Fabrizio vs. Giorgio – How To Name Your Kid Italian Style

Are you expecting a new baby?  Have you read through all the baby name books and been satisfied with nothing?  If you’ve married an Italian, or are of Italian heritage, you may wish to name your baby a traditional Italian name.  This way, you can count on your child having a lyrical, romantic-sounding name, and, if you plan on raising them in an English-speaking country, a totally unique one.  (However, this also means that your child will spend their entire life having their name misspelled and mispronounced by well-meaning peers.)  Here are a few popular options you may wish to consider.

When naming children, it’s key to keep in mind that once they’re old enough to go to school, the other kids will be looking for any excuse to make fun of them.  For example, don’t call your son “Baldassario” unless you want him to go through twelve years of school with the nickname “Bald Ass,” and so on.  Your best bet would be to name you child something that sounds exotic and elegant, but can also be shortened into a common nickname if needed, such as “Filippo,” “Nicolo,” or “Antonio.”

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more cryptic name for your son, you may wish to pick a name based on meaning or literary allusion.  You could choose a name like “Vittorio,” which means victorious, “Ignazio,” which means fiery, “Santino,” which means little saint, “Orsino” which means little bear, or “Adriano,” which means from the Adriatic Sea.  Certain celebrity names with overly particular connotations, such as “Fabio,” “Orlando,” or “Guido” should be avoided.  However, if you want to pay homage to a Renaissance artist or poet with a name like “Dante,” “Francesco,” “Leonardo,” or “Michaelangelo,” they are classy and cultured, and come with the added bonus of easy nicknames: Frank, Leo, and Michael.

As for girl baby names, you have a wealth of beautiful and aesthetic names to choose from, such as Aida, Bianca, Viviana, and Julietta.  Virtually any female name you decide on is bound to sound regal and intriguing, so you will have to take time to think of other details.  Do you want a more recognizable name for your daughter?  If so, you may wish to consider names like “Maria,” “Angela,” or “Christina.”  If you’re looking for something more dynamic that will set your daughter apart from the crowd, go for a name like “Serafina,” which means from the seraph, “Renata,” which means reborn, or “Speranza,” which means hope.  If you’re looking for something imaginative, these are only the beginning of the possibilities.

Whether you’re considering an Italian baby name to please your or your partner’s family, to pay homage to your ethnic roots, or simply because you’re looking for something different, you have a world of resources at your fingertips.  To fully take advantage of them, you will want to learn the Italian language; send us an enquiry to get started, or take a look at our different levels of courses.