by InTrieste
In a trend that has seen little shift over recent years, Italy’s most popular names for newborns in 2023 were once again Sofia and Leonardo, according to data released this week by the national statistics office, ISTAT. Sofia, a favorite for new parents since 2010, continues to lead for girls, followed by Aurora, with Ginevra and Vittoria rounding out the top three. Meanwhile, Leonardo has held the top spot for boys since 2018, followed by Edoardo, which moved up two positions from the previous year.
The ISTAT report provides a familiar list of names in the top ten for both genders. For girls, Giulia follows the leading four names, succeeded by Beatrice, Ludovica, Alice, Emma, and Matilde. Boys’ names saw Tommaso in third place, with Francesco—a top name for boys from 2001 to 2017—now in fourth, followed by Alessandro, Mattia, Lorenzo, Gabriele, Riccardo, and Andrea.
Beyond names, the ISTAT report highlights a broader demographic shift: Italy’s birthrate continues to decline, with only 379,890 births recorded in 2023, marking a drop of 13,000 from the previous year. The birthrate appears poised for a new record low in 2024. For context, ISTAT’s website offers a feature allowing visitors to track the popularity of individual names year by year since 1999.
As Italy grapples with a declining birthrate, the consistency of names like Sofia and Leonardo suggests that while the population is shrinking, cultural preferences remain steadfast. The report offers a snapshot not only of name trends but of a nation where traditions hold strong, even as demographic shifts challenge its future.
