Name News

Azzurra is the feminine form of Azzurri, which is the nickname of Italy's national football team and means "The Blues".

This was my eighth year doing the A to Z Challenge with this blog, my tenth with two blogs. Much to my disappointment, for the fourth year in a row I had to suffice with a fairly simple theme, one I didn’t need to do a huge amount of research for. I remain hopeful I…

Female names: Veniera (T) is a feminine form of Veniero, which ultimately derives from Venus (love, sexual desire). Its root is Proto–Indo–European *wenh₁- (to love, to wish). Verderia (I) is probably related to the Italian word verde (green). Verderosa (I) means "green rose." Verdiana (I) is a shortened form of Veridiana, which itself is a…

Female names: Taudisca (T), Tedesca (I) derives from Proto–Germanic root *þiudiskaz (popular, of the people, vernacular), and coincides with the Italian word tedesca (German woman). Temperantia (I) means "self-control, temperance, moderation, sobriety." Tiberia (I) is the feminine form of Latin name Tiberius (of the Tiber River). Tomasina, Thomsina (I) is a feminine form of Thomas (twin).…

Female names: Richelda (I) derives from Ancient Germanic name Richild, derived from Germanic root rîcja (mighty, strong, powerful), Gothic reiks (king, ruler), Celtic rîg or rix (ruler, king), and Old Norse hildr (battle). Romengarda (T) Rosuccia (I) is a diminutive of Rosa (rose). Rugiada (I) Male names: Rambaldo (T) derives from Ancient Germanic name Ragimbald,…

Male names: Odart (I) derives from Old High German root ot and Old Saxon od (riches, wealth), and Old High German hart and Old Saxon hard (strong, hard). This name is also Medieval French, Medieval Scottish, and archaic Estonian. Odelschalk (I) derives from Old High German root uodal (homestead, heritage) and Old Saxon skalk and Old High German scalh, scalc (servant). This…

Male names: Maffeo, Mafeo (T), Mazzeo (I) are forms of Matthew (gift of God). This was also a Venetian name. Mancinagross (I) means "large/great left-handed person." Manens (I) means "abiding, remaining, staying." Marculfo, Marcolfo (I) is a form of Ancient Germanic name Marculf, which derives from Celtic root mara (horse; marah in Old High German) or…

Since J is a very uncommon letter for Italian names, I wasn't able to find more than a handful for today. Female names: Jacobella (T) is an elaborated feminine form of Jakob. Though the traditional meaning for this name (whose original Hebrew form is Ya'akov) is "heel, supplanter," many modern linguists and Biblical scholars now…

Sorry, I could only find two names for today, and was unable to locate any male names in either category. It's a very uncommon letter in modern Italian names too. Female names: Honesta (I) comes from a Latin word meaning "reputable, honourable, respected, distinguished." Humiliana (I) comes from the Latin word humilis (humble).

Male names: Ferrando (I) is a form of Ferdinand (brave journey). This is also a Medieval Spanish and Aragonese name. Ferrante (I) is also a form of Ferdinand, possibly via the Medieval French Ferrand and Ferrant. Fioravante (I) may derive from the Latin word florem (flower) and thus be a form of Florent and Fiorente. Other…

Male names: Diedi (I) Dolfin (T) derives from Latin name Delphinus (from Delphi). The Ancient Greek city of Delphi possibly took its name from the word delphys (womb). This name was also Venetian. Drudmund (I) derives from Proto–Germanic root þrūþ (strength) and OId Saxon mund and Old High German munt (protection, hand). Duccio (T, I) was a…

Male names: Belfante (I) means "fair child." Benasuto (T). This name, which I can't find the etymology of, was also Venetian. Berlinghiero (T) is a form of Ancient Germanic name Berengar, from roots bern (bear) and ger (spear). Bindo (T, I) was particularly popular in Florence (Firenze). The etymology is unknown. Blasio (T) is a form of…

