DO ITALIANS HAVE MIDDLE NAMES? (NOT REALLY, AND HERE IS WHY)

Do Italians have middle names? If you are curious about Italian naming traditions, then you are in the right place to figure it out. Italian naming traditions have solid roots, but times are changing.

Although foreign trends increasingly influence Italians, most people follow specific traditions in naming their children, which do not include using middle names. Instead, Italians call their children by choosing only one first name and the family name.

Italian names follow many rules and traditions, which we will discuss throughout this article.

DO ITALIANS HAVE MIDDLE NAMES?

Most Italians do not have middle names. Instead, they majoritively only have a first name and the last name. So while you may sometimes meet Italians with foreign or western names, for the most part, families will stick to original Italian names. As well as this, they very rarely change the spelling. 

As you will see, names in Italy have long followed a specific pattern. However, as times change and parents want to give their children more unique names, it appears it’s not that easy. 

MIDDLE NAMES ON ITALIAN DOCUMENTS

Middle names in Italy are becoming more popular on a typical day. However, Italian documents have not quite caught up. Adding a child’s middle name to electronic documents can be especially hard. 

Italian documents, such as passports, only have two name sections:

• Nome, (name) for the first name
• Cognome, (Last name) for the second name

‘Secondo nome’ translates to ‘second name,’ which describes a middle name. However, it is not recognized on IDs, official documents, or signatures.

If a child was given a middle name and the parents wanted it to be included on their birth certificate, they would need to add it to the ‘nome’ section without a comma. For example, Maria Rosa or Carlo Emiliano. Then, it would become what’s known as a ‘nomi composti,’ which is simply two names put together. 

If a comma was used between the names, only Maria or Carlo would appear on official documents.

ARE ITALIAN DOUBLE NAMES SIMILAR TO MIDDLE NAMES?

Some Italian First names can be composed of two names together, but in actual fact, it is only the first name. Foreigners could think that the second name could be a middle name, but it is incorrect. It is always the first name.

For example,

• Gian Marco – Compose from Gian ( abbreviation of Gianni, and Marco)
• Marco Antonio – Composesed of Marco e Antonio

A complete first name, with first and last name, could be:

• Marco Antonio Rossi – the first two names are part of the first name, and Rossi is the last name

Italians would not call someone named ” Marco Antonio” with the two first names, but it is common to use one or the other.

In some cases, two names can be written altogether, making it into one name. For example:

• Gianluigi (composed of Gianni and Luigi)

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT RULES FOR ITALIAN NAMES?

While Italian law allows parents to choose the name they most like, there are still some restrictions. A government official has to verify that the name selected for a newborn is not offensive and follows the law.

Here are some of the most common rules and guidelines:

1. Boys must be given a male’s name, and girls must be given a female’s name. The only name which is an exception is Andrea, as it is now considered unisex. 
2. Numbers and symbols are not allowed, such as the following; @, %, ?, 1, 2, 3. However, ordinal numbers such as; Primo, Secondo, and Terzo can be used. 
3. Babies cannot be named after a parent or sibling if they are still alive, and it is impossible to name children as a junior (John junior, Daniel junior, etc.) like in the United States.
4. Names that are commonly known as last names cannot be used as first names.
5. Words that are considered shameful or ridiculous are not allowed. Examples of this include historians or famed such as Aldof Hilter, Joseph Stalin, or Osama Bin Laden. It also includes Italian words such as ‘Mutanda,’ meaning underwear, and ‘Ascella,’ meaning armpit. 
6. Following on from the above, you cannot name a child after a famous person or character that is obviously identifiable, such as Lucifer. 
7. Only letters used in the Italian alphabet can be used for Italian names. 
8. Geographical names are very limited. The only geographical exceptions which are allowed as names are Italia, Europa, Asia, and America. 
9. The name must not affect the well-being of the child.
10. The names are related to literary characters, films, television, or inspired by cartoons.

There are also regulations to follow in assigning the last name.

HOW DO ITALIANS DECIDE ON THE NEWBORN LAST NAME?

In general, the baby’s last name is automatically assigned using the father’s family name. It is an established tradition to take the last name from the father’s family name. It is uncommon to see things done differently.

There are always exceptions.

Recent Italian laws allow adding the mother’s family name to the father’s surname. Still, it is impossible to have only the mother’s last name unless the mother is the only parent that recognizes the child ( generally happening when the parents are unmarried).

The law also requires both parents’ agreement in giving the child a double surname. If the child is born to unmarried parents, he takes the surname from the parent who recognizes him first.

In Italy, it is not possible to assign children different surnames than one of the mother or father, and the father’s surname always comes first in official documents.

ITALIAN TRADITIONS IN CHOOSING ITALIAN NAMES

Italians have many traditions when it comes to choosing their children’s names.

ANCESTORS

Traditionally, Italians would name their children after their ancestors. Although it is much less common nowadays, some people still follow it. Here’s how it works;

• The first-born son would be named after the paternal grandfather.
• The second-born son would be named after the fraternal grandfather.
• The first-born daughter would be named after the paternal grandmother.
• The second-born daughter would be named after the fraternal grandmother. 

If the parents were to have any more children, they might name them after a saint, a godparent, or an aunt or uncle. 

NAME DAY – ONOMASTICO

Another fading Italian tradition is Onomastico. It is the practice of naming your baby after a Catholic saint who shared/shares the same birthday. For example, August 11th is Saint Chiara’s Day, so a baby girl born on August 11th may be called Chiara. Or, for a boy born on the 2nd of June, they may be named after Saint Marcellinus. 

Name days actually used to take importance over birthdays, but as they fell away from popularity, birthdays are now celebrated as usual. However, Name Day is still celebrated with a small present, a cake, or similar.

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