Roman Naming Conventions

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The system of Roman names was unique and distinctive in the ancient world. A foreigner (lat. s. n. peregrīnus) becoming a Roman citizen took a new Roman name as a mark of citizenship. As a person joining the Imperivm Romanvm, you too are a peregrīnus, so as such to become a citizen you will need to adopt a Roman Name.

We encourage you to choose a personal, unique name to identify you, and to express your Roman identity, unique and individual to you. As of right now there are 9466314 combinations with 9466264 unique, unused combinations of the tria nomina. Please study this article diligently before you apply for citizenship.

If you use the form to sign up on the sign up page it is unlikely your application will require manual approval and can instead follow our automated sign-up process. If you instead decide to manually contact us then please allow time for our censores or our senatores to approve your application. We also support the Roman tradition of Latinizing your native name, this is the most Roman thing to do. In this process we will take your native name and translate it into an acceptable cognomen for it to be added to our roster of cognomina for anyone to choose from. This will take longer than our automated process but is by far the most traditional way of adopting a Roman name.

Following 90 days of being a citizen in the Imperivm you will be unable to change your name without a suitable reason. So choose very carefully and very seriously.

If, after reading everything on this article, you still have questions contact the censores at [email protected].

Important Information Before Choosing a Roman Name[edit | edit source]

Stirpes[edit | edit source]

main article: gentes

Before you would start thinking about the perfect Roman name for you, take into consideration that Romans need to pay special attention to their names as they represent social structures in Roman society. Individual family branches, called stirpes, within the gens, are distinguished by the nomen-cognomen combination. If you like a certain nomen-cognomen combination, you should check it in our Album Civium if the same nomen-cognomen combination has already been taken by others. If it's already taken, you will have to request the family's approval that they acknowledge you as their relative. Families usually welcome new members into their stirpes, but you might not want to belong to a virtual cousinhood. Therefore it's advisable to choose a nomen-cognomen combination that has not yet been taken, and to start your own stirpes.

Joining with my Family[edit | edit source]

If you have your family members joining the Imperivm Romanvm, please make sure so that your father, brother or sister take the same Roman stirpes (nomen-cognomen combination) as you, but your mother takes a different Roman stirpes than you. If you are a father, your children take the same stirpes, but if you are a mother, make sure your children take your husband's stirpes (or if he isn't a citizen, a Roman family name that could be your husband's if he were a citizen).

Another important thing to keep in mind is that Roman wives did not take their husbands' name: so, if you have a married name (a family name or surname adopted upon marriage) you should not take it into account when you search for your Roman name, but you can always latinize or romanize your maiden name (your name before marriage).

Structure of the Roman Name[edit | edit source]

The system of Roman names was very unusual in the ancient world. Names in most other ancient Indo-Euopean cultures did not include an inherited name that indicated lineage within a clan, as did the Roman nomen.

Tria Nomina[edit | edit source]

Typical Roman names of the late Republic had three parts (the "tria nomina").

Explanation and Example:

  • "Gaius" is a praenomen ("given name", pl. praenomina)
  • "Julius" is a nomen ("gens or clan name", pl. nomina)
  • "Caesar" is a cognomen ("family name within a gens", pl. cognomina)

Some names had no cognomen, but in other cases people had multiple cognomina (here we call them agnomina, this isn't correct but it is a simplification). Both of these are still available within the Imperivm Romanvm upon request, but these requests will frequently be denied. Additional elements such as tribal affiliation and "filiation" (parentage), were also sometimes used.

Praenomen[edit | edit source]

Main Article: praenomen

List of Praenomina
Shortened Male Female
Agrippa Agrippa
Alexius Alexia
Amulius Amulia
Ap. Appius Appia
Arruns Arruns
A. Aulus Aula
Caelus Caela
K. Caeso Caseo
Camillus Camilla
Canus Cana
Cossus Cossa
D. Decimus Decima
Decius Decia
Drusus Drusa
Faustus Fausta
Flavius Flavia
C. Gaius Gaia
Gallus Galla
Cn. Gnaeus Gnaea
Herius Heria
Hostus Hosta
K. Kaeso Kaseo
Lar Lar
Lars Lars
L. Lucius Lucia
Mam. Mamercus Mamerca
M'. Manius Mania
Marcellus Marcella
M. Marcus Marca
Mettius Mettia
Nero Nero
Nonus Nona
N. Numerius Numeria
O. Octavius Octavia
Opiter Opiter
Oppius Oppia
Paullus Paulla
Paulus Paula
Postumus Postuma
Potitus Potita
Primus Prima
Proclus Procla
Proculus Procula
P. Publius Publia
Q. Quintus Quinta
Secundus Secunda
Sept. Septimus Septima
S. Servius Servia
Sex. Sextus Sexta
Silvanus Silvana
Sisenna Sisenna
Sp. Spurius Spuria
Tertius Tertia
Ti. Tiberius Tiberia
T. Titus Tita
Tullus Tulla
Vel Vel
Vibius Vibia
Vopiscus Vopisca

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.

