Roman Boy Names
Ancient Roman boy names come with built-in gravitas. A Roman citizen usually carried three names, the tria nomina: a personal name (praenomen) like Marcus, a family or clan name (nomen) like Tullius, and a nickname-turned-surname (cognomen) like Cicero. Put together, you get Marcus Tullius Cicero.
Below are more than 110 authentic Roman boy names from all three layers, plus emperors’ names and modern forms that work beautifully today. Each comes with its meaning and a famous bearer. See the companion list of Roman girl names, the overview of Roman names, or broader Latin boy names.
Roman first names (praenomina)
Romans used a surprisingly small pool of about 18 common personal names. Several are simply numbers, originally given to a fifth, sixth or tenth child or to a baby born in that month.
| Name | Meaning | Famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Marcus | Possibly from Mars, god of war | Marcus Aurelius, emperor-philosopher |
| Lucius | Light; born at dawn | Lucius Cornelius Sulla, dictator |
| Gaius | Possibly “rejoice” | Gaius Julius Caesar |
| Titus | Uncertain; possibly “title of honor” | Titus, emperor who finished the Colosseum |
| Quintus | Fifth | Quintus Horatius Flaccus (Horace), poet |
| Publius | Of the people (possibly) | Publius Vergilius Maro (Virgil) |
| Tiberius | Of the Tiber river | Tiberius, second emperor |
| Gnaeus | Birthmark (possibly) | Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey) |
| Aulus | Uncertain, possibly Etruscan | Aulus Gellius, writer |
| Decimus | Tenth | Decimus Junius Brutus, Caesar’s assassin |
| Sextus | Sixth | Sextus Pompeius, naval commander |
| Servius | To preserve, or servant (disputed) | Servius Tullius, king of Rome |
| Spurius | Uncertain; later linked to “illegitimate” | Spurius Cassius, consul |
| Manius | Born in the morning (possibly) | Manius Curius Dentatus, general |
| Appius | Uncertain, Sabine origin | Appius Claudius Caecus, built the Appian Way |
| Kaeso | To cut (possibly, born by incision) | Kaeso Fabius, consul |
| Numerius | Number, counting (possibly) | Numerius Fabius Pictor |
| Vibius | Uncertain, Oscan origin | Gaius Vibius Pansa, consul |
| Mamercus | From Oscan Mamers (Mars) | Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus |
Roman family names (nomina)
The nomen marked a man’s gens, or clan. Many have become first names in their own right, and they share roots with the girl names on our Roman girl names list (Julius and Julia, Cornelius and Cornelia).
| Name | Meaning | Famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Julius | Possibly “youthful” or descended from Iulus | Julius Caesar |
| Claudius | Lame (claudus) | Emperor Claudius |
| Cornelius | Horn (possibly) | Cornelius Scipio Africanus |
| Aemilius | Rival, eager | Aemilius Paullus, general |
| Valerius | To be strong | Valerius Maximus, historian |
| Flavius | Golden, blond | Flavius Josephus, historian |
| Fabius | Bean grower (possibly) | Fabius Maximus “the Delayer” |
| Antonius | Uncertain; possibly Etruscan | Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) |
| Aurelius | Golden | Marcus Aurelius |
| Octavius | Eighth | Octavius, later Augustus |
| Cassius | Empty, vain (possibly) | Gaius Cassius Longinus |
| Junius | Of Juno; young | Junius Brutus, founder of the Republic |
| Tullius | Uncertain | Marcus Tullius Cicero |
| Horatius | Timekeeper (possibly) | Horatius Cocles, bridge defender |
| Livius | Blue-ish, envious (possibly) | Titus Livius (Livy), historian |
| Domitius | Tamed | Domitius Ahenobarbus |
| Sempronius | Eternal (possibly) | Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus |
| Pompeius | Fifth (Oscan pompe) | Pompey the Great |
| Sergius | Servant, attendant (possibly) | Lucius Sergius Catilina |
| Ulpius | Wolf (Umbrian) | Marcus Ulpius Traianus (Trajan) |
| Valens | Strong, healthy | Emperor Valens |
| Septimius | Seventh | Septimius Severus, emperor |
| Lucretius | Profit, wealth (possibly) | Titus Lucretius Carus, poet |
| Porcius | Pig keeper | Marcus Porcius Cato |
| Terentius | Tender, gentle (possibly) | Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) |
Famous Roman cognomina (surnames and nicknames)
Cognomina started as personal nicknames, often blunt ones, before becoming hereditary. They make some of the boldest Roman boy names today.
