LA:Choosing a Roman name

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The system of Roman names was unique and distinctive in the ancient world. A foreigner becoming a Roman citizen took a new Roman name as a mark of citizenship. In Nova Roma, too, we ask that you choose a Roman name when you become a citizen.

The name you choose is the name you will be known by in Nova Roma, so choose carefully and seriously. These pages, and other articles on our website, contain information to help you. If, after reading this, you have any more questions, please contact the Censores.

LA:Roman name

Read more about names in ancient Rome.

Contents 1 Praenomen 2 Nomen 3 Cognomen 3.1 Multiple Cognomina 3.2 Other Latin Words 3.3 Special Cognomina 3.4 Latinising your own name 4 References

Praenomen

A praenomen 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.

Read more about praenomina in ancient Rome.

There are only a small number of praenomina in ordinary use. These are used by the vast majority of Novi Romani, as they were by the vast majority of ancient Romans. There are also some rarer praenomina, most of them very old ones. If you have some good reason to want a rare praenomen, you may be allowed to have one, but such requests are very rarely granted and must be personally authorized by the Censor. We strongly recommend that you choose one of the standard ones.

When choosing a Roman name you are advised to try to find out whether any particular traditions are followed within the gens you wish to join. This can be done, for example, by contacting existing members and by looking at information about gentes on this website.

Nomen

A nomen 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.

Read more about nomina in ancient Rome.

In ancient times a new citizen would almost always join an existing gens, and similarly in Nova Roma we ask you to choose a nomen from a closed list. Some ancient Roman nomina which are not listed here may also be acceptable. If you want to use a nomen which is not on this list, the Censores will consider your request (please read about Unhistorical or Unattested Gentes).

Cognomen

A cognomen is a family name which would be shared by a group of blood relatives. 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. It is the third part of the tria nomina.

Read more about cognomina in ancient Rome.

Almost everyone has a cognomen, and it is difficult to distinguish different families within a gens unless cognomina are used. However, strictly speaking, cognomina are not compulsory. If you don't choose one when you first apply for citizenship, you will still be able to add one later.

It is important to understand that a cognomen is not a way for you to express your innermost thoughts or aspirations, or to boast about your wonderful qualities. It is just a name.

To help you choose a cognomen, there is a list of ancient Roman cognomina below. But this is not a complete list - the Romans often created new cognomina, and if you want to have one which is not on the list we will be happy to discuss this with you. A cognomen used in the ancient republic will normally be acceptable so long as it complies with the general characteristics noted above.

Names referring to whole countries or provinces (e.g. Hispanus, "man from Hispania") are not normally allowed because they are not distinctive enough: if everyone in Hispania were called Hispanus, it would be very confusing! But such names may be appropriate if you live away from your native country (e.g. a citizen from Hispania living in America might be called Hispanus).

If you would like to use a geographical or occupationalcognomen, the Censores will work with you to find an appropriate one.

Multiple Cognomina

In some cases it may be appropriate to have more than one cognomen. This is normally only allowed where you use a Latinised form of your own name, but may also be appropriate if you are joining a family which contains a large number of people who all have the same nomen and cognomen. If you think you have a good reason to want more than one cognomen, the Censores will discuss it with you.

Other Latin Words

Many ordinary Latin nouns and adjectives can be used as cognomina. If there is some particular Latin word you would like to use as a cognomen, or if you would like a cognomen with a particular meaning, the Censores will work with you to find an appropriate name.

Special Cognomina

There are several types of cognomen which serve a particular purpose and which are therefore not available for new citizens:

Adoptive Cognomina 

When a Roman citizen is adopted by another, he takes the name of his adoptive father, but adds a special cognomen to indicate his former identity. This cognomen is formed from his old nomen, with the -ius ending replaced with an -ianus ending. For example, when L. Aemilius Paullus was adopted by P. Cornelius Scipio he became P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus.

