Latin Boy Names
Latin gave English an extraordinary number of boy names. Some came straight from Roman family names (Julius, Marcus, Octavius), some from early Christian saints (Benedict, Clement, Vincent) and others from everyday Latin words: Felix means “lucky,” Leo “lion” and Rex “king.” Two thousand years later, they still sound strong, clear and timeless.
This list gathers 100 Latin boy names with their original Latin roots, from top-100 favorites to bold imperial choices. For the ancient naming system itself, see our Roman boy names. You might also like Latin girl names or our main page on Latin names. Looking for Latino or Spanish names instead? Try Hispanic boy names.
Popular Latin boy names
These Latin-rooted names are widely used in the US and Europe today, many of them consistently among the most popular in SSA data.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Julian | Iulianus | Belonging to Julius; related to the Julian clan |
| Leo | leo | Lion |
| Luca | Lucas | Man from Lucania; often linked to lux, “light” |
| Adrian | Hadrianus | From Hadria, a town near the Adriatic Sea |
| Dominic | dominicus | Of the Lord |
| Felix | felix | Happy, lucky |
| Maximilian | Maximilianus | From maximus, “greatest” |
| Vincent | vincere | Conquering |
| Victor | victor | Conqueror, winner |
| Roman | Romanus | A Roman, citizen of Rome |
| Silas | Silvanus | Of the forest |
| Austin | Augustinus | Short form of Augustine, “venerable” |
| Martin | Martinus | Of Mars, god of war |
| Justin | Iustinus | Just, fair |
| Patrick | patricius | Nobleman, patrician |
| Miles | miles (possibly) | Possibly “soldier”; may also be Germanic |
| Emil | Aemilius | Roman family name, often read as “rival” |
| Dexter | dexter | Right-handed, skillful |
Latin boy names of emperors and statesmen
Names with serious gravitas. Our lists of king names and gladiator names have more in the same spirit.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning / famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Augustus | augustus | Venerable, majestic; first Roman emperor |
| Maximus | maximus | Greatest |
| Marcus | Marcus | Probably from Mars; emperor Marcus Aurelius |
| Julius | Iulius | Roman clan name, possibly “youthful”; Julius Caesar |
| Caesar | Caesar | Possibly from caesaries, “head of hair” |
| Aurelius | aureus | Golden |
| Constantine | constans | Steadfast, constant |
| Tiberius | Tiberis | Of the Tiber River |
| Hadrian | Hadrianus | From Hadria; builder of Hadrian’s Wall |
| Titus | Titus | Old praenomen of uncertain meaning; emperor Titus |
| Nero | Nero | Sabine word for “strong, vigorous” |
| Valerius | valere | To be strong, healthy |
| Claudius | claudus | Lame; the fourth emperor |
| Severus | severus | Stern, serious |
| Trajan | Traianus | Roman family name; the “best emperor” |
| Antony | Antonius | Roman clan name of uncertain origin |
Latin virtue names for boys
Many early Christians took names that were simply Latin virtues. For similar ideas, see names that mean strength and names that mean brave.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Clement | clemens | Merciful, gentle |
| Benedict | benedictus | Blessed, spoken well of |
| Valentine | valens | Strong, healthy |
| Constant | constans | Loyal, unchanging |
| Fidel | fidelis | Faithful |
| Pius | pius | Dutiful, devout |
| Prosper | prosperus | Fortunate, successful |
| Faustus | faustus | Auspicious, lucky |
| Justus | iustus | Just, righteous |
| Gratian | gratia | Grace, favor |
| Amadeus | ama + deus | Love God |
| Hilary | hilaris | Cheerful (historically a boy’s name) |
| Innocent | innocens | Harmless, pure |
| Modestus | modestus | Modest, moderate |
Latin nature and animal names for boys
Wild, earthy names drawn from Latin words for trees, birds and beasts. More in nature boy names.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sylvester | silvestris | Of the woods |
| Florian | florus | Flowering, in bloom |
| Laurence | laurus | Laurel; from Laurentum |
| Aquila | aquila | Eagle |
| Corvin | corvus | Raven |
| Lupus | lupus | Wolf |
| Orson | ursus | Bear cub, via Old French |
| Leander | Leo + Greek aner | Lion-man (Greek, Latinized) |
| Sol | sol | Sun |
| Rufus | rufus | Red-haired |
| Crispin | crispus | Curly-haired |
| Columba | columba | Dove; the Irish saint Columba |
Roman number names
Romans had a small pool of first names, and some simply counted children. Today these feel distinctive and literary.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quentin | Quintus | Fifth |
| Sextus | sextus | Sixth |
| Septimus | septimus | Seventh |
| Octavius | octavus | Eighth |
| Decimus | decimus | Tenth |
| Tertius | tertius | Third |
Latin boy names from Roman mythology
Rome’s gods and legendary heroes, many with Greek counterparts. See mythology boy names for more.
