and others less known - such as Gàrdola, Gardoncino, Gardoni, Guàrdola and Le Garde - testifies to the Germanic presence in the area from the 6th to the 8th century CE, in particular the Lombard one. The name Garda derives from the Germanic word warda, meaning "place of guard", "place of observation" or "place of safety".

The classic toponym of the lake, Benacus lacus (Benaco), is almost certainly of Celtic origin, therefore prior to romanization, and probably derives