Nunzio is an Italian given name derived from the Latin 'Nuntius', meaning 'messenger' or 'envoy'. It was traditionally given to boys born around the time of the Annunciation, a Christian holiday celebrating the announcement by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive Jesus Christ. Nunzio gained popularity in Italy during the Middle Ages and has since become a common name throughout Italian-speaking regions.
The name Nunzio experienced significant popularity peaks between 1912 and 1925 with annual births ranging from a low of 37 to a high of 67. After the late 1920s, its usage began to decline rapidly, dropping below 30 births per year by the early 1930s. Since the 1980s, the name has been quite rare, with fewer than 10 births recorded in most years.