gaio

Gaio is a masculine given name used primarily in Italian. It represents the Italian form of the ancient Roman praenomen Gaius. The name Gaius was widely used in the Roman world, and Gaio appears in Italian historical and literary references to that period. The precise etymology of Gaius is uncertain; scholars have proposed various roots, but no consensus exists.

Throughout Roman history, several prominent figures were known to Latin writers as Gaius; in Italian, their names are rendered as Gaio Giulio Cesare (Gaius Julius Caesar) and Gaio Mario (Gaius Marius). The Italian form continues to be encountered in scholarly works and in discussions of classical history.

In modern Italy, Gaio is uncommon as a given name but can be found in historical or literary contexts; forms closer to the original Latin, such as Gaius or Caius, are used in scholarly Latin texts or in other languages. The name remains primarily of historical interest, illustrating how Latin personal names were adapted into Italian forms. See also Gaius for related forms and variants in other languages.