Why your Italian friend’s name sounds familiar: Exploring the history of Italian names and cognates

Italian names often sound familiar: have you ever met an Italian friend and thought their name reminded you of one in English? That’s no coincidence. These names are cognates, all stemming from the same linguistic roots but adapted to fit the language and pronunciation of different countries.

Today, we’ll explore the fascinating genealogy of these names, focusing on their Biblical origins, to give you a deeper understanding of Italian culture.

Why do so many English and Italian names sound alike?

The simplest answer is that they share a common linguistic root, often dating back to antiquity. When you hear an Italian name like Matteo and an English name like Matthew, you’re hearing two different adaptations of the same name, making them cognates. Understanding this connection is key to appreciating the shared cultural history between Italy and the English-speaking world.

Where did the differences between English and Italian names come from?

The story of how one name became two began with the Bible. The names of Biblical figures, originally recorded in Hebrew, were translated into Greek and Latin as Christianity spread. After the fall of the Roman Empire, these Latinized names disseminated across Europe.

As they traveled, each country’s phonetic system and language habits localized the names. English, heavily influenced by Germanic and Norse languages, often shortened names, while Italian, being a direct descendant of Latin, typically retained the full vowels and a richer, more melodic quality.

Bible rooted cognates: A name by name breakdown

Here is a look at the genealogy of the most common names, comparing the English and Italian versions.

-What is the Italian equivalent of the name ‘John’?

The Italian equivalent of the name John is Giovanni. Both names are derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means “God is gracious.” In the English-speaking world, the Latin version, Johannes, was heavily shortened, resulting in the common and concise name John. In Italy, however, the name retained its melodic quality, evolving into Giovanni. The beautiful feminine form, Giovanna, is also extremely popular in Italy.

-How did the name ‘Anna’ keep its form across languages?

The name Anna has a Hebrew root, Channah, and is famously associated with the mother of the Virgin Mary. Because of its religious significance and relatively simple structure, the name Anna was often preserved in its near-original form across much of Europe, including Italy. While the English language also uses Anna, it developed the shortened and widely beloved variation, Anne. Note that while the spelling is often the same in both languages, the Italian pronunciation of Anna (with a soft double ‘n’ sound) is distinct.

-What is the Italian name for ‘Matthew’?

The Italian name for Matthew is Matteo. The name originates from the Hebrew Mattityahu. Passing through the Latin Matthaeus, it became Matthew in English and the lively Matteo in Italian. Matteo remains one of the most popular names for boys in Italy today, often stressed on the “te” syllable.

-What is the Italian equivalent of ‘Paul’?

The Italian equivalent of the name Paul is Paolo. The name comes from the Latin Paulus. In English, the Latin masculine noun ending, -us, was dropped, resulting in the clean, single-syllable name Paul. Italian preserved the vowels and created the smoother, two-syllable Paolo.

What are the Italian cognates for Luke, Mark, and Catherine?

Here are a few more famous names that underwent similar transformations across the languages:

• Lucas Cognate: English Luke vs. Italian Luca
• Marcus Cognate: English Mark vs. Italian Marco
• Aikaterine Cognate: English Catherine vs. Italian Caterina

Common biblical name cognates:

The Western names we use without a second thought hold thousands of years of history and linguistic change within them. Realizing that a John and a Giovanni are names for the same person opens up a whole new window into the history and culture of Italy.

Ready to learn more than just the language? Take a moment to check out Italian language school options and immerse yourself in this rich history.

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