Italian names combine history, family tradition, religion and unmistakable musicality. Some have been passed down for centuries, while others have risen rapidly in popularity among a new generation of Italian parents.
According to the latest complete data from Italy’s National Institute of Statistics, Leonardo was the most frequently chosen name for boys born in Italy in 2024, while Sofia remained the favorite for girls. Both names have occupied first place since 2018.
The rankings apply to children born and officially registered in Italy. They therefore reflect the choices of families of different nationalities living in the country, not only parents with Italian citizenship.
Most Popular Italian Boy Names
These were the five most frequently chosen names for boys born in Italy in 2024:
- Leonardo
- Edoardo
- Tommaso
- Mattia
- Alessandro
Leonardo retained first place, Edoardo remained second and Tommaso stayed in third. Mattia and Alessandro completed the national top five, while Francesco fell to sixth place.
Leonardo
Meaning: Strong or brave as a lion
Origin: Germanic
Leonardo is internationally recognizable without losing its distinctly Italian character. The name is forever associated with Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest artists, inventors and thinkers of the Renaissance.
Common short forms include Leo and, less frequently, Nardo.
Edoardo
Meaning: Wealthy guardian or protector
Origin: Old English, through the Italian form of Edward
Edoardo sounds elegant and traditional but remains well suited to a modern child. Its familiar short forms include Edo and Dodo.
Tommaso
Meaning: Twin
Origin: Aramaic, through Greek and Latin
Tommaso is the Italian form of Thomas. The name has strong Christian associations through Saint Thomas the Apostle and Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Tommy and Tommi are sometimes used informally, although Tommaso is commonly spoken in full.
Mattia
Meaning: Gift of God
Origin: Hebrew
Mattia is the Italian form of Matthias. In Italy, it is traditionally a masculine name, even though its ending may cause English speakers to assume otherwise.
Its concise sound and easy pronunciation have helped make it a lasting favorite.
Alessandro
Meaning: Defender of mankind
Origin: Greek
Alessandro is the Italian equivalent of Alexander. It has been used by nobles, artists, writers and public figures throughout Italian history.
The most familiar nicknames are Ale, Sandro and Alex.
Other Popular and Timeless Italian Boy Names
Beyond the national top five, many other male names remain popular throughout Italy:
Francesco
Meaning “Frenchman” or “free man,” Francesco is closely associated with Saint Francis of Assisi. It remains particularly strong in several southern regions.
Lorenzo
Derived from the Latin Laurentius, meaning “from Laurentum.” Lorenzo is elegant, historic and easily recognized outside Italy.
Gabriele
The Italian form of Gabriel means “God is my strength.” In Italy, Gabriele is normally a masculine name; Gabriella is its feminine counterpart.
Riccardo
The Italian form of Richard means “strong ruler” or “brave ruler.” Common shortened forms include Ricky and Riki.
Matteo
Meaning “gift of God,” Matteo is the Italian equivalent of Matthew and one of the country’s most enduring biblical names.
Andrea
In Italy, Andrea is traditionally masculine and derives from a Greek word associated with courage or manliness. This often surprises visitors from countries where Andrea is usually considered a girl’s name.
Luca
Luca may mean “from Lucania” or be connected with the Latin word for light. Its uncomplicated pronunciation has made it popular well beyond Italy.
Pietro
The Italian form of Peter means “rock” or “stone.” It carries powerful religious and historical associations through Saint Peter.
Giovanni
The Italian equivalent of John means “God is gracious.” Familiar forms include Gianni, Gio and Nanni.
Antonio
Antonio is a classic Roman name whose precise original meaning remains uncertain. It continues to be especially popular in parts of southern Italy.
Most Popular Italian Girl Names
These were the five most frequently chosen names for girls born in Italy in 2024:
- Sofia
- Aurora
- Ginevra
- Vittoria
- Giulia
The entire female top five remained unchanged from 2023, demonstrating the remarkable staying power of these names.
Sofia
Meaning: Wisdom
Origin: Greek
Sofia has ranked first in Italy since 2018. Its popularity is easy to understand: it is graceful, familiar and easily pronounced in numerous languages.
Both Sofia and Sophia are used internationally, but the spelling without “ph” is the standard Italian form.
Aurora
Meaning: Dawn
Origin: Latin
In Roman mythology, Aurora was the goddess of the dawn. The name evokes morning light, renewal and new beginnings.
Aurora is also strongly connected with Italian literary culture through the Renaissance poem Orlando Furioso.
Ginevra
Meaning: Commonly associated with fairness, whiteness or a white shadow
Origin: Medieval and Celtic traditions
Ginevra is the Italian form of Guinevere, the legendary queen in the stories of King Arthur. It has an aristocratic and romantic quality that has helped it rise steadily in Italy.
Gine and Ginny may be used as affectionate forms.
Vittoria
Meaning: Victory
Origin: Latin
Vittoria is the Italian equivalent of Victoria. Strong yet elegant, it has Roman roots and a long history of use among Italian noble and royal families.
Possible short forms include Vitto, Vicky and Tori, although many Italians use the complete name.
Giulia
Meaning: Youthful; belonging to the Roman Julian family
Origin: Latin
Giulia is the Italian form of Julia. It is one of Italy’s most familiar female names and combines ancient Roman heritage with a light, contemporary sound.
Other Popular and Timeless Italian Girl Names
Beatrice
Meaning “she who brings happiness” or “blessed traveler,” Beatrice holds an exceptional place in Italian literature as Dante’s idealized beloved and spiritual guide.
