2 of 8

Write now Article Tools

Although Italy is still, to a certain extent, a traditional country characterized by strong family ties and deeply rooted catholic mores, gone are the times when Marias and Giuseppes would account for half the kids sitting in a first grade class. Recent baby-naming patterns have highlighted a high degree of diversification, as well as a growing inclination towards abandoning "regional" names in favor of more modern, geographically neutral ones.

Until the middle of the 20th century baby-naming was still a relatively uncomplicated task, with saints and grandparents providing the main sources of inspiration. Indeed, parents would rarely stray into even considering "exotic" names for their kids, for fear they would be taunted in school or find themselves at a disadvantage as adults. Sometimes they just wanted to avoid being reprimanded by the christening priest: only thirty years ago the actress Asia Argento had to be inscribed in the City of Rome register office as Aria, since the Church did not recognize her chosen name, Asia, as being a valid Christian option.

Geography also played an important role in the naming process: Italy had been a fragmented land under the rule of foreign powers for almost two millennia and some of the invader's linguistic traditions had stuck. While the northern part of the peninsula absorbed Germanic names like Roberto, Alberto, Franco, in the south Spanish names such as Carmela, Dolores, and Diego flourished. Well developed church-going habits combined with a strong tendency towards hyperbole and drama also encouraged the emergence of "virtuous" names such as "Innocente" (Innocent), "Salvatore" (Saviour) or "Immacolata" (Immaculate).

On the other hand Cesare (Caesar), perhaps unsurprisingly, is found commonly and almost exclusively in Rome. Indeed, the charm of the empire is still lingering among the ruins of the capital, in which the concentration of Roman names such as Claudia, Patrizia, Giulio, Fabio, is higher than anywhere else.

But what is the current etymological situation in Italy? Has modernization just broadened the naming pool or has it introduced new names? According to ISTAT, the National Institute of Statistics, there are about 1600 names in use in the country, of which the most common are:

Males: Giuseppe, Giovanni, Antonio, Mario, Luigi
Females: Maria, Anna, Giuseppina, Rosa, Angela

But this list is misleading, as the situation is set to change soon. Italy has an aging population and the majority of the bearers of the names

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Popular names for Italian babies?
We want to hear your view. Write now!