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37 English names

English names of Latin origin

English names that come from Latin, the language of ancient Rome.

Names

  1. AdrianBoyAY-dree-un · LatinMeans “from Hadria”Adrian comes from the Roman name Hadrianus, meaning a person from Hadria, a town in northern Italy. The Roman emperor Hadrian, who built Hadrian’s Wall in Britain, had this name. The only English pope, Adrian IV, also chose it in the 12th century.
  2. AmyGirlAY-mee · LatinMeans “beloved”Amy comes from the Old French name Amée, from the Latin word for being loved. It has been used in England since the Middle Ages. Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women, with its youngest sister Amy March, helped keep it popular.
  3. AnthonyBoyAN-thuh-nee · LatinMeans “from the Roman family name Antonius”Anthony comes from Antonius, the name of a Roman family; its original meaning is unknown. The “h” in the English spelling was added later because people wrongly linked it to the Greek word anthos, “flower”. Saint Anthony of Padua helped make the name popular in Catholic countries.
  4. AuroraGirluh-ROR-uh · LatinMeans “dawn”Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, who was believed to bring the morning light each day. The northern lights are also called the aurora borealis. The princess in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is named Aurora, and the name has become very popular in the US in recent years.
  5. BeatriceGirlBEE-uh-tris · LatinMeans “she who makes happy, blessed”Beatrice comes from the Latin name Beatrix, which was probably first Viatrix, “traveller”, but was changed to look like the Latin word for blessed. It is famous as the name of the woman Dante loved and wrote about in his poetry. Queen Victoria gave it to her youngest daughter, and Princess Beatrice of York carries it today.
  6. CalvinBoyKAL-vin · LatinMeans “bald”Calvin comes from the French surname Cauvin, based on the Latin word calvus, “bald”. It was first used as a first name in honour of John Calvin, the 16th-century Protestant leader. It is most common in the US.
  7. ClaireGirlKLAIR · LatinMeans “clear, bright”Claire is the French form of the Latin name Clara, from a word for clear and bright. The Normans brought it to England, where it was often spelled Clare. It was especially popular in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s.
  8. ClaraGirlKLAIR-uh · LatinMeans “clear, bright”Clara comes from a Latin word for clear and bright, and was spread by St Clare of Assisi, a friend of St Francis. It was used in England from the 19th century, often in honour of the German pianist Clara Schumann. It is the heroine’s name in the ballet The Nutcracker in many versions.
  9. DianaGirldy-AN-uh · LatinMeans “divine, heavenly”Diana was the Roman goddess of the moon and of hunting, and her name probably comes from an old word linked to the sky and the gods. English speakers began to use it in the 16th century, after the revival of interest in classical stories. Diana, Princess of Wales, made it famous around the world.
  10. DominicBoyDOM-in-ik · LatinMeans “of the Lord”Dominic comes from the Latin name Dominicus, from dominus, “lord”. It was often given to boys born on a Sunday, the Lord’s day. Saint Dominic founded the Dominican order of monks in the 13th century, and the name is especially common among Catholics.
  11. EmilyGirlEM-ih-lee · LatinMeans “rival”Emily comes from Aemilia, the female form of an old Roman family name that probably meant “rival”. It became common in England in the 18th century, after the German royal family arrived; a princess named Amelia was often called Emily. The writers Emily Brontë and Emily Dickinson helped make it a classic.
  12. FelixBoyFEE-liks · LatinMeans “lucky, happy”Felix was a Roman name taken from the Latin word felix. It was borne by several early saints and popes, which kept it in use across Europe. Today it is popular in the UK and in German-speaking countries.
  13. FlorenceGirlFLOR-uns · LatinMeans “flourishing, blooming”Florence comes from the Latin name Florentius, from a word meaning to bloom or do well. In the Middle Ages it was used for both men and women. It became popular as a girls’ name after the nurse Florence Nightingale, who was named after the Italian city where she was born, and it is fashionable again in England.
  14. FrankieUnisexFRANK-ee · LatinMeans “Frenchman”Frankie is a pet form of Francis for boys and Frances for girls. Both come from the Latin Franciscus, which referred to the Franks, the people who gave France its name. It is now often given as a full name to both boys and girls.
  15. JulesUnisexJOOLZ · LatinMeans “youthful, downy-bearded”Jules is the French form of the Roman name Julius, whose origin is uncertain; it may come from a Greek word for a young man’s first beard. In France it is a boy’s name. In English it is also used as a short form of Julia, Juliet or Julian, so it works for both genders.
  16. JuliaGirlJOO-lee-uh · LatinMeans “of the Julius family”Julia is the female form of Julius, an old Roman family name; its meaning is not clear, though some say it meant “youthful” or was linked to the god Jupiter. Julia is mentioned in one of St Paul’s letters in the New Testament. It has been used in England since the 18th century.
  17. JulianBoyJOO-lee-un · LatinMeans “from the family of Julius”Julian comes from the Roman name Julianus, which was based on Julius. The meaning of Julius is uncertain; it is often explained as “youthful”, but this is not proven. Several saints had the name, and it has become popular in the US in recent years.
  18. JulietGirlJOO-lee-et · LatinMeans “of the Julius family”Juliet is the English form of the Italian Giulietta, a pet form of Giulia (Julia). Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, about two young lovers in Verona, made it famous. Many people still link the name with romantic love.