Alice
The Italian pronunciation is approximately ah-LEE-cheh, rather than the English “AL-iss.” The name is associated with nobility and truth.
Emma
Short, international and easy to pronounce, Emma has Germanic origins and is associated with wholeness or universality.
Matilde
The Italian form of Matilda means “strength in battle.” It combines medieval history with a fashionable modern sound.
Ludovica
Ludovica means “famous warrior” and is the feminine form of Ludovico. Ludo is a common affectionate abbreviation.
Bianca
Meaning “white,” “bright” or “pure,” Bianca is a distinctly Italian name familiar to English speakers through Shakespearean literature.
Chiara
Chiara means “clear,” “bright” or “luminous.” It is closely associated with Saint Clare of Assisi, known in Italian as Santa Chiara.
Francesca
The feminine form of Francesco, Francesca has strong literary associations, particularly with Francesca da Rimini in Dante’s Divine Comedy.
Elena
The Italian form of Helen is often interpreted as “torch,” “shining light” or “bright one.”
Anna
Simple and timeless, Anna means “grace” or “favor.” It has remained in use throughout Italy for generations and frequently appears in compound names such as Anna Maria and Anna Sofia.
Italy’s Favorite Names Vary by Region
National rankings tell only part of the story. Naming traditions remain strongly regional.
In 2024, Leonardo ranked first across most of northern and central Italy. Important exceptions included Bolzano, where Noah was the leading boys’ name, and Valle d’Aosta, where Edoardo and Tommaso shared first place. Edoardo led in Umbria and Marche.
Southern preferences were more varied:
- Francesco led in Molise, Puglia and Calabria.
- Antonio ranked first in Campania and Basilicata.
- Leonardo led in Abruzzo, Sicily and Sardinia.
Regional choices for girls were even more diverse:
- Sofia led in many northern and central regions.
- Emma was first in Bolzano.
- Beatrice led in Valle d’Aosta.
- Vittoria was first in Marche and Campania.
- Ginevra led in Lazio and Calabria.
- Giulia ranked first in Basilicata.
- Aurora led in Sicily and shared first place with Sofia in Abruzzo.
- Aurora, Beatrice and Ginevra tied for first place in Molise.
These differences reflect local saints, family customs, historical personalities and the enduring Italian practice of naming children after grandparents.
Italian Names That May Surprise English Speakers
Several Italian names work differently from their English-language counterparts:
- Andrea is traditionally masculine in Italy.
- Gabriele is generally masculine; Gabriella is feminine.
- Mattia is masculine despite ending in “a.”
- Nicola is traditionally masculine, although it is feminine in some English-speaking countries.
- Michele is the Italian masculine form of Michael and is pronounced approximately mee-KEH-leh.
- Simone is normally masculine in Italian and pronounced see-MOH-neh.
- Daniele is masculine; Daniela is feminine.
Accent marks also matter. For example, Nicolò carries an accent on the final letter, which indicates where the stress falls.
Traditional Italian Naming Customs
Historically, many Italian families followed a recognizable pattern:
- The first son was named after the father’s father.
- The second son was named after the mother’s father.
- The first daughter was named after the father’s mother.
- The second daughter was named after the mother’s mother.
This custom was never universal, but it explains why the same given names can recur across generations—and why several cousins in an extended family may share a name.
Today, parents have much greater freedom, but honoring grandparents and other relatives remains common. Names may also be selected in honor of a patron saint, particularly in families with strong ties to a particular town or region.
Readers researching names in historical family documents may also find Italia Mia’s guide to tracing Italian family roots and genealogy helpful.
Name Days in Italy
Many Italians celebrate an onomastico, or name day, associated with the feast day of the saint whose name they bear.
For example:
- Francesco: October 4, Saint Francis of Assisi
- Giovanni: June 24, Saint John the Baptist
- Giuseppe: March 19, Saint Joseph
- Antonio: June 13, Saint Anthony of Padua
- Chiara: August 11, Saint Clare of Assisi
- Lucia: December 13, Saint Lucy
An onomastico is usually less important than a birthday, but friends and relatives may still offer good wishes, flowers, sweets or a small gift.
Italian Names in a Changing Country
Italian naming culture increasingly reflects the country’s international population. Among children born to foreign parents living in Italy, frequently used boys’ names in 2024 included Rayan, Adam, Amir and Liam, alongside Matteo and Leonardo. Sofia also ranked first among girls born to foreign parents, followed by Sara and Amira.
The result is a naming landscape that combines ancient Roman names, Catholic traditions, regional loyalties and newer international influences.
Choosing an Italian Name
When choosing an Italian name for a child, fictional character or family-history project, consider:
- Its meaning and historical origin
- How it sounds with the surname
- Its pronunciation in both Italian and English
- Whether it is masculine or feminine in Italy
- Possible nicknames
- Family or regional connections
- The saint and date associated with the name
A name such as Leonardo, Sofia, Luca or Emma travels easily between languages. Others—including Ginevra, Ludovica, Tommaso and Alessandro—retain a stronger and more immediately recognizable Italian character.
Books About Italian Baby Names
The Complete Book of Italian Baby Names
Explore Italian names for boys and girls, including traditional, regional and contemporary choices.
Italian Names and Their Meanings
Find reference books explaining the linguistic roots, cultural background and meanings of Italian given names.
Italian Genealogy Books
These guides can help researchers interpret Italian family names, parish records and civil-registration documents.
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External Links
- ISTAT Name Counter: Search Italian Baby Names by Year
- ISTAT Baby Names Tool in English
- ISTAT: Births and Fertility in Italy, 2024