Choosing a Roman Name

Tria nomina

Typical Roman names of the late Republic had three parts (the "tria nomina"). Example: Gaius Iulius Caesar where:

 Gaius is a praenomen ("given name", plural praenomina),  Iulius is a nomen ("gens or clan name", plural nomina), and  Caesar is a cognomen ("family name within a gens", plural cognomina).

Praenomen

A praenomen, the first part of a Roman name, is a personal name which distinguishes an individual from other members of the same family. The praenomen is not normally used on its own: normally only close relatives or very close friends call each other by their praenomen.

These are the standard praenomina, from most common to least common:

Male Female Form Form Gaius Gaia Lucius Lucia Marcus Marca Publius Publia Quintus Quinta Titus Tita Tiberius Tiberia Sextus Sexta Aulus Aula Decimus Decima Gnaeus Gnaea Spurius Spuria Manius Mania Servius Servia Appius Appia Numerius Numeria Vibius Vibia

Nomen

A nomen gentilicium indicates which gens a Roman belongs to. A gens is a loose collection of families sharing the same nomen. It is the middle part of the tria nomina

Acilius Aebutius Aelius Aemilius Albius Amatius Annaeus Anneius Annius Antonius Arrius Artorius Asinius Atilius Atius Aurelius Autronius Caecilius Caedicius Caelius Calidius Calpurnius Cassius Claudius Cloelius Cocceius Cominius Cornelius Coruncanius Curiatius Curius Curtius Decius Didius Domitius Duilius Durmius Equitius Fabius Fabricius Fannius Flavius Fulvius Furius Gabinius Galerius Geganius Gellius Geminius Genucius Gratius Herennius Hirtius Horatius Hortensius Hostilius Iulius Iunius Iuventius Laelius Lartius Licinius Livius Lucilius Lucretius Manlius Marcius Marius Memmius Menenius Minicius Minius Minucius Modius Mucius Naevius Nautius Numerius Numicius Octavius Ovidius Papirius Petronius Pinarius Pompeius Pompilius Pontius Popillius Porcius Postumius Quinctilius Quinctius Rubellius Rufius Rutilius Sallustius Salonius Salvius Scribonius Seius Sempronius Sentius Sergius Sertorius Servilius Sextius Sicinius Suetonius Sulpicius Tarpeius Tarquitius Terentius Titinius Titurius Tuccius Tullius Ulpius Valerius Vedius Velleius Vergilius Verginius Vibius Villius Vipsanius Vitellius Vitruvius Volumnius

Cognomen

A cognomen is a family name which would be shared by a group of blood relatives within the same gens. Cognomina often, but not always, referred to a person's appearance or other characteristics. It was also common to have a cognomen referring to a place of birth, a job, or some other thing which distinguished the person (usually an ancestor) who first bore that cognomen.

To help you choose a cognomen, there is a list of ancient Roman cognomina below:

