Massimiliano is a Italian male given name of Latin origin. It is composed of two elements: "maximus" meaning "greatest," and "leo" meaning "lion." Therefore, Massimiliano means "the greatest lion." The name has been popular among Italians for centuries, with many notable figures bearing the name throughout history.
One of the most famous individuals to bear this name was Massimiliano I, Duke of Savoy from 1580 to 1637. He played a significant role in Italian politics during his reign, supporting the Spanish crown against French invasions and helping to maintain Savoy's independence. Additionally, Massimiliano d'Azeglio (1798-1866) was an Italian statesman who played a crucial part in unification efforts during the Risorgimento movement.
The name Massimiliano has also been used by royalty outside of Italy. Archduke Maximilian Franz of Austria, a son of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, bore this name. He served as Governor of the Austrian Netherlands from 1780 to 1792 and was known for his progressive reforms during his reign.
Today, Massimiliano remains a popular choice among Italian parents, while it is less common in other parts of Europe. Despite its somewhat complex origin and meaning, the name Massimiliano has a strong historical legacy that continues to resonate today.
The name Massimiliano has seen a varied pattern of usage in the United States over the past four decades. From 1977 to 2023, there have been a total of 327 babies named Massimiliano born in the U.S.
In the early years, its popularity was quite low, with only 5 births recorded each year between 1977 and 1995. However, starting from 1996, we began to see an increase in usage, with 6 births that year, followed by a peak of 23 births in 2016.
After the peak, the popularity seems to have stabilized, fluctuating between single-digit numbers but still maintaining higher figures compared to the earlier decades. The most recent data from 2022 shows 16 births, indicating that Massimiliano is still a name being chosen for newborns in the United States today.
This variance in popularity over time can be attributed to various factors such as changing trends, influences of popular culture, and personal preferences among parents. Despite these fluctuations, it's clear that Massimiliano has been a name with a consistent, if modest, presence in American baby naming culture since 1977.