Q&A: What are some great Italian girl names?

by Suelain Moy

We just found out we are expecting twin girls. Our oldest daughter is named Sophia and we would like to give her sisters Italian names to keep them all in the family. We are looking especially at names beginning with A, D, or G, to honor family members.

Before you add any more requirements for your twins' names, you should know that Sophia is derived from the Greek word meaning "wisdom." Its glamorous connotations come from Italian actress and Academy Award winner, Sophia Loren (who originally spelled her name Sofia). Popular and girls' names in the top 10 that are compatible with Sophia are Isabella, Ava, and Olivia. Latin names such as Stella, Marcella, and Maria shine bright, too.

Italian or Latin names to consider in the American top 100 include Mia, Arianna, Angelina, Valeria, and Gianna.

Don't limit yourself to just A names (Alessandra, Alessia, Allegra, Aria, Arianna) or G names (Gabriella, Gemma, Gia, Giada, Gina, Ginevra, Giorgia, Giovanna, Giuseppina, Giulia) when you also can try Bianca, Caterina, Chiara, Cosima, Daniella, Dominica, Donatella, Elisabetta, Francesca, Livia, Luciana, Nicoletta, Ottavia, Patrizia, Valentina, and Violetta. Then there are the Italian place names such as Capri, Ravenna, Siena, Sistine (Sylvester Stallone's daughter), Italia (LL Cool J's daughter), and Assisi (Mick Jagger's granddaughter). Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva welcomed a daughter Lucia. And lest you think the name you choose may not glamorous enough, remember the example of 1950s Italian film star Gina Lollobrigida, who was born with the decidedly less glamorous Luigina.

find more about:
related categories:
All the pregnancy info you need—from the first trimester to the last.
watch more videos