🇮🇹 Italy
1,053
Total names
547
Male names
506
Female names
Italy's Stato civile applies the moderate framework of DPR 396/2000. Most names are accepted on the spot, but a registrar can refer unusual cases to the Procuratore della Repubblica. Italy is the only EU country where the legal heritage of Roman naming is most directly visible in the modern register.
Italian naming tradition draws from three rich sources: Roman antiquity (Marco, Lucia, Aurelio, Valeria), Catholic saints (Francesco, Maria, Giuseppe), and Renaissance figures (Leonardo, Raffaele, Beatrice). For an in-depth look at Roman names in modern Italy, see our Roman & Latin names guide. For mythology lovers, the Greek mythology guide covers Penelope, Aurora and other Olympian-era picks.
Iconic Italian names include Leonardo (da Vinci), Michelangelo, Sofia (Loren), Federico (Fellini), and Giulia (Mafalda di Savoia). Naming after grandparents remains a strong tradition in southern Italy; northern Italy has shifted toward shorter international names since the 1990s.
Naming Rules
Name must not be ridiculous or shameful
The civil registrar can refuse names that would cause embarrassment or harm to the child.
Cannot use parent's first name if living
Italian law historically prohibited giving a child the same first name as a living parent or sibling.
No surnames as first names
Using a surname as a first name is not permitted.
Gender must match
Names should correspond to the child's sex. Male names for boys, female names for girls.
Legal basis: Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 396/2000 (DPR 396/2000) and Articles 34-35.
Authority: Ufficiale di stato civile (civil registrar)
Popular Names in Italy
Top 15 Boy Names
1.Leonardo
2.Francesco
3.Tommaso
4.Edoardo
5.Alessandro
6.Lorenzo
7.Mattia
8.Riccardo
9.Andrea
10.Gabriele
11.Federico
12.Diego
13.Luca
14.Marco
15.Pietro
Top 15 Girl Names
1.Sofia
2.Aurora
3.Giulia
4.Ginevra
5.Beatrice
6.Alice
7.Vittoria
8.Emma
9.Ludovica
10.Matilde
11.Anna
12.Camilla
13.Bianca
14.Chiara
15.Sara
Check a specific baby name in Italy
50 of the most popular European baby names with full legal-status pages for Italy. Click any name to see its meaning, Italy spelling, registration process, and FAQ.
Further reading
Check a name in Italy
Search 1,053 names in our Italy database — plus 24 more European countries.
Check a Name →Last updated: April 2026. For informational purposes only. Always consult your local Ufficiale di stato civile for definitive answers.