage, saints', English-friendly and ancient Roman names, plus common Italian men's names and the nicknames Italian guys go by. Each one has its meaning, its language of origin and a simple English respelling. Where an origin is uncertain, the note says so.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Luca

    Probably from Lucania; Latin, from Greek Loukas. No. 14 in the US in 2025. Say LOO-kah

  • Girolamo

    Sacred name; Greek. Say jee-ROH-lah-moh

  • Alberto

    Noble and bright; Germanic. Say ahl-BAIR-toh

  • Paolo

    Small; Latin. Say POW-loh

  • Carmine

    Garden; Hebrew, after Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Say KAR-mee-neh

  • Gianmarco

    God is gracious, plus Marco (Mark); Gianni plus Marco. Say jahn-MAR-koh

Italian name tools

Read what a surname's ending says about where a family came from, see every surname a child can take from two parents under the 2022 ruling, and check first names against the rules of Italy's civil registry.

Read a surname

  • Esposito: exposed: a name given to abandoned children, especially in Naples.
  • -o is the singular form, the usual ending in the south.

Endings are tendencies, not rules: families moved, and names travelled with them.

A child's surname from both parents

  • Rossi RussoBoth surnames, in the order the parents agree
  • Russo RossiBoth surnames, the other order
  • RossiOnly the first parent's surname, if both agree
  • RussoOnly the second parent's surname, if both agree

If the parents disagree, a judge decides. A parent with two surnames passes on one.

Would the registry accept it?

  • Andrea is a boy's name in Italy. The name must match the child's sex; courts have disagreed about Andrea for a girl.

This checks the main rules of DPR 396/2000 and is not legal advice.

Want endless ideas? Try the italian name generator and generate new names in one click.

Classic Italian boy names

Names you will hear in every Italian town, from grandfathers to newborns.

  1. Giovanni Italy #22 US #123: God is gracious; Hebrew. Say joh-VAHN-nee
  2. Giuseppe Italy #15: He will add; Hebrew. Say joo-ZEP-peh
  3. Luigi: Famous warrior; Germanic. Say loo-EE-jee
  4. Paolo: Small; Latin. Say POW-loh
  5. Giorgio: Farmer, earth worker; Greek. Say JOR-joh
  6. Stefano: Crown, garland; Greek. Say STEH-fah-noh
  7. Roberto US #570: Bright fame; Germanic. Say roh-BAIR-toh
  8. Massimo US #938: The greatest; Latin. Say MAHS-see-moh
  9. Vincenzo US #674: Conquering one; Latin. Say veen-CHEN-tsoh
  10. Salvatore Italy #30 US #945: The savior; Latin. Say sahl-vah-TOH-reh
  11. Michele Italy #26: Who is like God? From Hebrew. A boy's name in Italy. Say mee-KEH-leh
  12. Daniele: God is my judge; Hebrew. Say dahn-YEH-leh
  13. Emanuele: God with us; Hebrew. Say eh-mah-NWEH-leh
  14. Enrico: Home ruler; Germanic. Say en-REE-koh
  15. Alberto US #819: Noble and bright; Germanic. Say ahl-BAIR-toh
  16. Simone: Hearing, listening; Hebrew. A boy's name in Italy. Say see-MOH-neh
  17. Alessio US #867: Defender, helper; Greek. Say ah-LES-syoh
  18. Eugenio: Well born; Greek. Say eh-oo-JEH-nyoh
  19. Antonio Italy #16 US #176: From a Roman family name of unknown meaning; Latin. The top boys' name in Campania in 2024. Say ahn-TOH-nyoh
  20. Marco US #370: Probably from Mars, the Roman god; Latin. Marco Polo's name. Say MAR-koh

Common Italian men's names

Names many grown Italian men carry, including the Gian- and Pier- blends made from Giovanni and Pietro.

