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Leonardo and Sofia remain the most popular names among new parents in Italy, but the relentless decrease in birth rates raises serious concerns. This is the image depicted by the most recent Istat report for 2025. Leonardo maintains his overall male lead from 2018, closely followed by Edoardo and Tommaso. Among girls, the top four places remain constant from the previous year: Sofia, Aurora, Ginevra, and Vittoria continue to rule without competition. Interesting regional differences occur, with the South being more traditional (Antonio wins in Campania, Francesco in Puglia and Calabria), and Adam and Rayan stand out among boys born to foreign parents. However, the report's main alarm bell is Italy's frigid demographic winter. The average number of children per woman fell further to 1.14 in 2025 (from 1.18 in 2024), falling well short of the generational replacement requirement of 2.1. A structural decline that impacts both Italian women (down to 1.07 children) and foreign resident citizens (1.74). The problem impacts the entire country, with Central Italy setting a record low of 1.07 children per woman and Sardinia trailing at 0.85. At the same time, the maternal age is rising: the average age at childbirth is now 32.7 years, and the average age for having a first kid is 32 for the first time in history. This trend shows no indications of slowing, highlighting the profile of a country that is continually aging.
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