| Name | Meaning | Famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Maximus | Greatest | Quintus Fabius Maximus |
| Magnus | Great | Pompey “Magnus” |
| Brutus | Heavy, dull | Marcus Junius Brutus |
| Cicero | Chickpea | Marcus Tullius Cicero, orator |
| Cato | Shrewd, wise | Cato the Elder |
| Caesar | Hairy, or cut from the womb (disputed) | Gaius Julius Caesar |
| Crassus | Fat, thick | Marcus Licinius Crassus |
| Rufus | Red-haired | Many Roman families |
| Felix | Lucky, happy | Sulla took “Felix” as a title |
| Severus | Stern, serious | Septimius Severus |
| Agrippa | Born feet first (possibly) | Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa |
| Scipio | Staff, walking stick | Scipio Africanus |
| Seneca | Old | Seneca the Younger, philosopher |
| Nero | Strong, vigorous (Sabine) | Emperor Nero |
| Varro | Bow-legged | Marcus Terentius Varro, scholar |
| Lepidus | Charming, elegant | Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, triumvir |
| Paulus | Small | Lucius Aemilius Paullus |
| Regulus | Little king | Marcus Atilius Regulus |
| Cincinnatus | Curly-haired | Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus |
| Nerva | Sinewy, strong | Emperor Nerva |
| Drusus | Strong, firm (possibly Gaulish) | Nero Claudius Drusus |
| Germanicus | Conqueror of Germania | Germanicus Julius Caesar |
| Metellus | Hired attendant (possibly) | Quintus Caecilius Metellus |
| Marcellus | Little warrior; from Marcus | Marcus Claudius Marcellus |
| Crispus | Curly-haired | Crispus, son of Constantine |
| Priscus | Ancient, old-fashioned | Tarquinius Priscus, king |
| Dexter | Right-handed, skillful | Common Roman cognomen |
| Longinus | Long, tall | Gaius Cassius Longinus |
| Naso | Nose | Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid) |
| Flaccus | Floppy-eared | Horace’s cognomen |
| Atticus | From Attica (Athens) | Titus Pomponius Atticus, Cicero’s friend |
| Cassian | Belonging to Cassius | Saint John Cassian |
| Albinus | White, pale | Clodius Albinus |
| Vitalis | Of life, vital | Common late-Roman name |
Roman emperor names
Imperial names make powerful choices, though some (Nero, Caligula) come with baggage. Pair them with our lists of king names and gladiator names for more heroic ideas.
| Name | Meaning | Reign |
|---|---|---|
| Augustus | Venerable, majestic | 27 BC–AD 14 |
| Hadrian | From Hadria | 117–138 |
| Trajan | From the Traiana family (uncertain) | 98–117 |
| Vespasian | Of the wasps (possibly) | 69–79 |
| Constantine | Steadfast, constant | 306–337 |
| Diocletian | From Dioclea | 284–305 |
| Commodus | Convenient, agreeable | 180–192 |
| Caligula | Little soldier’s boot | 37–41 |
| Galba | Fat or larva (uncertain, Gaulish) | 68–69 |
| Otho | Uncertain; possibly Etruscan | 69 |
| Aurelian | Golden | 270–275 |
| Gallienus | Of Gaul | 253–268 |
| Theodosius | Given by God | 379–395 |
| Valentinian | Strong, healthy | 364–375 |
| Maximian | Greatest | 286–305 |
| Justinian | Just | 527–565 (Eastern Empire) |
| Probus | Upright, honest | 276–282 |
| Tacitus | Silent | 275–276; also the historian |
| Romulus | Legendary founder of Rome | Romulus Augustulus, last Western emperor (475–476) |
Roman names that feel modern today
These are the easiest Roman-derived names to wear in 2026: familiar enough to spell, distinctive enough to stand out. For more, browse ancient names.
| Name | Roman root | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Julian | Julianus, from Julius | Soft classic, huge in the US |
| Adrian | Hadrianus | Timeless and international |
| Lucian | Lucianus, from Lucius (“light”) | Literary and stylish |
| Maximilian | Maximus + Aemilianus | Long name with Max as nickname |
| Silas | Silvanus, god of forests | Short, trendy, biblical too |
| Cyprian | From Cyprus | Rare saint’s name |
| Aurelio | Aurelius (“golden”) | Italian-Spanish form |
| Lucas | Lucanus / Lucius | Top-chart name with Roman roots |
| Rex | King | Short and punchy Latin word |
| Leo | Lion | Also the name of 13 popes |
| Linus | Flax (from Greek) | Second pope; gentle and bright |
| Emil | Aemilius (“rival”) | European favorite |
| Horace | Horatius | English form of the poet’s name |
| Ovid | Ovidius | The poet of the Metamorphoses |
How to choose a Roman boy name
- Decide on the layer: praenomina (Marcus, Lucius) feel like everyday first names, while cognomina (Cato, Brutus) have stronger personalities.
- Check the meaning twice. Many cognomina were jokes about looks: Naso means “nose,” Crassus “fat,” Brutus “dull.”
- Use an English or Romance form if the Latin feels heavy: Hadrian, Julian and Aurelio are easier than Hadrianus or Iulianus.
- Try the three-name effect: a Roman praenomen plus a family middle name, like Lucius James, gives the name weight without being costume-like.
- Mind the famous bearer. Nero, Caligula and Commodus are memorable for the wrong reasons.
Frequently asked questions
What was the most common Roman boy name?
Gaius, Lucius and Marcus were by far the most frequent Roman praenomina, followed by Publius, Quintus and Titus.
How did Roman names work?
A male citizen usually had three names: a praenomen (personal name), a nomen (family clan name) and a cognomen (branch name or nickname), such as Gaius Julius Caesar.
What Roman name means warrior?
Marcus and Marcellus are traditionally linked to Mars, the god of war, and Valerius and Valens come from valere, “to be strong.”
Are Roman names still used today?
Yes. Julian, Adrian, Lucas, Felix, Maximus and Atticus all come straight from Roman names and remain popular in the US and Europe.
What is a strong Roman name for a boy?
Maximus (“greatest”), Magnus (“great”), Valerius (“to be strong”), Augustus (“venerable”) and Drusus (“strong”) are popular picks.