Whether you are Italian, have lived in Italy, or are just in love with the way Italian names sound, there are many incredible choices of Italian names for your girl or boy child.
Some of these names may be of Latin origin, or some may have been Latinized versions of other language names.
Traditionally, every Italian parent has to choose their children’s names according to the name of a grandfather or grandmother, first selecting names from the paternal side of the family and then picking one from the mother’s side.
Until recently, Italian first names were usually saints or had some other definite religious meaning.
Below are some of the best Italian names for baby girls;
Allessandra
- Name origin: Italian version of Greek Alexandra
- Name meaning: Defender, to defend
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sandra, Alexandra, Alessa,
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Alessandra Torresani, model Alessandra Ambrosio, politician Alessandra Mussolini
- Peak Popularity: Alessandra is a famous name in Italy, sitting pretty at number 17 both in 2004 and 2005.
The name has also gained increasing popularity in the U.S.
Alice
- Name origin: Old French derived from German
- Name Meaning: The Noble, noble type
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alys, Alecia, Alisha, Alicia, Alyce, Alise.
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Alice Ghostley, author Alice Walker, St. Alice of Cambre
- Peak Popularity: Alice has been repeatedly ranked number 10 for popular girl names in Italy for the last 20 years.
In the United States of America, it became most popular in 1906 and remained so for a long time.
Angelica
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: Like an Angel, Angel-like
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Angelique, Angela, Anjelica, Angelina
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Angelica Hale, actress Anjelica Houston
- Peak Popularity: Angelica became most popular in the 1990s in the United States. When it ranked up to 100.
Arianna
- Name origin: Italian
- Name Meaning: Holiness, most holy
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ariadna, Ariana, Ariadne
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Ariana Grande, journalist Arianna Huffington
- Peak Popularity: Arianna has been popular for a long time in Italy, ranking right in the top 25 over the last couple of decades.
In the United States, it climbed to the top 1,000 in 1982 and rose to 40 in 2014.
Aurora
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: luminous, dawn, bright, dazzling
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: None
- Famous Namesakes: Harry Potter character Aurora Sinistra, professional race car driver Aurora Straus, St. Aurora (name day October 20 in her honor)
- Peak Popularity: Aurora became the second most popular name for baby girls in Italy in 2016.
It surged in the United States since 2009 and grew to 44 in 2018.
Beatrice
- Name origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Bringer to happiness, she that makes happy
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Beatriz, Beatrix, Bea, Trixie
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Beatrice Straight, Author Beatrix Potter, Princess Beatrice of York
- Peak Popularity: Beatrice has been a popular name for a long in Italy and was ranked 13 in 2016.
The name became popular in the U.S. and was famous in the early 20th century.
Benedetta
- Name origin: Italian
- Name meaning: Blessed
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Benita, Bettina
- Famous Namesakes: Blessed Benedetta Bambiagio Frassinello, Model Benedetta Barzini
- Peak Popularity: Benedetta has ranked as part of the top 50 Italian baby girl names for over 20 years.
Bianca
- Name Origin: Italian
- Name Meaning: Fair, White
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Blanch, Blanca,
- Famous Namesakes: Human rights advocate and former actress Bianca Jagger, Tennis player Bianca Andrews, singer Bianca Ryan
- Peak Popularity: Bianca climbed up to 26 in Italy as of 2016. And ranked 300 In the U.S. around the same time.
Camilla
- Name origin: Etruscan and Latin
- Name meaning: Unknown
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Camila, Camille, Millie, Milly
- Famous Namesakes: British Royal Camilla, Actress Camilla Luddington, Duchess of Cornwall
- Peak Popularity: Camilia has been a popular Italian baby girl name for decades and was up at the 24th spot in 2016.
Carlotta
- Name origin: German
- Name meaning: Man (from Karl)
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carlota, Carla
- Famous Namesakes: Empress Carlota of Mexico, Journalist Carlotta Gall, actress Carlotta Monti
- Peak Popularity: In Italy, Carlotta is always in the top 50 names
Carmen
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: Poem or Ode
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carmenta, Carmel
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Carmen Miranda, actress Carmen Electra
- Peak Popularity: In the U.S., Carmen was the most famous Italian baby girl name in the 1960s.
Caterina
- Name origin: Greek
- Name meaning: Flawless, Pure
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tina, Katrina, Katarina
- Famous Namesakes: Saint Caterina of Bologna, Businesswoman Caterina Fake, Queen Caterina de’ Medici
- Peak Popularity: The name Caterina has been in the top 50 Italian baby girl names in Italy for more than 20 years.
Chiara
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: Clear, Luminous,
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Claire, Clair, Clara, Clare
- Famous Namesakes: physicist Chiara Nappi, Actress Chiara Zanni, St. Chiara of Assisi
- Peak Popularity: Chiara is a popular Italian baby girl name that has been in the top 10 in Italy for the past two decades.