  1. Maurizio: Moorish, North African; Latin Mauritius. Say mow-REE-tsyoh
  2. Mauro: Moorish, North African; Latin Maurus. Say MOW-roh
  3. Giancarlo: God is gracious, and man; Gianni plus Carlo. Say jahn-KAR-loh
  4. Gianluca: God is gracious, and probably from Lucania; Gianni plus Luca. Say jahn-LOO-kah
  5. Gianfranco: God is gracious and Frank; Gianni plus Franco. Say jahn-FRAHN-koh
  6. Gianpaolo: God is gracious, and small; Gianni plus Paolo. Say jahn-POW-loh
  7. Gianmarco: God is gracious, plus Marco (Mark); Gianni plus Marco. Say jahn-MAR-koh
  8. Giampiero: God is gracious and rock; Gianni plus Piero. Say jahm-PYEH-roh
  9. Pierluigi: Rock and famous warrior; Piero plus Luigi. Say pyair-loo-EE-jee
  10. Pierpaolo: Stone, and small; Piero plus Paolo. Say pyair-POW-loh
  11. Patrizio: Nobleman, patrician; Latin Patricius. Say pah-TREE-tsyoh
  12. Sebastiano: From Sebaste, the venerable city; Greek. Say seh-bahs-TYAH-noh
  13. Donato: Given; Latin donatus. Donatello's real first name. Say doh-NAH-toh
  14. Graziano: Grateful; Latin gratus, via Gratianus. Say grah-TSYAH-noh
  15. Carmine: Garden; Hebrew, after Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Say KAR-mee-neh
  16. Calogero: Beautiful elder; Greek. A Sicilian hermit saint's name. Say kah-LOH-jeh-roh

Unique Italian boy names

Real names from Italian history, poetry and noble families that are rarely heard abroad.

  1. Tancredi: Thought and counsel; Germanic. A hero of Tasso's epic poem. Say tahn-KREH-dee
  2. Ludovico: Famous warrior; Germanic. Say loo-doh-VEE-koh
  3. Corrado: Brave counsel; Germanic. Say kor-RAH-doh
  4. Ruggero: Famous spear; Germanic. Say rood-JEH-roh
  5. Amedeo: Love of God; Latin. Say ah-meh-DEH-oh
  6. Jacopo: Supplanter, holder of the heel; Hebrew. Say YAH-koh-poh
  7. Cosimo: Order, universe; Greek. A favorite of the Medici family. Say KOH-zee-moh
  8. Teodoro: Gift of God; Greek. Say teh-oh-DOH-roh
  9. Ambrogio: Immortal; Greek. Patron saint of Milan. Say ahm-BROH-joh
  10. Saverio: New house; Basque. Say sah-VEH-ryoh
  11. Lazzaro: God has helped; Hebrew. Once also an Italian word for a leper. Say LAHD-dzah-roh
  12. Gualtiero: Power of the army; Germanic. Say gwahl-TYEH-roh
  13. Ettore: Holding fast; Greek. The Italian form of Hector. Say ET-toh-reh
  14. Ilario: Cheerful; Latin. Say ee-LAH-ryoh
  15. Arrigo: Home ruler; Germanic. Say ar-REE-goh

Short Italian boy names

Punchy two-syllable names, including a few friendly short forms of longer classics.

  1. Leo US #19: A lion; Latin. Say LEH-oh
  2. Ugo: Mind, spirit; Germanic. Say OO-goh
  3. Pio: Pious, dutiful; Latin. Say PEE-oh
  4. Nico US #174: Victory of the people; Greek, short for Nicola. Say NEE-koh
  5. Ezio: Eagle; Greek. Say EH-tsyoh
  6. Zeno: Of Zeus; Greek. Say DZEH-noh
  7. Dario US #760: Possessing goodness; Persian. Say DAH-ryoh
  8. Primo: First; Latin. Say PREE-moh
  9. Sandro: Defender of men; Greek, short for Alessandro. Say SAHN-droh
  10. Renzo: Man from Laurentum; Latin, short for Lorenzo. Say REN-tsoh
  11. Eros: Love; Greek. Say EH-ross
  12. Natale: Christmas Day; Latin. Say nah-TAH-leh

Italian nicknames for guys

The short forms Italian men answer to at home, at work and on the soccer field.

