Latin Names
Latin names come from the language of ancient Rome, and they are everywhere: Olivia, Julian, Grace, Patrick and Austin all have Latin roots. Some began as Roman family names, some as saints’ names spread by the Church, and many as plain Latin words for light, stars, animals and virtues. That clarity of meaning is a big part of their lasting appeal.
Here you’ll find more than 60 Latin names with their roots and meanings, plus a quick guide to how Romans actually named people. For complete lists, see Latin boy names and Latin girl names. For names from the ancient world, visit Roman names; for Spanish-speaking cultures, see Hispanic names.
Latin Names: browse all lists
Favorite Latin names for boys and girls
A shortlist of the Latin names parents love most right now, several of them consistently among the most popular in SSA data.
| Name | Gender | Latin meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Luna | Girl | Moon |
| Aurora | Girl | Dawn |
| Stella | Girl | Star |
| Clara | Girl | Clear, bright |
| Valentina | Girl | Strong, healthy |
| Aurelia | Girl | Golden |
| Serena | Girl | Calm, serene |
| Celeste | Girl | Heavenly |
| Felix | Boy | Lucky, happy |
| Leo | Boy | Lion |
| Julian | Boy | Of the Julian clan |
| Atticus | Boy | From Attica |
| Dominic | Boy | Of the Lord |
| Maximus | Boy | Greatest |
| Augustus | Boy | Venerable, majestic |
| Vincent | Boy | Conquering |
Unisex Latin names
Short, word-like Latin names that work for any child. For more options, see unisex names.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pax | pax | Peace |
| Sol | sol | Sun |
| Lux | lux | Light |
| Vale | vale | Farewell, be well |
| Amor | amor | Love |
| Jules | Iulius | Short for Julius or Julia |
| Hilary | hilaris | Cheerful |
| Laurie | laurus | Laurel |
| Justice | iustitia | Justice, fairness |
| Sage | salvia | Sage herb, via French |
Latin names by meaning
Many Latin names are simply words, so the meaning is crystal clear. Browse by theme, or see names that mean wolf and names that mean king across languages.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Lupus | lupus | Wolf |
| Ursula | ursa | Little she-bear |
| Aquila | aquila | Eagle |
| Columba | columba | Dove |
| Rex | rex | King |
| Regina | regina | Queen |
| Vera | verus | True |
| Victoria | victoria | Victory |
| Magnus | magnus | Great |
| Marina | marinus | Of the sea |
| Silvia | silva | Of the forest |
| Flora | flos | Flower |
| Nova | novus | New |
| Amanda | amandus | Worthy of love |
| Constance | constantia | Steadfast |
| Rufus | rufus | Red-haired |
Everyday names you might not know are Latin
These familiar English names reached us from Latin, often through French or the Church.
| Name | Latin source | Original meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Olivia | oliva | Olive tree |
| Emily | Aemilia | Roman family name, often read as “rival” |
| Grace | gratia | Grace, favor |
| Patrick | patricius | Nobleman |
| Austin | Augustinus | Venerable |
| Martin | Martinus | Of Mars |
| Paul | paulus | Small |
| Laura | laurus | Laurel |
| Vivian | vivus | Alive |
| Mabel | amabilis | Lovable |
| Dexter | dexter | Right-handed, skillful |
| Justin | Iustinus | Just |
| Cecil | Caecilius | Roman family name, from caecus, “blind” |
| Sylvia | silva | Forest |
How Roman names worked: the tria nomina
A Roman citizen man typically had three names; women usually had the feminine family name alone (Julia, Cornelia). Take Gaius Julius Caesar as the example.
| Name part | Example | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Praenomen | Gaius | Personal first name, chosen from only about 18 common options |
| Nomen | Julius | Clan (gens) name, shared by the whole family line |
| Cognomen | Caesar | Branch or nickname, often describing looks or deeds |
| Agnomen | Africanus | Extra honorific earned by a deed (Scipio Africanus) |
| Filiation | Gai filius | “Son of Gaius,” written on official records |
Good to know about Latin names
- Latin vs. Latino: Latin names come from the Roman language; Latino names come from Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cultures, though many share Latin roots.
- Endings signal gender: -us usually marks a male name (Marcus) and -a a female one (Marcia).
- Many have modern forms: Iulianus became Julian, Laurentius became Laurence, Lucia became Lucy.
- Pronunciation varies: Classical Latin used a hard C (Kaisar), while Church Latin and English soften it (Caesar = SEE-zer).
Frequently asked questions
What are Latin names?
Latin names are names that come from the Latin language of ancient Rome, either as Roman personal and family names or as Latin words like Luna (moon) and Felix (lucky).
What is the most popular Latin name?
Olivia is the most popular Latin-rooted girl name in the US in recent years, and names like Julian, Leo and Luca rank highly for boys.
What is a good Latin name for a boy?
Felix, Leo, Julian, Atticus, Augustus and Maximus are all strong Latin boy names with clear meanings.
What is a pretty Latin name for a girl?
Luna, Aurora, Stella, Aurelia, Clara and Celeste are among the prettiest Latin girl names.
What Latin name means peace?
Pax is Latin for peace, and Irene is its Greek equivalent. Placida and Serena carry calm, peaceful meanings too.