202 Roman Baby Names With Meanings

Mighty rulers, mythical Gods, and cultural roots together form a classic list of choices.

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• Sep 5, 2023

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Roman baby names are topping the popular baby name list in recent times. But Roman names were not always the same. Over the span of 14 centuries, Rome has adopted a nomenclature that’s quite different from what’s used by other European cultures and countries. In earlier times, Romans used a first name called praenomen followed by the clan name, also known as a nomen (1). The nomen indicated the family's ancestry and status. The praenomen was influenced by cultural or religious aspects and were derived from the names of mythological deities and historical events. This was picked by the parents and was bestowed on the day of lustration, a ritual performed on the eighth day of the birth of a baby girl and the ninth day of the birth of a baby boy. The name choice was governed by the family’s custom and tradition. The eldest son was named after the father, while the younger ones were named after the father’s brothers and other male ancestors. This way, the same name or praenomen was passed down from generation to generation. The surname or last name or a cognomen, meaning the family name, became compulsory for documentation use by 100BC. In many cases, people also had filiations or patronyms based on their lineage or tribe and nicknames, also known as agnomen. The cognomen often indicated the family's origin or occupation and the agnomen helped in distinguishing the different branches of the same family. As the Roman empire expanded, they began considering the names of Catholic saints. Roman Catholicism also introduced a few aspects from the seven Sacraments to the conventional naming system (2). These influences have considerably changed the convention in modern times. Thus, contemporary Roman parents can pick any first name they like for their bundle of joy and retain the last name that is usually carried down the generation. So, go ahead and take your pick from the list of unique Roman baby names with meanings below.

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Acilia	Girl	The women of fire, one who is made of fire
Adrian	Boy	Water; Sea
Aegidius	Boy	A young goat, or a shield from young goat skin
Aelia	Girl	Sun; Sunlight; Sunshine
Aellius	Boy	The Sun; Name of Roman emperor Hadrian
Aemilia	Girl	Excel; Emulate like sun
Aemilie	Girl	Estonian form of Emily; Work
Aerthirn	Boy	From the royal Roman clan
Agrippa	Girl	Roman cognomen of unknown meaning
Altalune	Unisex	Above the moon

Amabilis	Unisex	A beautiful and loving person
Angel	Boy	A messenger
Anthony	Boy	Priceless one; Invaluable
Antoonia	Girl	Worthy of praise; Estonian form of Antonia
Augustu	Boy	Form of Augustus; Venerable
Aurav	Boy	God of Dawn; Goddess of Dawn
Aureliu	Boy	A form of Aurelius; Golden or gilded.
Aurora	Girl	Dawn
Avaria	Unisex	Misfortune; Damage
Avren	Unisex	River; Strong; Creative; Unique

Barbora	Girl	A form of Barbara in Czech and Slovak
Barbro	Boy	Foreign; Overseas
Blitz	Unisex	Strong, fast, aggressive
Brutus	Boy	Heavy and muscular
Cairi	Unisex	Young; Cheerful
Caiu	Boy	Form of Caius; Rejoice
Cajus	Boy	One who rejoice
Carinu	Boy	Sicilian form of Carinus, dear or beloved
Cashius	Boy	Vain; Empty
Ceres	Girl	Goddess of growth and agriculture

Cessily	Girl	Blind; The sixth one
Cessy	Unisex	Blind
Cezar	Boy	Hairy
Charles	Boy	Free man
Cilistinu	Boy	Sicilian form of Caelestinus; Sky or heavenly
Cincinnati	Unisex	From the Society of the Cincinnati
Cinna	Unisex	Spice; Sweetness; Warmth
Ciprian	Boy	A martyr and a bishop under the emperor Valerian
Clarise	Girl	Bright, clear, and radiant
Claritia	Girl	Bright; Attention gainer and clear

Claudiu	Boy	One who is lame; cannot walk; one whose legs are crippled
Claudius	Boy	One who is crippled; Disabled; Handicapped; Unable to walk
Cloru	Boy	Sicilian form of Chlorus meaning pale green
Codrut	Boy	Hailing from a forest in Romania; in a romanian forest
Columba	Unisex	Dove, a bird resembling pigeon and a symbol for peace
Concordia	Girl	Harmony; Peace; Tranquil and amity
Constans	Boy	Constant; never changing; steadfast; persistent and sustained
Constantin	Boy	Something that is persistent and never changes
Consus	Boy	Sowing the seeds; planting; Derived from the Roman God of harvest
Cornelius	Boy	Horn

Crixus	Boy	One with curly hair
Custanzu	Boy	Sicilian form of Constantius; Constant or steadfast
Cybele	Girl	Mythical Goddess
Danner	Unisex	Strong; Determined
Decimus	Boy	One who came tenth in number
Delphina	Girl	One who came out of womb; A blessed one
Dennis	Boy	Devotee of Dionysius; Danish; The Dane
Di	Girl	Goddess of moon; Huntress
Dian	Girl	Divine lady; Filled with beauty and brains
Diana	Girl	Divine; Goddesslike

