Italian Last Names

A more romantic form of old school Clement, which ranks in the Top 100 boy names in Chile. Clemente, like Clement, derives from the Late Latin name Clemens, the name of 14 popes and several saints.

Saint's name that emanates amore.

Cool bearlike option, though Orson might be easier to embrace.

Too close to violent.

This Latinate form of Bernard hovered in the lower regions of the US Top 1000 from the late 1940s until 2006, possibly inspired by the character in West Side Story.

Italian form of Gratian, the name of a Roman emperor who campaigned across the Rhine and favored Christianity over paganism. Graziano isn't common either in the English-speaking world or its native Italy, although the boxer Rocky Graziano adopted it from his grandfather's surname. In the current vogue for names ending in -o and Italian names, it may be worth a second look.

Naples-born Enrico Caruso was one of the greatest opera singers of all time. Recordings of his powerful singing voice are still in circulation today, nearly 100 years after his death.

Vivaldi is closely linked with the Italian Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi, best known for the Four Seasons. His surname is derived from vita, the Latin word for "life."

Scilla are little woodland flowers in a beautiful bright blue color. Scilla can also be a short form of Priscilla, from Prisca "ancient".

The progenitor of the English name Guy, Gaetano has a lot more gusto.

Ravello is an Italian town on the Amalfi Coast. It's a popular travel destination and was a favorite spot for many notable creatives, including Virginia Woolf, Greta Garbo, and Tennessee Williams.

An evocative ancient word that's used as a first name in the New Testament, among other places. It's also the name of an eagle-shaped constellation.

The water, period.

Widely used in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, has an air of generosity and could easily be adopted here.

Notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone may not seem like a worthy namesake, but parents have been using his surname for their sons since 1996. In English, we pronounce Capone with two syllables, but the authentic Italian pronunciation is cah-POH-neh.

Agostino is the Italian form of this increasingly popular ancient name.