Claudia
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: Lame or crippled
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Claude, Gladys
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Claudia Cardinale, First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, model Claudia Schiffer
- Peak Popularity: Claudia has been famous both in Italy and the United States for many decades
Drusilla
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: Dew
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Druscilla, Dru, Cilla, Drusa
- Famous Namesakes: writer Drusilla Modjeska, Drusilla (daughter of Herod Agrippa)
- Peak Popularity: Drusilla is a perfect name for those who do not like popular names, as it is rare in Italy and the United States.
Elena
- Name origin: Greek
- Name meaning: Moon or torch
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lena, Ellen, Helen
- Famous Namesakes: Tennis player Elena Vesnina, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan
- Peak Popularity: Elena has always been famous in Italy and the U.S.
Eleonora
- Name origin: Old French
- Name meaning: No meaning given; the Italian version of Eleanor
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eleanor, Elinor, Ella, Eleanora, Nora, Nell, Lenora
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Eleonora Duse, holy Roman Empress Eleonora Gonzaga
- Peak Popularity: Elenore is a famous Italian name recently popular in the United States.
Elisa
- Name Origin: Greek
- Name Meaning: God is an oath, My God is an oath
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lisa, Eliza, Elsa
- Famous Namesakes: Designer Elisa Jimenez, Actress Elisa Donovan
- Peak Popularity: Elisa is very popular in Italy and in the U.S.
Emilia
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: An opposition, a rival
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Emile, Emily
- Famous Namesakes: Emilia Clarke
- Peak Popularity: Emilia has been consistently widespread in Italy, and in the U.S
Emma
- Name origin: German
- Name meaning: Universal, whole, nourisher
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ima, Ema
- Famous Namesakes: St. Emma of Gurk, Actress Emma Watson, actress Emma Stone,
- Peak Popularity: Emma was the most popular girl name in the U.S. and in Italy from 2014 to 2018
Flavia
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: Yellow-haired, Golden
- Famous Namesakes: Saint Flavia, Princess Flavia of Ruritania
- Peak Popularity: Flavia was popular in Italy in 2011, but it has never been so in the US
Francesca
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: Frenchman
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fran, Franca, Franny
- Famous Namesakes: Photographer Francesca Woodman, tennis player Francesca Schiavone, author Francesca Simon
- Peak Popularity: Francesca is a highly popular baby girl name in Italy.
Gabriella
- Name origin: Hebrew (from Gabriel)
- Name meaning: Strong man of God
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gabriel, Gabi, Gabriele, Gabby
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Gabriella Wilde, politician Gabrielle (Gabby) Giffords, tennis player Gabriela Sabatini
- Peak Popularity: Gabriella became popular in the USA in the 1990s
Gaia
- Name origin: Greek
- Name meaning: Earth
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Geeta, Gaea
- Famous Namesakes: None
- Peak Popularity: Gaia is a famous Italian name; in the U.S., it has not gained so much popularity.
Giada
- Name origin: Italian
- Name meaning: Jade
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jaeda, Jada
- Famous Namesakes: Author Giada Trebeschi, TV chef Giada de Laurentiis
- Peak Popularity: Giada is popular in Italy and in the U.S., but it wasn’t until 2007 that the name became popular.
Ginevra
- Name Origin: Welsh
- Name Meaning: Phantom, Fair
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ginny, Guinevere, Jennifer, Jenny
- Famous Namesakes: None
- Peak Popularity: In 2016, Ginevra was the ninth most popular baby girl’s name.
Gioia
- Name origin: Italian
- Name meaning: Joy
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joyous, Joy
- Famous Namesakes: None
- Peak Popularity: Gioia is becoming increasingly popular in the US and Italy
Giorgia
- Name Origin: Latin, from Greek
- Name meaning: Farmer
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gina, Giorgina, Georgia
- Famous Namesakes: Artist Georgia O’Keefe
- Peak Popularity: Giorgia has been a popular name for baby girls in Italy for the past 20 years.
Giovanna/Gianna/Gia
- Name Origin: Italian
- Name Meaning: Gracious God, God is gracious
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gianna, Gia, Giannina, Nina, Giovannetta, Vanna
- Famous Namesakes: Saint Gianna
- Peak Popularity: In the US, Gianna is the most famous variant of the name. Gia has had its high point. Giovana is also very popular in Italy.
Giulia
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Downy-bearded
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Guiliana, Julia
- Famous Namesakes: TV entertainment reporter Giuliana Rancic
- Peak Popularity: Giulia is the top baby girl name in Italy, and has remained in the top five since 1999. In the US, people don’t know it so much.
Ilaria
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Cheerful
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hilary, Hillary, Hilaria
- Famous Namesakes: Virologist Ilaria Capua
- Peak Popularity: 2000 Ilaria was Italy’s 17th most popular name for girls. It has never been famous in the U.S., where Hillary and Hilary are more common.
Isabella
- Name origin: Latin version of Isabel
- Name meaning: Hebrew name meaning ” God is an oath.”