Matronymic Cognomina 

In very rare cases a Roman might use an extra cognomen formed from his mother's nomen. The -ia ending was replaced with an -ianus ending or an -inus ending. For example, M. Porcius Cato had one son by his first wife Licinia, and another son by his second wife Salonia. Each son was called M. Porcius Cato. To tell them apart, people called them M. Porcius Cato Licinianus and M. Porcius Cato Salonianus.

Agnomina 

Sometimes very eminent Romans were given honorific cognomina in recognition of their great achievements. These were the exception to the general rule that cognomina were not complimentary. Such honorific cognomina are called agnomina. Obviously a person cannot give himself an agnomen: it is always given by others. Honorific cognomina like Germanicus or Britannicus do not refer to a place of origin but to a military achievement. If someone is called Britannicus it means he won a great victory against the Britons. Names like this are not allowed, for obvious reasons.

Male Form	Female Form	Status		Used especially by
Aculeo	Aculeo
Agricola	Agricola	OVERUSED
Agrippa	Agrippa	OVERUSED		Gens Menenia
Ahala	Ahala			Gens Servilia
Ahenobarbus	Ahenobarba	OVERUSED		Gens Domitia
Albinus	Albina			Gens Postumia
Albus	Alba			Gens Postumia
Ambustus	Ambusta	SUGGESTED		Gens Fabia
Annalis	Annalis			Gens Villia
Aquila	Aquila	OVERUSED
Aquilinus	Aquilina
Arvina	Arvina			Gens Cornelia
Asellio	Asellio			Gens Sempronia
Asina	Asina			Gens Cornelia
Atellus	Atella
Avitus	Avita
Balbus	Balba	SUGGESTED		Gentes Acilia, Cornelia, Lucilia, Naevia, Octavia
Barba	Barba
Barbatus	Barbata	OVERUSED		Gentes Cornelia, Horatia, Quinctia
Bassus	Bassa
Bestia	Bestia			Gens Calpurnia
Bibaculus	Bibacula	SUGGESTED		Gentes Furia, Sextia
Bibulus	Bibula	SUGGESTED		Gentes Calpurnia, Publicia
Blaesus	Blaesa	SUGGESTED		Gens Sempronia
Brocchus	Broccha
Brutus	Bruta			Gens Iunia
Bubulcus	Bubulca	SUGGESTED		Gens Iunia
Bucco	Bucco	SUGGESTED
Bulbus	Bulba	SUGGESTED		Gens Atilia
Buteo	Buteo			Gens Fabia
Caecus	Caeca			Gens Claudia
Caepio	Caepio			Gens Servilia
Caesar	Caesar	DISCOURAGED		Gens Iulia
Calidus	Calida			Gens Coelia
Calvinus	Calvina			Gentes Domitia, Veturia
Calvus	Calva	SUGGESTED
Camillus	Camilla			Gens Furia
Caninus	Canina	SUGGESTED		Gens Acilia
Canus	Cana
Capito	Capito	SUGGESTED		Gens Ateia
Carbo	Carbo			Gens Papirii
Catilina	Catilina			Gens Sergia
Cato	Cato	DISCOURAGED		Gentes Hostilia, Porcia
Catulus	Catula			Gens Lutatia
Celer	Celeris
Celsus	Celsa			Gens Papia
Cethegus	Cethega			Gens Cornelia
Cicero	Cicero	DISCOURAGED		Gens Tullia
Cicurinus	Cicurina			Gens Veturia
Cilo	Cilo	SUGGESTED		Gens Flaminia
Cincinnatus	Cincinnata			Gens Quinctia
Cinna	Cinna			Gens Cornelia
Cordus	Corda
