Italian statistics agency Istat has released the most recent list of the names most frequently given to newborns in the country, based on data from 2018.
Having been the most popular boys’ name for over a decade, Francesco is now in second place with 6519 babies being given the moniker in 2018, compared to 7690 Leonardos.
The top girls’ name, Sofia (6400), appeared on similar lists in countries like Germany this year.
Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore mapped out the regional differences, revealing a north-south divide in name choices.
Sofia was the top girls’ name in all the northern and central regions, while Giulia and Aurora were more popular in the south.
For boys, Leonardo was by far the most popular name across the north and centre.
However, many of the southern regions still prefer Francesco, while Sicily’s favourite boys’ name is Giuseppe, and Antonio clings on to the top spot in Campania despite not being in the top 10 overall.
Here are the top 10 baby names in Italy in 2018:
Boys:
Leonardo
Francesco
Alessandro
Lorenzo
Mattia
Andrea
Gabriele
Riccardo
Tommaso
Edoardo
Girls
Sofia
Giulia
Aurora
Alice
Ginevra
Emma
Giorgia
Greta
Beatrice
Anna
Meanwhile, these are the most unique names:
Boys
Aeneas
Elia
Tobia
Agostino
Guglielmo
Carlo
Mario
Ottavio
Gioele (or Joele)
Santiago
Damiano
Mirco (or Mirko)
Martino
Emanuele
Marcello
Girls
Elsa
Ada
Zoe
Mariasole
Rebecca
Rachele
Frida
Carola
Carlotta
Egle
Agnese
Laila
Linda
Antea
Altea