There are 59 praenomina available to choose from in the Imperivm.

Nomina[edit | edit source]

Main Article: 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, the three-part Roman name.

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. Many 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, but it is attested in Roman sources, the censores will consider your request (please read about unhistorical or unattested gentes). You can also request a custom nomen which has strong etymological roots and would be considered acceptable Latin if it follows conventions. Even if your desired nomen meets these requirements there is little chance your nomen will be accepted.

There is currently 726 nomina to choose from in the Imperivm Romanvm.

List of Nomina
Male Female Gens
Abronius Abronia Abronia
Abudius Abudia Abudia
Aburius Aburia Aburia
Accius Accia Accia
Accoleius Accoleia Accoleia
Acerronius Acerronia Acerronia
Acilius Acilia Acilia
Aconius Aconia Aconia
Actorius Actoria Actoria
Acutius Acutia Acutia
Aebutius Aebutia Aebutia
Aedinius Aedinia Aedinia
Aelius Aelia Aelia
Aemilius Aemilia Aemilia
Afinius Afinia Afinia
Afranius Afrania Afrania
Agorius Agoria Agoria
Albanius Albania Albania
Albatius Albatia Albatia
Albius Albia Albia
Albinius Albinia Albinia
Albinovanus Albinovana Albinovana
Albucius Albucia Albucia
Alfenus Alfena Alfena
Alfius Alfia Alfia
Alienus Aliena Aliena
Allectius Allectia Allectia
Amafinius Amafinia Amafinia
Amatius Amatia Amatia
Ambrosius Ambrosia Ambrosia
Ampius Ampia Ampia
Ampudius Ampudia Ampudia
Ancharius Ancharia Ancharia
Anicius Anicia Anicia
Annaeus Annaea Annaea
Anneius Anneia Anneia
Annius Annia Annia
Anquirinnius Anquirinnia Anquirinnia
Antius Antia Antia
Antistius Antistia Antistia
Antonius Antonia Antonia
Apisius Apisia Apisia
Aponius Aponia Aponia
Appius Appia Appia
Appuleius Appuleia Appuleia
Apronius Apronia Apronia
Apustius Apustia Apustia
Aquillius Aquillia Aquillia
Aquinius Aquinia Aquinia
Arellius Arellia Arellia
Arennius Arennia Arennia
Arminius Arminia Arminia
Arpineius Arpineia Arpineia
Arrecinus Arrecina Arrecina
Arrius Arria Arria
Arruntius Arruntia Arruntia
Arsinius Arsinia Arsinia
Articuleius Articuleia Articuleia
Artorius Artoria Artoria
Asconius Asconia Asconia
Asellius Asellia Asellia
Asinius Asinia Asinia
Ateius Ateia Ateia
Aternius Aternia Aternia
Atius Atia Atia
Atilius Atilia Atilia
Atinius Atinia Atinia
Atrius Atria Atria
Attius Attia Attia
Audasius Audasia Audasia
Aufeius Aufeia Aufeia
Aufidius Aufidia Aufidia
Aulius Aulia Aulia
1 Aurelia Aurelia
Aurius Auria Auria
Aurunculeius Aurunculeia Aurunculeia
Ausonius Ausonia Ausonia
Autronius Autronia Autronia
Avius Avia Avia
Avianus Aviana Aviana
Avidius Avidia Avidia
Avienus Aviena Aviena
Avilius Avilia Avilia
Axius Axia Axia
Babrius Babria Babria
Baebius Baebia Baebia
Balventius Balventia Balventia
Bantius Bantia Bantia
Barbatius Barbatia Barbatia
Barrius Barria Barria
Bavius Bavia Bavia
Bellius Bellia Bellia
Bellicius Bellicia Bellicia
Bellienus Belliena Belliena
Betilienus Betiliena Betiliena
Betitius Betitia Betitia
Betuus Betua Betua
Betucius Betucia Betucia
Blandius Blandia Blandia
Blossius Blossia Blossia
Boionius Boionia Boionia
Bruttius Bruttia Bruttia
Bucculeius Bucculeia Bucculeia
Burbuleius Burbuleia Burbuleia
Burrienus Burriena Burriena
Caecina Caecia Caecia
Caecius Caecia Caecia
Caecilius Caecilia Caecilia
Caedicius Caedicia Caedicia
Caelius Caelia Caelia
Caeparius Caeparia Caeparia
Caepasius Caepasia Caepasia
Caerellius Caerellia Caerellia
Caesellius Caesellia Caesellia
Caesennius Caesennia Caesennia
Caesetius Caesetia Caesetia
Caesius Caesia Caesia
Caesonius Caesonia Caesonia
Caesulenus Caesulena Caesulena
Caetronius Caetronia Caetronia
Calavius Calavia Calavia
Calesterna Calestera Calestera
Calidius Calidia Calidia
