Latin Boys' Baby Names

Male Given Names Based on Roman Names and Adjectives

Jun 2, 2009 Luke Arnott

Many English boys' baby names are based on Latin words. Descriptive names are among the most common, although a number of proper names from Roman times endure even today.

The ancient Romans had a complicated system of proper names, family names, and nicknames. Thankfully, modern parents don't need to worry about such things when naming their baby boys.

However, many boys' baby names in English originally come from Latin words, so it is important to know their meanings. Some have remained almost – or even exactly – the same for two thousand years. Others have been changed through other intermediate languages, such as French, but remain recognizable. Here are some of the most common boys' baby names that come from Latin.

Boys' Baby Names Based on Latin Adjectives

Many male names that come from Latin originally had a descriptive purpose:

Dexter: literally, "right-handed," but with the added meaning of skill and forthrightness. For the Romans, being left-handed, or sinister, was a sign of bad luck or untrustworthiness.
Felix: Latin for "happy," or "fortunate." This was the nickname of the dictator Sulla, who was able to retire peacefully after wiping out his political enemies. A similar name is Hilary (now also a girl's name), which comes from the Latin for "cheerful" or "merry."
Martin: meaning "warlike," this name ultimately comes from Mars, the Roman god of war.
Sylvester: from silva, Latin for "woods." Sylvester roughly means "woodsy."
Urban: from urbs, Latin for "city." A man who is urbanus is citified, or urbane.
Valentine: derived from the verb valere, or "to be healthy or strong."
Patrick: this comes from patricius, meaning "patrician," or "well-born." St. Patrick, for instance, was an aristocratic youth who was kidnapped into slavery in Ireland before converting it to Christianity.
Quentin: This name comes from Quintus, or "Fifth." It was a common custom for Romans to name sons based on the order of their birth. This survives in a number of Romance languages, such as in the Italian name Primo (from primus, "first").
Rufus: this is Latin for "red," originally given to a boy with red hair.
Paul: this is based on the adjective paulus, meaning "small."

Latin Sources for Other Boys' Baby Names

Other male names come from proper nouns, or other Latin words, such as:

Christopher: This literally means "bearer of Christ." Incidentally, the name Lucifer comes from the same construction (from lux, "light" and ferre, "to carry"), although for obvious reasons it's not as popular.
Leo: Latin for "lion," this is also the source for the name Leonard, which means "strong as a lion."
Rex: Latin for "king." Variants include Roy, which comes from the French word for king, roi.
Victor: Latin for "conqueror." The Latin verb upon which it is based, vincere, is also the basis for the name Vincent.

Male Roman Names That Survive in English

A few high-born names from ancient Rome remain unchanged or very similar in English. These include:

Augustus: Meaning "exalted," this was originally the title bestowed by the Roman Senate on the Emperor Augustus (previously known as Octavian). It's the source of "August," both the month and the adjective.
Claudius: the underlying meaning is "lame," as it was the cognomen (or nickname) of the crippled Emperor Claudius of I, Claudius fame.
Constantine: the name of the Emperor Constantine the Great comes from constans, or "reliable" or "firm."
Horace: this name, the anglicized version of the Roman family name Horatius, is shared by the great Roman satirist Horace, as well as being the source of the name Horatio.
Julian: this name originally indicated kinship with the Julii, the family of Julius Caesar.
Lucius: meaning "shining," this name comes from the Latin word for "light," lux.
Marcus: sometimes anglicized as Mark, this name, like Martin, is related to Mars.

The Benefit of Knowing Latin Sources of Boys' Baby Names

Many people would be surprised to learn how many English names trace their origin back to Latin nouns, adjectives, and even aristocratic family names. Knowing the underlying meaning of Latin boys' baby names helps parents pick the right name – and avoid ones with embarrassing connotations.

The copyright of the article Latin Boys' Baby Names in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Luke Arnott. Permission to republish Latin Boys' Baby Names in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Statue of Constantine, Boys' Baby Names	Bust of Augustus, Boys' Baby Names	The Poet Horace, Boys' Baby Names
Latin Boys' Baby Names in English	English Baby Names for Boys Can Come From Latin