In 2025, 20 boys in France received a first name inspired by a large Italian metropolis, according to INSEE statistics on first names. This figure places this choice far from the most common first names. It instantly takes you back to Milan, capital of Lombardy, known for its fashion, design and museums. For a handful of parents, this first name concentrates the idea of a world city, urban and cosmopolitan.
This first name is Milano, the Italian form of Milan that French parents are starting to choose for their sons. They see it as a rare first name but easy to pronounce in several languages, which we say in Italian mi-la-no. The origin refers mainly to the city itself rather than to a symbolic meaning, which makes it a typical example of a toponymic first name, inspired by a place.
Milano, an extremely rare boy’s first name in the 2025 lists
About 20 boys were called Milano in 2025. This number comes from INSEE tables from the RNIPP file, which list all first names given in France between 1900 and 2025 and published on July 16, 2026. The institute rounds these numbers to a multiple of 5, so this 20 is an estimate. Even with this margin, we remain on an extremely rare first name.
This confidential status speaks to parents who want an original first name without being extravagant on an identity card or CV.
Milano remains simple to write, understandable, and it is not found in all kindergarten classes, which many perceive as a plus.
Origin and meaning of the first name Milano, from Mediolanum to Milan
To understand the meaning of Milanowe must return to the city that carries it. Milano is the Italian name for Milan, a major economic and cultural center in northern Italy. In Roman times, the city was called Mediolanum, a Latin term which described a city located in the middle of the surrounding plains. Over time, the modern Milano form became established.
Today, Milan and therefore the first name Milano mainly evoke fashion and design, with Milan Fashion Week and houses like Prada, Gucci or Versace. The city is also home to works by Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio, and the Sforza Castle is a reminder of the powerful Sforza family. For some parents, choosing this first name means hooking their child to this very visual imagination of Italian creativity.
Why the first name Milano speaks to lovers of the great Italian city
Another advantage of Milano is due to its sound: three simple syllables, pronounced mi-la-no in Italian, easy to integrate into other languages. Around it gravitate variants like Miliano, Mylano or Milann, which take up the same universe while changing the rhythm or the spelling. INSEE data show that Milano remains a confidential choice, far from the most given first names, which pleases parents looking for a discreet nod to the big Italian city.