Gia Francesca Lopez has a unique name to reflect her heritage. Mario Lopez's ancestry can be traced back to Mexico, where his parents lived before coming to the United States, while his wife Courtney Laine Mazza is Italian. "We wanted them Italian, and we wanted them Catholic," Mario told "Today Parents" in a 2022 interview. "Their Latin heritage is represented in their last name." Her first name was also picked because of a standout performance by Angelina Jolie in the 1998 film, "Gia."
"Angelina Jolie in that movie totally came to my mind when we were thinking of names," Mario said. "Next time I see her, I need to tell her that. I need to tell her she was a big influence." Their daughter's middle name is Francesa, which is of Italian origin. Gia means "God is gracious," while Francesca is a classic name that means "free."
Lopez also mentioned the importance of Gia's name being associated with Catholicism, and faith has played a part in how her parents have raised her. "She goes to Catholic school, so she's got a nice faith-based education and (Courtney and I) are trying to do our best to raise them right," he told "Today" in a 2017 interview.
