Choosing a cognomen

The third name or cognomen started to be a nickname or personal name that distinguished individuals within the same gens (the cognomen does not appear in official documents until around 100 BCE). During the Roman Republic, the cognomen was inherited from father to son, serving to distinguish a family within a gens. Often the cognomen was chosen based on some physical or personality trait.

Note: This list is intended as a guide to help you choose a meaningful cognomen. It is not a definite work and we will be adding new cognomina as and when our research permits. You are most welcome to choose a cognomen that does not appear on this list as long as your cognomen fits within the rules defined by the censorial edictum de nominibus and the Lex Fabia de Nominibus.

male form / female form 

Meaning

Aculeo / ? 

Prickly, unfriendly

Agricola / ? 

The farmer

Agrippa / ? 

He who was born feet first

Ahala / ? 

Armpit; Cognomen of gens Servilia

Ahenobarbus / ? 

With a red beard; Cognomen of gens Domitia

Albinus / Albina 

 ? Cognomen of gens Postumia

Albus / Alba 

White or fair-skinned; Cognomen of gens Postumia

Ambustus / Ambusta 

Burnt, scalded; used by Fabii

Annalis / Annalis 

Relating to years; used by Villii

Aquila / ? 

Eagle

Aquilinus / Aquilina 

Eagleish

Arvina / ? 

Fat, lard; used by Cornelii and others

Asellio / ? 

The keeper of donkeys; used by Sempronii

Asina / ? 

The female donkey / cognomen of gens Cornelia

Atellus / Atella 

Dark-haired or dark skinned

Avitus / Avita 

He who takes after his grandfather

Balbus / Balba 

He who stutters; used by Acilii, Cornelii, Lucilii, Naevii, Octavii, and others.

Barba / ? 

A beard

Barbatus / ? 

The bearded one; used by Cornelii, Scipiones, Horatii, Quinctii, and others.

Bassus / Bassa 

The plump (i.e. fat) one

Bestia / ? 

An animal or a bestial man; used by Calpurnii.

Bibaculus / Bibacula 

Drunkard; Cognomen of gentes Furia & Sextia

Bibulus / Bibula 

Drunkard; Cognomen of gentes Calpurnia and Publicia

Blaesus / Blaesa 

Someone who mispronounces words, slurs his speech, stammers, or lisps; used by Sempronii.

Brocchus / ? 

Toothy

Brutus / Bruta 

Stupid, dull-witted; used by Iunii

Bubulcus / Bubulca 

A cattle-driver; used by Iunii and others.

Bucco / ? 

Fool; dolt.

Bulbus / Bulba 

Bulb, onion; used by Atilii

Buteo / ? 

Buzzard; used by Fabii

Caecina / ? 

Cognomen of gens Licinia

Caecus / Caeca 

The blind one; cognomen of gens Claudia

Caepio / ? 

The onion vendor. Cognomen of gens Servilia.

Caesar / ? 

From archaic praenomen Caesar, perhaps meaning "hairy"; used by Iulii

Calidus / Calida 

Hot-headed, rash; used by Coelii and others

Calvinus / Calvina 

 ? Probably from Calvus. Cognomen of gentes Domitia & Veturia

Calvus / Calva 

The bald one

Camillus / Camilla 

A child who hepled during sacrifices. Cognomen of gens Furia

Caninus / Canina 

Dog-like; used by Acilii

Canus / Cana 

Golden-haired or grey-haired

Capito / ? 

Big-headed; used by Ateii and others

Carbo / ? 

Charcoal; used by Papirii and others.

Castus / Casta 

The pure, chaste one

Catilina / ? 

Cognomen of gens Sergia

Cato / ? 

Shrewd, prudent; used by Hostilii, Porcii, and others

Catulus / Catula 

Puppy, whelp; used by Lutatii.

Celer / Celera 

Quick

Celsus / Celsa 

Tall; used by Papii and others

Cethegus / Cethega 

Refers to early Romans. Cognomen of gens Cornelia

Cicero / ? 

Chick pea; used by Tullii and others

Cicurinus / Cicurina 

Mild, gentle; used by Veturii

Cilo / ? 

Large forehead or large lips; used by Flaminii and others

Cincinnatus / Cincinnata 

Curly-haired; used by Quinctii and others

Cinna / ? 

 ? Cognomen of gens Cornelia

Collatinus / Collatina 

 ? Probably from Collatia. Cognomen of gens Tarquinia.

Cordus / Corda 

Born late

Cornicen / ? 

Military bugler.

Cornutus / Cornuta 

Horned; used by Caecilii, Sulpicii

Corvinus / Corvina 

He who looks/acts like a crow. Cognomen of gens Valeria

Corvus / Corva 

The crow. Cognomen of gens Valeria

Cossus / Cossa 

From archaic praenomen Cossus; used by Cornelii

Costa / ? 

