38 Common Italian Last Names With Meanings

Italian is classified as an Indo-European language and is 21st on the list of the world’s most widely spoken languages. I have hand-picked 38 common Italian last names with meanings included.

Martini

Martini is from the Latin word Martinus that means ”devotee to Mars.” Mars is one of the principal gods in Roman mythology. He is the son of Jupiter and Juno.

Rossi

Rossi is the most common last name in Italy. It means ”red.” Variations include Russotti, De Rossi, Russo, De Russi, Russino, Della Rossa, Russi, Di Rosso, Russetti, and Rosselino.

Marino

The Italian name Marino is rooted in the Latin ”marinus” and is symbolizing ”of the sea.” Marino is especially found in Calabria and Sicily.

Ferrari

Ferrari means “blacksmith.” It is the plural form of Ferraro.

Conti

”Count.”

Russo

Russo is a Sicilian name that comes from Late Latin russus which means ”red hair” or” beard.” Russo is also popular in Argentina, more exactly in Buenos Aires.

De Luca

The Deluca (from the Latin Lucas) means ‘son of Luca.’

Esposito

Esposito is an Italian surname and is the 4th most common surname in Italy. Esposito is meaning as ”placed outside” or ”exposed.” Italian painter Gaetano Esposito bears this name and he won a gold medal at the 1904 Universal Exposition at Saint Louis.

Giordano

Giordano is a patronymic surname and is the Italian version of Jordan. Jordan has Hebrew origins and means “to flow down.”

Bianchi

Bianchi has its origins in the Italian word “bianco” that has a meaning that I like, ”white.” Model Daniela Bianchi was crowned Miss Universo Italia 1960.

Lombardi

Lombardi hints to an individual who came from the region in northern Italy, Lombardy.

Romano

Romano means ”Roman” or ”from Rome.”

Facts about the Italian language

The Constitution of the Italian Republic does not indicate Italian as an official language. About 1 million people who speak Italian live in the US.

Most regions in Italy have their own accent and dialect. This is because Italy didn’t exist as an independent country until 1861.

Ciabatta bread is named after the Italian word for slipper.

Italian is the 2nd most spoken language in Argentina and Uruguay.

Colombo

Colombo comes from the Latin term columba that means ”pigeon” or ”dove.” In the past, Colombo was given to children staying at the orphanage.

Moretti

Moretti originates from the Greek term amaurus which means ”dark” or ”shadowy.”

Ricci

The Italian last name Ricci has roots in the Italian word riccio and is symbolizing “curly-haired.”

Barbieri

Barbieri means “barbers.”

Greco

Greco is interpreted as ”Greek” and is from Latin Graecus. Variations include Grecco and Della Greca. Greco is ranked in the top 10 most widespread surnames in Italy.

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Ferretti

Ferretti is a name that I love and comes from the Italian for ‘iron’ (ferro).

Bruno

Bruno is from the Old German ‘brun’ (brown). Brunei and Brunoldi are all different variants.

Lorenzo

Lorenzo means “from Laurentum.” Lorenzo is also popular in Spanish-speaking countries.

Gallo

Rooster or cock.

Vitale

Vitale means ”life-giving” and has roots in Latin Vitalis.

How to choose a good Italian name for your baby

Ask yourself if the Italian name you like rhymes with anything.

Never underestimate the suggestions of your family and friends.

You should choose an Italian name that you won’t mind hearing over and over again.

Having an Italian name with family history in your family tree is important.

Mancini

Mancini has its origins in the Italian adjective mancino that means ”left-handed.” Italian football manager Roberto Mancini played for Leicester City, Lazio, Sampdoria, and Bologna.

Conte

Conti comes from the Latin “comitis” and means ”attendant.” For soccer fans, Antonio Conte is the head coach of Serie A club SSC Napoli.

Costa

Costa is from the Latin word ”costa” and means “constant” or “steadfast.” In Italy Costa is very popular in Liguria and Sicily.

Ferrara

Ferrara has origins in the Latin word “Ferraria” and means ”iron mine.”

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Rizzo

Rizzo symbolizes an individual with curly hair.

Cattaneo

Chieftain or captain.

Fontana

Fontana has its origins in the Italian word fontana and is symbolizing ”spring” or” fountain.”

Silvestri

The surname Silvestri means “of the woods.”

Santoro

Santoro comes from the Latin name Santorus which means “all saints.” Italian-Swiss visual artist Vittorio Santoro was nominated for the prestigious Prix Marcel Duchamp 2017.

Orlando

”Famous throughout the land.”

Marini

Marini means ”seafarer.”

Pellegrini

Pellegrini comes from the word pellegrino (pilgrim). Pellegrini is mostly found in Tuscany and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Rinaldi

Rinaldi comes from the Germanic name ‘Reginald’ which is interpreted as ”powerful ruler.”

Caruso

Caruso comes from ”carusu” and has the meaning of ”boy.” Chicago mobster Frank T. Caruso ran with the infamous Forty-Two Gang.

Galli

Galli symbolizes ”roster.”

Battaglia

Battaglia has Latin origins and an interesting meaning: ”battle.” Letizia Battaglia was an Italian photojournalist best known for her work on the Mafia.