The curious name Rizzo debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 2016: 2019: unlisted2018: 7 baby boys named Rizzo2017: 10 baby boys named Rizzo2016: 7 baby boys named Rizzo [debut]2015: unlisted Why? …

The name Santini was a one-hit wonder in the baby name data in 1979: 1981: unlisted1980: unlisted1979: 9 baby boys named Santini [debut]1978: unlisted1977: unlisted Why? That was the year the movie…

Female names: Zaneta (T) is a diminutive of Giovanna, a feminine form of John. Zebaina (I) Zelante (T) Zuana (T) is a feminine form of Zuane, a Venetian form of Giovanni (i.e., John). It means "God is gracious." Male names: Zane (I) is a Venetian form of Gianni, a short form of Giovanni. Zilio (T)…

Male names: Ugolino (I) is a superdiminutive of Ugo, which ultimately derives from Hugo/Hugh (see below). One of the most famous stories in The Divine Comedy features the infamous Count Ugolino della Gherardesca eternally gnawing at the skull of Archbishop Ruggieri degli Ubaldini. Urso (I) derives from the Latin word ursus (bear). Female names: Ubaldesca (I)…

Male names: Salvi (I) derives from the Roman surname Salvius and the Latin word salvus (safe). Saraceno, Saracen (I) derives from the word Saracen; i.e., an Arab Muslim. Scarlatto (I) means "scarlet." The feminine form is Scarlata. Sclavo (I) means "slave." Sigbald (I) derives from Old High German roots sigu (victory) and bald (bold). This…

Female names: Pace (I) means "peace." It's pronounced PAH-chey, not like the English word "pace." Pacifica (I) means "peacemaker." Pasca (I) derives from the Latin word Pascha, Passover. The Jewish holiday often falls out near Easter, and many Indo–European languages' word for Easter derives from that Latin root. Traditionally, the name was given to girls…

Female names: Nencia (I) Nente (I) Nera (I) is the feminine form of Nero, a Roman surname probably of Sabine origin and meaning "vigourous, strong." Nicolosa, Niccolosa (I) is a feminine form of Nicholas (victory of the people). Nofra (I) is a feminine form of Nofri, a short form of Onfredo (Humphrey). It means "peaceful…

Female names: Lagia (I) Laria (I) may be a shortened form of Ilaria, a feminine form of Hilarius (cheerful). Lasia (I) Laudomia (I) is a form of the Greek name Laodameia, which may mean "to tame the people." Liona (T) means "lion." This was also a Venetian name. Lionarda (T) is a feminine form of…

Male names: Inghiramo (I) derives from Ancient Germanic roots Ing (a powerful god) and hraban (raven). Isabello (I) is a male form of Isabella (originally a nickname for Elizabeth, which means "my God is an oath"). Isambert (I) derives from Old High German and Old Saxon root isarn (iron) and Old High German beraht and Old…

Female names: Gaita (I) Gaitelgrima (I) Galiana (I) is the feminine form of the Latin name Galianus. Gherardesca (I) is the feminine form of Gherardo, an archaic form of Gerard (brave spear). Giletta (I) is a feminine form of the English name Giles, which derives from Latin name Aegidius and Greek word aigidion (young goat), via…

Female names: Elemosina (I) Emerentiana (I) is the feminine form of the Latin name Emerentianus, which in turn derives from Emerentius and the Latin word emereo (to fully deserve). Engelrada (I) derives from an Ancient Germanic name with the roots Angil (the Angle tribe) and rad (counsel). Ermellina (I) may be a form of Ermelinda, derived from Ancient…

Female names: Calomaria (I) means "beautiful Maria." Carafina (I) may come from the surname Caraffa/Carafa, which belonged to a noble Neapolitan family, or be a combination of Cara (beloved) and Fina (a diminutive of Serafina (seraphim). Castellana (I) means "pertaining to a castle" and "damsel," and comes directly from a Latin word. This name is…