Softer and smoother than Alexander, this classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/496/spanish-names-for-boys">Spanish name for boys</a> has made a seamless transition to this culture. Adding to its current impact: the Lady Gaga song Alejandro .

Alejandro

For anyone seeking a more unusual version of Alexander, this is a real winner.
 Notable namesakes include the great Italian opera composer Scarlatti and the influential physicist Alessandro Volta, known primarily for the invention of the battery you use every day — as well as the contemporary hunky actor Alessandro Nivola. 
 Appealing short forms are Alessio and Sandro (as in Botticelli).

Alessandro

Alessio, simpler than the related Alessandro, would be a welcome settler here. 

Alessio

Alestino

Amadeo and Amedeo are both valid Italian forms of the Roman Amadeus, most famous as the middle name of the composer Mozart as well as the title of a movie about him. Mozart's name was actually the Greek Theophilus, but he transformed it to the Latin version. Amadeo is also used in Spain, where it was the name of a 19th century king who was born in Italy.

Amadeo

A romantic choice, this appealing <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/496/spanish-names-for-boys">Spanish name for boys</a> is both accessible and distinctive.

Amado

Old-school Italian name that could find new fans thanks to singer Adele, who chose it for her son after months of baby name mystery.  Angelo is in the same name category as Rocco, the name of Madonna's son, and may get a fresh coat of cool.

Angelo

Antonio is a Shakespearean favorite -- the Bard used it in no less than five of his plays, and has long been a ubiquitous classic in Spanish-speaking countries, where the nickname Tonio is also prevalent. Antonio is also among an elite group of perennially popular names in the US, where it has always been among the boys' Top 1000 since baby name record-keeping started in 1880.

Antonio

Common Roman name mentioned in the Bible that has a crisply attractive sound. 

Aquilo

A more distinctive alternative to Angelo. 

Argento

The name of the ship sailed by Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece is now more often used for starch, trucks, and heavy machinery. 

Argo

Quirky cool Arlo is now well and truly back. Last year it broke into the US Top 200 boy names and consistently ranks among the most popular boy names on Nameberry. 
 Arlo is even more popular in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Arlo is also one of the top baby names among Nameberry's visitors from leading US cities.

 
Once strongly associated with shaggy singer Arlo Guthrie, Arlo has an animated and cheery feel, thanks to its upbeat o ending. It was chosen by Toni Colette for her son in 2011, which brought the name back into the spotlight. Previously, Arlo was in regular use in the first half of the twentieth century—it was Number 667 in 1915, for example, but it had dropped off the charts in 1944.
 Arlo has many possible derivations along with its Irish and English roots. It may be a shortened form of the Italian name Carlo or the Spanish Carlos, and in Basque-speaking regions it is the word for area. In English, Arlo was used as a place name, Arlo Hill, by Edmund Spenser in his epic poem The Faerie Queene and is thought to derive from the Celtic word Aherlow, meaning "between two highlands."

 A growing number of girls are also named Arlo in the US each year, with a handful more babies of both sexes receiving the Arlow and Arlowe spellings, which take this name more into smart surname territory.

Arlo

Armano

Subtract the last two letters of Arnold, and you're left with a much more modern-sounding name.  Arno is also the name of the main river in Florence, upon which sits the famed Ponte Vecchio. The Italian river name means "flowing water".

Arno

Aro is a cute name from Scandinavia which, given the popularity of similar names like Milo, Arlo etc might be ripe for more usage outside of the Nordic countries.

Less substantial than many other Latin choices. 

Arrio

With the current craze for ancient Roman names, variations of the Latin Augustus with its majestic meaning are becoming more popular in many cultures. Month name August, also drawn from the original Augustus, is the most popular form in the US, but Augusto may start showing up on international popularity lists.

Augusto

Aurelio is an energetic Italian name rarely heard here, with an attractive aura. As the female version Aurelia gains greater notice, we expect to hear more from Aurelio too. In fact, Aurelio has recently entered the Top 1000 in the US in 2022. Next to follow might be latinate versions Aurelius and Aurelian.

Aurelio

Beau suggests someone devilishly handsome, with a large measure of southern charm—a nice image to bestow on your boy. Often solely a nickname in the past, it's now standing firmly on its own. Beau has been on the Social Security list non-stop since 1969.
 Beau also has something of a dapper image, thanks to the fashionable Beau Brummell (born George), which led to the stylish New York mayor Jimmy Walker being called Beau James. Other notable Beaus had more formal names at birth—Beaus Bridges and Biden were both the third sons in their families to carry their fathers' names: Lloyd Vernet Bridges III and Joseph Robinette Biden III.
 P.C. Wren's novel Beau Geste was a major bestseller in its day and was also a popular movie—in that case Michael was the character's birth name. Many will remember that the child of Ashley and Melanie Wilkes in Gone With the Wind was called Beau, and there was also a Beau on the old TV western Maverick.
 And if you want a more substantial name on the birth certificate, try Beauregard.
 Art Garfunkel, Emma Bunton, Wendy Wilson, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and now Tori Spelling all have sons named Beau.