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Isabela, Isabel, Izabella, Isabelle, Bella
- Famous Namesakes: Queen Isabel of Castile
- Peak Popularity: Isabella is a perennially popular girl name in Italy. In the United States, it has become increasingly popular.
Lara
- Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Chattering, Talkative,
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Larah, Laronda
- Famous Namesakes: Journalist Lara Logan, actress Lara Flynn Boyle, fictional character Lara Croft
- Peak Popularity: Lara is a popular name in Italy, and it remains in the top 1,000 baby girl names in the U.S.
Laura
- Name origin: Latin
- Name meaning: Laurel
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Laurel, Lora, Lorita, Lauretta, Loretta
- Famous Namesakes: First Lady Laura Bush
- Peak Popularity: Laura is a famous Italian baby girl name. In the U.S., it isn’t as popular now as it was in the 1970s,
Lelia
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Unknown
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Laila, Laelia
- Famous Namesakes: The Saint Lelia of Limerick
- Peak Popularity: Lelia was one of the most famous names in the U.S. during the late 1800s.
Livia
- Name origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: blue, Envious
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lev Liv
- Famous Namesakes: Livia, the wife of Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar
- Peak Popularity: Livia was a rare name in the U.S. until 2004.
Luciana
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Light
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lucy, Lucienne, Lucia, Luce
- Famous Namesakes: Shakespearian character Luciana in “The Comedy of Errors.”
- Peak Popularity: Luciana was an unpopular name in the U.S., showing up only in the 1970s.
Ludovica
- Name Origin: Germanic
- Name Meaning: Famous battle
- Name Famous Namesakes: Artist Ludovica Thornham
- Peak Popularity: In 2016, Ludovica was Italy’s 21st most famous girl name.
Luisa
- Name Origin: Italian
- Name Meaning: famous battle
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Louisa, Luisella
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Luisa Bradshaw-White, Journalist Luisa Baldini.
- Peak Popularity: Luisa is a famous name in Italy, and In the U.S., it is quite rare.
Margherita
- Name Origin: Italian
- Name Meaning: Daisy
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rita, Greta
- Famous Namesakes: Author Margherita Hack
- Peak Popularity: Margherita is one of the top 50 baby girl names in Italy, and Greta, which is a variant, is also quite popular.
Martina
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Dedicated to the god Mars
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tina, Martine
- Famous Namesakes: Singer-songwriter Martina McBride
- Peak Popularity: In 1992 and 2002, Martina was the top Italian girl’s name but it has remained rare in the US.
Mia
- Name Origin: Hebrew
- Name Meaning: rebellion, Bitterness,
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maria, Mary.
- Famous Namesakes: Soccer player Mia Hamm, choreographer Mia Michaels
- Peak Popularity: Mia has become very popular in Italy and the U.S.
Paola
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Little, Small, humble
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pauline, Paula
- Famous Namesakes: Tennis player Paola Suarez
- Peak Popularity: The name Paola is easily among the top 100 baby girl names in Italy and the U.S.
Priscilla
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Ancient
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cillia, Prissy, Prisca
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Priscilla Lane
- Peak Popularity: Priscilla isn’t too famous in Italy but was most popular in the U.S. during the 1980s.
Sara
- Name Origin: Hebrew
- Name Meaning: Lady, princess
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Saraphina Sarah
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Sara Gilbert
- Peak Popularity: In 2001, Sara was the most famous girl name in Italy. It peaked in the United States of America in the 1970s and 1980s.
Serena
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Quite, Serene, tranquil
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Serina, Sarina
- Famous Namesakes: Journalist Serena Altschul, Tennis player Serena Williams
- Peak Popularity: Serena is in Italy’s top 50 baby girl names. The name only grew as high as 209 in 2000.
Sofia
- Name Origin: Greek
- Name Meaning: Wisdom
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sofiya, Sophia
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Sophia Loren (birth name Sofia)
- Peak Popularity: Sofia has been a top baby girl name in Italy from 2010 to 2018.
However, since the release of the Disney animation titled Sofia the First, the name has become increasingly popular in the United States of America.
Valentina
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: healthy, Strong
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Val, Tina
- Famous Namesakes: Fighter Valentina Shevchenko
- Peak Popularity: In Italy, Valentina was popular back in 1999. It is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S.
Veronica
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: True image
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Violeta, Violetta, Violet
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Veronica Ballestrini, Actress Veronica Lake
- Peak Popularity: Veronica is a baby girl game that has found its way to the top 100 in Italy. In the 1970s, it was popular in the U.S.
Viola
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Purple
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Violet, Violetta, Violeta
- Famous Namesakes: Popular actress Viola Davis
- Peak Popularity: Viola is a common baby girl name in Italy, rising to number 13 in 2012.
Vittoria
- Name Origin: Latin
- Name Meaning: Victory
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tori, Victoria, Vicki, Vicky
- Famous Namesakes: Grand Duchess of Tuscany Vittoria Della Rovere
- Peak Popularity: In Italy, Vittoria has been ranked in the top 20 girl names to date. It is rare in the United States of America as the English variation Victoria is preferred.