  1. Peppe: He will add; Hebrew. A pet form of Giuseppe. Say PEP-peh
  2. Peppino: He will add; Hebrew. A sweet pet form of Giuseppe. Say pep-PEE-noh
  3. Beppe: He will add; Hebrew. Another pet form of Giuseppe. Say BEP-peh
  4. Pino: He will add; Hebrew. Short for Giuseppino, little Giuseppe. Say PEE-noh
  5. Mimmo: Belonging to the Lord; Latin. A pet form of Domenico. Say MEEM-moh
  6. Checco: A Frenchman; Latin. A pet form of Francesco. Say KEK-koh
  7. Lello: God heals; Hebrew. A pet form of Raffaele. Say LEL-loh
  8. Turi: The savior; Latin. A Sicilian pet form of Salvatore. Say TOO-ree
  9. Tano: From Gaeta; Latin. Short for Gaetano. Say TAH-noh
  10. Vanni: God is gracious; Hebrew. Short for Giovanni. Say VAHN-nee
  11. Nanni: God is gracious; Hebrew. Another short form of Giovanni. Say NAHN-nee
  12. Lippo: Lover of horses; Greek. An old short form of Filippo. Say LEEP-poh

Vintage Italian boy names

Nonno names from the early 1900s with a strong, old-world sound.

  1. Vittorio: The conqueror; Latin. Say veet-TOH-ryoh
  2. Umberto: Bright bear cub; Germanic. Say oom-BAIR-toh
  3. Alfredo US #820: Elf counsel; Old English. Say ahl-FREH-doh
  4. Arnaldo: Eagle power; Germanic. Say ar-NAHL-doh
  5. Ernesto US #878: Serious, earnest; Germanic. Say air-NES-toh
  6. Edmondo: Rich protection; Old English. Say ed-MOHN-doh
  7. Ermanno: Army man; Germanic. Say air-MAHN-noh
  8. Rodolfo: Famous wolf; Germanic. Say roh-DOL-foh
  9. Augusto: Exalted, venerable; Latin. Say ow-GOO-stoh
  10. Oreste: Of the mountains; Greek. Say oh-RES-teh
  11. Ercole: Glory of Hera; Greek. The Italian form of Hercules. Say AIR-koh-leh
  12. Renato: Born again; Latin. Say reh-NAH-toh
  13. Guglielmo: Will and protection; Germanic. Say gool-YEL-moh
  14. Pasquale: Relating to Easter; Latin. Say pahs-KWAH-leh
  15. Raimondo: Counsel protector; Germanic. Say rye-MOHN-doh
  16. Alfonso: Noble and ready; Gothic. Say ahl-FOHN-soh
  17. Ubaldo: Bold mind; Germanic hugu and bald. Say oo-BAHL-doh
  18. Lamberto: Bright land; Germanic lant and beraht. Say lahm-BAIR-toh
  19. Silvestro: Wooded, wild; Latin silvestris. Say seel-VES-troh
  20. Egidio: Young goat; Greek, via Latin Aegidius. Say eh-JEE-dyoh
  21. Nazzareno: From Nazareth; Late Latin. Say naht-tsah-REH-noh

Italian saints' names for boys

Names of saints honored across Italy. Many Italians celebrate their onomastico, the feast day of their name saint.

  1. Gennaro: January; Latin. Patron saint of Naples. Say jen-NAH-roh
  2. Benedetto: Blessed one; Latin. Founder of the Benedictines. Say beh-neh-DET-toh
  3. Domenico: Belonging to the Lord; Latin. Say doh-MEH-nee-koh
  4. Bonaventura: Good fortune; Latin. A Franciscan saint and scholar. Say boh-nah-ven-TOO-rah
  5. Agostino: Venerable, exalted; Latin. Say ah-goh-STEE-noh
  6. Girolamo: Sacred name; Greek. Say jee-ROH-lah-moh
  7. Cristoforo: Bearer of Christ; Greek. Patron saint of travelers. Say kree-STOH-foh-roh
  8. Gregorio: Watchful; Greek. Say greh-GOH-ryoh
  9. Gaetano: From Gaeta; Latin. Say gah-eh-TAH-noh
  10. Valentino US #444: Strong, healthy; Latin. Say vah-len-TEE-noh
  11. Anselmo: Divine protection; Germanic. Saint Anselm was born in Aosta. Say ahn-SEL-moh
  12. Bernardo: Brave bear; Germanic. Say bair-NAR-doh
  13. Clemente: Merciful, gentle; Latin. Say kleh-MEN-teh
  14. Bartolomeo: Son of Talmai; Aramaic. Say bar-toh-loh-MEH-oh
  15. Bonifacio: Good fate; Latin. Say boh-nee-FAH-choh

Italian boy names that work in English

Italian names that English speakers already recognize and can say with ease.

