Ruggero

Ruggero is a masculine given name of Italian origin, the Italian form of the name Roger. It comes from the Germanic name Roger, which is usually analyzed as composed of elements meaning fame and spear. The form Ruggero has been used in Italy since the Middle Ages and has appeared across noble, clerical, and popular contexts. Variants include Ruggiero, an older or literary spelling with a double g, and other regional forms. In Italian culture the name is sometimes used to evoke chivalric or historical associations.

Notable bearers include Ruggero I di Sicilia, a Norman conqueror who founded the County of Sicily; Ruggero II di Sicilia, commonly known as Roger II, who established the Kingdom of Sicily; Ruggero Bonghi (1826–1895), journalist, writer and politician; and Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857–1919), composer best known for Pagliacci. The name remains in contemporary use in Italy and among Italian communities abroad, often chosen for its traditional resonance.