615+ Italian Names for Girls and Boys

This elegant, minimally-spelled name could be a variant of Rosanna/Roseanna. But it's also the Portuguese version of Roxana, with all the meaning and history of the name, but none of the "Roxanne" associations.

Widely used in the Latino community, the name gained renown in the nineties for its association with rapper Gerardo Mejía of 'Rico Suave' fame.

Old-school Italian names that shortens a wide range of longer names, making it feel much more popular than it is on its own.

One of the few Italian forms less attractive than the original, this time because it will forever be mistaken with the feminine version.

Delicately pretty name all but unknown here.

Italianate variation of Cosette, from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.

Giulio is a Top 50 name in Italy, and we think Giulio is a good candidate to follow, especially now that Giovanni and Gianni are in up in the US charts. It's an interesting alternative to popular cousins Julian and Julius. And of course the most famous Giulio of all is the Emperor, Giulio Cesare.

Petronilla is an ancient saint's name that relates to the Roman family name Petronius, thought to mean yokel or woodpecker, though some connect it with Petra or Peter, meaning stone. With the resurgence of so many ancient Roman names, the elaborate and pretty Petronilla or its French form Petronille seem more usable these days than they have in centuries.

For lovers of that romantic city.

The fashion for elaborate girly-girl names, especially those that end with -ella or -ana, has put this distinctive Latin favorite into play.

See THOMAS.

Stylish and dramatic, a la Donatella Versace.

Influential designer Miuccia (nicknamed Miu Miu) Prada's surname is much better known here than her first.

Rarely heard outside Italy, could make an interesting import.

Both rhythmic and serene, Serenella is one of the Italian names for girls virtually unknown in the US but definitely usable. An unusual route to Ella as a short form?

Venetia and even Venice are more common, though this could work.

Donati is a distinguished Italian surname that can easily work as a first. The last name Donati is a patronymic from an ancestral Donato or may be a plural of Donato.