This page lists 43 Italian girl names that start with O, running from “Oliva” to “Otilia”. The names come from many sources, including olive trees, gold, bears, flowers, saints, and ancient Rome. Parents use them to find a name with Italian roots, writers use them for characters, and anyone with Italian family ties can use them to explore their heritage.
Italian girl names are first names traditionally given to girls in Italy, often ending in “-a” and shaped by Latin, Greek, Germanic, and Christian traditions. One famous example is “Ornella,” which the writer Gabriele D’Annunzio invented for a 1903 play before it spread across Italy.
Below you’ll find the table with the name, pronunciation, meaning, and description of each entry.
Name: The Italian girl name itself, listed in alphabetical order so you can quickly scan the list and spot the spellings you like.
Pronunciation: A simple guide to saying each name aloud, with the stressed syllable in capital letters so you can say it the Italian way.
Meaning: The word or idea behind each name, such as “olive tree” or “little bear,” so you can see what it stands for.
Description: A short note on each name’s origin, history, and how common it is in Italy today, helping you judge whether it suits you.
Italian girl names
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Oliva | oh-LEE-vah | Olive tree |
| Olivia | oh-LEE-vyah | Olive tree |
| Olivetta | oh-lee-VET-tah | Little olive |
| Olimpia | oh-LEEM-pyah | Of Mount Olympus |
| Ofelia | oh-FEH-lyah | Help, aid |
| Ornella | or-NEL-lah | Flowering ash tree |
| Oriana | oh-RYAH-nah | Golden, dawn |
| Orietta | oh-RYET-tah | Little golden one |
| Oretta | oh-RET-tah | Little gold |
| Orsola | OR-soh-lah | Little she-bear |
| Orsina | or-SEE-nah | Bear-like |
| Orsetta | or-SET-tah | Little bear |
| Ortensia | or-TEN-syah | Gardener, garden flower |
| Ottavia | ot-TAH-vyah | The eighth |
| Ottaviana | ot-tah-VYAH-nah | Of the Octavian family |
| Odetta | oh-DET-tah | Wealth, fortune |
| Oda | OH-dah | Wealth, prosperity |
| Odilia | oh-DEE-lyah | Wealth of the homeland |
| Olga | OL-gah | Holy, blessed |
| Olinda | oh-LEEN-dah | Uncertain, possibly “protection” |
| Ondina | on-DEE-nah | Little wave |
| Ombretta | om-BRET-tah | Little shadow |
| Onorata | oh-noh-RAH-tah | Honored |
| Onoria | oh-NOH-ryah | Honor |
| Onesta | oh-NEH-stah | Honest, honorable |
| Onelia | oh-NEH-lyah | Possibly “honor” |
| Osanna | oh-ZAHN-nah | Save us, praise |
| Osvalda | oz-VAHL-dah | Divine power |
| Orazia | oh-RAH-tsyah | Timekeeper, hour |
| Oriele | oh-RYEH-leh | Golden one |
| Oriella | oh-RYEL-lah | Little golden one |
| Orchidea | or-KEE-deh-ah | Orchid |
| Opalia | oh-PAH-lyah | Wealth, abundance |
| Oleandra | oh-leh-AHN-drah | Oleander |
| Ottilia | ot-TEEL-lyah | Prosperity in the homeland |
| Ottorina | ot-toh-REE-nah | Prosperous one |
| Oliviera | oh-lee-VYEH-rah | Olive grove keeper |
| Olimpiade | oh-leem-PYAH-deh | Of the Olympic games |
| Ofelina | oh-feh-LEE-nah | Little helper |
| Olivina | oh-lee-VEE-nah | Little olive |
| Oria | OH-ryah | Golden, dawn |
| Ostilia | oh-STEE-lyah | Hostile, foreign |
| Otilia | oh-TEE-lyah | Wealth of the homeland |
Descriptions
Oliva
A classic Italian name that evokes the olive tree, a symbol of peace and abundance in the Mediterranean. It is tied to several early Christian saints.
Olivia
The Italian form of a name popularized in English by Shakespeare. It is widely used in Italy today and stands for peace and fruitfulness.
Olivetta
A diminutive of Oliva, meaning “little olive”. It is a gentle, old-fashioned name found mostly in northern Italy.
Olimpia
Taken from the Greek home of the gods. It is the name of several early saints and has long been used in noble Italian families.
