Po
Meaning: River name, Po
Surprisingly mono-syllabic for an Italian name, Po has a plucky quality, making it a nice alternative to the uber-hunky Bo.
Enzo
Meaning: Variation of Henry
A common diminutive for longer Italian names like Lorenzo, on its own, it's the Italian Henry – and just as classically masculine.
Santo
Meaning: Saint, holy
It takes a certain child to really own such a weighty name, but if you go there, he's destined for greatness – with a little bad boy potential to boot.
Luca
Popularity rank in the US: #202
Meaning: Man from Lucania
If you've had quite enough of the ever-popular Lucas, Luca is your is hot-blooded Italian alternate. One less "s" makes all the difference.
Rocco
Popularity rank in the US: #423
Meaning: Rest
Celebrity Chef Rocco DiSpirito has kept this old-school name in the headlines and softened the pugilistic edge – think Rocco (Rocky) Marciano – that it once had.
Vito
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked; peaked at #321 in 1925
Meaning: Alive
It takes quite a kid to fill the shoes of the fictional Godfather, Vito Corleone – and a similar spirit to fully embody a the Latin- derived name. But Vito is as vibrant and larger-than-life as it gets.
Nico
Popularity rank in the US: #484
Meaning: People of victory
Short for the Italian Niccolo, Nico has a cool and refined, gender-bending air to it, thanks to the inimitable Nico, the Andy Warhol-era celebutante who wore the name best.
Cielo
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked, peaked at #887 in 2001
Meaning: Sky
Both lyrical and lofty, Cielo is a fresh, non-hippie way to name your little one after the heavens.
Aldo
Popularity rank in the US: #534
Meaning: Old and wise
Assuming you don't immediately think of the shoe store, Aldo is a unique Latinate take on the somewhat dusty Aldous.
Marcello
Popularity rank in the US: #808
Meaning: Young warrior
Like the very best Italian boy's names, there's a romantic, masculine Old-World feel to Marcello.
Leonardo
Popularity rank in the US: #131
Meaning: Brave lion
Ah, the irresistible Leo. This name has a long Italian pedigree and is equally fitting for a inherently talented, charming man about town.
Bruno
Popularity rank in the US: #647
Meaning: Brown
Classicists will argue this is a German name – and they're not wrong – but Bruno has been adopted in Italy and beyond. These days, Bruno Mars has given this boy's name, which peaked in 1915, brand-new swagger.