Calpurnius Calpurnia Calpurnia
Calvenus Calvena Calvena
Calventius Calventia Calventia
Calvisius Calvisia Calvisia
Campatius Campatia Campatia
Canius Cania Cania
Canidius Canidia Canidia
Caninius Caninia Caninia
Cantius Cantia Cantia
Cantilius Cantilia Cantilia
Canuleius Canuleia Canuleia
Canutius Canutia Canutia
Carfulenus Carfulena Carfulena
Carius Caria Caria
Carisius Carisia Carisia
Caristanius Caristania Caristania
Carpinatius Carpinatia Carpinatia
Carrinas Carrina Carrina
Carteius Carteia Carteia
Carvilius Carvilia Carvilia
Casperius Casperia Casperia
Cassius Cassia Cassia
Castricius Castricia Castricia
Castrinius Castrinia Castrinia
Catius Catia Catia
Catienus Catiena Catiena
Catilius Catilia Catilia
Ceionius Ceionia Ceionia
Centenius Centenia Centenia
Ceppuleius Ceppuleia Ceppuleia
Cestius Cestia Cestia
Cicereius Cicereia Cicereia
Cilnius Cilnia Cilnia
Cincius Cincia Cincia
Cispius Cispia Cispia
Classidius Classidia Classidia
Claudius Claudia Claudia
Cloelius Cloelia Cloelia
Cluentius Cluentia Cluentia
Clutorius Clutoria Clutoria
Cluvius Cluvia Cluvia
Cocceius Cocceia Cocceia
Coelius Coelia Coelia
Cominius Cominia Cominia
Condetius Condetia Condetia
Consentius Consentia Consentia
Consius Consia Consia
Considius Considia Considia
Coponius Coponia Coponia
Cordius Cordia Cordia
Corfidius Corfidia Corfidia
Cornelius Cornelia Cornelia
Cornificius Cornificia Cornificia
Coruncanius Coruncania Coruncania
Cosconius Cosconia Cosconia
Cossinius Cossinia Cossinia
Cossutius Cossutia Cossutia
Cotius Cotia Cotia
Cottius Cottia Cottia
Crassitius Crassitia Crassitia
Cremutius Cremutia Cremutia
Crepereius Crepereia Crepereia
Critonius Critonia Critonia
Cupiennius Cupiennia Cupiennia
Curius Curia Curia
Curiatius Curiatia Curiatia
Curtius Curtia Curtia
Curtilius Curtilia Curtilia
Cusinius Cusinia Cusinia
Cuspius Cuspia Cuspia
Decentius Decentia Decentia
Decius Decia Decia
Decidius Decidia Decidia
Decimius Decimia Decimia
Decitius Decitia Decitia
Dellius Dellia Dellia
Desticius Desticia Desticia
Dexsius Dexsia Dexsia
Didius Didia Didia
Digitius Digitia Digitia
Dillius Dillia Dillia
Domitius Domitia Domitia
Dubius Dubia Dubia
Duccius Duccia Duccia
Duilius Duilia Duilia
Durmius Durmia Durmia
Duronius Duronia Duronia
Eggius Eggia Eggia
Egilius Egilia Egilia
Egnatius Egnatia Egnatia
Egnatuleius Egnatuleia Egnatuleia
Egrilius Egrilia Egrilia
Elvius Elvia Elvia
Ennius Ennia Ennia
Epidius Epidia Epidia
Eppius Eppia Eppia
Equitius Equitia Equitia
Erucius Erucia Erucia
Expentanius Expentania Expentania
Fabius Fabia Fabia
Fabricius Fabricia Fabricia
Fadius Fadia Fadia
Faenius Faenia Faenia
Falcidius Falcidia Falcidia
Falerius Faleria Faleria
Faminius Faminia Faminia
Fannius Fannia Fannia
Farsuleius Farsuleia Farsuleia
Faucius Faucia Faucia
Favonius Favonia Favonia
Festinius Festinia Festinia
Fidiculanius Fidiculania Fidiculania
Firmius Firmia Firmia
Flaminius Flaminia Flaminia
Flavius Flavia Flavia
Flavinius Flavinia Flavinia
Flavoleius Flavoleia Flavoleia
Flavonius Flavonia Flavonia
Florius Floria Floria
Floridius Floridia Floridia
Floronius Floronia Floronia
Fonteius Fonteia Fonteia
Foslius Foslia Foslia
Fufetius Fufetia Fufetia
Fufius Fufia Fufia
Fuficius Fuficia Fuficia
Fufidius Fufidia Fufidia
Fulcinius Fulcinia Fulcinia
Fulginas Fulgina Fulgina
Fulvius Fulvia Fulvia
Fundanius Fundania Fundania
Furius Furia Furia
Furnius Furnia Furnia
Gabinius Gabinia Gabinia
Galerius Galeria Galeria
Gallius Gallia Gallia
Gargonius Gargonia Gargonia
Gavius Gavia Gavia
Geganius Gegania Gegania
Gellius Gellia Gellia
Geminius Geminia Geminia
Genucius Genucia Genucia
Gessius Gessia Gessia
Glicius Glicia Glicia
Granius Grania Grania
Gratius Gratia Gratia
Gratidius Gratidia Gratidia
Haterius Hateria Hateria
Heius Heia Heia
Helvius Helvia Helvia
Helvidius Helvidia Helvidia