  1. Dante US #308: Enduring, steadfast; Latin. The poet of the Divine Comedy. Say DAHN-teh
  2. Romeo US #302: Roman, from Rome; Latin. Shakespeare's hero from Verona. Say roh-MEH-oh
  3. Gianni US #524: God is gracious; Hebrew, short for Giovanni. Say JAHN-nee
  4. Angelo US #304: Angel, messenger; Greek. Say AHN-jeh-loh
  5. Fabio: Bean; Latin. Say FAH-byoh
  6. Niccolò: Victory of the people; Greek. Machiavelli's first name; Nicolò is the more common spelling today. Say neek-koh-LOH
  7. Raffaele: God heals; Hebrew. Say rahf-fah-EH-leh
  8. Emilio US #154: Rival, striving to equal; Latin. Say eh-MEE-lyoh
  9. Adriano: From Hadria; Latin. Say ah-DRYAH-noh
  10. Cristiano: Follower of Christ; Latin, from Greek. Say kree-STYAH-noh
  11. Fabrizio: Craftsman, artisan; Latin. Say fah-BREE-tsyoh
  12. Luciano US #305: Light, brightness; Latin. Say loo-CHAH-noh
  13. Christian US #96: Follower of Christ; Latin, from Greek. Say KREES-tyahn
  14. Luca US #14: Probably from Lucania; Latin, from Greek Loukas. No. 14 in the US in 2025. Say LOO-kah

Ancient Roman names still used in Italy

These names come straight from the personal names, family names and number names of ancient Rome, and Italians still give them today.

  1. Flavio: Yellow, golden, blond; Latin. Say FLAH-vyoh
  2. Silvio: Of the forest; Latin. Say SEEL-vyoh
  3. Valerio: To be strong; Latin. Say vah-LEH-ryoh
  4. Lucio: Light; Latin. Say LOO-choh
  5. Tiberio: Of the Tiber; Latin. The river that runs through Rome. Say tee-BEH-ryoh
  6. Costantino: Steadfast, constant; Latin. Say koh-stahn-TEE-noh
  7. Fausto: Lucky, fortunate; Latin. Say FOW-stoh
  8. Fulvio: Yellow, tawny; Latin. Say FOOL-vyoh
  9. Severino: Stern; Latin. Say seh-veh-REE-noh
  10. Emiliano US #94: Rival, striving to equal; Latin. Say eh-mee-LYAH-noh
  11. Massimiliano: Greatest; Latin. Say mahs-see-mee-LYAH-noh
  12. Ottavio: The eighth; Latin. Say oht-TAH-vyoh
  13. Aurelio US #681: Golden; Latin. Say ow-REH-lyoh
  14. Settimio: Seventh; Latin. Say set-TEE-myoh
  15. Decimo: Tenth; Latin. Say DEH-chee-moh
  16. Silvano: Of the woods; Latin. Say seel-VAH-noh

How to pick the right name

Say it the Italian way

Most Italian names stress the second-to-last syllable: Lorenzo is loh-REN-tsoh and Riccardo is reek-KAR-doh. Practice the respelling with your last name.

Keep the double letters

Double consonants are held a little longer, as in Tommaso, Matteo and Raffaele. Keep them when you spell the name so it sounds the same.

Plan the short form

Italian names come with friendly short forms: Alessandro becomes Sandro, Lorenzo becomes Renzo and Giovanni becomes Gianni. Choose a long name only if you like where it leads.

Celebrate the onomastico

Many Italians mark an onomastico, the feast day of the saint who shares their name. Gennaro, for example, is celebrated in Naples on September 19.

Italian boy names: 163 ideas from Nomezo

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Italian boy names in Italy and in the US: the rankings, the rules and the name days

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

Italy and the US use different Italian names. Leonardo has been Italy's No. 1 boys' name every year since 2018, and Edoardo was No. 2 in 2025, but only 10 US boys got Edoardo that year. Luca, No. 14 in the US, is not in Italy's 2025 top 30. The tag beside each name shows both ranks.

