Roman Names — Origins, Meanings & History

Liber Masculine Roman Roman

Liber is a Latin name meaning "free," derived from Latin liber. In ancient Roman religion, Liber (also known as Liber Pater) was a god of viticulture, wine, male fertility, and freedom. He was a patron deity of Rome's pl...

Libertas Feminine Roman Roman

Etymology and MythologyLibertas is a Latin name meaning "freedom, liberty". In Roman mythology, Libertas was the goddess and personification of liberty, often associated with the concept of personal and political freedom...

Libitina Feminine Roman Roman

Libitina is the ancient Roman goddess of funerals, corpses, and death. Her name, often used as a metonym for death itself, has uncertain origins; it may derive from the Etruscan word lupu, meaning "dead." Alternatively,...

Lucina Feminine Roman Roman

Lucina is a feminine given name with roots in Roman mythology, derived from Latin. The name originally comes from lucus meaning "grove," but was later reinterpreted as being associated with lux meaning "light." This sema...

Lucretia Feminine Roman Roman Roman Roman

Lucretia is a feminine given name derived from the Roman family name Lucretius, which itself may come from Latin lucrum meaning "profit, wealth." The name is inextricably linked to the legendary Roman noblewoman Lucretia...

Luna Feminine Dutch English +4 Dutch English Italian Portuguese Spanish +1

Etymology and MythologyLuna directly means "the moon" in Latin, and it is also the word for moon in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and other Romance languages. In Roman mythology, Luna was the goddess of the Moon, often d...

Maia 1 Feminine Georgian Portuguese +2 Georgian Portuguese Greek Roman

Maia is a feminine given name with deep roots in Greek and Roman mythology, as well as continued use in modern languages such as Portuguese and Georgian. In Greek, the name derives from the word μαῖα (maia), meaning "goo...

Maia 2 Feminine Roman Roman

Maia is a Roman goddess of spring, a companion (and sometimes wife) of Vulcan, the god of fire. Her name probably derives from Latin maior meaning "greater". She was later conflated with the Greek goddess Maia, one of th...

Mars Masculine Roman Roman

Mars is a name of Latin origin, derived from the word mas meaning "male" (genitive maris). In Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war, later equated with the Greek god Ares. He was considered the father of Romulus and R...

Marte 2 Masculine Roman Roman

Marte 2 is the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese form of Mars, the Roman god of war. The name derives from Latin Mars, which may be related to mas (genitive maris) meaning 'male'. As a given name, Marte 2 is used primaril...

Mercurius Masculine Roman Roman

Mercurius is the Latin form of Mercury, the name of the Roman god of trade, merchants, and travellers. The name derives from Latin Mercurius, likely related to mercari 'to trade' or merces 'wages'. In Roman mythology, Me...

Mercury Masculine Roman Roman

Mercury is a masculine given name and surname derived from the Roman god of trade, merchants, and travellers. The name is Latin Mercurius, probably rooted in mercari meaning "to trade" or merces "wages," reflecting the g...

Minerva Feminine English Spanish +1 English Spanish Roman

Minerva is a feminine name of uncertain etymology, possibly derived from Latin mens meaning "intellect," but more likely of Etruscan origin. It is best known as the name of the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, vict...

Minerve Feminine Roman Roman

Minerve is the French form of the name Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and crafts. The name was adopted into French from Latin Minerva through a learned borrowing, reflecting the Renaissance revi...

Naenia Feminine Roman Roman

Naenia (also known as Nenia Dea) is a name of Latin origin, deriving from the word nenia meaning "incantation, dirge". In Roman religion, Naenia was the goddess of funerals and the protective power of the funerary lament...

Neptune Masculine Roman Roman

Neptune is a masculine name of Latin origin, derived from Neptunus. The exact meaning of the name is uncertain, but it may be related to the Indo-European root *nebh- meaning "wet, damp, clouds," reflecting its associati...

Neptuno Masculine Roman Roman

Neptuno is the Spanish and European Portuguese form of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. The name is derived from Latin Neptunus, which is of unknown origin but possibly related to the Indo-European root *nebh- meaning...

Neptunus Masculine Roman Roman

Neptunus is the Latin form of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. The name itself is derived from the Latin Neptūnus, whose etymology is uncertain but may be connected to the Indo-European root *nebh- meaning "wet," "damp...

Nettuno Masculine Roman Roman

Nettuno is the Italian form of Neptune, the name of the Roman god of the sea. The name traces its roots back to Latin Neptunus, possibly derived from the Indo-European root *nebh- meaning "wet, damp, clouds." In Roman my...

