Roman Girl Names
Roman girl names followed a simple rule: a daughter took the feminine form of her father’s family name. Every daughter of the Julii was Julia, every daughter of the Cornelii Cornelia, and sisters were told apart with nicknames such as Maior (elder), Minor (younger), Tertia (third) or pet forms like Drusilla.
That tradition gave us some of the most elegant names in use today. Here are more than 100 authentic Roman girl names, with meanings and the famous women who carried them. For brothers, see Roman boy names; for the bigger picture, our guide to Roman names; and for softer Latin picks, Latin girl names.
Roman girl names from family clans (nomina)
These are the core Roman girl names, each the feminine form of a gens name. They sound polished and are surprisingly wearable today.
| Name | Meaning | Famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Julia | Possibly “youthful”; of the Julii | Julia, daughter of Augustus |
| Livia | Possibly “blue-ish” or “envious” | Livia Drusilla, wife of Augustus |
| Octavia | Eighth | Octavia the Younger, sister of Augustus |
| Cornelia | Horn (possibly) | Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi |
| Claudia | Lame (claudus) | Claudia Octavia, wife of Nero |
| Aurelia | Golden | Aurelia Cotta, mother of Julius Caesar |
| Flavia | Golden, blond | Flavia Domitilla, wife of Vespasian |
| Valeria | To be strong | Galeria Valeria, empress |
| Aemilia | Rival, eager | Aemilia Tertia, wife of Scipio Africanus |
| Antonia | Uncertain; possibly Etruscan | Antonia Minor, mother of Claudius |
| Fabia | Bean grower (possibly) | Fabia, Vestal Virgin |
| Cassia | Empty, vain (possibly); also the cinnamon tree | Cassia gens women |
| Junia | Of Juno; young | Junia, praised by Paul (Romans 16) |
| Tullia | Uncertain | Tullia, Cicero’s beloved daughter |
| Horatia | Timekeeper (possibly) | Horatia, sister of the Horatii |
| Domitia | Tamed | Domitia Longina, empress |
| Porcia | Pig keeper | Porcia Catonis, wife of Brutus |
| Lucretia | Profit, wealth (possibly) | Lucretia, heroine of the Republic’s founding |
| Terentia | Tender, gentle (possibly) | Terentia, wife of Cicero |
| Servilia | Servant, preserver (possibly) | Servilia, mother of Brutus |
| Calpurnia | Possibly from calpar, a wine vessel | Calpurnia, wife of Julius Caesar |
| Clodia | Lame (variant of Claudia) | Clodia Metelli, Catullus’s “Lesbia” |
| Fulvia | Yellow-brown, tawny | Fulvia, wife of Mark Antony |
| Pompeia | Fifth (Oscan) | Pompeia, Caesar’s second wife |
| Sempronia | Eternal (possibly) | Sempronia, sister of the Gracchi |
| Hortensia | Of the garden | Hortensia, famous orator |
| Marcia | Of Mars | Marcia, mistress of Commodus |
| Aelia | Sun (possibly, from Greek helios) | Aelia Eudocia, empress |
| Vibia | Uncertain, Oscan | Vibia Sabina, wife of Hadrian |
| Atia | Uncertain | Atia, mother of Augustus |
| Annia | Of the year (possibly) | Annia Galeria Faustina |
| Licinia | Uncertain | Licinia, Vestal Virgin |
| Plotia | Flat-footed | Plotia gens |
| Sergia | Servant, attendant (possibly) | Sergia gens |
| Petronia | Rock, stone (possibly) | Petronia, wife of Vitellius |
| Ulpia | Wolf (Umbrian) | Ulpia Marciana, sister of Trajan |
| Caecilia | Blind (caecus) | Caecilia Metella, whose tomb stands on the Appian Way |
Numbered and birth-order names
When a family had several daughters with the same nomen, Romans often added a number. Many are lovely stand-alone names now.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Prima | First | Eldest daughter |
| Secunda | Second | Also means “favorable” |
| Tertia | Third | Aemilia Tertia, Scipio’s wife |
| Quarta | Fourth | Rare today |
| Quinta | Fifth | Bright and unusual |
| Sexta | Sixth | Rare |
| Septima | Seventh | Soft vintage feel |
| Decima | Tenth | Also a Roman goddess of fate |
| Maior | Elder | Used to separate sisters |
| Minor | Younger | Antonia Minor |
Pet names, diminutives and cognomina
The -illa ending made a name affectionate (“little Drusa”), and some of these became the most fashionable names of the imperial family.
