Latin Names

Spartacus is the famous name of an ancient Roman slave -- and star of his own eponymous TV series! -- who led a slave revolt and became a renowned gladiator, only to die in the ring.  Not considered baby-appropriate for centuries, Spartacus just might rise again along with the names of his fellow gladiators.

Spartacus

Altalune is an invention used by Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson as one of several <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/673/middle-names">middle names</a> for their daughter. It's evocative Latin meaning roughly translates to "over the moon." Celebrity baby Altalune will be called the more familiar Luna for short.

Altalune

Columbia is a rarely used name with many associations. From the eighteenth century it has been used as a female personification of the United States, often appearing as a flag-draped patriotic figure. And as such it's inspired a plethora of place and company names, from the District of Columbia to Columbia University to Columbia Records, and songs like "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean." A character called Columbia appears in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
 The peaceful Columba/Colomba--meaning "dove"-- is often heard in the Latino community

Columbia

Ovidia is the unusual feminine form of the ancient Roman Ovidius, most famous as the name of the exiled 1st century Roman poet Ovid.  Modern male form Ovidio is known in Spain and Portugal.  Ovida is another variation.

Ovidia

Columba is an early saint's name that rhumbas to a modern beat. While the original St. Columba is male, the name sounds more appropriate for a girl in the modern world. Leave variations Colm and Callum for the boys.

Columba

Colombia is a South American country name, with a rhythmic sound and peaceful connotations.  The Irish Colm, Scottish Callum, and Columba are all attractive relatives of Colombia (or Columbia, if you're thinking of the college).

Colombia

This Top 100 <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' name</a> in The Netherlands is unlikely to translate to the U.S., where it would undoubtedly pronounced fee-line and mistaken for the adjective that means cat-like. While the name Feline -- and Felina and Felinus -- do have the same root, the considerably more charming pronunciation in modern-day Europe is fee-LEEN-ah. Some websites mistakenly relate it to Felix and give its meaning as happy or fortunate.

Feline

Dulcibella is an old name that's fallen into disuse but may rise again with the new wave of fashionable names that end in -bel, -belle, and -bella.  Behind the Name says that the medieval form of the name was the Dowsabel, which we definitely do not see making a comeback.  But Dulcibel or Dulcibelle could work.

Dulcibella

This Late Roman name is little-used in modern times, though the feminine forms Feline and Felina are popular in Europe.  While some relate it to the happy-go-lucky Felix, it actually has a cat-like meaning.  St. Felinus is a legendary third-century martyr.

Felinus

This ancient feminine form is the kind of name your child will grow into...at least by her fiftieth birthday. 

Clemencia

Semiramis/Semiramide was the most important Queen of Assyria, who conquered much of Asia. Semiramis restored ancient Babylon and protected it with a high brick wall that completely surrounded the city. Then she built several palaces in Persia, reigned much of Asia Minor effectively and conquered  Libya and Ethiopia.

The version Semiramide was used by Giacomo Rossini in his opera of the same name.

Semiramide

Calpurnia is a name with a massive history. As the third and final wife of Julius Caesar, Calpurnia has been forever depicted in literature (Shakespeare) and film (Cleopatra; Rome) as a modest and sweet woman, utterly devoted to Caesar. She is said to have foretold his death and to have tried (and failed) to have warned him of the treachery of his trusted allies. Following Caesar's assassination, Calpurnia never remarried.
 Calpurnia is also familiar to us from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird as the housekeeper at the Finch household.

Calpurnia

If January, April and August are useable and fashionable, why not February? February as a word derives from the Latin februa, which was the name of a purification feast coming at the end of winter, to prepare for the coming spring.

For our part, we like February along with December and January as <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/winter-baby-names">names for winter babies</a>; we also like the possibility of Airy and Rue as nicknames.

A possible stumbling block, however, is that clumsy "bruary" sound in the middle that no one ever quite gets right.

February

The Calytrix flower is endemic to much of Australia and is part of the myrtle family. They are commonly known as star flowers, due to their dainty (usually bright white) 5 petalled flowers. The name derives from Greek calyx "cup" + trix "hair".

Calytrix

Maximillia

Cesarina, like the French version Cesarine, is a feminine version of Caesar. Cesarina has two potential pronunciations: one with the Italian "che" sound, one with the anglo "sez" sound. This is among the more unusual <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/505/italian-names-for-girls">Italian names for girls</a>.

Cesarina

Latin for "lamb", and a soundalike of the previously mega-popular female name Agnes, which has long been associated with lambs due to the link. Agnus Dei is Latin for "Lamb of God", honoured within the Catholic Mass and other Christian liturgies.

Agnus

A Roman forename, and later family name, used for both sexes in ancient times (but more commonly men).

Agrippa

Dainty but vibrant, Aliria is likely a variation of the cheerful Italian name, Ilaria, and in turn the English Hilary. Ultimately derived from the Ancient Roman name Hilarius, itself created from a Greek word meaning "happy", Aliria is notably used in Latin America.
 
Also spelled as Alíria in Portuguese, Alirio is the masculine form, while Alira might be a variation. A notable bearer is the Mexican artist Aliria Morales.

Aliria

Sunny and lively, this cheerful choice was a familiar option in Brazil in the first half of the 20th century, but has since declined in use. Likely originating from the Ancient Roman Hilarius, meaning "happy", Alirio feels more familiar than it perhaps is, thanks to its similarity to stylish options like Arlo, Elio, and Aurelio. 
 
Also spelled as Alírio in Portuguese, the name is predominantly used in Latin America, much like its feminine counterpart, Aliria. Notable bearers include musician Alirio Díaz, Venezuelan politician Alirio Ugarte Pelayo, and singer Alirio Netta.

Alirio

Latin names are plentiful throughout English-speaking countries, as Latin is one of the root languages for English. Latin names include many of the most popular baby names in the Western world, including Lucy and Oliver, Julia, and Miles.

Latin names in the US Top 100 for girls include Ava, Clara, Lillian, Olivia, and Stella. For boys, Latin names in the US Top 100 include Dominic, Lucas, Julian, Roman, and Sebastian. In Rome, popular names include Cecilia, Viola, Christian, and Santiago.

Of course, many unique baby names have Latin origins too, such as Sidra, Domino, and Vesper. Latin was the language of ancient Rome, another source for fashionable modern names, such as Augustus, Cassius, and Octavia.

Browse all of our Latin baby names here, ordered by popularity on Nameberry. 

Latin names of origin in the Latin language, the language and culture of ancient Rome, including Latin names for boys and Latin names for girls, with meanings and popularity. (Page 30)