Beau

Belisario is romantic, dashing, but perhaps a bit too elaborate.  You might consider Belisario a masculine twist on the popular Belle names for girls.

Belisario

Brio

Joyful-sounding name that makes a really original option.

Caio

Calestino

The meaning is endearing, but it also feels uncomfortably like a short form for Caroline. Its artistic reference is British sculptor Anthony Caro.

Caro

Casiano

Cassio is a notable Shakespearean name that's a member of the ever-more-popular Cassius family of names.  Cassio was Othello's young, good-looking, and flirtatious lieutenant.

Cassio

Classic Italian name with celestial vibes. 

Celestino

Cheo

Christiano

Roman statesman's name with a cool and quirky sound. Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman scholar, orator and lawyer who had an immense impact on the Latin language. 

Cicero

Shortening Francisco somehow makes it sound even cooler. Cisco is also the name of a digital security company.

Cisco

Claudio, a most appealing Italian name, is featured in not one, but two Shakespearean plays, ,Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing. While "lame" is the most widely acknowledged meaning, some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-attractive name.

Claudio

Cleandro

Colombo

More unusual than Dakota or Austin, Colorado conjures images of majestic mountains and windswept wilderness. Some will prefer the more preppy Aspen, but Colorado feels like the true explorer.

Colorado

Grandmas will remember the old TV detective show; playmates won't.  This is a name that has many variations in different cultures, from Columbus to Columba to Colum to Colm.

Columbo

Singer Perry is long gone, but the beautiful northern Italian lake conjures up a clear and tranquil image. 

Como

Cordaro

A place name from Venezuela believed to come from an indigenous word for wind, this can make an innovative choice for a child of either sex.

Coro

Variation of the popular religious name, boosted by megastar Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano

Cristovano

Damario

Damaro

Damiano

Makes a Biblical favorite new and interesting.

Danilo

More creative and artsy than Mario. Dario is starting to edge up the US popularity list after languishing near the bottom of the Top 1000 over the last four decades. Is that inspired by Dario's popularity in Italy, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland?

Dario

A cool and rare Welsh nickname, though it may put some people in mind of the Banana Boat Song.

Deio

Devereaux is familiar to many English speakers as a surname but not as a first. It's a habitational name related to the River Eure in France. Mick Jagger has a son with this name in a different spelling, Deveraux.

Devereaux

Diago is sure to be confused with the more common Diego, the Spanish form of James.

Diago

The energetic Diego is rising rapidly along with a lot of other authentically <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/161/spanish-names">Spanish baby names</a> that work perfectly well with surnames of any origin. 
 Possibly a derivative of Santiago, Diego is a Sevillian saint, and one notable cultural namesake is Mexican painter Diego Rivera.

Diego

For as long as we all shall live, Harry Potter's sneering nemesis. 

Draco

Drago sounds fierce but has a sweet meaning. It may be used as a standalone name or as a short form of other Slavic names beginning with the element dragu "dear", such as Dragoljub or Dragomir.

Drago

Drio

Eberto

Ebo is a powerful African day name that can be used to fit its definition. 

A stalwart of Latin nomenclature that could work just as well for Anglos. Proof lies with the celebrity birth announcement — Hilaria and Alec Baldwin named their fifth child Eduardo Pau Lucas in 2020. This doesn't seem to have much impact on other parents, though: over 900 boys received the name in 2021, but the number is steadily decreasing.

Eduardo

Creative gem perfect for an architect's son, in tribute to modern Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. 

Eero

Eino

Eliano

Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Elio is also currently popular in France, ranking in the Top 250.

Elio

This Latinate name would have no problem fitting into an American classroom. It has made frequent appearances in the US Top 1000 over the last several decades. Borne by several Spanish saints, it  boasts both a rhythmic sound and popular o-ending.

Eliseo

Eliso

Elmo, like fellow Sesame Street characters Kermit and Grover, has a hard time being taken seriously. (It isn't easy being red either.)
 But Elmo also calls to mind the image of St. Elmo's fire--the light show sometimes visible around ships' masts during storms at sea, which is quite appropriate since Saint Elmo (another name for Erasmus) is the patron saint of sailors. St. Elmo's Fire was also the title of a classic Brat Pack film of the 1980s.
 There were a lot more Elmos around a century ago, when Elmo was in the top third of the popularity list.

Elmo

Emiliano is an appealing Latinate version of Emil, with the same gentle sounds but additional flair. Popular in Chile and Mexico, where it ranks in the Top 20, Emiliano is also a rising name in the US. 
 
Derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, Emiliano - like its close relations, Emily, Emilia and Emilio - means "rival".
 
A once obscure choice in the US, Emiliano entered the Top 1000 in the late 90s and has steadily climbed into the Top 200. Already given to nearly 2800 babies every year, its cool -o ending and softer sounds might help it to rise further in the future. 
 