Male Form Female Form Meaning Aculeo Aculeo Prickly, unfriendly Agricola Agricola Farmer Agrippa Agrippa Born feet first Ahala Ahala Armpit Ahenobarbus Ahenobarba With a red beard Albinus Albina Pale, white Albus Alba White or fair-skinned Ambustus Ambusta Burnt, scalded Annalis Annalis Relating to years Aquila Aquila Eagle Aquilinus Aquilina Eagle-like Arvina Arvina Fat, lard Asellio Asellio Keeper of donkeys Asina Asina Female donkey Atellus Atella Dark-haired or dark skinned Avitus Avita Grandfatherly Balbus Balba Stutterer Barba Barba A beard Barbatus Barbata Bearded Bassus Bassa Plump Bestia Bestia Like an animal Bibaculus Bibacula Drunkard Bibulus Bibula Drunkard Someone who mispronounces words, slurs his speech, Blaesus Blaesa stammers, or lisps Brocchus Broccha Toothy Brutus Bruta Stupid, dull-witted Bubulcus Bubulca Cattle-driver Bucco Bucco Fool, dolt Bulbus Bulba Bulb, onion Buteo Buteo Buzzard Caecus Caeca Blind Caepio Caepio Onion-seller Caesar Caesar Hairy Calidus Calida Hot-headed, rash Calvus Calva Bald Camillus Camilla A child who helps during sacrifices Caninus Canina Dog-like Canus Cana Golden-haired or grey-haired Capito Capito Big-headed Carbo Carbo Charcoal Cato Cato Shrewd, prudent Catulus Catula Puppy, whelp Celer Celeris Quick Celsus Celsa Tall Cicero Cicero Chick pea Cicurinus Cicurina Mild, gentle Cilo Cilo Large forehead or large lips Cincinnatus Cincinnata Curly-haired Cordus Corda Born late Cornicen Cornicen Military bugler Cornutus Cornuta Horned Corvinus Corvina Crow-like Corvus Corva Crow Costa Costa A rib Crassipes Crassipes Club-footed Crassus Crassa Fat Crispinus Crispina Curly-haired Crispus Crispa Curly-haired Culleo Culleo Leather sack for carrying liquid Curio Curio Priest of a Curia Cursor Cursor Runner, courier Curvus Curva Stooping, bent Dentatus Dentata Toothy Denter Dentra Toothy Dento Dento Toothy Dives Dives Rich, wealthy Dolabella Dolabella Hatchet Dorsuo Dorsuo Large back Figulus Figula Potter Fimbria Fimbria Edge of clothing, fringes Flaccus Flacca Floppy ears Flavus Flava Blonde-haired Florus Flora Light-coloured or blooming Fronto Fronto Prominent forehead Fullo Fullo A fuller or launderer Galeo Galeo Helmet Gemellus Gemella A twin Gurges Gurges Greedy, prodigal Habitus Habita In good physical condition Helva Helva Dun-colored hair Imperiosus Imperiosa Domineering, dictatorial Labeo Labeo Prominent lips Lactuca Lactuca Lettuce Laenas Laenas A woolly cloak Lanatus Lanata Wearing wool Laterensis Laterensis Person from the hill-side Lentulus Lentula A bit slow Lepidus Lepida Charming, amusing Licinus Licina Spiky- or bristly-haired Longus Longa Tall Lupus Lupa Wolf Lurco Lurco Gluttonous, greedy Macer Macra Thin Macula Macula A spot or blemish Malleolus Malleola Hammer Merenda Merenda Light afternoon meal Mergus Merga Sea-gull Merula Merula Blackbird Metellus Metella Army follower Murena Murena Eel Mus Mus Mouse or rat Musca Musca Fly Nasica Nasica Big-nosed Naso Naso Big-nosed Natta Natta An artisan Nepos Nepos Grandchild Nero Nero Strong Nerva Nerva Vigorous Niger Nigra Black-skinned or black-haired Novellus Novella New, new-fangled Ocella Ocella Small-eyed Paetus Paeta Squinty or blinking Pansa Pansa Splay-footed Paterculus Patercula Little father Paullus Paulla Small Pavo Pavo Peacock Pera Pera Shoulder-bag Pictor Pictrix Painter Piso Piso Mortar Plancus Planca Flat-footed Plautus Plauta Flat-footed Poplicola Poplicola Friend of the people Postumus Postuma Born after the father's death Praeconinus Praeconina A relative of a herald Praetextatus Praetextata Young (wearing the toga praetexta) Priscus Prisca Very ancient Proculus Procula Born during father's absence Publicola Publicola Variant of Poplicola Pulcher Pulchra Attractive Pullus Pulla Child Pulvillus Pulvilla Small cushion Purpureo Purpureo Wearing purple or with a purplish complexion Quadratus Quadrata Stocky, squarely built Ralla Ralla A tunic of fine fabric Regillus Regilla Prince Regulus Regula Prince Rufus Rufa Reddish, Ginger-haired Ruga Ruga Wrinkly Rullus Rulla Uncultivated, boorish Rutilus Rutila Reddish-gold hair Salinator Salinatrix Salt-harvester Saturninus Saturnina Dedicated to Saturn Scaeva Scaeva Left-handed Scaevola Scaevola Left-handed Scapula Scapula Shoulder-blade Scaurus Scaura Lame, swollen-ankled Scipio Scipio Rod, staff Scrofa Scrofa Sow Seneca Seneca Elderly Severus Severa Strict, severe Silanus Silana Nose, water-spout Silo Silo Snub-nosed Silus Sila Snub-nosed Stolo Stolo Shoot of a plant Strabo Strabo Squinty Sura Sura Calf of the leg Taurus Taura Bull Triarius Triaria A type of soldier Trigeminus Trigemina A triplet Trio Trio One of the seven stars of the Plough / Big Dipper Tubero Tubero Having a tumour or swelling Tubertus Tuberta Having a tumour or swelling Tubulus Tubula Little tube Tuditanus Tuditana Mallet Turdus Turda Thrush Varro Varro Block-head Varus Vara Bow-legged Vatia Vatia Knock-kneed Verres Verres Pig Vespillo Vespillo Person employed to bury people too poor for a funeral Vetus Vetus Old Vitulus Vitula Calf or young cow