| Name | Latin root | Who he was |
|---|---|---|
| Mars | Mars | God of war and agriculture |
| Janus | ianua (related) | Two-faced god of doorways and beginnings |
| Jove | Iovis | Another name for Jupiter, king of the gods |
| Vulcan | Vulcanus | God of fire and the forge |
| Romulus | Romulus | Legendary founder of Rome |
| Remus | Remus | Romulus’s twin brother |
| Aeneas | Aeneas | Trojan hero of Virgil’s Aeneid |
| Faunus | Faunus | Woodland god of shepherds |
Latin saints’ names for boys
Carried across Europe by the early Church, these names are still common in Catholic families. Browse more saint names.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Augustine | Augustinus | Venerable; St. Augustine of Hippo |
| Paul | paulus | Small, humble |
| Marcellus | Marcellus | Little Marcus, “of Mars” |
| Lucian | Lucianus | From lux, “light” |
| Sebastian | Sebastianus | From Sebaste (Greek sebastos, “venerable”) |
| Pascal | Paschalis | Of Easter |
| Boniface | Bonifatius | Good fate |
| Vito | Vitus | Possibly from vita, “life” |
| Terence | Terentius | Roman clan name; the playwright Terence |
Classic Roman family names for boys
Family names (nomina and cognomina) often described looks or habits, and many now sound effortlessly cool.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Atticus | Atticus | From Attica, the region around Athens |
| Cassius | Cassius | Roman clan name, possibly from cassus, “hollow” |
| Lucius | lux | Light |
| Cato | catus | Shrewd, wise |
| Cicero | cicer | Chickpea |
| Seneca | senex | Old, elder |
| Brutus | brutus | Heavy, dull |
| Cornelius | cornu (possibly) | Possibly “horn” |
| Horatio | Horatius | Roman clan name of uncertain meaning |
| Fabian | faba | Bean grower (from Fabius) |
| Marius | Marius | Possibly from Mars or mas, “male” |
| Virgil | Vergilius | The poet of the Aeneid; origin uncertain |
| Magnus | magnus | Great |
| Regulus | regulus | Little king; also a bright star |
| Dante | durans | Enduring, via Italian Durante |
| Rex | rex | King |
| Ignatius | Egnatius | Roman clan name, later linked to ignis, “fire” |
| Cyprian | Cyprianus | From Cyprus |
How to choose a Latin boy name
- Balance weight and wearability. Maximus and Tiberius are bold; Max or Ty are easy everyday nicknames.
- Check the meaning. Some Roman names describe quirks: Claudius means “lame” and Cicero means “chickpea.” That can be charming or a dealbreaker.
- Try the -us to -an switch. Many Latin names have softer English forms: Adrianus → Adrian, Julianus → Julian, Florianus → Florian.
- Pair with a simple surname. Long Latin first names shine next to short last names.
- Consider middle-name use. Augustus, Aurelius and Octavius make striking middle names with a classic first name.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Latin boy name?
Names of Latin origin such as Julian, Leo, Luca, Adrian, Dominic and Vincent are all widely used in the US, and several rank in the SSA top 100.
What Latin boy name means strong?
Valentine and Valerius come from valere/valens, “to be strong,” and Nero was a Sabine word for “strong.”
What Latin name means lion?
Leo means lion in Latin. Leander combines Leo with Greek aner, “man.”
Is Atticus a Latin name?
Yes. Atticus is a Latin name meaning “from Attica,” the Greek region around Athens. It was popularized by Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Are Latin names and Latino names the same?
No. Latin names come from the language of ancient Rome, while Latino names are used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cultures, though many Latino names do have Latin roots.