This is a slightly revised re-run of a post I wrote for Nameberry. In case you missed the first go around:
You don’t have to be Italian to fawn all over Isabella.
She’s lyrical, historical, even practical with nicknames Bella and Izzy at the ready. It’s no surprise she and cohorts Olivia and Sophia would be storming up the charts, now assuming spots 1, 3, and 4.
Let’s take a look what people are choosing in New Jersey– as housewife fame has evidenced, they’re heavy on Italian pride.
Top picks for the state: Adriana (#64), Adrianna (#95), Angelina (#30), Ariana (#46), Arianna (#43), Gabriella (12), Gianna (#11), Julia (#19- Giulia in Italy), Isabella (#1), Juliana (#49), Julianna (#63), Maria (#65), Natalia (#72), Olivia (#2), Sophia (#3), Valentina (#92), Victoria (#22- Vittoria in Italy)
Italian-American mothers often lament that all the good names are taken by their family and friends.
I assure you the options are vast!
If you’ll be summering with Nonna in Toscana, you may want a choice that is both well loved there and reads undeniably Italian here (rankings are from Italy in 2008): Alessia (#8), Chiara (#5), Federica (#21), Francesca (#9), Giada (#13), Giorgia (#6), Ludovica (#27), Ilaria (#25), Vittoria (#26)
Italy also has a few popular names that wouldn’t necessarily scream Bolognese sauce: Alice (#10), Anna (#11), Beatrice (#18), Elisa (#12), Emma (#14), Greta (#24), Marta (#29), Martina (#3), Matilde (#15), Nicole (#30), Noemi (#19), Sara (#4). Note Alice and Beatrice are pronounced ah-LEE-che and be-ah-TREE-che.
A triumvirate of recent Cosimas, Claudia Schiffer’s child, Sofia Coppola’s baby, and a Windsor 22nd in line to the throne, remind us that there are still other genuine Italian names to cull from the history books. Some are quite antique, but just as we have “old lady chic” here, so too do they in Italy.
I urge you to take a chance on an ancient beauty:
Agnella
Agnese
Alessandra
Allegra
Anastasia
Antonia
Artemisia
Aurelia
Aurora
Catarina
Cecilia
Chiara
Claudia
Cosima
Costanza
Diana
Elena
Elisabetta
Fabrizia
Filippa
Filomena
Fiora
Flavia
Flora
Gemma
Ginevra
Giulianna
Letizia
Lucia
Lucrezia
Luisa
Maddalena
Marcella
Mariella
Marina, Marinella
Milena
Minerva
Ottavia
Paola, Paolina
Priscilla
Raffaella
Renata
Romilda
Rosalia
Sabina
Serafina
Serena
Sibilla
Silvia
Silvana
Simona
Susanna
Taddea
Tiziana
Valentina
Veronica
Vincenza
Violetta
Viviana
Should you have a boy, Armani may rank in the top 100 for males in Rhode Island, but does not come recommended as a genuinely Italian choice. ;-D
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I love Noemi. And many others on this list.
Agnella
Allegra
Cosima
Fiora
Ginevra
Renata
Viviana
The man and I are considering changing our daughters name from Elizabeth to Elisabetta. Her middle name is a family one, Rosangela, and we think the Italian spelling flows better. Elizabeth never felt totally right. We call her Eliza anyhow, so the switch won’t confuse her.
I think Elisabetta would be lovely with Rosangela. Good luck with that.
Elisabetta IS lovely, but so is Elizabeth. You really can’t go wrong, though I suppose Eliza is more intuitive from Elizabeth? What name would you prefer her have on a diploma or wedding announcement? How old is she now?
My husband and I chose Cecilia for our little girl. If we happen to have another one I think I will definately choose one with Itilian heritage!
Cecilia is one of my favorites! I find myself suggesting it often.
Cecilia is lovely, especially pronounced it the Italian way!
I love Fiora, Lucia, Cosima, and Cecilia. I also love Francesca. Too bad I’m far from Italian.
In my neighborhood back in Chicago we have 3 Francesca’s, 2 Giannas, 3 Giovannis and a Giovanna.
Lucia is my #1 girls name choice at the moment! I looove Italian names… favourites are:
Alessandra
Aurelia
Aurora
Cosima
Elena
Elisabetta
Flora
Rosalia
Serafina
Valentina