Cornicen	Cornicen
Cornutus	Cornuta			Gens Caecilia, Sulpicia
Corvinus	Corvina			Gens Valeria
Corvus	Corva			Gens Valeria
Cossus	Cossa			Gens Cornelia
Costa	Costa			Gens Pedania
Cotta	Cotta			Gens Aurelia
Crassipes	Crassipes	SUGGESTED		Gens Furia
Crassus	Crassa			Gentes Claudia, Licinia, Otacilia, Veturia
Crispinus	Crispina
Crispus	Crispa			Gentes Sallustia, Vibia
Culleo	Culleo	SUGGESTED		Gens Terentia
Curio	Curio	SUGGESTED		Gens Scribonia
Cursor	Cursor			Gens Papiria
Curvus	Curva			Gens Fulvia
Dentatus	Dentata	SUGGESTED
Denter	Dentra	SUGGESTED		Gens Caecilia
Dento	Dento	SUGGESTED
Dives	Dives			Gens Licinia
Dolabella	Dolabella			Gens Cornelia
Dorsuo	Dorsuo	SUGGESTED		Gens Fabia
Drusus	Drusa			Gens Livia
Figulus	Figula	SUGGESTED
Fimbria	Fimbria			Gens Flavia
Flaccus	Flacca			Gentes Aviania, Fulvia, Valeria
Flavus	Flava			Gens Decimia
Florus	Flora			Gens Aquilia
Fronto	Fronto	SUGGESTED
Fullo	Fullo	SUGGESTED		Gens Apustia
Fusus	Fusa			Gens Furia
Galeo	Galeo
Gemellus	Gemella			Gentes Servilia, Veturia
Glabrio	Glabrio			Gens Acilia
Gracchus	Graccha			Gens Sempronia
Gurges	Gurges			Gens Fabia
Habitus	Habita			Gens Cluentia
Helva	Helva			Gens Aebutia
Imperiosus	Imperiosa			Gens Manlia
Iullus	Iulla			Gens Iulia
Labeo	Labeo			Gentes Antistia, Atinia, Fabia
Lactuca	Lactuca			Gens Valeria
Laenas	Laenas			Gens Popillia
Lanatus	Lanata	SUGGESTED		Gens Menenia
Laevinus	Laevina
Laterensis	Laterensis			Gens Iuventia
Lentulus	Lentula			Gens Cornelia
Lepidus	Lepida			Gens Aemilia
Libo	Libo	SUGGESTED		Gens Marcia, Scribonia
Licinus	Licina	SUGGESTED		Gens Mamilia
Longus	Longa	SUGGESTED		Gentes Sempronia, Sulpicia
Lucullus	Luculla			Gens Licinia
Lupus	Lupa	OVERUSED		Gens Rutilia
Lurco	Lurco	SUGGESTED
Macer	Macra	SUGGESTED		Gens Licinia
Macula	Macula	SUGGESTED
Malleolus	Malleola			Gens Publicia
Mamercus	Mamerca			Gens Aemilia
Marcellus	Marcella	OVERUSED		Gens Claudia
Maro	Maro	SUGGESTED		Gens Vergilia
Merenda	Merenda			Gentes Antonia, Cornelia
Mergus	Merga	SUGGESTED
Merula	Merula			Gens Cornelia
Messalla	Messalla			Gens Valeria
Metellus	Metella			Gens Caecilia
Murena	Murena			Gens Licinia
Mus	Mus	SUGGESTED		Gens Decia
Musca	Musca	SUGGESTED		Gens Sempronia
Nasica	Nasica			Gens Sempronia
Naso	Naso	SUGGESTED		Gens Ovidia
Natta	Natta			Gens Pinaria
Nepos	Nepos			Gens Caecilia
Nero	Nero			Gens Claudia
Nerva	Nerva			Gens Cocceia, Licinia
Niger	Nigra	SUGGESTED
Novellus	Novella			Gens Gavilia
Ocella	Ocella	SUGGESTED		Gens Livia
Pacilus	Pacila			Gens Furia
Paetus	Paeta	SUGGESTED		Gens Aelia
Pansa	Pansa	SUGGESTED		Gens Vibia
Papus	Papa			Gens Aemilia
Paterculus	Patercula	SUGGESTED		Gens Sulpicia
Paullus	Paulla			Gens Aemilia
Pavo	Pavo
Pera	Pera			Gens Iunia
Pictor	Pictrix			Gens Fabia
Piso	Piso			Gens Calpurnia