| Name | Meaning | Famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Agrippina | Feminine of Agrippa | Agrippina the Younger, mother of Nero |
| Drusilla | Little Drusa; strong | Julia Drusilla, sister of Caligula |
| Livilla | Little Livia | Livilla, niece of Tiberius |
| Priscilla | Little Prisca; ancient | Priscilla, early Christian (Acts 18) |
| Lucilla | Little Lucia; light | Lucilla, daughter of Marcus Aurelius |
| Marcella | Little warrior; from Marcus | Saint Marcella of Rome |
| Paulina | Small | Pompeia Paulina, wife of Seneca |
| Severina | Stern, serious | Ulpia Severina, empress |
| Faustina | Lucky, fortunate | Faustina the Younger, empress |
| Sabina | Sabine woman | Vibia Sabina, empress |
| Plotina | From Plotius | Pompeia Plotina, wife of Trajan |
| Messalina | From Messalla | Valeria Messalina, empress |
| Poppaea | Uncertain | Poppaea Sabina, wife of Nero |
| Galla | Woman from Gaul | Galla Placidia, empress |
| Placidia | Calm, peaceful | Galla Placidia |
| Lucia | Light | Very common Roman name |
| Prisca | Ancient | Prisca, wife of Diocletian |
| Crispina | Curly-haired | Bruttia Crispina, empress |
| Justina | Just, fair | Justina, empress |
| Vipsania | From Vipsanius | Vipsania Agrippina, first wife of Tiberius |
| Marina | Of the sea | Marina Severa, empress |
| Camilla | Temple attendant | Camilla, warrior maiden in Virgil’s Aeneid |
| Lavinia | Of Lavinium | Lavinia, wife of Aeneas and ancestor of the Romans |
| Silvia | Of the forest | Rhea Silvia, mother of Romulus and Remus |
| Augusta | Venerable, majestic | Title given to Roman empresses |
Roman goddess names
Rome’s goddesses supply some of the most striking names on the list. You’ll find the full pantheon, and many Greek equivalents, in our goddess names collection.
| Name | Goddess of | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Minerva | Wisdom, crafts and strategy | Equivalent of Athena |
| Diana | The hunt and the moon | Equivalent of Artemis |
| Juno | Marriage and queen of the gods | Equivalent of Hera |
| Venus | Love and beauty | Equivalent of Aphrodite |
| Vesta | Hearth and home | Served by the Vestal Virgins |
| Aurora | Dawn | Hugely popular today |
| Luna | The moon | See also <a href="/meaning/name-meanings/names-that-mean-moon/">names that mean moon</a> |
| Flora | Flowers and spring | Festival of Floralia |
| Ceres | Grain and harvest | Root of the word “cereal” |
| Fortuna | Luck and fate | Equivalent of Tyche |
| Pomona | Fruit and orchards | Rare and sweet |
| Fauna | Animals and fertility | Nature-lover’s pick |
| Bellona | War | Strong and uncommon |
| Proserpina | The underworld and spring | Equivalent of Persephone |
| Terra | The earth | Also Tellus |
| Victoria | Victory | Equivalent of Nike |
Roman virtue names
Romans worshipped personified virtues, and many became girls’ names in Christian times. See also names that mean hope and names that mean peace.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Concordia | Harmony, agreement | Temple in the Forum |
| Pax | Peace | Ultra-short Latin name |
| Spes | Hope | Personified virtue |
| Fides | Faith, trust | Temple on the Capitoline |
| Libertas | Liberty | The original “Lady Liberty” |
| Clementia | Mercy | Root of Clementine |
| Pietas | Duty, devotion | Core Roman value |
| Felicitas | Good luck, happiness | Also a martyr, Felicity |
| Constantia | Constancy, steadfastness | Constantina, daughter of Constantine |
| Juventas | Youth | Goddess of youth |
| Honora | Honor | From Honos, god of honor |
| Perpetua | Everlasting | Saint Perpetua, martyr of 203 |
| Serena | Calm, serene | Serena, niece of Theodosius |
Tips for choosing a Roman girl name
- For an easy everyday name, start with the clan names: Julia, Livia, Octavia and Aurelia are authentic and familiar.
- Try the -illa or -ina forms (Drusilla, Faustina) if you want something softer and more unusual.
- Numbered names like Tertia or Septima make a clever nod to birth order, and they don’t have to match the actual order.
- Goddess names are bold; pair one with a simpler middle name so your daughter has an easy fallback.
- Look up the famous bearer. Messalina and Agrippina were fascinating, but their reputations were dramatic.
Frequently asked questions
What were common Roman girl names?
Because girls took the feminine form of the family name, the most common Roman girl names were clan names like Julia, Claudia, Cornelia, Valeria, Aemilia and Antonia.
Did Roman women have first names?
Usually not in the way men did. Most women were known by the feminine form of their family name, with extras like Maior, Minor or Tertia to distinguish sisters.
What is a pretty Roman name for a girl?
Aurelia (“golden”), Livia, Octavia, Lucilla (“little light”), Flavia (“golden”) and Serena (“calm”) are all beautiful and wearable today.
What Roman girl name means strong?
Valeria comes from valere, “to be strong,” and Drusilla is linked to Drusus, traditionally interpreted as “strong” or “firm.”
Is Aurora a Roman name?
Yes. Aurora was the Roman goddess of dawn and the name is Latin for “dawn.”