Has Italy ever changed its name?

Yes, the name Italy has changed over time. The earliest name for the Italian Peninsula was Italia. In the 6th century BC, the land was known as the Greek Peninsula, due to the Greek colonies that were established there. Later, the area was known as the Roman Peninsula, as the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire controlled the peninsula. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Italy was divided into several states and regions, and the name Italia was no longer used.

The name Italy was revived in the late 18th century, when the Italian nationalist movement began to gain momentum. In March 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Italy and created the Cisalpine Republic, a client state of France. In 1805, Napoleon created the Kingdom of Italy, which included much of the peninsula. The Kingdom of Italy lasted until 1814, when Napoleon was defeated. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Italy was divided again, and the name Italia was not used again until 1861.

In 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in Turin, and the name Italy became the official name of the country. The Kingdom of Italy lasted until 1946, when it was replaced by the Italian Republic. The Italian Republic is the current name of the country.