Arrigo

Arrigo is a masculine given name of Italian origin. It has historical usage in Italy and among Italian communities, though it is less common among newborns today. The name is often considered an archaic or regional variant of Enrico, sharing the same Germanic roots as the name Henry. The root traceable to the Germanic personal name Heimirich/Heinrich carries the meaning traditionally interpreted as “home ruler” or “ruler of the household.”

In Italian culture, Arrigo appears in literature and in historical records, and it is more commonly found in older generations or in families that preserve traditional naming practices. It is related to other forms derived from the same Germanic root, with Enrico currently serving as the standard contemporary Italian form.

Notable people with the given name Arrigo include Arrigo Sacchi, a prominent Italian football manager who achieved international recognition with AC Milan in the late 1980s; Arrigo Petacco, an Italian journalist and writer known for his historical works; and Arrigo Levi, an Italian journalist and author. These figures illustrate the name’s historical presence in Italian public life, particularly in the realms of sports journalism and literature.

See also Enrico, the more common modern Italian form of the same root, and note that Arrigo remains a recognized but relatively uncommon variant within the broader landscape of Italian given names.