How the Greeks Gave Italy Its Name

The name “Italy” is steeped in ancient history, tracing its origins back to the Greeks who once inhabited its lands. The name “Italia” comes from the Greek word Italos, referring to a legendary king of the Enotrians, an ancient people of Greek origin. These people lived in a region stretching from Paestum in Campania to southern Calabria and are considered among the first inhabitants of what we now know as Italy.