Italian first names

   When did my obsession over italian names started ? Well, it started when I arrived in Bologna (Italy) as a foreign exchange student, I was starting to get used to the italian daily life, the complete mess, the organisation of the University of Bologna... And I discovered that in Italy, you could be named Peter Peters. I mean, have you ever met someone named Peter Peters ? I have. Piero Pieri.

    Being in a foreign country is always an exciting experience, even if you have studied its language and culture. One funny thing to discover is the first names. You thought Mario was the most popular first name for guys ? Let me tell you that you are wrong. You'll find dozens of people called Francesco, Francesca, Marco, Giorgia, Martina, Ilaria, Davide, Giuseppe, Lorenzo, Giulia, Giuseppina, Benedetta, Dario etc... But I have my own top ten:

1. Ermenegildo. I space out and stare blankly when I'm asked its French equivalent.
2. Sigismondo. Try pronouncing that one.
3. Manfredi. I always thought that name was beautiful. In books.
4. Pierpaolo. Peter-Paul. Yeah, weird.
5. Giuda Taddeo. Must be hard to be called Judas.
6. Piersilvio. Side note: Silvio Berlusconi named his son Piersilvio.
7. Catena. noun: chain. (definition from the Italian-English dictionary)
8. Rosario. noun: rosary.
9. Glauco. Makes me think of the word glaucous. Creepy.
10. Assunta. noun: Assumption

These ten names are the one I have heard since I've been here in Italy and which marked me the most. So yes, these names crack me up but I love Italy for that very reason. It would be less funny if they only had regular names.

Shug'A'Very

(translated from French by Absolute B.)