How to say it
EL · i · o
ˈɛl.i.oʊ
Masculine
Elio
Sun
What it means
Italian and Spanish, from the Greek Helios, the sun god, by way of the Roman Aelius.
Elio comes from Helios, the Greek god who drove the sun across the sky, reaching modern use through the Roman family name Aelius. It is bright and short, a staple in Italy and the Spanish-speaking world. The film Call Me by Your Name, with its summer-soaked Elio, lifted it among English speakers. It keeps company with Leo and Enzo. Said EL-ee-oh.
How to spell Elio
The standard spelling is Elio. Common variants include Helio, Aelio, Elios, but Elio is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #388 in 2025, currently #388 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Call Me by Your Name's Elio boosted it among English speakers.
- Spelling
From the sun god Helios; Helio is the Portuguese form.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Helios the Greek sun god the name traces to
Spelling variants
- Helio
- Aelio
- Elios
Names with the same feeling
See Elio from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Elio mean?
- Italian and Spanish, from the Greek Helios, the sun god, by way of the Roman Aelius.
- What does Elio mean in Italian?
- In Italian, Elio means "Sun." Elio comes from Helios, the Greek god who drove the sun across the sky, reaching modern use through the Roman family name Aelius. It is bright and short, a staple in Italy and the Spanish-speaking world. The film Call Me by Your Name, with its summer-soaked Elio, lifted it among English speakers. It keeps company with Leo and Enzo. Said EL-ee-oh.
- How do you pronounce Elio?
- Elio is pronounced ˈɛl.i.oʊ. Say it as EL-i-o, with the stress on the "el" syllable.
- How do you spell Elio?
- The standard spelling is Elio. Common spelling variants include Helio, Aelio, Elios.
- Is Elio a boy or girl name?
- Elio is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Elio?
- Elio ranked #388 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.