  19. JustinBoyJUS-tin · LatinMeans “just, fair”Justin comes from the Roman name Justinus, based on the Latin word iustus. Saint Justin Martyr was an early Christian writer, and the emperor Justinian had a related name. It became very common in English-speaking countries in the late 20th century.
  20. LauraGirlLOR-uh · LatinMeans “laurel”Laura comes from the Latin word for the laurel or bay tree, whose leaves were used to crown winners in the ancient world. The Italian poet Petrarch wrote many love poems to a woman called Laura in the 14th century. It has been used in England since the 19th century.
  21. LaurenGirlLOR-un · LatinMeans “from Laurentum”Lauren is a feminine form of Laurence, from a Latin name for a person from the town of Laurentum, which was linked with the laurel tree. The Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall made it known as a girls’ name in the 1940s. It was very popular in Britain and the US in the 1990s.
  22. LeoBoyLEE-oh · LatinMeans “lion”Leo is the Latin word for “lion”. It was the name of many popes, including Pope Leo the Great. Short and easy to say in many languages, it has become one of the most popular boys’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  23. LucyGirlLOO-see · LatinMeans “light”Lucy comes from the Latin name Lucia, from lux, the word for light. St Lucy was a 4th-century Christian saint whose feast in December is still a festival of light in Sweden. The Normans brought the name to England, and it has been widely used ever since.
  24. LunaGirlLOO-nuh · LatinMeans “moon”Luna is the Latin word for the moon and the name of the Roman goddess of the moon. It is also used in Spanish and Italian. In the 2020s it has become one of the most popular girls’ names in the US and many other countries.
  25. MarkBoyMARK · LatinMeans “probably from Mars”Mark comes from the Roman name Marcus, which is probably connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Saint Mark wrote one of the Gospels and is the patron saint of Venice. The name became very common in English in the 20th century.
  26. MaxBoyMAKS · LatinMeans “greatest”Max is a short form of Maximilian, from the Latin word maximus, and is sometimes short for Maxwell or Maximus. It is now very often given as a name on its own. It is popular in many countries because it is short and works in many languages.
  27. NatalieGirlNAT-uh-lee · LatinMeans “Christmas day”Natalie comes from the Latin phrase natale domini, “birthday of the Lord”, so it was often given to girls born at Christmas. It came into English through French Nathalie and Russian Natalya. Actresses Natalie Wood and Natalie Portman made it well known.
  28. NoraGirlNOR-uh · LatinMeans “honour”Nora is a short form of Honora, from the Latin word for honour, and is also used for Eleanor. It was especially common in Ireland. Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House made Nora famous, and the name is popular again in the US in the 2020s.
  29. OliverBoyOL-iv-er · LatinMeans “olive tree”Oliver comes from the Old French name Olivier, usually linked to the Latin word for “olive tree”, although it may have Germanic or Norse roots. Oliver was a hero in old French legends of Charlemagne, and Charles Dickens later wrote Oliver Twist. It has been one of the most popular boys’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  30. OliviaGirluh-LIV-ee-uh · LatinMeans “olive”Olivia was first used by Shakespeare for a rich young woman in his comedy Twelfth Night. Its origin is debated: it is usually linked with the Latin word for olive, but it may have been made as a female form of Oliver. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  31. PatriciaGirlpuh-TRISH-uh · LatinMeans “noble, patrician”Patricia is the female form of Patrick, from the Latin word for a Roman noble. It became common in Britain after Princess Patricia of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, in the early 20th century. It was one of the top girls’ names in the US in the 1940s and 1950s.
  32. PatrickBoyPAT-rik · LatinMeans “nobleman”Patrick comes from the Latin word patricius, a member of the noble class in ancient Rome. Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century and is its patron saint. The name is especially common in Ireland and among Irish families abroad.
  33. PaulBoyPAWL · LatinMeans “small, humble”Paul comes from the Roman family name Paulus. In the Bible, Saint Paul spread Christianity and wrote many letters in the New Testament. The name has been used across Europe for many centuries.
  34. StellaGirlSTEL-uh · LatinMeans “star”Stella is the Latin word for a star. The English poet Sir Philip Sidney used it in the 16th century in his love poems Astrophel and Stella, which made it a name. It is popular again in the US.
  35. VictorBoyVIK-ter · LatinMeans “conqueror”Victor is a Latin word and was a Roman name. It was borne by several early saints and popes, which kept it in use in Christian Europe. The French writer Victor Hugo is one of its most famous bearers.
  36. VictoriaGirlvik-TOR-ee-uh · LatinMeans “victory”Victoria is the Latin word for victory and was the name of the Roman goddess of victory. It was rare in England until Queen Victoria, who reigned for most of the 19th century and gave her name to the Victorian age. Many places around the world, such as Lake Victoria, are named after her.
  37. VincentBoyVIN-sunt · LatinMeans “conquering”Vincent comes from the Roman name Vincentius, from the Latin verb vincere, “to conquer”. Saint Vincent de Paul, a 17th-century priest who helped the poor, made it popular among Catholics. The Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh is its best-known bearer.