Plancus	Planca			Gens Munatia
Plautus	Plauta
Poplicola	Poplicola		Amicus/amica populi	Gens Valeria
Postumus	Postuma			Gens Curtia
Potitus	Potita			Gens Valeria
Praeconinus	Praeconina
Praetextatus	Praetextata		Gerens togam praetextam	Gens Sulpicia
Priscus	Prisca		Antiquissimus, -a, -um
Proculus	Procula		natus, -a, -um dum pater abest	Gens Plautia
Publicola	Publicola		Variatio Poplicolae	Gens Valeria
Pulcher	Pulchra		Similis verbae bellus, -a, -um	Gens Claudia
Pullus	Pulla	SUGGESTED
Pulvillus	Pulvilla			Gens Horatia
Purpureo	Purpureo
Quadratus	Quadrata
Ralla	Ralla			Gens Marcia
Regillus	Regilla			Gens Aemilia
Regulus	Regula			Gens Atilia
Rufus	Rufa
Ruga	Ruga
Rullus	Rulla			Gens Servilia
Rutilus	Rutila
Salinator	Salinatrix			Gens Livia
Saturninus	Saturnina	OVERUSED
Scaeva	Scaeva			Gens Iunia, Marcia
Scaevola	Scaevola			Gens Mucia
Scapula	Scapula	SUGGESTED		Gens Quinctia
Scaurus	Scaura			Gentes Aemilia, Aurelia
Scipio	Scipio	DISCOURAGED		Gens Cornelii
Scrofa	Scrofa	SUGGESTED		Gens Tremelia
Seneca	Seneca			Gens Annaea
Severus	Severa	OVERUSED
Silanus	Silana			Gens Iunia
Silo	Silo			Gens Sergia
Silus	Sila	SUGGESTED		Gens Sergia
Stolo	Stolo	SUGGESTED		Gens Licinia
Strabo	Strabo			Gens Titia
Structus	Structa			Gens Servilia
Sulla	Sulla	DISCOURAGED		Gens Cornelia
Sura	Sura	SUGGESTED
Taurus	Taura
Triarius	Triaria	OVERUSED		Gens Valeria
Trigeminus	Trigemina			Gens Curiatia
Trio	Trio	SUGGESTED		Gens Lucretia
Tubero	Tubero	SUGGESTED		Gens Aelia, Iulia
Tubertus	Tuberta	SUGGESTED		Gens Postumia
Tubulus	Tubula	SUGGESTED		Gens Hostilia
Tuditanus	Tuditana	SUGGESTED		Gens Sempronia
Tullus	Tulla			Gens Volcatia
Turdus	Turda	SUGGESTED		Gens Papiria
Varro	Varro			Gens Terentia
Varus	Vara			Gentes Atilia, Licinia, Quinctilia
Vatia	Vatia			Gens Servilia
Verres	Verres			Gens Cornelia
Vespillo	Vespillo			Gens Lucretia
Vetus	Vetus			Gens Antistia
Vitulus	Vitula			Gentes Mamilia, Pomponia
Volusus	Volusa			Gens Valeria

Latinising your own name

Often when a foreigner became a Roman citizen in ancient times he would keep his old name as a cognomen, adjusting it to make it easier for Latin-speakers to say and giving it a Latin ending. This is also a common option in Nova Roma.

If you choose this option, you can use either your first name or your surname, or both. If you use both, they will be put in reverse order. For example, Robert Grant would take the cognomina Grandis Robertus. This is because in a Roman name the second cognomen is more individual than the first.

If you would like to use a Latin form of your own name, the Censores will work with you to find the appropriate form. Here are the Latin forms of some common names:

The Table of Latinised Names is under revision.

References