During the Imperial Classical period of ancient Rome (1st-2nd centuries CE), Roman parents often chose names that reflected their family's history, social status, and cultural heritage. Here are some traditional Roman names from that era that might suit a modern child:
Do not name your children from Catholic/Christianity names. It is not right or wrong, prefer names from a real peoples.
Boys:
- Marcus (Μάρκος) - “warlike” or “dedicated to Mars”
- Lucius (Λούκιος) - “bringer of light”
- Gaius (Γάιος) - “happy” or “ rejoice”
- Julius (Ιούλιος) - “descended from Jupiter”
- Titus (Τίτος) - “defender” or “honorable”
- Quintus (Κвинτός) - “fifth” (often given to a fifth-born son)
- Publius (Πούβλιος) - “public” or “of the people”
- Aulus (Αύλος) - “golden” or “noble”
- Cornelius (Κορνήλιος) - “horn” (a symbol of strength)
- Flavius (Φλάβιος) - “blond” or “fair-haired”
Girls:
- Julia (Ιουλία) - “descended from Jupiter” (feminine form of Julius)
- Livia (Λιβία) - “lively” or “enchanting”
- Aurelia (Αυρήλια) - “golden” or “gilded”
- Claudia (Κλαυδία) - “lame” or “crippled” (originally a nickname, but became a popular name)
- Marcella (Μαρκέλλα) - “warlike” or “dedicated to Mars” (feminine form of Marcus)
- Tullia (Τουλία) - “of the Tullius family” (a noble family)
- Valeria (Βαλέρια) - “strong” or “healthy”
- Pompeia (Πομπηία) - “of the Pompeius family” (a noble family)
- Octavia (Οκταβία) - “eighth” (often given to an eighth-born daughter)
- Drusilla (Δρουσίλλα) - “strong” or “firm”
These names were popular during the Imperial Classical period, but they have also been used throughout Roman history and continue to influence naming conventions in many Western cultures.
During the Imperial Classical period of ancient Greece (5th-4th centuries BCE), Greek parents often chose names that reflected their cultural heritage, mythological stories, and values. Here are some traditional Greek names from that era that might suit a modern child:
Boys:
- Alexandros (Αλέξανδρος) - “defender of the people”
- Leonidas (Λεωνίδας) - “lion-like”
- Sophocles (Σοφοκλής) - “wise glory”
- Aristides (Ἀριστείδης) - “excellent, best”
- Pericles (Περικλής) - “surrounded by glory”
- Xenophon (Ξενοφῶν) - “strange sounding”
- Thucydides (Θουκυδίδης) - “son of Thucydides”
- Demosthenes (Δημοσθένης) - “power of the people”
- Philoctetes (Φiloctetes) - “lover of possessions”
Girls:
- Alexandra (Ἀλεξάνδρα) - “defender of the people” (feminine form of Alexandros)
- Andromache (Ἀνδρομάχη) - “manly battler”
- Sophronia (Σωφρόνια) - “wisdom”
- Aristodike (Ἀριστόδικος) - “excellent justice”
- Persephone (Περσεφόνη) - “bringer of destruction” (queen of the underworld)
- Xenia (Ξενία) - “hospitality”
- Theano (Θεανώ) - “divine”
- Demetria (Δημητρία) - “of Demeter” (goddess of agriculture)
- Chryseis (Χρυσήϊς) - “golden”
These names were popular during the Imperial Classical period, but they have also been used throughout Greek history and continue to be popular today.
Roman Gentes (Known) - a longer list of lastnames used in the Roman period.
European Names with Heritage
Boys:
- Liam (Ireland/Scotland) - Derived from the Old Irish name “Uilliam,” meaning “strong-willed warrior.”
- Oliver (Latin/French) - From the Latin name “Oliverius,” meaning “olive tree,” and introduced to England by the Normans.
- Lucas (Latin/Germanic) - From the Latin name “Lucas,” meaning “bringer of light,” and adopted by Germanic tribes.