Herennius Herennia Herennia
Herennuleius Herennuleia Herennuleia
Herminius Herminia Herminia
Hirrius Hirria Hirria
Hirtius Hirtia Hirtia
Hirtuleius Hirtuleia Hirtuleia
Horatius Horatia Horatia
Hordeonius Hordeonia Hordeonia
Hortensius Hortensia Hortensia
Hosidius Hosidia Hosidia
Hostius Hostia Hostia
Hostilius Hostilia Hostilia
Iccius Iccia Iccia
Icilius Icilia Icilia
Insteius Insteia Insteia
Jallius Jallia Jallia
Julius Julia Julia
Junius Junia Junia
Juventius Juventia Juventia
Laberius Laberia Laberia
Labienus Labiena Labiena
Lacerius Laceria Laceria
Laecanius Laecania Laecania
Laelius Laelia Laelia
Laenius Laenia Laenia
Laetilius Laetilia Laetilia
Laetorius Laetoria Laetoria
Lafrenius Lafrenia Lafrenia
Lamponius Lamponia Lamponia
Laronius Laronia Laronia
Lartius Lartia Lartia
Latinius Latinia Latinia
Lavinius Lavinia Lavinia
Lemonius Lemonia Lemonia
Lentidius Lentidia Lentidia
Lepidius Lepidia Lepidia
Libertius Libertia Libertia
Liburnius Liburnia Liburnia
Licinius Licinia Licinia
Ligarius Ligaria Ligaria
Livius Livia Livia
Livinius Livinia Livinia
Lollius Lollia Lollia
Longinius Longinia Longinia
Loreius Loreia Loreia
Lucceius Lucceia Lucceia
Lucius Lucia Lucia
Lucienus Luciena Luciena
Lucilius Lucilia Lucilia
Lucretius Lucretia Lucretia
Lurius Luria Luria
Luscius Luscia Luscia
Lusius Lusia Lusia
Lutatius Lutatia Lutatia
Macrinius Macrinia Macrinia
Macrobius Macrobia Macrobia
Maecenas Maecena Maecena
Maecius Maecia Maecia
Maecilius Maecilia Maecilia
Maelius Maelia Maelia
Maenas Maena Maena
Maenius Maenia Maenia
Maevius Maevia Maevia
Magius Magia Magia
Mallius Mallia Mallia
Mamercius Mamercia Mamercia
Mamilius Mamilia Mamilia
Manilius Manilia Manilia
Manlius Manlia Manlia
Marcius Marcia Marcia
Marius Maria Maria
Martinius Martinia Martinia
Matius Matia Matia
Matienus Matiena Matiena
Matinius Matinia Matinia
Matrinius Matrinia Matrinia
Maximius Maximia Maximia
Memmius Memmia Memmia
Menenius Menenia Menenia
Menius Menia Menia
Mescinius Mescinia Mescinia
Messius Messia Messia
Messienus Messiena Messiena
Mestrius Mestria Mestria
Metilius Metilia Metilia
Mettius Mettia Mettia
Milonius Milonia Milonia
Mimesius Mimesia Mimesia
Minatius Minatia Minatia
Minius Minia Minia
Minicius Minicia Minicia
Minidius Minidia Minidia
Minucius Minucia Minucia
Modius Modia Modia
Mucius Mucia Mucia
Mummius Mummia Mummia
Munatius Munatia Munatia
Munius Munia Munia
Murrius Murria Murria
Mussidius Mussidia Mussidia
Mustius Mustia Mustia
Mutius Mutia Mutia
Naevius Naevia Naevia
Nasennius Nasennia Nasennia
Nasidius Nasidia Nasidia
Nasidienus Nasidiena Nasidiena
Nautius Nautia Nautia
Neratius Neratia Neratia
Nerfinius Nerfinia Nerfinia
Nerius Neria Neria
Neterius Neteria Neteria
Nigidius Nigidia Nigidia
Ninnius Ninnia Ninnia
Nipius Nipia Nipia
Nonius Nonia Nonia
Norbanus Norbana Norbana
Novellius Novellia Novellia
Novius Novia Novia
Numerius Numeria Numeria
Numicius Numicia Numicia
Numisius Numisia Numisia
Numitorius Numitoria Numitoria
Nummius Nummia Nummia
Numonius Numonia Numonia
Nymphidius Nymphidia Nymphidia
Obellius Obellia Obellia
Obultronius Obultronia Obultronia
Occius Occia Occia
Oclatius Oclatia Oclatia
Oclatinius Oclatinia Oclatinia
Octavenus Octavena Octavena
Octavius Octavia Octavia
Ofanius Ofania Ofania
Ofilius Ofilia Ofilia
Ogulnius Ogulnia Ogulnia
Ollius Ollia Ollia
Opellius Opellia Opellia
Opetreius Opetreia Opetreia
Opimius Opimia Opimia
Opisius Opisia Opisia
Opiternius Opiternia Opiternia
Oppius Oppia Oppia
Oppidius Oppidia Oppidia
Opsius Opsia Opsia
Opsidius Opsidia Opsidia
Opsilius Opsilia Opsilia
Oranius Orania Orania
Orbicius Orbicia Orbicia
Orbilius Orbilia Orbilia
Orchius Orchia Orchia
Orcivius Orcivia Orcivia
Orfius Orfia Orfia
Orfidius Orfidia Orfidia
Orosius Orosia Orosia
Oscius Oscia Oscia
Ostorius Ostoria Ostoria
Otacilius Otacilia Otacilia