Netuno Masculine Roman Roman

Netuno is a Brazilian Portuguese form of Neptune, ultimately derived via Latin Neptunus. The Latin name is of uncertain etymology, but it is often linked to the Proto-Indo-European root *nebh- meaning “wet, damp, clouds,...

Nisus Masculine Roman Roman

Nisus is a name of uncertain origin, rooted in Roman mythology. It is best known from Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid, where Nisus appears as a Trojan warrior, the son of Hyrtacus (a figure briefly mentioned in Homer's Il...

Nona 1 Feminine Roman Roman

Nona is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from nonus, meaning "ninth." In ancient Roman religion, Nona was a goddess of pregnancy, specifically associated with the ninth month of gestation. Her name directly...

Nox Feminine Roman Roman

Nox is the Latin word for "night" and the name of the Roman goddess of the night. She is the counterpart of the Greek goddess Nyx, and like her Greek equivalent, Nox was often depicted as a primordial deity born from Cha...

Numitor Masculine Roman Roman

Numitor is a name of obscure etymology from Roman mythology, most famously borne by the king of Alba Longa and maternal grandfather of Rome's founder, Romulus, and his twin brother Remus. According to legend, Numitor was...

Ops Feminine Roman Roman

Ops is an ancient Roman goddess whose name in Latin means "power, strength, wealth, abundance". She was the wife of Saturn and the mother of several major deities, including Jupiter and Juno. According to Roman mythology...

Pax Feminine Roman Roman

Pax is a feminine given name of Roman origin, directly derived from the Latin word pax meaning "peace." In Roman mythology, Pax was the goddess of peace and was often depicted with an olive branch and a cornucopia. She w...

Pluto Masculine Greek Roman Greek Roman

Pluto is the Latinized form of the Greek name Plouton (Πλούτων), derived from the Greek word ploutos (πλοῦτος) meaning "wealth". In Greek mythology, Pluto was an alternate name for Hades, the god of the underworld. The n...

Pollux Masculine Roman Roman

Pollux is the Roman form of the Greek name Polydeukes (Πολυδεύκης), derived from the elements polys (much) and deukes (sweet), meaning “very sweet.” In classical mythology, Pollux was the twin brother of Castor and, toge...

Pomona Feminine Roman Roman

Pomona is the name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees, derived from Latin pomus meaning "fruit tree" or "orchard fruit." In Roman mythology, she was a minor but distinct deity associated with the abundance of orchards,...

Proserpina Feminine Roman Roman

Proserpina is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Persephone. Her name derives from the Latin verb proserpere, meaning “to emerge,” which ties directly to her mythological role as a goddess of seasonal renewal. In...

Proserpine Feminine Roman Roman

Proserpine is the English and French form of Proserpina, the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Persephone. The name is derived from the Latin prōserpō meaning "to emerge" or "to crawl forth," reflecting the goddess's...

Quirinus Masculine Roman Medieval Latin Roman Medieval Latin

Etymology and OriginQuirinus is a name of likely Sabine origin, possibly derived from the Sabine word quiris meaning "spear" — suggesting the sense of a "wielder of the spear." This etymological connection aligns Quirinu...

Remus Masculine Romanian Roman Romanian Roman

Remus is a masculine name of uncertain etymology, possibly from Old Latin yemos meaning "twin," with its initial consonant altered under the influence of the name Romulus. In Roman mythology, Remus was one of the twin br...

Rhea Feminine Greek Roman Greek Roman

EtymologyRhea is a feminine given name of Greek and Roman origin. Its exact meaning is uncertain, but it may be derived from the Greek verb ῥέω (rheo) meaning "to flow" or from ἔρα (era) meaning "ground." In Greek mythol...

Romulus Masculine Romanian Roman Romanian Roman

Romulus is a masculine name of Latin origin, derived from Roma, the Latin name of the city of Rome, combined with a diminutive suffix. In Roman legend, Romulus and his twin brother Remus were the sons of Rhea Silvia and...

Salacia Feminine Roman Roman

Salacia is the Roman goddess of salt water, presiding over the depths of the ocean. Her name derives from Latin sal meaning "salt".Etymology and RoleThe name Salacia comes from Latin sal ("salt"), reflecting her domain o...

Saturn Masculine Roman Roman

Saturn is a masculine given name of Latin origin. In Roman mythology, Saturn (Latin: Saturnus) was the god of agriculture, sowing, and harvest, and was revered as a father of Jupiter, Juno, and several other deities. The...

Saturnus Masculine Roman Roman

Saturnus is the Latin form of Saturn, a name of uncertain meaning. It is directly derived from Roman mythology, where Saturnus was the god of agriculture, harvest, and time, and was also the father of major deities like...

