Attilio

Attilio is an Italian male given name derived from the Roman family name Atilius. The name Atilius is of unknown Etruscan origin. The most notable bearer of the family name in ancient times was Marcus Atilius Regulus, a Roman consul and hero of the First Punic War. Attilio is a common Italian first name and has equivalents in other Romance languages, such as Portuguese Atílio and Latin American Spanish Atilio.

Religious Significance

Attilio is also the name of a semi-legendary early Christian saint, one of the martyrs of the Theban Legion, according to tradition. Saint Attilio is venerated in the area of Trino Vercellese in Piedmont, northern Italy, and his feast day is commemorated on 28 June. However, his cult is no longer officially recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, as he does not appear in the current Roman Martyrology. In art, Saint Attilio is typically depicted with a flag, a helmet, and the palm of martyrdom.

Notable Bearers

• Attilio Bertolucci (1911–2000) – Italian poet.
• Attilio Piccioni (1892–1976) – Italian politician.
• Attilio Maseri (born 1939) – Italian cardiologist and pioneer in cardiology.

Cultural Notes

The name Attilio has a sonorous, classical quality that reflects its ancient origins. It remains in moderate use in present-day Italy. Variants such as the Portuguese Atílio and the Spanish Atilio demonstrate its adaptability across romance languages.

• Meaning: Italian form of Atilius (unknown Etruscan origin).
• Origin: Etruscan through Ancient Roman.
• Type: First name, masculine.
• Usage regions: Italy, São Tomé and Príncipe, Latin America.