Ovidius Ovidia Ovidia
Ovinius Ovinia Ovinia
Paccius Paccia Paccia
Pacidius Pacidia Pacidia
Pacilius Pacilia Pacilia
Paconius Paconia Paconia
Pactumeius Pactumeia Pactumeia
Pacuvius Pacuvia Pacuvia
Palfurius Palfuria Palfuria
Palpellius Palpellia Palpellia
Pantuleius Pantuleia Pantuleia
Papius Papia Papia
Papinius Papinia Papinia
Papirius Papiria Papiria
Pasidius Pasidia Pasidia
Pasidienus Pasidiena Pasidiena
Passienus Passiena Passiena
Patrobius Patrobia Patrobia
Patulcius Patulcia Patulcia
Pedanius Pedania Pedania
Pedius Pedia Pedia
Peducaeus Peducaea Peducaea
Peltrasius Peltrasia Peltrasia
Percennius Percennia Percennia
Perperna Perpera Perpera
Persius Persia Persia
Pescennius Pescennia Pescennia
Petillius Petillia Petillia
Petreius Petreia Petreia
Petronius Petronia Petronia
Petrosidius Petrosidia Petrosidia
Pilius Pilia Pilia
Pinarius Pinaria Pinaria
Pinnius Pinnia Pinnia
Pisentius Pisentia Pisentia
Placidius Placidia Placidia
Plaetorius Plaetoria Plaetoria
Plaguleius Plaguleia Plaguleia
Plancius Plancia Plancia
Plarius Plaria Plaria
Plautius Plautia Plautia
Pleminius Pleminia Pleminia
Plinius Plinia Plinia
Poetelius Poetelia Poetelia
Pollius Pollia Pollia
Pompeius Pompeia Pompeia
Pompilius Pompilia Pompilia
Pomponius Pomponia Pomponia
Pomptinus Pomptina Pomptina
Pontius Pontia Pontia
Pontidius Pontidia Pontidia
Pontificius Pontificia Pontificia
Pontilius Pontilia Pontilia
Pontilienus Pontiliena Pontiliena
Popaedius Popaedia Popaedia
Popidius Popidia Popidia
Poppaeus Poppaea Poppaea
Porcius Porcia Porcia
Postumius Postumia Postumia
Postumulenus Postumulena Postumulena
Potitius Potitia Potitia
Praecilius Praecilia Praecilia
Praeconius Praeconia Praeconia
Precius Precia Precia
Priscius Priscia Priscia
Procilius Procilia Procilia
Proculeius Proculeia Proculeia
Propertius Propertia Propertia
Proxinius Proxinia Proxinia
Publicius Publicia Publicia
Publilius Publilia Publilia
Pupius Pupia Pupia
Quartius Quartia Quartia
Quartinius Quartinia Quartinia
Quinctius Quinctia Quinctia
Quinctilius Quinctilia Quinctilia
Quirinius Quirinia Quirinia
Rabirius Rabiria Rabiria
Rabonius Rabonia Rabonia
Rabuleius Rabuleia Rabuleia
Racilius Racilia Racilia
Raecius Raecia Raecia
Ragonius Ragonia Ragonia
Rammius Rammia Rammia
Ranius Rania Rania
Rasinius Rasinia Rasinia
Reginius Reginia Reginia
Remmius Remmia Remmia
Rennius Rennia Rennia
Resius Resia Resia
Romanius Romania Romania
Romilius Romilia Romilia
Romogillius Romogillia Romogillia
Roscius Roscia Roscia
Rubellius Rubellia Rubellia
Rubrenus Rubrena Rubrena
Rubrius Rubria Rubria
Rufius Rufia Rufia
Rufinius Rufinia Rufinia
Rufrius Rufria Rufria
Rullius Rullia Rullia
Rupilius Rupilia Rupilia
Rusonius Rusonia Rusonia
Rustius Rustia Rustia
Rusticelius Rusticelia Rusticelia
Rutilius Rutilia Rutilia
Sabellius Sabellia Sabellia
Sabidius Sabidia Sabidia
Sabinius Sabinia Sabinia
Sabucius Sabucia Sabucia
Saenius Saenia Saenia
Safinius Safinia Safinia
Salienus Saliena Saliena
Sallustius Sallustia Sallustia
Salonius Salonia Salonia
Saltius Saltia Saltia
Saltorius Saltoria Saltoria
Salvius Salvia Salvia
Salvidius Salvidia Salvidia
Salvidienus Salvidiena Salvidiena
Salvienus Salviena Salviena
Sammius Sammia Sammia
Sanquinius Sanquinia Sanquinia
Sarius Saria Saria
Sariolenus Sariolena Sariolena
Satellius Satellia Satellia
Satrius Satria Satria
Satrienus Satriena Satriena
Sattius Sattia Sattia
Saturius Saturia Saturia
Saturninius Saturninia Saturninia
Saufeius Saufeia Saufeia
Scaevius Scaevia Scaevia
Scaevilius Scaevilia Scaevilia
Scaevinius Scaevinia Scaevinia
Scandilius Scandilia Scandilia
Scantius Scantia Scantia
Scantinius Scantinia Scantinia
Scaptius Scaptia Scaptia
Scoedius Scoedia Scoedia
Scribonius Scribonia Scribonia
Scuilius Scuilia Scuilia
Scutarius Scutaria Scutaria
Seccius Seccia Seccia
Secundius Secundia Secundia