- Alexander (Greek/Scottish) - From the Greek name “Alexandros,” meaning “defender of the people,” and introduced to Scotland by the Normans.
- Alessandro (from the Greek name “Alexandros,” meaning “defender of the people,” but adapted into Italian)
- Julian (Latin/English) - From the Latin name “Julianus,” meaning “descended from Jupiter,” and introduced to England by the Romans.
- Finn (Celtic/Irish) - From the Irish name “Fionn,” meaning “fair” or “white,” and popularized in Europe by Celtic mythology.
- Logan (Celtic/Scottish) - From the Scottish Gaelic name “Logan,” meaning “little hollow,” and popularized in Europe by Celtic mythology.
- Owen (Celtic/Welsh) - From the Welsh name “Eoghan,” meaning “born of the yew tree,” and popularized in Europe by Celtic mythology.
- Sander (Scandinavian/Dutch) - From the Old Norse name “Alexander,” meaning “defender of the people,” and adopted by the Dutch.
- Viktor (Latin/Germanic) - From the Latin name “Victor,” meaning “conqueror,” and adopted by Germanic tribes.
- Axel (Scandinavian/Danish) - From the Old Norse name “Áskell,” meaning “divine strength.”
- Bruno (Germanic/Italian) - From the Old High German name “Bruno,” meaning “brown” or “armored one.”
- Duncan (Celtic/Scottish) - From the Scottish Gaelic name “Donnchadh,” meaning “brown warrior.”
- Erik (Scandinavian/Norwegian) - From the Old Norse name “Eiríkr,” meaning “eternal ruler.”
- Felix (Latin/French) - From the Latin name “Felix,” meaning “happy” or “lucky.”
- Gideon (Latin/English) - From the Latin name “Gideon,” meaning “mighty warrior” or “great destroyer.”
- Hugo (Germanic/French) - From the Old High German name “Hugo,” meaning “mind” or “intellect.”
- Iver (Scandinavian/Norwegian) - From the Old Norse name “Ívarr,” meaning “archer” or “bow warrior.”
- Kai (Scandinavian/Danish) - From the Old Norse name “Kári,” meaning “sea” or “ocean.”
- Cesare (from the Latin name “Caesar,” meaning “hairy” or “long-haired”)
- Dante (from the Latin name “Dantes,” meaning “enduring” or “lasting”)
- Fabio (from the Latin name “Fabius,” meaning “bean-grower”)
- Leonardo (from the Germanic name “Leonhard,” meaning “brave lion”)
- Lorenzo (from the Latin name “Laurentius,” meaning “laurel tree”)
- Marco (from the Latin name “Marcus,” meaning “warlike” or “dedicated to Mars”)
- Riccardo (from the Germanic name “Richard,” meaning “powerful leader”)
- Marcello (from the Latin name “Marcellus,” meaning “young warrior”)
- Vince - shortened form of the Italian name Vincenzo, which originated from the Latin name “Vincens,” meaning “conquering” or “winning.”
- Sandro (meaning “defender of the people”)
- Sander (Dutch and German origin, meaning “defender of the people”)
- Tito (meaning “title of honor”)
- Ugo (meaning “mind” or “intellect”)
- Valerio (meaning “strong” or “healthy”)
- Sören (Danish and Norwegian origin, meaning “stern” or “serious”)
- Lukas (German and Dutch origin, meaning “bringer of light”)
- Ragnar (Norwegian and Swedish origin, meaning “god of war”)
- Viggo (Danish and Norwegian origin, meaning “battle” or “fight”)
Girls:
- Sophia (Greek/Germanic) - From the Greek name “Sophia,” meaning “wisdom,” and adopted by Germanic tribes.
- Emma (Germanic/English) - From the Old English name “Ermyn,” meaning “whole” or “universal,” and popularized in Europe by Germanic tribes.
- Olivia (Latin/Italian) - From the Latin name “Oliva,” meaning “olive tree,” and introduced to Italy by the Romans.