Ofelia
A literary name made famous by Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It is used in Italy as an elegant, slightly romantic choice.
Ornella
Coined by the writer Gabriele D’Annunzio for a character in his 1903 play. It became popular in Italy in the 20th century, notably through actress Ornella Muti.
Oriana
A poetic name of uncertain origin, linked to the Latin word for gold. It appears in medieval chivalric romances.
Orietta
A diminutive of Oria or Oriana. It rose in popularity in mid-century Italy, partly thanks to singer Orietta Berti.
Oretta
A short, affectionate form linked to the Latin “aurum”, meaning gold. It is uncommon today but still heard among older generations.
Orsola
The Italian form of Ursula, from the Latin word for bear. Saint Ursula is a popular figure in Italian Catholic tradition.
Orsina
A feminine form tied to the Latin word for bear. It is associated with the powerful Orsini family of Rome.
Orsetta
A diminutive of Orsa, meaning “little bear”. It is a rare and tender name.
Ortensia
Named after the hydrangea, called “ortensia” in Italian. It comes from the Latin word for garden.
Ottavia
From the Roman family name Octavius, historically given to an eighth child. Octavia was also the sister of Emperor Augustus.
Ottaviana
An extended form of Ottavia, rooted in the Roman clan name Octavius. It is rare and has a stately, ancient feel.
Odetta
A diminutive of Oda, from a Germanic root meaning riches. It reached Italy through medieval European influence.
Oda
A short Germanic-origin name brought to Italy in the early Middle Ages. It is very rare today.
Odilia
Linked to Saint Odile, patron saint of eyesight. The name came into Italian from Germanic roots.
Olga
Of Old Norse origin by way of Russia, from the name Helga. It became established in Italy in the 19th century and was especially common in the early 1900s.
Olinda
A name with Portuguese and Italian use, possibly from Germanic roots. It also appears in Italian literature and as a place name.
Ondina
From the Latin “unda”, meaning wave, and related to water spirits in folklore. It is a lyrical name with a watery feel.
Ombretta
From “ombra”, meaning shadow or shade. It gained some popularity in 20th-century Italy.
Onorata
From the Latin “honoratus”, meaning one who is respected. It was borne by early Christian saints.
Onoria
A feminine form of Honorius, from the Latin word for honor. It is old and rare in modern Italy.
Onesta
Directly from the Italian word for honest. It is an old virtue name now seldom used.
Onelia
A rare variant tied to the Latin root for honor. It is mostly found in small regional communities.
Osanna
From the Hebrew cry “hosanna” used in Christian worship. It was borne by Italian saints, including Saint Osanna of Mantua.
Osvalda
The feminine form of Oswald, from Old English roots. It is rare in Italy.
Orazia
The feminine form of Horace, from the Roman family name Horatius. It is old-fashioned and uncommon.
Oriele
A rare name linked to the Latin word for gold. It is more often seen as a variant of Oriella.
Oriella
A sweet diminutive linked to “oro”, the Italian word for gold. It is uncommon but easy to recognize.
Orchidea
Named for the orchid flower, from a Greek word meaning testicle because of the root shape. It is a modern, flower-themed choice.
Opalia
Named after Ops, the Roman goddess of plenty. It is very rare and mostly a classical curiosity.
Oleandra
From the oleander shrub, which blooms across the Mediterranean. It is a rare nature name.
Ottilia
The Italian form of Ottilie, tied to the Alsatian Saint Odile. It is rare but understood across Europe.
Ottorina
A feminine form linked to Ottone and Ottorino, from Germanic roots meaning wealth. It was seen in early 20th-century northern Italy.
Oliviera
A rare variant connected to the olive tree. It is mostly found in regional use.
Olimpiade
Linked to the ancient Olympic Games. It is a rare name with classical roots.
Ofelina
A diminutive of Ofelia, meaning “little help”. It is rare and affectionate.
Olivina
A variant of Oliva that also names the green gemstone olivine. It is a rare, gentle option.
Oria
A short form of Oriana, linked to the Latin word for gold. Saint Oria of Spain gave it religious use.
Ostilia
From the Roman family name Hostilius. It is an ancient name, now very rare.
Otilia
A variant of Odilia, found in Italian-speaking areas. It is quite rare in modern Italy.