Secundinius Secundinia Secundinia
Sedatius Sedatia Sedatia
Segulius Segulia Segulia
Seius Seia Seia
Selicius Selicia Selicia
Sellius Sellia Sellia
Sempronius Sempronia Sempronia
Sennius Sennia Sennia
Sentius Sentia Sentia
Seppius Seppia Seppia
Seppienus Seppiena Seppiena
Septicius Septicia Septicia
Septimius Septimia Septimia
Septimuleius Septimuleia Septimuleia
Septueius Septueia Septueia
Sepullius Sepullia Sepullia
Sepunius Sepunia Sepunia
Sergius Sergia Sergia
Serius Seria Seria
Sertorius Sertoria Sertoria
Servaeus Servaea Servaea
Servenius Servenia Servenia
Servius Servia Servia
Servilius Servilia Servilia
Sestius Sestia Sestia
Severius Severia Severia
Sextius Sextia Sextia
Sextilius Sextilia Sextilia
Sibidienus Sibidiena Sibidiena
Sicinius Sicinia Sicinia
Silius Silia Silia
Silicius Silicia Silicia
Silvius Silvia Silvia
Sinicius Sinicia Sinicia
Sinuleius Sinuleia Sinuleia
Sisenna Sisena Sisena
Sittius Sittia Sittia
Socellius Socellia Socellia
Sollius Sollia Sollia
Sornatius Sornatia Sornatia
Sosius Sosia Sosia
Sotidius Sotidia Sotidia
Spedius Spedia Spedia
Spellius Spellia Spellia
Spurius Spuria Spuria
Spurinna Spurina Spurina
Staius Staia Staia
Statius Statia Statia
Statilius Statilia Statilia
Stertinius Stertinia Stertinia
Suedius Suedia Suedia
Suetonius Suetonia Suetonia
Suilius Suilia Suilia
Sulpicius Sulpicia Sulpicia
Syagrius Syagria Syagria
Tadius Tadia Tadia
Tanicius Tanicia Tanicia
Tanusius Tanusia Tanusia
Tapsenna Tapsena Tapsena
Tarpeius Tarpeia Tarpeia
Tarquinius Tarquinia Tarquinia
Tarquitius Tarquitia Tarquitia
Terentius Terentia Terentia
Terentilius Terentilia Terentilia
Terrasidius Terrasidia Terrasidia
Tertinius Tertinia Tertinia
Tettius Tettia Tettia
Tettidius Tettidia Tettidia
Tettiedius Tettiedia Tettiedia
Tettienus Tettiena Tettiena
Thorius Thoria Thoria
Tigellius Tigellia Tigellia
Tineius Tineia Tineia
Titanius Titania Titania
Titius Titia Titia
Titinius Titinia Titinia
Titurius Tituria Tituria
Tonantius Tonantia Tonantia
Trebatius Trebatia Trebatia
Trebellius Trebellia Trebellia
Trebius Trebia Trebia
Treblanus Treblana Treblana
Trebonius Trebonia Trebonia
Tremellius Tremellia Tremellia
Tuccius Tuccia Tuccia
Tullius Tullia Tullia
Turallasius Turallasia Turallasia
Turius Turia Turia
Turpilius Turpilia Turpilia
Turullius Turullia Turullia
Ulpius Ulpia Ulpia
Umbrius Umbria Umbria
Ummidius Ummidia Ummidia
Urgulanius Urgulania Urgulania
Urseius Urseia Urseia
Usonius Usonia Usonia
Valerius Valeria Valeria
Varenus Varena Varena
Varius Varia Varia
Varinius Varinia Varinia
Varisidius Varisidia Varisidia
Vatinius Vatinia Vatinia
Vecilius Vecilia Vecilia
Vedius Vedia Vedia
Velius Velia Velia
Velleius Velleia Velleia
Ventidius Ventidia Ventidia
Vequasius Vequasia Vequasia
Veranius Verania Verania
Verecundius Verecundia Verecundia
Vergilius Vergilia Vergilia
Verginius Verginia Verginia
Verres Verra Verra
Verrius Verria Verria
Vesnius Vesnia Vesnia
Vesonius Vesonia Vesonia
Vestorius Vestoria Vestoria
Vestricius Vestricia Vestricia
Vettius Vettia Vettia
Veturius Veturia Veturia
Vibenius Vibenia Vibenia
Vibius Vibia Vibia
Vibidius Vibidia Vibidia
Vicirius Viciria Viciria
Victorius Victoria Victoria
Victorinius Victorinia Victorinia
Victricius Victricia Victricia
Viducius Viducia Viducia
Vigilius Vigilia Vigilia
Villius Villia Villia
Vinius Vinia Vinia
Vinicius Vinicia Vinicia
Vipsanius Vipsania Vipsania
Vipstanus Vipstana Vipstana
Virgil Virga Virga
Virius Viria Viria
Viridius Viridia Viridia
Visellius Visellia Visellia
Vistilius Vistilia Vistilia
Vitellius Vitellia Vitellia
Vitrasius Vitrasia Vitrasia
Vitruvius Vitruvia Vitruvia
Voconius Voconia Voconia
Volcacius Volcacia Volcacia
Volumnius Volumnia Volumnia
Volusenna Volusena Volusena
Volusenus Volusena Volusena
Volusius Volusia Volusia
Vorenius Vorenia Vorenia
Vulius Vulia Vulia

