Apart from names of popes (e.g. John Paul II = Giovanni Paolo II), in modern/contemporary times, only the names of royalty tend to be translated into Italian. For instance, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince Philip, Princess Anne become, respectively, la regina Elisabetta, il principe Carlo, il principe Filippo, la principessa Anna. This “rule” does not seem to apply to anybody else, be they Presidents or Prime Ministers, famous or ordinary people. Consequently, Tony Blair, George Bush, or any Johnny Lambs will remain untranslated, rather than becoming Antonio Blair, Giorgio Bush or Gianni Lambs (not to mention Giorgio Cespuglio or Gianni Agnelli). The names of famous historical or literary characters of the past, on the other hand, have in many cases been Italianized, especially, but not only, first names (e.g. Abramo Lincoln, Beniamino Franklin). This trend has waned in recent times.

Latin names (personal as well as geographical) are usually Italianized. This “rule” applies to classical antiquity (all names, including Greek ones, had a Latin equivalent), and also, in more recent times, to a number of characters whose names were Latinized (e.g. Descartes > Cartesius > Cartesio), and to the popes (who always take Latin names).

In the following small samples – in which more obvious names, such as Augusto, have not been included – some of the unusual stresses have been indicated. In normal circumstances the usual Italian conventions with regard to written stresses will apply.