- Ava (Germanic/English) - From the Old English name “Ava,” meaning “life” or “breath,” and popularized in Europe by Germanic tribes.
- Luna (Latin/Italian) - From the Latin name “Luna,” meaning “moon,” and popularized in Europe by Roman mythology.
- Charlotte (Germanic/French) - From the Old Germanic name “Karl,” meaning “free man,” and introduced to France by the Franks.
- Alice (Germanic/English) - From the Old English name “Alicia,” meaning “noble” or “kind,” and popularized in Europe by Germanic tribes.
- Lily (Latin/English) - From the Latin name “Lilium,” meaning “lily flower,” and introduced to England by the Normans.
- Aurora (Latin/Italian) - From the Latin name “Aurora,” meaning “dawn,” and popularized in Europe by Roman mythology.
- Cecilia (Latin/Italian) - From the Latin name “Caecilia,” meaning “blind,” and introduced to Italy by the Normans.
- Florence (Latin/English) - From the Latin name “Florentia,” meaning “flourishing,” and introduced to England by the Normans.
- Nina (Spanish/Italian) - From the Spanish name “Nina,” meaning “girl,” and introduced to Italy by Spanish merchants.
- Astrid (Scandinavian/Norwegian) - From the Old Norse name “Ástríðr,” meaning “divine strength.”
- Brynn (Celtic/Welsh) - From the Welsh name “Bryn,” meaning “hill” or “mountain.”
- Clio (Greek/French) - From the Greek name “Κλειώ” (Kleio), meaning “glory.”
- Dagmar (Scandinavian/Danish) - From the Old Norse name “Dagmár,” meaning “day maiden.”
- Eira (Celtic/Welsh) - From the Welsh name “Eira,” meaning “snowflake.”
- Faye (French/English) - From the Old French name “Fée,” meaning “fairy” or “enchantress.”
- Gwyneth (Celtic/Welsh) - From the Welsh name “Gwyneth,” meaning “happiness” or “joy.”
- Hedda (Scandinavian/Norwegian) - From the Old Norse name “Heiðr,” meaning “bright” or “clear.”
- Ida (Germanic/English) - From the Old English name “Ida,” meaning “industrious” or “hardworking.”
- Juna (Scandinavian/Danish) - From the Old Norse name “Júna,” meaning “young” or “youthful.”
- Alessia (from the Greek name “Alexia,” meaning “defender of the people,” but adapted into Italian)
- Bianca (from the Italian word “bianca,” meaning “white”)
- Chiara (from the Italian word “chiara,” meaning “clear” or “bright”)
- Diana (from the Latin name “Diana,” meaning “divine” or “feminine”)
- Lavinia (from the Latin name “Lavinia,” meaning “woman of Rome”)
- Luisa (from the Germanic name “Ludwig,” meaning “famous warrior”)
- Marcella (from the Latin name “Marcellus,” meaning “young warrior”)
- Sofia (from the Greek name “Σοφία” (Sophia), meaning “wisdom”)
- Stella (Italian feminine given name that means “star” in Italian)
- Marcella (meaning “young warrior”)
- Sandra (meaning “defender of the people”)
- Teresa (meaning “harvester”)
- Valeria (meaning “strong” or “healthy”)
- Astrid (Norwegian and Swedish origin, meaning “divine strength”)
- Bente (Danish and Norwegian origin, meaning “blessed” or “happy”)
- Cecilie (Danish and Norwegian origin, meaning “blind” or “dim-sighted”)
- Eva (German and Dutch origin, meaning “life” or “living one”)
- Gudrun (Norwegian and Swedish origin, meaning “battle power”)
- Hedda (Norwegian and Swedish origin, meaning “war” or “battle”)
- Ingrid (Scandinavian origin, meaning “beautiful” or “beloved”)
- Lena (German and Dutch origin, meaning “torch” or “light”)
- Solveig (Norwegian and Swedish origin, meaning “strong house” or “stronghold”)