Gianni is an Italian name (occasionally a

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

), a short form of the Italian Giovanni and a cognate of John meaning God is gracious. Gianni is the most common

diminutive A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle s ...

of Giovanni in

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

People with this given name

Gianni Agnelli Giovanni "Gianni" Agnelli (; 12 March 192124 January 2003), nicknamed ("The Lawyer"), was an Italian industrialist and principal shareholder of Fiat S.p.A., Fiat. As the head of Fiat, he controlled 4.4% of Italy's GDP, 3.1% of its industrial ...

(1921–2003), industrialist *

Gianni Alemanno Giovanni "Gianni" Alemanno (born 3 March 1958) is an Italian politician who from April 2008 until June 2013 was mayor of Rome for The People of Freedom. He was the secretary of the National Movement for Sovereignty from 2017 to 2019. Career At ...

(born 1958), politician *

Gianni Amelio Gianni Amelio (born 20 January 1944) is an Italian film director. Early life Amelio was born in San Pietro di Magisano, province of Catanzaro, Calabria. His father moved to Argentina soon after his birth. He spent his youth and adolescence with ...

(born 1945), film director * Gianni Baget Bozzo (1925–2009),

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

priest and political expert * Gianni Bellocchi (born 1969), scientist * Gianni Benvenuti (1926–2005), Italian artist * Gianni Brera (1919–1992), journalist *

Gianni Bugno Gianni Bugno (; born 14 February 1964) is a retired Italy, Italian professional road racing cyclist. Biography Bugno was a versatile rider, able to do well in different types of races. He won numerous stages in the Tour de France, and the Mi ...

(born 1964), cyclist * Gianni Danzi (1940–2007),

bishop *

Gianni Davito Gianni Davito (born 19 August 1957) is a retired Italian high jumper. Biography He finished eighth at the 1977 European Indoor Championships in Athletics, 1977 European Indoor Championships. He also competed at the 1983 World Championships in At ...

(born 1957), high jumper * Gianni De Biasi (born 1956), Italian football coach * Gianni De Fraja (born 1960), economics professor *

Gianni De Michelis Gianni De Michelis (26 November 1940 – 11 May 2019) was an Italian politician, and a member of the Italian Socialist Party (PSI), who served as minister in many Italian governments in the 1980s and early 1990s. Biography De Michelis was born ...

(1940–2019), politician *

Gianni Garko Gianni Garko (born Giovanni Garcovich; 15 July 1935) is a retired Croats of Italy, Croatian-Italian actor. He found fame as a leading man in 1960s Spaghetti Westerns, where he was often billed as John Garko and occasionally Gary Hudson. He is per ...

(born 1935, Giovanni Garcovich), actor *

Gianni Ghidini Gianni Ghidini (21 May 1930 – 20 June 1995) was a road racing cyclist from Italy. He won the silver medal in the men's team road race, alongside Dino Bruni Dino Bruni (born 13 April 1932) is an Italian road racing cyclist who won th ...

(1930–1995), cyclist *

Gianni Infantino Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino (); (born 23 March 1970) is a Swiss-Italian Association football, football Administrator (business), administrator and the president of the FIFA, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) since 26 Febr ...

(born 1970), President of FIFA *

Gianni Letta Giovanni "Gianni" Letta (born 15 April 1935) is an Italian journalist and politician. He was a close advisor of Silvio Berlusconi and is a member of the advisory board of Goldman Sachs International. Biography After graduating in law, he star ...

(born 1935), politician *

Gianni Mina Gianni Mina (born 9 February 1992 in Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, France) is a French former professional tennis player. Tennis career Juniors On the junior circuit, Mina reached the No. 1 combined world ranking in March 2010. He finished runner-up ...

(born 1992), tennis player *

Gianni Minà Gianni Minà (; 17 May 1938 – 27 March 2023) was an Italian journalist, writer, magazine editor, and television host. He collaborated with both Italian and International newspapers and magazines; produced hundreds of reports for RAI (''Radio ...

(1938–2023), journalist *

Gianni Morandi Gian Luigi "Gianni" Morandi (; born 11 December 1944) is an Italian pop singer, actor and entertainer. It is estimated that Morandi has sold about 50 million recordings. Early life Born in Monghidoro, Emilia-Romagna, the son of a cobbler, Mor ...

(born 1944), singer *

Gianni Morbidelli Gianni Morbidelli (born 13 January 1968) is an Italian racing driver. He participated in 70 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 11 March 1990. He achieved one podium, and scored a total of 8.5 championship points. He most recently competed in ...

(born 1968),

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

driver *

Gianni Motta Gianni Motta (born 13 March 1943) is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia. Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda (Lombardy). His main victories include the Giro d'Italia (1966), a Giro di Lombardia (1964), a Tour ...

(born 1943), cyclist *

Gianni Pettenati Gianni Pettenati (29 October 1945 – 22 February 2025) was an Italian singer and musical critic. He is most famous for his Italian cover versions of great international hits. He was also the author of plays and books on the history of Italian mu ...

(1945–2025), singer * Gianni Riotta (born 1954), journalist *

Gianni Rivera Giovanni "Gianni" Rivera (; born 18 August 1943) is an Italian politician and former association football, footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Dubbed Italy's "Golden Boy" by the media, he played the majority of his club career wi ...

(born 1943), footballer *

Gianni Rodari Giovanni Francesco "Gianni" Rodari (; 23 October 1920 – 14 April 1980) was an Italian people, Italian writer and journalist, most famous for his works of children's literature, notably ''Il romanzo di Cipollino''. For his lasting contribution ...

(1920–1980), writer * Gianni Romme (born 1973), skater *

Gianni Russo Gianni Vito Russo (born December 12, 1943) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Carlo Rizzi in the 1972 film ''The Godfather''. Life and career Russo was born in Manhattan on December 12, 1943 and raised in Little Italy and R ...

(born 1943), actor * Gianni Stensness (born 1999), footballer * Gianni Togni (born 1956), singer *

Gianni Vattimo Gianteresio Vattimo (; 4 January 1936 – 19 September 2023) was an Italian philosopher and politician. Biography Gianteresio Vattimo was born in Turin, Piedmont. He studied philosophy under the existentialist Luigi Pareyson at the Universit ...

(1936–2023), philosopher * Gianni Vella (1885–1977), artist * Gianni Vernetti (born 1960), politician *

Gianni Versace Giovanni Maria "Gianni" Versace (; 2 December 1946 – 15 July 1997) was an Italian fashion designer, socialite and businessman. He was the founder of Versace, an international luxury-fashion house that produces accessories, fragrances, make-up ...

(1946–1997), fashion designer * Gianni Vignaduzzi (born 1966), track cyclist * Gianni Zuiverloon (born 1986), footballer

Fictional people with this name

* Gianni di Marco, a character on the British TV show ''Eastenders'', portrayed by actor Marc Bannerman.

People with this given name

Fictional people with this name

See also