ROMAN NAMES

The Roman name typically contains three proper nouns which are classified as either a praenomen (or given name), nomen (or family name), and cognomen (or nickname).

The Romans did not have the same level of selection for given names as found in the contemporary world. Since many Roman men given the same praenomen it became the practical to refer to a citizen by their praenomen and nomen (given and family name); Gnaeus Cornelius would never simply be refered to as Gnaeus or Cornelius.

Since it was common for members of the same family to share identical names, the cognomen was often used to distinguish individuals: Gnaeus Cornelius Varro would be distinguished from his relative Gnaeus Cornelius Longinus by calling him Varro, by his cognomen, and his relation Longinus. In this way it was possible to increase the number of possible names available to citizens.

The names of women in Rome is somewhat more flexible than thoes conventions used by male names. For further information on female naming conventions, I would recommend visiting the Nova Roma name webpage for a more comprehensive list of examples).

Although this document treats Roman names as comprising of three parts, there are numerous instances in history where Roman citizens have only had their praenomen and nomen recorded, suggesting no cognomen. It has been as equally apparent in the records that some citizens have also had more than one cognomen; confered by their peers, for military triumphs or by some other deed, or indicating some link to an imperial or divine origin.

PRAENOMEN

(or 'first name')

Male

Many of the praenomen used by male citizens were abbreviated to one or two characters; Gaius (G), Gnaeus (Gn), Lucius (L), Marcus (M), Publius (P), Sextus (S), Titus (T), et cetera.

Appius (particular to the Claudii) Aulus Caeso (particular to the Fabii) Decimus Gaius Gnaeus Lucius Manius Marcus

Numerius Publius Quintus Servius Sextus Spurius Tiberius Titus Vibius

Female

One naming convention for female praenomen included the designation of birth order among the daughters of a family: Prima (first), Secunda (second), Tertia (third), et cetra.

NOMEN

(or 'family name')

The following nomen are organized under the masculine form. When referring to gens, or used in a woman's name, the feminine form is utilized; a man with the nomen Cornelius would belong to the gens Cornelia.

A	C	D	E-F
Accius Acilius Aelius Aemilius Afranius Annius Antonius Appuleius Apustius Aquillius Atilius Attius Aufidius Aurelius	Caecilius Caedicius Calpurnius Carvilius Cassius Claudius Clodius Coelius Cornelius Cornificius Coruncanius Cremutius Curius	Decius Domitius Duilius	Ennius Fabius Fabricius Fannius Flaminius Flavius Fufius Fulvius Fundanius Furius
G	I	L	M
Gellius Genucius Hirtius Hortensius Hostilius	Iulius Iunius Iuventius	Labienus Licinius Livius Lutatius	Maccius Mamilius Manlius Marcius Marius Minucius Mummius Munatius
N	O	P	Q
Nautius Norbanus	Octavius Ogulnius Opimius Otacilius	Papirius Petillius Pompeius Pompilius Popillius Pomponius Porcius Postumius Pupius	Quinctius
R	S	T	V
Rupilius Rutilius	Scribonius Sempronius Sergius Servilius Sosius Sulpicius	Tarquinius Terentius Tullius	Valerius Vatinius Vibius Vipsanius Volcacius Volumnius

COGNOMEN

(or 'nickname')

The cognomen is a nickname which is often based on a physical characteristic or personality trait. A Roman man is often known by his cognomen which distinguishes him from other members of his gens with the same praenomen.

A	B	C	D
Achaicus Aemilianus Afer Africanus Agrippa Ahenobarbus Albinus Allobrigicus Arvina Asiaticus Asina	Baliaricus Barbula Blaesus Blasio Brutus Buteo	Caecus Caepio Caesar Caesoninus Caiatinus Calvus Calvus Canina Carbo Catalina Cato Catulus Caudex Caudinus Celer Censorinus Centumalus Cerco Cethegus Cicero Cinna Clepsina Clodianus Corculum Corvus Cotta Crassus Creticus Crispinus Crus Curio Cursor	Decula Dentatus Diadematus Dives Dolabella Drusus
E	F	G	H
Eburnus Etruscus	Falto Fimbria Flaccus Flaminius Florus Frugi Fundulus	Gallus Geminus Germanicus Geta Glabrio Gracchus Gurges	Hispallus Hypsaeus
I	L	M	N
Isauricus	Labeo Laenas Laevinus Lentulus Lepidus Libo Licinius Ligus Livianus Longinus Longus Lucullus Lupus Luscinus	Macedonicus Magnus Malleolus Mancinus Marcellus Maso Matho Maximus Megellus Merula Messalla Metellus Murena Mus	Nasica Nero Nerva Niger Nobilior Noctua
O	P	R	S
Octavianus Orestes	Pacilus Paetinus Paetus Pansa Papus Papus Paterculus Paullus Pennus Pera Philippus Philo Pictor Piso Pius Plautus Pollio Porcina Pulcher Pullus Purpurio	Ravilla Regulus Rufinus Rufus Rullianus Russus	Sabinus Salinator Saverrio Scaevola Scipio Serapio Serranus Servilianus Silanus Sophus Spurinus Strabo Sulla Sura
T	V
Tamphilus Tappulus Thalna Thermus Torquatus Tremulus Tuditanus Tullus Turrinus	Varro Varus Verrucosus Vitulus Vulso

The primary source of praenomen, nomen, and cognomen were taken from the names of consuls who served the Roman Republic between 300 BCE through to 28 BCE. Minor sources include the names of noted Roman authors and statesmen.

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