150 Romantic Italian Dog Names Suitable for Every Breed

Whether you loved the last year’s trip to Capri or you have Italian ancestry, Italy is a country that is hard not to love.

Moreover, there are more than a dozen Italian dog breeds, so Italian names are popular in cynology, meaning you should really consider one of the names we are going to suggest.

Italian Dog Names for Italian breeds

As already mentioned, there are many dog breeds that trace their origins back to the Apennine Peninsula: Spinine Italiano, Romagnolo, Bolognese, Cane Corso, Italian greyhound, Bergamoso sheepdog, Neapolitan mastiff, etc.

Owning an Italian dog breed in the United States, for example, simply screams for an Italian name like:

• Bella
• Cannoli
• Dante
• Dolce
• Gianna
• Enzo
• Capo
• Giuseppe
• Lupo
• Paisano
• Fabio
• Rocco
• Ferrari
• Biscotti
• Luna
• Guido
• Luigi (and Mario)
• Isabella

There are many dog breeds that trace their origins back to the Apennine Peninsula.

Male and female Italian dog names

Since Italian is a Roman language, many of the manes we list have both a male and a female version, like Roso/Rosa.

However, there are groups of Italian dog names more suitable for one gender than the other:

• Giacomo
• Gino
• Bruno
• Angelo (for a little angel)
• Michelangelo
• Paolo
• Paisano
• Vito
• Romeo
• Valentino

Names more suited for ladies include:

• Bianca (for a white pup)
• Carina
• Amore
• Rosa
• Gina
• Maria
• Valentina
• Sofia (for Sophia Loren fans)
• Vita

Place names & dog names

Nearly 18 million Americans have Italian ancestry, meaning their forefathers have to have emigrated from a particular city or village in Italy. These places have colorful names and present ideal naming suggestions for indecisive dog owners:

• We’ll start from the Eternal City, Roma, where the soccer club Lazio plays its games (two good naming options)
• Alessandria
• Capri
• Amalfi
• Como
• Milan
• Naples
• Sicily
• Siena.
• The region of Calabria sounds catchy and
• so does the commune of Casoria.
• Palermo and Catania are both in Sicily, and
• Pisa and Pompeii are internationally famous.

If you have a beautiful dog, then don’t think twice before naming it Tuscany (or Tusca), often voted the most beautiful region of Europe. Finally, you have:

• Venice
• Positano
• Florence
• Bologna
• Lucca, and
• Tivoli

as naming options. Also, if you fell in love with Rome, Trevi is an elegant name (after the lauded fountain).

Since Italian is a Roman language, many of the manes we list have both a male and a female version, like Roso/Rosa.

Famous Italians as inspiration

As descendants of the glorious Roman Empire, Italians have left their mark in world history. From sports to military tactics, you won’t run out of dog name suggestion there. Let’s start with:

• Caesar, and move on to
• Cicero
• Dante
• Leonardo
• Galileo
• Raphael

Today, the world of fashion would not be the same without:

• Armani
• nor would we have those iconic red cars without Enzo (Ferarri).
• Speaking of cars, Lamborghini and Maserati are both suitable names for a lightning-fast pup.
• Pavarotti and Polo are the two final names we can suggest.

Speaking of cars, Lamborghini and Maserati are both suitable names for a lightning-fast pup.

Famous Italian fashion designers as inspiration

We’ve already mentioned Armani but the full list of Italians who have left the mark in the history of fashion is quite long and inspirational:

• Versace has become a household name, as well as
• Donatella and Giorgio
• Fendi
• Ferra(gamo)
• Massimo
• Pucci
• Cavalli
• Moschino
• Prada
• Gucci, and, of course,
• Dolce & Gabbana

Italian dog names related to food

Food and Italy go hand in hand, as there is hardly a city on the planet without an Italian eatery serving pasta and pizzas.

• However, Italian cuisine is also the unlikely source of naming your pet dog, with “fluid” names, such as Vino (Vinnie).
• For coffee lovers, Cappuccino and Espresso should be on top of the list, with
• Gelato and Affogato trailing at second place.
• Biscotti
• Nutella, and
• Tiramisu are all sweet names, while
• Pesto
• Scampi
• Linguine
• Ravioli
• Gnocchi
• Cannoli
• Caprese
• Meatball

are ideal for meat & pasta lovers. If you cannot imagine your diet without pizza, the following names are worth consideration:

• Diavola/Diavolo
• Prosciutto
• Forno
• Fritta
• Sicili(ana)
• Cipolla
• Parmigiana
• Tonno
• Funghi
• Carbo(nara)
• Primavera

However, Italian cuisine is also the unlikely source of naming your pet dog, with “fluid” names, such as Vino (Vinnie).

Italian car brands as inspiration for dog names

Seen as the national carmaker of Italy, few people around the globe have never heard of Fiat. This is a solid name for a faithful canine but there are other Italian car brands and models that you’d want to name your pet after:

• Topolino is not only the Italian name for Mickey Mouse but the nickname for the iconic FIAT 500.
• Maserati
• Pagani
• Alfa (Romeo for a true male pack leader)
• Bizzarini
• Lancia
• Musa
• Cisitalia
• Tipo
• Panda
• Stilo
• Bravo

Other great names are Maserati, Pagani, Alfa (Romeo for a true male pack leader), Bizzarini, Lancia, Musa, Cisitalia, Tipo, Panda, Stilo, Bravo, etc.

Italian artists and dog names

The Renaissance didn’t start in Italy for no reason. The country was and is home to a myriad of artists whose respective first and last names could become your pup’s name:

• Lavinia or Fontana is a great female name, while
• Titian and Botticelli are suitable for a male.
• Bellini is not only a cocktail but the last name of a famous Italian painter.
• Niccolò Machiavelli was a 16th-century diplomat but his name is ideal for a powerful pup.
• The final two names worth considering are Bernini and Lorenzo.

Bonus category: Rare Italian dog names

In the end, we wish to offer you some Italian names that aren’t used that frequently. This is actually a good thing, as your mutt will have a unique and recognizable name.

• For instance, Fia means “flame” in Italian and it’s ideal for a feisty pup.
• Furbo is a name for a smart canine,
• Geno for an “aristocratic” dog, while
• Gia is a great name for a small dog breed.
• Italo is the most patriotic name on our list, literally meaning “from Italy” and should be your first choice if you own an Italian greyhound.
• Kara and Leila are both suitable for girls, while
• Matteo, meaning “Godsent” should be the name of a pup you have been waiting to get for years.
• “Young warrior,” Marcello is a name for a dog not afraid of a scuffle and
• Ugo is suitable for a clever mutt.

Italian is the language of love, so Italian dog names all come with an air of romance around them. Don’t be conventional and stick to names like Bella or Mario but explore the multitude of names we offer you, from fashion designers to truly unique Italian names. 

Our vets might not speak Italian, but when it comes to caring for your little companion, they surely are Italian at heart – giving as much love as one can give.