Tonino as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Tonino

What is the meaning of the name Tonino ?

The baby name Tonino is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced toh-NEE-no (IPA: /toˈniːno/).

Tonino is Italian in Origin.

Tonino is an affectionate Italian diminutive of Antonio, formed with the -ino suffix meaning “little, dear.” Antonio derives from the Roman family name Antonius, likely of Etruscan origin with uncertain meaning; through the widespread veneration of St. Anthony the Great and St. Anthony of Padua, it became associated with the idea of being “priceless” or “invaluable.” As a given name, Tonino conveys “little Antonio” or “dear Tony,” blending warmth with the classic stature of its root.

Used across Italy, especially in the south and on Sardinia, Tonino appears both as a household nickname and a standalone name since the 19th–20th centuries. Notable bearers include poet-screenwriter Tonino Guerra and entrepreneur Tonino Lamborghini. Related forms and cognates: Tonio, Toni, Nino, Antonino (Italian); Toño/Toñito (Spanish); Toninho (Portuguese); Tony (English). Feminine counterparts include Tonina and Antonina.