Silvanus Masculine Roman English Bible +2 Roman English Bible Latin Bible Roman

Silvanus is a Roman cognomen meaning "of the woods", derived from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest". In Roman mythology, Silvanus was the god of forests, fields, and wild places, often associated with the protection of...

Silvia Feminine Dutch English +8 Dutch English German Italian Portuguese +5

Silvia is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the word silva, meaning "forest." Its literal translation is "spirit of the wood," and it shares a root with the male name Silvius and the Roman forest god Si...

Silvius Masculine Roman Medieval Latin Roman Medieval Latin

Silvius is a masculine given name of Roman and Medieval Latin origin, derived from the Latin silva meaning "wood, forest." In Roman mythology, Silvius was the son of Ascanius and grandson of Aeneas, and he became the pro...

Spes Feminine Roman Roman

Etymology and MeaningSpes is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived directly from the Latin word spes meaning "hope." This name gained prominence in ancient Roman mythology, where Spes was the goddess and personi...

Summanus Masculine Roman Roman

Summanus is a Roman given name derived from the Latin god Summānus, the deity of nocturnal thunder and lightning. The name itself likely comes from sub mane "before the morning", referring to the god's domain over the ni...

Tatius Masculine Roman Roman Roman Roman

Tatius is a Roman family name of uncertain origin, possibly from the Sabine language. While the Sabines were an ancient Italic people who lived in the central Apennines, the name's deeper etymology remains obscure and no...

Terminus Masculine Roman Roman

Terminus is a Latin name meaning "limit, boundary, end". In Roman mythology, Terminus was the god of boundaries and landmarks, revered for maintaining the sanctity of property lines and borders. His festival, the Termina...

Thisbe Feminine Greek Roman Greek Roman

Thisbe is a feminine name of Greek origin, best known from the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisbe. The name derives from Thisbe, an ancient town in Boeotia, which was itself supposedly named after a nymph. In Greek...

Turnus Masculine Roman Roman

Turnus is a legendary figure from Roman mythology, best known as the central antagonist in Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. The meaning of the name remains unknown, though it may be connected to the Ancient Greek Τυρρηνός...

Ulysses Masculine English Roman English Roman

Ulysses is the Latinized form of the Greek name Odysseus, famously borne by the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. The name Ulysses has a layered history, blending classical myth, political prominence, and literary m...

Venere Feminine Roman Roman

EtymologyVenere is the Italian form of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and sex. The name Venus itself derives from the Latin word venus, meaning "love, sexual desire." In Italian, Venere is used both as a given name and...

Vênus Feminine Roman Roman

Vênus is the Brazilian Portuguese form of the name Venus, ultimately derived from the Latin word venus meaning "love, sexual desire." In Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, later identi...

Vénus Feminine Roman Roman

Vénus is the French and European Portuguese form of Venus. The name originates from Latin venus, meaning "love, sexual desire". In Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, later equated with...

Venus Feminine Roman Roman

Venus is a feminine given name derived directly from the Latin word for "love, sexual desire." In Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love, beauty, desire, and fertility, whose cult was among the most prominent in...

Veritas Feminine Roman Roman

Veritas is a Latin word meaning "truth", derived from verus "true", and was also the name of the Roman goddess who personified truth. According to Roman mythology, Veritas was a daughter of Saturn (the Titan of Time, oft...

Vesper Unisex Dutch Roman Dutch Roman

Vesper is a unisex given name with roots in Latin and Greek, ultimately derived from the Latin vesper meaning “evening star.” It is a Latin cognate of Hesperos, the Greek personification of the evening star (the planet V...

Vesta Feminine Roman Roman

EtymologyVesta is the Roman name for the cognate of the Greek goddess Hestia. The name is derived from the Greek word hestia meaning "hearth, fireside." In Roman religion, Vesta presided over the hearth, home, and family...

Victoria Feminine Danish English +8 Danish English French German Norwegian +5

Victoria is a feminine given name derived from the Latin word victoria, meaning "victory". In Roman mythology, Victoria was the goddess of victory, equivalent to the Greek goddess Nike. It is also an attested feminine fo...

Vulcan Masculine Roman Roman

Vulcan is the name of the Roman god of fire, derived from Latin Vulcanus. The etymology of the name is uncertain; it may be related to Latin fulgeo meaning "to flash" (as in lightning), but more likely it is of pre-Latin...

Vulcanus Masculine Roman Roman

Vulcanus is the Latin form of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge. The name likely shares roots with the Latin word fulgeo meaning "to flash," suggesting a connection to lightning and fl...