A name of dual origin, Elio is primarily a revival of Elio (Helios), the Greek god of the Sun. Elio derives, through the Latin Helius, from the Ancient Greek Ἥλιος (Hélios), which is taken from the noun of the same and means 'Sun'. It shares the same meaning as the Italian feminine name Sole, the Romanian masculine name Sorin and the Lithuanian feminine name Saulė.
Elio is also believed to originate from the Roman cognomen Aelius (feminine Aelia), which was held by the emperor Hadrian and thus dates back to the 2nd century. The origin is uncertain, perhaps Etruscan or perhaps from the Latin alius, '[an] other'. Some sources trace its origin to the Greek Ἥλιος (Hélios), a connection categorically rejected by others. The patronymic name Eliano is similarly derived from the Roman cognomen.
Elio may also be a hypocorism of other names such as Aurelio or Cornelio. In Italy, the name Elio occurs throughout and is promoted through the worship of saints with the name. There is also a feminine form, Èlia; however, to avoid confusion with the biblical masculine name Elìa (Elijah), it is generally replaced by Elina or Eliana.
Variants
Masculine: Eleo, Elios
Feminine: Èlia, Elea
Name day
The name day can be celebrated on October 28 in memory of saint Helios, bishop of Lyon, or on July 18 in memory of saint Elio, deacon and bishop of Koper.
People with the given name Elio
Elio Aggiano (born 1972), Italian cyclist
Elio Altramura, Italian art director
Elio Augusto Di Carlo (1918–1998), Italian ornithologist, historian and physician
Elio Ballesi (1920–1971), Italian politician
Elio Bartolini (1922–2006), Italian writer, screenwriter and poet
Elio Battaglia (born 1933), Italian operatic baritone
Elio Bavutti (1914–1987), Italian cyclist
Stefano "Elio" Belisari (born 1961), Italian singer
