Popular Italian Names – 1. Male Posted by Geoff on May 1, 2017 in Culture
Beppe, Totò, Fede, Gino … these are all common abbreviations for Italian male names. Where do they come from, and do they have an equivalent in English?
Simonetta Vespucci by Sandro Botticelli, who’s true name was Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi
The table below gives some of the most common Italian male names together with their variations and abbreviations.
| Nome | Varianti/Abbreviazioni | Equivalente Inglese |
|
Alberto Alessandro Alessio Andrea Angelo Antonio Claudio Daniele Davide Edoardo Emanuele Enrico Fabio Federico Filippo Francesco Gabriele Giacomo Giorgio Giovanni Giulio Giuseppe Leonardo Lorenzo Luca Luigi Marco Matteo Michele Mirko Nicola Paolo Pietro Riccardo Roberto Stefano Tommaso Vincenzo |
Berto, Albi, Albertino Sandro, Alessandrino, Sandrino, Ale Alessi, Ale Andreano, Andreino, Andreuccio Angiolo, Angiolino, Lino, Angelino Antonino, Tonio, Tonino, Totò, Nino Claudino Danilo, Nilo, Lele Davidino, Davino Eduardo, Edo, Dodo Manuele, Manuel, Manu, Ema, Lele Arrigo, Errico Fabiano, Fabietto Frederico, Fedrico, Chicco, Fede Filippino, Pippo Franco, Franceschino, Checco, Cecco Gabri, Lele Jacopo, Iacopo, Giacobbe Giorgino, Gino, Giò Gianni, Nanni, Vanni, Giovi, Giova Giuliano Beppe, Peppe, Pino, Pippo Lionardo, Leonardino, Leo, Narduccio Lorenzino, Loris, Renzo, Renzino Luchino, Luchetto Luigino, Gigi, Gino Marchino, Marcuccio, Marcello Mattia, Matteino, Teo Micaele, Michelino, Michi, Lele Mirco Nicolò, Niccolò, Nicolino, Nico Paolino, Lino, Lillo, Polo Piero, Pietrino, Pierino Ricciardo, Richi, Ricky Robi, Berto, Bobo Steno Tommasino, Maso, Masino, Mino Vincente, Enzo, Vince |
Albert, Bert Alexander Alexis Andrew, Andy Angel Anthony, Tony Claude Daniel, Danny David, Dave Edward, Eddy, Eddie Emanuel, Manny Henry, Harry Fabian Frederick, Fred, Freddie Phillip, Philip Francis, Frank Gabriel James, Jamie, Jacob George John, Johnny, Jack Julius, Julian Joseph, Joe, Joey Leo, Leonard, Lenny, Len Laurence, Larry Luke Lewis, Louis Mark Matthew, Matt Michael, Mike, Mickey No translation Nicholas Paul Peter, Pete Richard, Richie, Ricky Robert, Rob, Bob Stephen, Steven, Steve Thomas, Tom, Tommy Vincent, Vince, Vinny |
Obviously, the popularity of first names changes according to fashion. According to ISTAT (The Institute of Statisticians) these were the top ten male names chosen for newborn males in Italy during the period 1999 – 2014:
| 1. Francesco 2. Alessandro 3. Andrea 4. Matteo 5. Lorenzo |
6. Mattia 7. Gabriele 8. Luca 9. Davide 10. Riccardo |
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And here are the most popular names given to Italian males around 40 years ago:
| 1. Giuseppe 2. Giovanni 3. Antonio 4. Mario 5. Luigi |
6. Francesco 7. Angelo 8. Vincenzo 9. Pietro 10. Salvatore |
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Do you have a name of Italian origin? Please share.
To follow: Popular Italian Names – 2. Female
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Comments:
Evelyn Ferioli:
My husband’s middle name is Martini after his grandfather Martini Ferioli from Modena. We think that this would correspond to the English Martin.
Serena:
@Evelyn Ferioli Salve Evelyn!
The Italian name is Martino. Martini, in the plural form, is a widely common surname.
Saluti da Serena
Felix Pesce:
My name is Felix. Ho preso il mio nome dal mio nonno si è chiamato in Italia “Felice” , which means happy in English
Geoff:
@Felix Pesce Salve Felix, thanks for your comment. What a wonderful name you have: Happy Fish!
Have you seen this article that I published a few years ago about Italian surnames: https://blogs.transparent.com/italian/whats-in-a-name/?
Saluti da Geoff 🙂
Ann:
My mother’s maiden name was Thelma Delmira (known as Mira) Pecorini. I believe her grandfather (mio bisnonno!), Ambrogio, emigrated from Parma in the 1860s with a band of musicians, including cousin Daniele and three Giuseppes. Other relatives I have traced include Cinzia (Aunty Cin, whose house was called Dimora) , Desolina. Pellegrino and Dantilio (Uncle Dante). Such a shame none are alive now, so I try to keep their language alive instead. Thanks Geoff and Serena.
Geoff:
@Ann Ciao Ann, some beautiful names there! We tend to see names like that on the annunci that are posted on billboards here in Italy announcing deaths and funeral arrangements. These commonly tend to be for people in their 80’s and 90’s.
Buona giornata, Geoff 🙂
Norma Tingram:
An Italian friend once told me that Guglielmo (William) is rarely used in its full form but is usually contracted to Gugu or something similar. Is this right? Is there a “Bill” form for William? Guglielmo isn’t in your list.
Serena:
@Norma Tingram Salve Norma!
Guglielmo is not very common in modern days, however I’ve never heard of the form Gugu, it must be a pet name. I don’t know of any equivalent of Bill.
Saluti da Serena
Norma Tingram:
@Serena How about the names Calogero and Corrado, which one encounters now and again. Are they now out of fashion?
When were they in fashion?
Serena:
@Norma Tingram Salve Norma!
Calogero is a typical name from the south of Italy, especially Sicilia. I don’t know if it’s used anymore. Personally I like the name Corrado, but now it’s out of fashion. It is still common amongst middle aged men.
Saluti da Serena