Dianne	Girl	A huntress who is also a Goddess
Dido	Girl	Virgin queen of a land
Dominic	Boy	Belonging to the Almighty
Dominica	Girl	Of the Lord
Dominicus	Boy	The one who is born of the Lord
Dominik	Boy	One who is born out of a God; has Godly manners
Doren	Unisex	Gift of God
Dren	Unisex	Deer
Dumizzianu	Boy	Sicilian form of Domitianus; Tamed
Dyna	Unisex	Powerful; Energetic; Dynamic

Ecaterina	Girl	An affectionate; Innocent and pure chaste being
Ectorius	Boy	To restrain; One who has imaginative and creative mind
Emileigh	Boy	Somebody who is trying to excel or equal a rival
Emily	Girl	Hardworking; Dilligent; Industrious person
Enej	Boy	Praise
Enniaun	Boy	The family name of a great writer during ancient Roman civilization
Esilia	Girl	Wife of Romulus in Roman mythology
Faunus	Boy	To become someone's friend
Faustus	Boy	An auspicious mand
Febian	Boy	One who is from the Fabius clan

Festus	Boy	Festive; Full of joy
Fidelia	Girl	Faithful, loyal, steadfast
Flaviu	Boy	Golden; Yellow-haired
Florence	Girl	Flourishing; Prosperous
Florene	Girl	A variant form of Florence; Blooming or blossoming
Florentia	Girl	A form of Florence; To blossom
Florentinus	Boy	A blooming flower; Flourishing
Florian	Boy	A masculine modification of Florence; Process of blooming
Florus	Boy	Blossoms; Flowers
Giovi	Boy	A form of Jupiter; Father

Gistin	Boy	Just
Gistinus	Boy	The just one
Giuliu	Boy	Downy; Hairy
Giuvianu	Boy	Father
Grace	Girl	Goodness; Generosity
Grazzianu	Boy	Grace
Halius	Boy	A companion of Aeneas; A character from Roman Mythology
Ivery	Unisex	Variant of Ivory; Pale white
Jackey	Unisex	Cheerful and energetic person
Janne	Girl	From old Roman mythology; Wife of Janus

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Roman baby names reflect the historical, cultural, and traditional aspects of the ancient Roman world. These names share the significance of lineage, honor, religion, and social standing. With their unique combination of meanings and influences, they offer us a glimpse into the complexities of an ancient civilization's identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are there any gender-neutral Roman baby names?

Yes, several Roman baby names are gender-neutral, like Agrippa (wild horse), Aquila (eagle), Glaucia (bluish gray), Iovita (sky father), and Florens (blooming).

2. What are some unique and less common Roman baby names?

Some Roman baby names like Nonus, meaning 'ninth'; Tullus of unknown meaning; Cassian, meaning 'empty' or 'vain'; and Domitia, meaning 'tamed,' are unique and rare.

3. Did Roman parents have specific criteria for choosing baby names in ancient Rome?

In ancient times, Roman parents preferred ancestral and familial names when choosing baby names. It was considered a matter of dignity if the names of senior family members were chosen. Moreover, habitational names and occupational names were common in Ancient Rome (1).

4. How have Roman baby names evolved?

In the early Roman era, men had a praenomen (first name) and a nomen (clan name). By 100 BC, they also added a cognomen (family name) to official documents. Women may have had praenomina in the early era, but later, they were known as the feminine version of their father's nomen. With the transition to the Roman Empire, the names started being influenced by the ruling class (2). Moreover, after Christianity was introduced in Rome in the 4th century, Christian saint names and biblical names were added to the mix (3). Major events like the Renaissance during the 15th and 16th centuries also had an impact on baby names (4). In recent years, globalization and international exchange have encouraged the introduction of new names in the Roman lexicon.

5. Were there any superstitions or beliefs associated with Roman baby names?

Yes. Names like Fortunatus (fortunate, blessed, happy), Felix (lucky, successful), Albus (white, bright), Faustina (auspicious, lucky), and Beata (blessed) were chosen because it was believed that such names brought good luck on the bearer.

6. Are there any famous Roman baby names that have fallen out of use today?

Roman names like Gaius (to rejoice), Decimus (tenth), Junia (young), and Drusilla (strong) are rarely used in today's times. However, naming trends keep changing, and these names may again attain popularity.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Roman Names.
https://www.uvm.edu/~bsaylor/rome/nomenclature.html
Christianity: Roman Catholic.
https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/religions/christianity-roman-catholic/resources/christianity-roman-catholic-rituals-and-practices
The Roman Empire in the First Century;
https://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/christians.html
The Renaissance;
https://www.csun.edu/sites/default/files/Media03--Renaissance.pdf

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