101 Italian Boy Names for 2024 + Pronunciations, Meanings & More (2024)

If you’re looking for Italian baby boy names for your little guy, you’ve found the right place! I’m a mamma in Italy and have named three little boys with Italian boys names.

I can assure you I’ve sifted through all possible Italian baby boy names (really – I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent researching them!). I’ve looked beyond the ‘most popular’ lists to find names that will work for you, no matter where you’re located.

I hope this list will help you in your search for the perfect Italian baby boy name for your new arrival!

Looking for an Italian baby girl name? Check out 101 Italian Baby Girl Names!
Looking for a gender-neutral name? Check out Gender-Neutral Italian Names!

The names listed are real Italian male names that you’ll find in Italy. You won’t see names like ‘Georgio,’ ‘Theo,’ or ‘Julio.’ Why not? Because they aren’t Italian names, even though they’re often listed as Italian names on baby name websites.

You won’t see every possible Italian male name, but you will find authentic, beautiful, classic Italian names for your little boy. They’ll stand the test of time and will be recognized throughout Italy.

In the first list, you’ll find the name, its pronunciation, the meaning of the name, and its origin.

In the second list, you’ll find the name, its famous namesakes, and its English language equivalent.

Following the lists, you’ll see the popularity of these boy names in Italy and the USA in 2022 (the most up-to-date data available).

After the lists, read on to find more information on:

• Masculine and feminine names in Italy
• Italian naming traditions
• Nicknames in Italy
• Shortened Italian names
• Descriptive nicknames in Italy
• Geographic considerations when choosing an Italian name
• Italian names in pop culture
• Onomastico (Name day) in Italy

Congratulazioni and happy searching! And remember to eventually bring him to Italy!

Note: We can guarantee that the names on this list are authentic Italian names that are spelled correctly and pronounced accurately. The origins and meanings of these names have been researched thoroughly and to the best of our ability, but we cannot guarantee their accuracy. If you find a name you like, please continue to research its origin and meaning. If you have any feedback, please let us know.

101 Italian Boy Names + Pronunciation, Meaning, & Origin

101 Italian Boy Names + Namesakes & English Equivalents

Popular Boy Names in Italy – 2022*:

1. Leonardo
2. Francesco
3. Tommaso
4. Edoardo
5. Alessandro
6. Lorenzo
7. Mattia
8. Gabriele
9. Riccardo
10. Andrea
11. Diego
12. Nicolò
13. Matteo
14. Giuseppe
15. Federico
16. Antonio
17. Enea
18. Samuele
19. Giovanni
20. Pietro

*latest data available on ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics)

Popular Italian Boy Names in the United States in 2022*:

22. Leo
28. Luca
75. Leonardo

*latest data available on SSA (Social Security Administration)

Things to Think About When Choosing An Italian Boy Name

Things To Think About –Masculine vs Feminine Names in Italy

Some Italian baby boy names end in -a. For example, Andrea is a boy’s name in Italy, but in the United States, it’s usually a girl’s name.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t choose the name, but it’s something to be aware of. Outside of Italy, many parents are choosing gender-neutral names or names that are traditionally given to the opposite sex (think James or Ryan for a girl or Charlie for either sex).

It’s more difficult to choose a gender-neutral Italian name, as most names end in -a (feminine) or -o (masculine).

Typical Endings for Italian Names

Things To Think About –Italian Naming Tradition

Some Italians still follow tradition in naming their children:

• The first son is named after the paternal grandfather.
• The first daughter is named after the paternal grandmother.
• The second son is named after the maternal grandfather.
• The second daughter is named after the maternal grandmother.

So, if Giovanni and Sara have a son, he will be named after Giovanni’s grandfather. If they have a second son, he will be named after Sara’s grandfather.

If they have a third son, they may choose to name him after a saint, the godparents, or another family member (like a favorite uncle).

As you can imagine, following this tradition, it’s easy to end up with a lot of family members with the same name. So, many Italians have nicknames.

Be sure to read
Italian Baby Traditions
Italian Naming Traditions

Things To Think About –Nicknames in Italy

Most Italian names have a nickname and Italian friends and family will usually call you by your nickname.

There are a couple of types of nicknames (soprannomi) used in Italy – shortened names and descriptive names.

Things To Think About –Shortened Names For Your Baby Boy

Many Italian boy names are long, like Francesco, Lorenzo, Salvatore, Riccardo, Leonardo, Guglielmo. Rather than pronounce all syllables, friends and family will shorten the name.

For example:

• Francesco – Checco
• Filippo – Pippo
• Mattia – Matti
• Leonardo – Leo*

Professors, doctors, and others who aren’t close to the boy will call him by his full name.

The shortened name is used verbally and rarely written.

*I hear more and more Italians calling their sons Leo (legally) instead of the traditional Leonardo.

Things To Think About –Descriptive Nicknames for Your Baby Boy

Remember the Italian naming tradition and how many have the same name? Rather than having five Matteo Ferraris in the neighborhood, you may find each Matteo has a descriptive nickname.

For example:

• Tesoro – treasure
• Piccolino – tiny
• Pulcino – little chick
• Topolino – little mouse
• Ciccio – chubby

Things To Think About –Where You’ll Be Living With Your Baby

If you’re choosing an Italian name for your baby boy, think about how the name will be pronounced where you live.

Difficult spellings aren’t fun for parents or children. While Vittorio is easily spelled in Italy, it can be confusing in the United States (“Victorio?” “Vittorrio?”).

If you’re living in a Spanish-speaking area, remember that certain letters and sounds are pronounced differently. For example, Gianmarco is pronounced with a hard ‘G,’ as “jon-MAR-co,” versus a soft ‘G’ in Spanish.

Certain names (like Leonardo) are pronounced differently, depending on where you are located. In Italian, it’s pronounced “lay-oh-NAR-do,” while in the United States it’s “lee-oh-nar-do.” If the way it’s pronounced where you live bothers you, choose a different name or be prepared to correct the pronunciation or just deal with it.

Things To Think About –Your Italian Baby Boy Name in Pop Culture

If it’s important to you, research baby boy names in the context of pop culture where you’ll be raising your little guy.

For example, in Italy, Fabio and Guido are beautiful and common name choices, but to some people in the United States, Fabio brings to mind a long-haired cheesy model and Guido recalls wild Italian-American teens.

Things To Think About –Name Day (Onomastico)

Some Italians also celebrate their onomastico, or name day, which is a day that celebrates a particular saint.

The name day is celebrated more in the south, and by religious families. It is celebrated less and less by the younger generations.

But, it can be a fun excuse to celebrate, especially if your little boy’s name day is during a different part of the year. For example, if your son Lupo is born in December, you can celebrate his summer onomastico on July 27th.

FAQ About Italian Baby Boy Names