Earlier today, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of Jersey Shore tweet-announced that her new baby boy is named Lorenzo Dominic:
I am SO IN LOVE with my son Lorenzo Dominic ! I had my little man last night, healthy at 6lbs! HE’S MY WORLD! ?
— Nicole Polizzi (@snooki) August 26, 2012
I am pleasantly surprised! Two great names. Well done, Snooki.
Lorenzo is the Italian/Spanish equivalent of Laurence. Both come from the Roman cognomen Laurentius, which referred to someone from the ancient Roman city of Laurentum. About 1,000 U.S. baby boys have been getting this name every year since the mid-1990s.
- 2011: 1,030 baby boys named Lorenzo
- 2010: 964 baby boys named Lorenzo
- 2009: 954 baby boys named Lorenzo
- 2008: 987 baby boys named Lorenzo
- 2007: 1,172 baby boys named Lorenzo
Dominic comes from the Latin name Dominicus, meaning “of the Lord.” In the last decade the name has been more popular than ever before, likely thanks to the Fast and the Furious character Dominic Toretto (played by Vin Diesel).
- 2011: 5,431 baby boys named Dominic
- 2010: 5,297 baby boys named Dominic
- 2009: 5,326 baby boys named Dominic
- 2008: 4,958 baby boys named Dominic
- 2007: 5,414 baby boys named Dominic
The first name of the baby’s father, Jionni LaValle, was the top debut name of 2011. So — even though we’re already two-thirds of the way through 2012 — I imagine both Lorenzo and Dominic will see Snooki-inspired gains this year.
Do you like the names Lorenzo and Dominic? Do you think Snooki’s baby will make them more popular?
Update, Aug. 2020: Usage of the name Dominic did indeed increase in 2012, and the name Lorenzo got a boost as well — but mostly in 2013:
| Dominic | Lorenzo | |
| 2014 | 6,252 [rank: 69th] | 1,637 [rank: 227th] |
| 2013 | 6,319 [rank: 68th] | 1,513 [rank: 238th] |
| 2012 | 6,182 [rank: 70th] | 1,088 [rank: 307th] |
| 2011 | 5,431 [rank: 77th] | 1,030 [rank: 311th] |
It’s not a name I would use, but I was almost saddened by their choice of Lorenzo. It’s one of my favorite guilty pleasure names, especially with the nickname Enzo. It’s spunky and Italian without being over the top, overly difficult, or stereotypical.
Dominic was a long-time favorite of mine, until my step-niece named her son Dominic and my BIL named his son Nicholas. Still like it, but would not use it. (I thought that twins named Dominic/Dom and Nicolas/Cole would be cute, too.)
Isn’t it funny how someone like Snooki chose a classier name for her child than many A-list celebrities have? I think Lorenzo is a beautiful name. Dominic is okay but it’s not as nice as Lorenzo.
Dont forget the nickname Enzo, that they’ll be using. It’ll be getting a boost for sure.
I dont like Dominic at all, boring.
@skizzo – Good point about Enzo.
According to People, the name Lorenzo was suggested by Jionni, and the name Dominic is in memory of Snooki’s late uncle.