Italy also has naming rules that surprise Americans: a son cannot be named after his living father, so there are no Italian Juniors. The tools above check a name against those rules, and every name on the page has a respelling.

  1. Step 1Pick Italian or American popularEdoardo is top 2 in Italy; Luca is top 15 in the US.
  2. Step 2Say it the Italian wayEach note has a respelling; stress the second-to-last syllable.
  3. Step 3Check the rulesUp to three names, and no living father's name: the registry check tests it.
  4. Step 4Find the name dayMany Italians celebrate their saint's day as well as a birthday.

Italy and the US like different Italian names

  • Leonardo's run. Francesco led Italy from 2001 to 2017 (ISTAT); Leonardo has led since 2018. With fewer births, the counts are shrinking: Leonardo went to 8,604 boys in 2020 and 5,895 in 2025, when Italy recorded 355,772 births, 3.8% fewer than in 2024 (ISTAT).
  • International names are rising in Italy. Noah was 23rd in 2025, Gabriel 28th and Liam 29th.
  • Regions differ. For 2024 births, Francesco led in Molise, Puglia and Calabria and Antonio in Campania and Basilicata (ISTAT).
Italian boys' names in Italy and the US, 2025
NameItalyUS
Leonardo#1 (5,895 boys)#91
Edoardo#210 boys
Tommaso#320 boys
Alessandro#4#497
Lorenzo#6#117
Mattia#724 boys
Enea#129 boys
Matteo#14#146
Giovanni#22#123
LucaNot in the top 30#14

Sources: ISTAT, babies born in 2025; US Social Security Administration. Spelling matters in the US: Mateo, the Spanish spelling, was No. 8, and Matteo No. 146.

Italy's naming rules

  • Up to three names, and they must match the child's sex (DPR 396/2000, art. 35).
  • No living father's name. A child cannot be given the name of a living father or a living brother or sister, a surname as a first name, or a ridiculous or shameful name (art. 34). Naming a son after a grandfather is fine.
  • Boys' names can end in -a. Andrea, Mattia, Enea and Elia were all in Italy's 2025 top 25 for boys, and Andrea is mainly a man's name in Italy (Wikipedia, in Italian).

Name days

Many Italians celebrate an onomastico, the feast of the saint who shares their name; in parts of southern Italy it can matter as much as a birthday (Wikipedia).

Name days for some Italian boys' names
NameSaintName day
GiuseppeSaint JosephMarch 19
GennaroSaint Januarius, patron of NaplesSeptember 19
FrancescoSaint Francis of AssisiOctober 4
AndreaSaint AndrewNovember 30
AmbrogioSaint Ambrose, patron of MilanDecember 7

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular Italian boy name?

Leonardo was the most popular name for baby boys in Italy in 2025, according to ISTAT, as it has been every year since 2018. Edoardo was second and Tommaso third.

How do you pronounce Italian boy names?

Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable. Ch sounds like k (Michele is mee-KEH-leh), while gi and ge sound like j (Giorgio is JOR-joh).

What are some unique Italian boy names?

Tancredi, Cosimo, Ambrogio, Gualtiero and Arrigo are real Italian names with deep historical roots that are rarely heard outside Italy.

What are common Italian men's names?

Giuseppe, Giovanni, Francesco, Luigi, Marco, Luca and Salvatore are classic Italian men's names. Blends like Giancarlo, Gianluca and Pierluigi are common among grown men too.

Why do Italian boy names end in o?

Most masculine Italian names end in -o or -e, and most feminine names end in -a, so Paolo and Paola are the male and female forms of one name. A few boy names, like Andrea, Mattia, Elia and Enea, end in -a.

Can you name a son after his father in Italy?

Not if the father is alive. Italian civil registry rules forbid giving a child the name of a living father or a living brother or sister, so there are no Italian Juniors. Naming him after a grandfather is allowed.

Is Andrea a boy's name in Italy?

Yes, mainly. Andrea was the No. 10 name for baby boys in Italy in 2025, and Mattia, Enea and Elia are other boys' names that end in -a.

What is the most popular Italian boy name in the US?

Luca, No. 14 for US boys in 2025, followed by Leo at No. 19 and Enzo at No. 72. Italy's own favorites are far rarer in the US: Edoardo went to 10 US boys.

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