Category Archives: Italian Names

Cillian, Killian

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: debated
(KILL-yen); (KIL-lee-en)

The name is either derived from the Gaelic, keallach, meaning, “strife,” or the word, ceall meaning, “church; monastery.”

Killian is usually the anglicized version and its one of the few Irish names used outside the English speaking world. It has been in usage in Germany, Poland and France, no doubt, due to the associations with the saint.

It was borne by Saint Killian, the author of the Life of St. Bridget, he was also a missionary to Artois and Franconia and is considered the patron saint of Franconia.

In modern day Bavaria, the name is still quite popular, often rendered as Kilian.

The name is also borne by actor Cillian Murphy.

Kelly is occasionally used as a nickname.

The feast day of St. Killian is July 8.

Currently, Cillian is the 21st most popular male name in Ireland, (2010). His rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 43 (Austria, Kilian, 2010)
  • # 62 (Northern Ireland, Cillian, 2010)
  • # 62 (Ireland, Killian, 2010)
  • # 88 (Germany, Kilian, 2011)
  • # 110 (France, Killian, 2009)
  • # 173 (France, Kilian, 2009)
  • # 763 (United States, Killian, 2010)

Other forms include:

  • Quilià (Catalan)
  • Killianus (Dutch/Latin)
  • Killian (English)
  • Kelian (French)
  • Kilien (French)
  • Kilian (German/French/Polish/Romanian)
  • Cillín (Irish-Gaelic)
  • Chiliano (Italian)

Obscure feminine forms include:

  • Kiliane (French)
  • Kiliana (Polish)

Adrian

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “from Hadria”

The name is derived from the Latin Hadrianus, a Roman cognomen meaning, “from Hadria.” Hadria was a small town in the North of Italy. It gave its name to the Adriatic Sea.
The name was borne by Publius Aelius Hadrianus (76-138 CE), known in the modern world as Emperor Hadrian, he is most famous for the wall he built across Great Britain, known as Hadrian’s Wall.
The name remained common throughout Europe, and is fairly popular across the Western World till this day. It was borne by several saints and popes, including the first and only English pope, Adrian IV, as well as the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI.
Currently, Adrian is the 6th most popular male name in Spain, (2010) and the 7th most popular in Norway, (2010). His rankings in other countries are as follows:
  • # 29 (Catalonia, 2009)
  • # 33 (Poland, 2010)
  • # 43 (Germany, 2011)
  • # 48 (Austria, 2010)
  • # 49 (Croatia, 2010)
  • # 51 (France, Adrien, 2010)
  • # 56 (United States, 2010)
  • # 60 (Sweden, 2010)
  • # 63 (Hungary, 2010)
  • # 81 (Belgium, Adrien, 2009)
  • # 455 (France, Adrian, 2009)

Other forms of the name include:

  • Ad (Afrikaans/Limbergish)
  • Adriaan (Afrikaans/Dutch)
  • Adrianus (Afrikaans/Latin)
  • Arrie (Afrikaans)
  • At (Afrikaans)
  • Daan (Afrikaans)
  • Jaans (Afrikaans)
  • Adrian Адриан (Albanian/Bulgarian/Croatian/Dutch/English/Finnish/Polish/Romanian/Russian/Scandinavian/Ukrainian)
  • Ardian (Albanian)
  • Adrianu (Asturian/Corsican/Sicilian)
  • Adiran (Basque)
  • Adrijan (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian/Slovene)
  • Hadrijan (Bosnian)
  • Adrià (Catalan)
  • Jadran(ko) (Croatian)
  • Adrián (Czech/Hungarian/Slovak/Spanish)
  • Arie (Dutch)
  • Arjan (Dutch)
  • Hadrian(us) (Dutch/German/Latin)
  • Adrien (French)
  • Hadrien (French)
  • Aidrean (Gaelic)
  • Adrán (Galician)
  • Adrao (Galician)
  • Hadrán (Galician)
  • Hadrao (Galician)
  • Hádrian (Galician)
  • Adrianos Αδριανός (Greek)
  • Adorján (Hungarian)
  • Adrían (Icelandic)
  • Adriano (Italian/Portuguese)
  • Adrio (Italian)
  • Adriāns (Latvian)
  • Adrianas (Lithuanian)
  • Adrijonas (Lithuanian)
  • Adrião (Portuguese)
  • Adriànu (Sardinian)

Feminine forms include:

  • Adriana  (Albanian/Bulgarian/Catalan/Czech/Galician/German/Greek/Italian/Latin/Lithuanian/Polish/Romanian/Russian/Slovak/Spanish)
  • Adrijana (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian)
  • Hadrijana (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian)
  • Jadranka (Croatian)
  • Adriána (Czech/Hungarian/Slovak)
  • Ariane (Dutch)
  • Hadriana (Galician/Latin)
  • Adria (German/Italian)
  • Adriane (German)
  • Adrienne (French)
  • Adrienn (Hungarian)
  • Adrianna (Polish)
  • Drina (Spanish)

Polish feminine diminutives are Ada and Adi.