A rib; used by Pedanii

Cotta / ? 

 ? Cognomen of Gens Aurelia

Crassipes / ? 

Club-footed; used by Furii

Crassus / Crassa 

Fat; used by Claudii, Licinii, Otacilii, Veturii, and others

Crispinus / Crispina 

 ? Probably related to a location

Crispus / Crispa 

He who has curly hair. Cognomen of gentes Sallustia & Vibia

Culleo / ? 

Leather sack for carrying liquid; used by Terentii

Curio / xxx 

Priest of a Curia. Cognomen of gens Scribonia.

Cursor / ? 

Runner, courier; used by Papirii

Curvus / Curva 

Stopping, bent; used by Fulvii and others

Dentatus / Dentata 

Toothy

Denter / Dentra 

Toothy; used by Caecilii and others

Dento / ? 

Toothy

Dives / Dives 

Rich, wealthy; used by Licinii Crassi and others

Dolabella / ? 

Hatchet; used by Cornelii

Dorsuo / ? 

Large back; used by Fabii, and others

Drusus / Drusilla 

 ? Used by Livii, and others

Figulus / Figula 

The pot maker/potter.

Fimbria / ? 

Edge of clothing, fringes. Cognomen of gens Flavia.

Flaccus / Flacca 

He who has big floppy ears. Used by Avianii, Fulvii, Valerii, and others.

Flavus / Flava 

Blonde-haired; used by Decimii and others

Florus / Flora 

Light-coloured or blooming; used by Aquilii

Fronto / xxx 

He who has a prominent forehead

Frugi / Frugi 

(indecl) the honest one, the sober one

Fullo / ? 

A fuller or launderer; used by Apustii

Fusus / Fusa 

From archaic praenomen Fusus; used by Furii

Galeo / ? 

Helmet

Gemellus / Gemella 

A twin; used by Servilii, Veturii, and others

Geta / ? 

 ? Probably related to a location

Glabrio / ? 

A relative of Glaber; used by Acilii

Gracchus / Graccha 

 ? Cognomen of gens Sempronia

Gurges / ? 

Greedy, prodigal; used by Fabii Maximi

Habitus / Habita 

In good physical condition; used by Cluentii and others

Helva / ? 

Dun-colored hair; used by Aebutii

Imperiosus / Imperiosa 

Domineering, dictatorial; used by Manlii

Iul(l)us / Iul(l)a 

From archaic praenomen Iulus; used by Iulii

Labeo / ? 

Prominent lips; used by Antistii, Atinii, Fabii, and others.

Lactuca / ? 

Lettuce; used by Valerii

Laenas / ? 

 ? Possibly related to a wooly item of clothing (likely a cape; Gk. khlaina). Cognomen of gens Popillia

Laenatus / Laenata 

Wearing wool; used by the Menenii

Laevinus / Laevina 

 ?

Laterensis / Laterenisi 

Person from the hill-side; used by Iuventii

Lentulus / Lentula 

A bit slow; used by Cornelii

Lepidus / Lepida 

Charming, amusing; used by Aemilii and others

Libo / ? 

 ? Used by Marcii and others

Licinus / Licina 

Spiky- or bristly-haired; used by Mamilii

Longus / Longa 

Tall; used by Sempronii, Sulpicii and others

Lucullus / Luculla 

From lucus (grove) or Lucius (praenomen); used by Licinii

Lupus / Lupa 

The wolf. Cognomen of gens Rutilia.

Lurco / ? 

Gluttonous, greedy

Macer / Macra 

Thin; used by Licinii and others

Macula / ? 

A spot or blemish.

Malleolus / Malleola 

Hammer; used by Publicii

Mamercus / Mamerca 

From rare praenomen Mamercus, used by Aemilii

Marcellus / Marcella 

The warrior

Merenda / ? 

Light afternoon meal; used by Antonii, Cornelii and others

Maro / ? 

 ? Used by Vergilii

Mergus / Merga 

Sea-gull

Merula / Merulina 

The blackbird; used by Cornelii

Messal(l)a / Messal(l)ina 

 ? Cognomen of gens Valeria

Metellus / Metella 

The army follower. Cognomen of gens Caecillia

Murena / ? 

Eel; used by Licinii

Mus / Mus 

Mouse or rat; used by Decii and others

Musca / ? 

Fly; used by Sempronii

Nasica / ? 

Big-nosed; used by Sempronii

Naso / ? 

Big-nosed; used by Ovidii

Natta / ? 

An artisan; used by Pinarii

Nepos / ? 

Grandchild; used by Caecilii Metelli and others

Nero / ? 

From rare praenomen Nero; used by Claudii and others

Nerva / ? 

Vigorous; used by Licinii and others

Niger / Nigra 

Black-skinned or black-haired

Novellus / Novella 

New, new-fangled; used by Gavilii

Ocella / ? 