Notable namesakes include Emiliano Zapata Salazar, a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, who helped establish modern Mexico and Emiliano Sala, an Argentine footballer.

Emiliano

Dashing and suave, with a hint of poetry and gentleness, Emilio is an appealing and international choice. A solid favorite in Italy, it is also on the rise in the US, France, Austria, and the UK. 
 
Derived from the Roman family name, Aemilius, Emilio is part of the Emil, Emiliano, Emily and Emilia family, all with the meaning "rival". 
 
While Emilio isn't quite as popular as its feminine counterparts yet, it has received more attention in recent years. With other -o names such as Matteo, Arlo, and Leo all trending for boys, it broke into the US Top 200 for the first time in 2022 and is now given to over 2000 babies every year.

Actor Emilio Estevez has brought notable attention to the name, while Italian fashion designers Emilio Pucci and Emilio Cavallini give it an air of style. Other recent namesakes include footballer Emilio Nsue, actor Emilio Sakraya, and influencer Emilio Martinez.

Emilio

Despite Eneko's very sweet meaning, it packs a lot of historical punch. Eneko Aritza was the first Basque king of Pamplona. It is somewhat related to the more well known Inigo.

Eneko

One of several Latin names starting with E that would work and play well with others in any family. 

Enrico

Erasmo

Erico

Ermanno

A Latin classic, widely used here and abroad, though in the U.S. it has fallen on the charts in recent years. 

Ernesto

Esco

An operatic Italian option via South Pacific star Pinza, one of several Italian names currently hot in France. Ezio is the Italian form of the Greek name Aetius. 

 Zoe Saldana and Marco Perego Saldana gave the name as a middle to one of their twin sons, after his paternal grandfather.

Ezio

One of the many rhythmically appealing Italian names newly up for consideration, with more substance than the modelly FABIO.
Variations: FABIO, FABIAN, FABRIZIO 

Fabiano

Sounds like exactly what it is: The name of a romance novel hero.

Fabio

Fabrizio

Names ending with O are popular, but this one is almost unheard-of. Faro has the advantages of being easy to spell and pronounce (unless it's confused with Pharaoh), and a bright meaning. Ultimately it comes from Pharos, the island where the great Lighthouse of Alexandria was built, and there's a district and city in Portugal called Faro. Be aware: it's also the name of a gambling card game, highly popular in the nineteenth century before poker took over.

Faro

While Faust, who sold his soul to the devil, was anything but fortunate, this Latinate variation is more commonly heard and accepted.

Fausto

If Frederick feels too heavy, the Spanish and Italian has more energy. It's a long-term Top 20 name in Italy, and has neat nicknames like Fredo in Italian and Fede in Spanish. Famous bearers include the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca and the Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini. Further back in history, it was the name of a fifth-century Visigoth leader, the brother of Theodoric II.

Federico

Feliciano

Felicio

Can you hear the drums Fernando? Although 58% of Nameberries prefer Ferdinand to Fernando, the Iberian variant has a softer, more romantic feel that makes it a better fit with all those Javiers, Lorenzos and Matteos.

Fernando

Fiery sound and uplifting meaning, but it's also among the Top 100 dog names. Spelled Fiyero, it's the hero of the book and musical "Wicked." 

Fiero

Quirky Italian baby name that works for any gender.

Flavio is derived from Flavius, a surname used in Ancient Rome. These family names, or cognomens, were given to distinguish branches of the clan and were chosen based on a characteristic of an important bearer. In this case, the Flavius family patriarch was likely blond-haired.

Flavio

Thanks to the inspiration of Pope Francis, Francesco has galloped to the front of the line to become the Number One boys' name in Italy.  As Francesca has become a familiar and popular form of the name for girls in the wider world, so does the handsome Francesco have that potential for boys.

Francesco

The name of the great Renaissance astronomer and mathematician would make a distinctive hero-middle-name for the son of parents involved in those fields. 

Galileo

One of the few biblical names ending in the upbeat o. 

Gallio

Gallo

This name of a renowned Apache leader and mystic would be a difficult choice, since it was used as a rallying cry in so many old westerns and by paratroopers jumping out of their planes in World War II. 

Geronimo

Giermo

Giorgio as is rich in meaning and history as George, but with more Italian flair. It's a consistent Top 50 hit in Italy, and with Italian boy names like Gianni and Lorenzo rising through the charts, could be another one to add to the mix.
The best-known modern bearer is fashion designer Giorgio Armani.

Giorgio

This appealing Italian name is associated with the great Florentine painter and architect Giotto di Bondone, a major force in the Italian Renaissance.

Giotto

Italian form of Gratian, the name of a Roman emperor who campaigned across the Rhine and favored Christianity over paganism. Graziano isn't common either in the English-speaking world or its native Italy, although the boxer Rocky Graziano adopted it from his grandfather's surname. In the current vogue for names ending in -o and Italian names, it may be worth a second look.

Graziano

A name with a lot of panache, with ties to the great Spanish Mannerist painter El Greco--though his real name was DOMENICOS.

Boys O