Melina

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek/Italian/Bosnian

The name is of various origins depending on the bearer of the name. In Greek, it is most likely derived from melos meaning “honey.” In Italian, it is an abstraction of Carmelina, which is an elaborate form of Carmel. In former Yugoslavia, it is associated with the name of a city, located in what is now Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The name was borne by famous Greek actress Melina Mercouri (1920-1994) and Greek-American actress, Melina Kanakaredes (b.1967).

It is currently the 30th most popular female name in Argentina, (2009), the 59th most popular in France, (2009), the 60th most popular in Bosnia & Herzegovina (2010) and the 502nd most popular in the United States, (2010).

Other forms of the name include the French Mélina and Méline.

Malena

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Croatian/Bosnian/Czech/Italian/Serbian/Spanish/Swedish
(mah-LAY-nah)

The name is an abstract form of Maria Magdalena, Mahulena and Magdalena.

As of 2009, Malena was the 19th most popular female name in Argentina. Its popularity in Argentina may be due to a famous tango song, Malena, by Homero Manzi and Lucio Demarre.

In the former Yugoslavia, it is the name of a title song by Videosex and Idoli.

Recently the name was brought to the public attention by the 2000 academy award winning Italian film starring Monica Belucci.

The name is borne by Swedish pop star, Malena Ernman (b.1970).

Another form is the Danish and Norwegian, Malene.

Morena

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Maltese/Romansch/Spanish
Meaning: “brown; brunette.”
(moh-RAY-nah)

The name comes from a Latin element meaning “dark skinned; olive skinned; brownish” and in modern Spanish it is the word for brunette.

In Italian, morena is used to describe a particular form of sediment, composed of rock debris, carried in a glacier in its flow down stream. This is referred to in English as moraine. Its usage in Switzerland and Northern Italy may be in reference to the above, used as a sort of nature name.

The name is very popular among Romansch-speakers in Switzerland and is currently the 18th most popular female name in Argentina, (2009).

It is borne by Maltese pop singer, Morena (b.1984).

Alternately, the name could be from an Old Slavic source and is used as another name for the goddess Morana, (or Marzanna), in Slavic mythology. It is believe her name is linked with the Old Slavic word for frost.

A masculine form is Moreno, used in Italian, Portuguese, Maltese, Romansch and Spanish.

Luciana

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Latin
IT (loo-CHYAH-nah)

The name is from the Latin and is a feminine form of the Roman family name, Lucianus which is derived from Lucius.

Currently, Luciana is the 692nd most popular female name in the United States, (2010) but is the 23rd most popular female name in Argentina, (2009).

Other forms of the name include:

  • Lucienne (French)
  • Luciana (Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
  • Lucjana (Polish)
  • Łucjana (Polish)

The name is borne by Italian actress, Luciana Paluzzi (b.1937).

Juliana, Gillian

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Latin
Eng (JOO-lee-AH-nah); (JILL-yen; JILL-ee-EN)

The name is a feminine form of the Roman male name Iulianus, which is intern derived from Julius. Today, Julian is considered the English masculine cognate, but was used as a feminine name in Medieval England, as in the case of St. Julian of Norwich (1346-1416), an English mystic who is considered to be the first woman to have ever published a book. Though Julian remained a popular saint even after the Reformation, the name fell out of usage and was not revived until the 19th-century: as a male name. It was thereafter that Gillian and Juliana were used as the official feminine forms in the English-speaking world. Juliana has been the name of several other saints throughout Europe, and was most recently borne by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (1909-2004).

Its Italian form of Giuliana is currently the 39th most popular female name in Argentina, (2009) and the 376th most popular in the United States, (2010). While its Central European form of Julianna is currently the 176th most popular female name in the United States, (2010).