Small-eyed; used by Livii and others

Pacilus / Pacila 

From archaic praenomen Pacilus; used by Furii

Paetus / Paeta 

Squinty or blinking; used by Aelii and others

Pansa / ? 

Splay-footed; used by Vibii and others.

Papus / Papa 

From rare praenomen Papus; used by Aemilii and others

Paterculus / Patercula 

Father; used by Sulpicii and others

Pau(l)lus / Paul(l)la 

Small; used by Aemilii and others

Pavo / ? 

Peacock

Pera / ? 

Shoulder-bag; used by Iunii

Perpenna / ? 

 ?

Perperna / ? 

 ?

Pictor / Pictrix 

Painter; used by Fabii

Piso / xxx 

The mortar. Cognomen of gens Calpurnia

Planctus / Plancta 

Flat-footed; used by Munatii

Plautus / Plauta 

Flat-footed

Poplicola / ? 

He who flatters the people. This is an older spelling of "Publicola"

Postumus / Postuma 

Born after the father's death; used by Curtii and others

Potitus / Potita 

Probably derived from an archaic praenomen; used by Valerii

Praeconinus / Praeconina 

A relative of a herald

Praetextatus / Praetextata 

Young (wearing the toga praetexta); used by Sulpicii and others

Priscus / Prisca 

Very ancient, from the days of old, the very old man

Proculus / Procula 

From rare praenomen Proculus, perhaps meaning "born during father's absence"; used by Plautii.

Publicola / ? 

He who flatters the people.

Pulcher / Pulchra 

Attractive; used by Claudii and others

Pullus / Pulla 

Child

Pulvillus / Pulvilla 

Small cushion; used by Horatii

Purpureo / ? 

Wearing purple or with a purplish complexion

Quadratus / Quadrata 

Stocky, squarely built

Ralla / ? 

A tunic of fine fabric; used by Marcii

Regillus / Regilla 

Prince; used by Aemilii

Regulus / Regula 

Prince, used by Atilii

Rufus / Rufa 

Reddish, Ginger-haired.

Ruga / ? 

Wrinkly

Rullus / Rulla 

Uncultivated, boorish; used by Servilii

Rutilus / Rutila 

Reddish-gold hair

Salinator / Salinatrix 

He who harvests salt.

Saturninus / Saturnina 

Dedicated to Saturnus

Scaeva / ? 

Left-handed; used by Iunii Bruti and others

Scaevola / ? 

Left-handed; used by Mucii and others.

Scapula / ? 

Shoulder-blade; used by Quinctii and others

Scaurus / Scaura 

Lame, swollen-ankled; used by Aemilii, Aurelii

Scipio / ? 

Rod, staff; used by Cornelii and others

Scrofa / ? 

Sow; used by Tremelii

Severus / Severa 

Strict, severe

Seneca / ? 

 ? Probably related to senex, the old man. Cogn of gens Aennaea

Silanus / Silana 

From the forest. Cognomen of gens Iunia

Silo / ? 

Snub-nosed; used by Sergii

Silus / Sila 

Snub-nosed; used by Sergii

Stolo / ? 

Shoot of a plant; used by Licinii

Strabo / ? 

Squinty; used by Titii and others

Structus / Structa 

Possibly derived from an archaic praenomen; used by Servilii

Sulla / ? 

 ? Used by Cornelii

Sura / ? 

Calf of the leg

Taurus / Taura 

Bull

Tranquillus / Tranquilla 

Calm, tranquil, quiet

Triarius / Triaria 

A type of soldier; used by Valerii and others

Trigeminus / Trigemina 

A triplet; used by Curiatii and others

Trio / ? 

One of the seven stars of the Plough/Big Dipper; used by Lucretii

Tubero / ? 

Having a tumour or swelling; used by Aelii

Tubertus / Tuberta 

Having a tumour or swelling; used by Postumii

Tubulus / Tubula 

Little tube; used by Hostilii

Tuditanus / Tuditana 

Mallet; used by Sempronii

Tullus / Tulla 

From rare praenomen Tullus; used by Volcatii

Turdus / Turda 

Thrush; used by Papirii

Varro / ? 

Block-head; used by Terentii and others

Varus / Vara 

Bow-legged; used by Atilii, Licinii, Quinctilii, and others

Vatia / ? 

Knock-kneed; used by Servilii and others

Verres / ? 

Pig; used by Cornelii

Vespillo / ? 

Person employed to bury people too poor for a funeral; used by Lucretii

Vetus / Veta 

Old; used by Antistii

Vitulus / Vitula 

Calf or young cow; used by Mamilii, Pomponii, and others

Volusus / Volusa 

From rare praenomen Volusus; used by Valerii

Vide

• Choosing a Roman name
• Choosing a praenomen
• Choosing a nomen