Cognomina[edit | edit source]

Main Article: Cognomen

There is currently 221 cognomina to choose from in the Imperivm Romanvm.

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. This however does not have to be followed, but will be deemed ahistorical and is frowned upon.

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.

The Censorial Office will accept only authentic Roman cognomina, which does not mean that you may not use "innovations". New words, that were never used as cognomina in ancient Rome, will also be accepted if they follow the characteristics of the genuine Roman cognomina and have a grounded etymology. Accepted Cognomina are:

  1. Attested ancient Roman cognomina;
  2. Latin words
    • describing your geographical or ethnic origin;
    • describing your occupation;
    • describing your physical or personality traits: these must be, according to the principles of Roman cognomina, objective rather than subjective, concrete rather than abstract, and neutral or insulting rather than complimentary.
  3. Latinization of your native (real) name: this happens with the help of the Censorial Office, and they will give you the etymologically correct and researched latinization of your real name.

Multiple Cognomina (Agnomina)[edit | edit source]

Within the Imperivm it is possible for a person to have multiple cognomina, this is so that especially large gens can distinguish each stirpes. Having such names (within the Imperivm) is called having agnomina. This is incorrect usage of the term but allows for a clearer understanding of what the additional cognomina are and distinguishes such nomina from the cognomen found in the tria nomina. A person requesting agnomina must consult the censores when requesting such names and should expect a delay in their application as such a request is a special case. there are also other types of agnomina:

Adoptive agnomina[edit | edit source]

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.

Honorific agnomina[edit | edit source]

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.

Matronymic agnomina[edit | edit source]

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.

