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What’s in a name?
Mary Shelley, the famous novelist who brought us Frankenstein, said: “The name of Italy has magic in its very syllables.” And it’s true. Everybody wants a piece of Italy, whether it’s in their lunch or the sound of their kid’s name. Here’s a list of 10 most popular names for baby girls that customers have used in their personalised books on our Italian website:
Urrà Eroi.
1. Ginevra
This beautiful-sounding name is the Italian version of the Old French Guinevere. It comes from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, which is composed of the elements gwen meaning “fair” and “white” and hwyfar meaning “smooth”. In Italy, it’s linked to the juniper tree, called “ginepro” in Italian. If you’re looking for a gentle, feminine, nature-related name for your daughter, Ginevra is a perfect choice.
Famous Ginevras include: Ginevra Molly Weasley from the Harry Potter books and Ginevra King, an American socialite, and heiress who was the inspiration for the character of Daisy Buchanan in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
2. Mia
The incredibly popular Mia is mostly thought to be a shortened version of Maria, the most common Italian name. However, it may also be the short form of Amalia and Amelia. Since the Italian word mia means “mine”, Italophilic parents throughout the globe are choosing this name for their daughters.
DID YOU KNOW? In Japan, Mio is a common girl’s name meaning “beautiful” or “cherry”.
3. Greta
The name Greta is a girl’s name of German origin meaning “pearl”. It’s a diminutive of Margaret or Margareta and can also be spelled Gretta. Famous Gretas include the Swedish-American actress Greta Garbo, the actress, writer, and director Greta Gerwig and
Greta Wolfcastle from The Simpsons voiced by Reese Witherspoon.
If you go with Greta, your baby girl is even going to have her own song!
4. Bianca
The name Bianca is a girl’s name of Italian origin meaning “white”. Alongside its French version Blanche, Bianca has been a favourite of many American parents since the 1990s, but it’s also popular among those within the Spanish-speaking community. The name was brought to prominence in the US by the first wife of Mick Jagger, the Nicaraguan actress and human rights activist Bianca Jagger. Since the name’s meaning directly relates to snow, it’s a beautiful name for girls born during winter. The Italian name for Snow White is Biancaneve!
BIANCA IN THE ARTS: Miss Bianca is a mouse in Disney’s The Rescuers. A Bianca also appears in two Shakespearean plays: Othello and The Taming of the Shrew.
Do you remember Bianca from the 1999 teen romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You?
5. Ambra
The Italian name Ambra is extremely rare and is a word for the colour “amber”. It’s a more original spelling of the name Amber that’s been declining in popularity since the Depp v. Heard trial.
FUN FACT! There are basically no famous women named Ambra in the US, but there’s a village in Järva County, northern-central Estonia, called Ämbra, making the name ideal for baby girls of Italian-Estonian heritage.
6. Noemi
Coming from the Hebrew name Naomi, the version Noemi also translates to “pleasantness” or “delight”. Since your baby is going to be a delightful addition to your family, the name Noemi is a great reminder for the baby about how much you were all looking forward to her arrival.
DID YOU KNOW? An Italian singer and songwriter Veronica Scopelliti with the stage name Noemi competed in the Sanremo Music Festival 7 times and was a coach on The Voice Of Italy for 3 seasons!
7. Azzurra
This wonderfully exotic name means “azure, sky blue” in Italian and is a cute name for baby girls born in the summer months. The colourful Italian name is close enough to the English word to be easily understood in the US, but it’s still extravagant enough if you’re looking for a rarer name.
POPULAR USAGE: “Aqua azzurra” is a popular Italian collocation featured in the title of the all-time chart topper by Lucio Battisti and is also the name of the iconic fragrance by Gianfranco Ferré.
8. Alessia
If you’re looking for a strong female name that will inspire your little girl to be
confident, courageous, and fair, Alessia is your perfect choice. With its male counterpart Alessio, the Italian form of Alexius, the name means “defending warrior”. Why go with the classic
Alyssa, Alice or Alexis? Opt for Alessia and bestowe a bit of the Italian life-loving charisma upon your daughter.
Famous people named Alessia: The Canadian singer Alessia Cara is the reason behind the surge in the name’s popularity. It’s been ranking in the top 1000 for the last 8 years!
9. Matilde
Matilda gained popularity in the US with celebrities like Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams naming their daughter Matilda. Matilde, however, is Matilda with an Italian twist! Its variations popular in almost all European countries, Matilde derives from the German name Mahthildis which is comprised from macht which means “strength” and hild which means battle. What a perfect name for a feisty baby girl! On top of that, Roald Dahl’s Matilda is bound to be her favourite book and inspire her to be the best version of herself.
DID YOU KNOW? Saint Matilda is the patron saint of all parents with multiple children! Name your daughter Matilde or Matilda and you may end up blessed with plenty of grandchildren.
10. Giorgia
The “Italianized” version of Georgia, this classic name with the male form Giorgio translates to “earth worker” and “farmer”. It’s the perfect name for free-spirited and nature-loving girls who grow up to be ethereal women.
FUN FACT: One of the most iconic and beloved Italian singers, Giorgia, who is known as the Italian Whitney Houston, has a vocal range that spans 4 octaves!
To sum up, giving your baby girl a name of Italian origin means blessing her with characteristics that we tend to associate with Italy and its people: passion, a sense of style, charisma, open-mindedness, and a love of life. Did you get married in Italy or go there on your honeymoon? Then you have all the more reason to pick an Italian name for your brand new baby girl.
La vita è bella!