Other forms of the name include:

  • Yuliana Юлиана (Bulgarian/Russian)
  • Julijana Јулијана (Croatian/Macedonian/Slovene)
  • Juliana (Dutch/English/Polish/Portuguese/Slovenian/Spanish)
  • Gillian (English)
  • Juliane (French/German)
  • Julienne (French)
  • Julianna (Hungarian/Polish)
  • Giuliana (Italian)
  • Giulianella (Italian)
  • Iuliana (Romanian)
  • Uliana Ульяна (Russian/Ukrainian)

Delphine, Delfina

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Gender: Female
Origin: French
Meaning: “dolphin”
(del-FEEN)

This French classic was quite popular in the English-speaking world during the early 19th-century, now seen as a sort of vintage classic, the name may hold appeal to those who are endeared to such names as Josephine, Louise or Marguerite.

The name has its origins in the Greek male name, Delphinos, who, in Greek mythology was a dolphin lord under the god Poseidon.

When his master was wooing the beautiful Naiad Amphitrite, Poseidon demanded Delphinos to seek Amphitrite and to propose to her on his behalf. When Delphinos found the Naiad and brought her before the sea god, Poseidon made Delphinos into a constellation in gratitude for his services.

Alternately, the name could also be taken from the Greek city, Delphi, which ultimately has the same origin as Delphinos, meaning “dolphin.”

In the mortal world, the name first made its appearance in France around the 14th-century. It was borne by a Provençal saint. It was thereafter commonly used among the French aristocracy.

The name was also the subject of a famous French book entitled Delphine by Anne Louise Germaine de Staël, (1802).

The Delphinium plant has the same root and meaning as the name Delphine.

In English, delphine is also used as the adjectival form of dolphin.

Currently, Delfina is the 15th most popular female name in Argentina, (2009).

Other forms of the name include:
  • Delphia (Greek)
  • Delphina (Latin)
  • Delphinia (Latin)
  • Delfina (Italian/Polish/Spanish)
  • Delfino (Provençal)

It also has some male incarnations such as the French Delphin (del-FAHn). Other forms include

  • Delfin (French/Polish)
  • Delphinos (Greek)
  • Delphinus (Latin)
  • Delfino (Italian/Spanish)

Its designated name-day is November 9th.

Maximus

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “greatest”
Eng (MAKS-sim-mus)

The name comes directly from the Latin word for “greatness” and is found in several Roman designations, such as the Circus Maximus in Rome and was used as a title to denote importance in the case of the Pontifex Maximus (the highest priest in ancient Rome).

The name was most notably borne by Claudius Maximus, a 2nd-century stoic philosopher, and it was also borne by several saints.

In recent years, the name has seemed to experience a surge in popularity. In the English-speaking world, his popularity might be due to the popularity of other Max names and the release of the 2000 Ridley Scott film, Gladiator, in which the hero is named Maximus (as played by Russell Crowe).

In Europe, especially in Belgium and the Netherlands, both the male and feminine forms are very trendy. This may have been due to the marriage of Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands to the Argentine-born Maxima Zorreguieta (b.1971).

Currently, Maximus 233rd most popular male name in the United States, (2010). His rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 9 (Belgium, Maxime, 2009)
  • # 19 (France, Maxime, 2009)
  • # 35 (Argentina,Máximo 2009)
  • # 825 (the United States, Máximo 2010)

In French, Maxime is occasionally bestowed upon females, but is far more common among males. It is currently the 444th most popular female name in the Netherlands, (2010).

Other forms of the name include:

  • Màxim (Catalan)
  • Maksimká Максимкá (Chuvash)
  • Maksim Максим (Croatian/Belarusian/Bulgarian/Macedonian/Serbian)
  • Maxim Максим(Czech/Dutch/Hungarian/Kazakh/Romanian/Russian/Slovak/Ukrainian/Uzbek)
  • Maximus (Dutch/English/German)
  • Maxime (French)
  • Maksime მაქსიმე (Georgian)
  • Maximos Μάξιμος (Greek)
  • Miksa (Hungarian)
  • Massimo (Italian)
  • Massimino (Italian)
  • Maksims (Latvian)
  • Méme (Occitanian)
  • Maksym (Polish)
  • Máximo (Portuguese/Spanish)
  • Maximino (Portuguese)
  • Macsen (Welsh)
  • Maxen (Welsh)

Feminine forms include:

  • Massima (Italian)
  • Massimina (Italian)
  • Maxima (Hungarian)
  • Maksyma (Polish)
  • Máxima (Spanish)

Danilo

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Serbo-Croatian

Danilo has been equated with the Biblical Hebrew Daniel, but is in fact most likely derived from a pre-Christian Slavic source. It is believed to be derived from the element dan (gift) with the diminutive suffix of -ilo attached.

The name is also used in Italy, Spanish-speaking countries and in Brazil, where it is currently the 65th most popular male name.

The name was most famously borne by Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš, Prince of Montenegro (1826-1960).