I noticed there are many quite funny names among gangsters, funny because they either seem to completely reflect their “bad guy” nature or on the contrary, have such meanings that seem quite inappropriate for an evil person, or maybe simply seem to describe their activity. For example:

Santo Trafficante – “Trafficante” is one of the meanings of “smuggler” in Italian, quite an appropriate surname for a mafia boss. What makes it even funnier is that the name “Santo” means “saint”.

Peter Schifo (a Mafioso from the Madison family) – “Schifo” means “disgusting, filth”

Frank Porco (“Porco” means “swine, pig”) – don't yet know who he is, I saw the name on a list at the beginning of the book “The sixth family” which I just started reading.

Antonio Economico – a camorrista from Italy, don’t remember where exactly I heard that name. The point is that he was responsible for the financial operations of the clan he belonged to.

Also, there are many Mafiosi named “Salvatore”, “Benedetto” or “Santo” which means “Saviour”, “Blessed” and “Saint”, really funny to have murderers with such names. For example, the hitman Salvatore Sanfilippo (“Saint Philip the Saviour” if translated).

Speaking of other countries, there was a gang in Russia in the 90s whose surnames (Dureyev, Verzilov and Pyanov), can be translated as “Fool”, “Goon” and “Drunk”.

However, one has to know Italian or Russian to understand the meanings of these names and surnames and find them funny, so maybe somebody can offer absurd or funny names of English (Anglo-Saxon) named gangsters as they won't require translation?

That´s funny Dwalin.

Gallo means castrated male chicken in Italian.

I thought that was "Capone"?

Anyway, dunno how accurate this is, but I've heard "Aniello Dellacroce" literally means something like "little lamb of the cross".

Gallo is how they call a rooster...or a cock.

The entire name Aniello Dellacroce means lamb of the cross, yes. I always thought that was a pretty funny one, too. Except lamb would really be, Agnello, but whatever, the sound is the same. Personally, I think Aniello has his name spelled wrong.

Oh...thanks for clearing that...up!

I read in some book about the camorra that Aniello in the Neapolitan dialect means "ring" ("anello" in Italian). A camorrista indicated the finger the ring is placed on when referring to the clan headed by the boss Aniello La Monica (he was trying to communicate in signs with another camorrista present in the courtroom).

I find this more believable than the lamb story, b/c as I said, it's not exactly how you spell "lamb", so you're more than likely right on this one. Good point. I have no idea about Neapolitan dialect and find it difficult, at best.

I've been trying to come up with others to add to your list, I know there's more, but I can't think off hand. You listed some good ones.

I've always liked one-time Bonanno underboss Nicky Glasses Marangello and Buffalo captain Butchie 'Bifocals' Bifulco for some reason. It's like "I call 'em glasses" "Oh yeah? I call 'em bifocals'

Also, there was a bust in NY a while back that involved a guy that worked for,IIRC, High Times magazine. I can't for the life of me remember his actual name, but his nickname was 'Magazine Guy'. Most uncreative mob nickname ever.

I know these aren't in the same vein, but I thought I'd chime in.

Just read your LOC: Carm. Fucking LOL. No longer giving JC the finger eh? Hope it's a nice wedding.

I dont know about names but over the years i saw a lot of funny nick names in the mob like "The Ant" or "Benny Eggs" or "Louie Lump Lump "

It was a great wedding!! JC was there too..hmm, or was it Scott...or Ralph...oh well, not important.