Popular Italian Names – 2. Female Posted by Serena on May 9, 2017 in Culture
When I was a child I used to hate it when people asked me: “Come ti chiami?” (“What’s your name?”), because I knew that, nine times out of ten, their immediate reaction to my reply: “Mi chiamo Serena” (“My name is Serena”) would be: “Sei Serena di nome e di fatto?” (“Are you Serene by name and nature as well?”). “Quanto sei originale!” (“How original you are!”) I used to think sarcastically.
So I resented my mother’s choice of giving me what I thought was a fairly uncommon name. But now it appears that my name is actually 29th on the list of the most common Italian female names!
La Divina Eleonora Duse, musa di Gabriele D’Annunzio
The table below gives some of the most common Italian female names together with their variations and abbreviations.
|
Nome |
Varianti/Abbreviazioni |
Equivalente Inglese |
|
Alessandra Alessia Alice Anna Arianna Beatrice Chiara Claudia Cristina Elena Eleonora Elisa Erica Federica Francesca Giada Giorgia Giulia Jessica Ilaria Irene Laura Lucia Maria Martina Michela Noemi Paola Roberta Sara Serena Silvia Simona Sofia Stefania Valentina Valeria Veronica |
Sandra, Ale, Sandrina Ale, Alessina Alicia, Ali, Aly Annina, Annetta, Annarella Ariana, Ari Bice, Bea, Bebe Clara, Chiaretta, Chiarina, Clodia, Claudina Cristiana, Cri Elenia, Ele, Lena Leonora, Nora, Ele Elisia, Lisa, Isa Erika Federiga, Fede, Chicca Franca, Franceschina, Checca, Cecca Giadina Georgia, Giorgina, Gina Giuliana, Giulietta Gessica Ilary, Ilarina, Rina, Ila Erina, Rina Loretta, Lauretta, Laurina Lucietta, Lucilla Mari, Mariella, Mariuccia, Mariolina Tina, Nina Micaela, Lela Noemia, Naomi Paolina, Paoletta, Lina Berta, Robi Sarina Serenella, Sere Silva, Silvana Simonetta, Simo Sophia, Sonia Stefana, Stefi, Stena Vale, Tina Valeriana, Vale Veronika |
Alexandra, Sandra, Sandy Alexis Alice, Allison, Alli, Alissa Anne, Annie, Anna Arianna, Ariana, Ariane Beatrix, Bea, Trixie Clara, Claire Claudia Christina, Christine, Kristen Helen, Ellen, Elaine, Eileen Eleanor, Elinor Elisa, Eliza, Lisa Erica, Erika Frederica Frances, Fanny, Fran Jade, Jayde, Jada Georgia, Georgiana,Georgina Julia, Juliana, Juliet, Gill Jessica, Jessie Hilary, Hillary Irene, Eireen, Laura, Lauren Lucy Mary, Maria, Marion, Molly Martina Michelle Naomi Pauline, Paula, Paulina Roberta Sarah, Sara, Sally Serena Sylvia Simone Sophia, Sophie, Sofia Stephanie, Steph Valentina Valerie, Val Veronica, Ronnie |
There are some names which have gone out of fashion, but were common at the times of my parents’ and grandparents’ generations. Here are some wonderful examples from my own family: Ciro, Duilio, Enea, Tancredi, and Ezio for the men. Vittoria (very common during the Fascist era), Dirce, Ermenegilda, Carola, Serafina, and Argia for the women.
Do you have a name of Italian origin? Please share.
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Comments:
Delfina Herbert:
My name is Delfina Elvira, named after my 2 Italian grandmothers.These names were more common in the 1800’s. It seems that today, Delfina is still used in Hispanic countries.
Serena:
@Delfina Herbert Salve Delfina!
Hai un nome bellissimo. I’ve never come across anybody called Delfina, while Elvira is now out of fashion name, but not uncommon amongst elderly women.
Saluti da Serena