List of Cognomina
Male Female
Acceptus Accepta
Aculeo Aculeo
Adventus Adventa
Agricola Agricola
Agrippa Agrippa
Ahala Ahala
Ahenobarbus Ahenobarba
Albinus Albina
Albus Alba
Ambustus Ambusta
Annalis Annalis
Aquila Aquila
Aquilinus Aquilina
Arvina Arvina
Asellio Asellio
Asina Asina
Atellus Atella
Avitus Avita
Axouchos Axouchos
Balbus Balba
Barba Barba
Barbatus Barbata
Bassus Bassa
Bestia Bestia
Bibaculus Bibacula
Bibulus Bibula
Blaesus Blaesa
Braxator Braxatrix
Brocchus Broccha
Brutus Bruta
Bubulcus Bubulca
Bucco Bucco
Bulbus Bulba
Buteo Buteo
Caecus Caeca
Caepio Caepio
Caesar Caesaris
Calidus Calida
Calvinus Calvina
Calvus Calva
Camillus Camilla
Campanus Campana
Caninus Canina
Canus Cana
Capito Capito
Carbo Carbo
Catilina Catilina
Cato Cato
Catulus Catula
Celer Celeris
Celsus Celsa
Cethegus Cethega
Cicero Cicero
Cicurinus Cicurina
Cilo Cilo
Cincinnatus Cincinnata
Cinna Cinna
Constans Constans
Cordus Corda
Cornicen Cornicen
Cornutus Cornuta
Corvinus Corvina
Corvus Corva
Cossus Cossa
Costa Costa
Cotta Cotta
Crassipes Crassipes
Crassus Crassa
Crispinus Crispina
Crispus Crispa
Culleo Culleo
Curio Curio
Cursor Cursor
Curvus Curva
Dentatus Dentata
Denter Dentra
Dento Dento
Dives Dives
Dolabella Dolabella
Dorsuo Dorsuo
Drusus Drusa
Ducas Duca
Figulus Figula
Fimbria Fimbria
Flaccus Flacca
Flaminius Flaminia
Flavus Flava
Florus Flora
Fronto Fronto
Fullo Fullo
Fusus Fusa
Galeo Galeo
Gemellus Gemella
Germanus Germana
Glabrio Glabrio
Gracchus Graccha
Gurges Gurges
Habitus Habita
Helva Helva
Imperiosus Imperiosa
Iullus Iulla
Jovianus Joviana
Labeo Labeo
Lactuca Lactuca
Laenas Laenas
Laevinus Laevina
Lanatus Lanata
Laterensis Laterensis
Lentulus Lentula
Lepidus Lepida
Liberalis Liberalis
Libo Libo
Licinus Licina
Longus Longa
Lucullus Luculla
Lupus Lupa
Lurco Lurco
Macer Macra
Macula Macula
Malleolus Malleola
Mamercus Mamerca
Marcellus Marcella
Maro Maro
Martialis Martialis
Merenda Merenda
Mergus Merga
Merula Merula
Messalla Messalla
Metellus Metella
Murena Murena
Mus Mus
Musca Musca
Nacca Nacca
Nasica Nasica
Naso Naso
Natta Natta
Nepos Nepos
Nero Nero
Nerva Nerva
Nicolaus Nicola
Niger Nigra
Novellus Novella
Ocella Ocella
Pacilus Pacila
Paetus Paeta
Pansa Pansa
Papus Papa
Paterculus Patercula
Paullus Paulla
Pavo Pavo
Pera Pera
Perusinus Perusina
Pictor Pictrix
Piso Piso
Plancus Planca
Plautus Plauta
Poplicola Poplicola
Postumus Postuma
Potitus Potita
Praeconinus Praeconina
Praetextatus Praetextata
Priscus Prisca
Proculus Procula
Publicola Publicola
Pugnator Pugnatrix
Pulcher Pulchra
Pullus Pulla
Pulvillus Pulvilla
Pupienus Pupiena
Purpureo Purpureo
Quadratus Quadrata
Ralla Ralla
Regillus Regilla
Regulus Regula
Rufio Rufio
Rufus Rufa
Ruga Ruga
Rullus Rulla
Rutilus Rutila
Salinator Salinatrix
Saturninus Saturnina
Scaeva Scaeva
Scaevola Scaevola
Scapula Scapula
Scaurus Scaura
Scipio Scipio
Scriptor Scriptrix
Scrofa Scrofa
Seneca Seneca
Severus Severa
Silanus Silana
Silo Silo
Silus Sila
Silvianus Silviana
Stolo Stolo
Strabo Strabo
Structus Structa
Sulla Sulla
Sura Sura
Taurus Taura
Thothmes Thothmes
Totus Tota
Traianus Traiana
Triarius Triaria
Trigeminus Trigemina
Trio Trio
Tubero Tubero
Tubertus Tuberta
Tubulus Tubula
Tuditanus Tuditana
Tuedamus Tuedama
Tullus Tulla
Turdus Turda
Varro Varro
Varus Vara
Vatia Vatia
Verres Verres
Vespillo Vespillo
Vetus Veta
Vitulus Vitula
Volusus Volusa