Latin Names

Aloys derives from Alois, a form of the Latin Aloysius which is a relative of the German and French Louis. Aloys has been particularly popular in German-speaking countries, especially Austria, Bavaria, and Switzerland. It has notable associations with composer Aloys Fleischmann and the Catholic saint Aloysius Gonzaga, whose name variations include Aloys. 



Aloys

Musical choice best left to the boys, or variation of Alta.

Alto

Used as a unisex name in Late Roman times, Amabilis has the charming meaning of "lovable", making it a relative of Mabel. Borne by two saints, St. Amabilis of Riom (male), and St Amabilis (or Mable) of Rouen (female, it may appeal to fans of Amadeus or Atticus. 

Amabilis

A unisex name used in Roman times, Amabilis has the sweet meaning of "lovable", in turn connecting it to contemporary (and vintage) favorite, Mabel. It has been borne by two saints, St. Amabilis of Riom (male), and St Amabilis (or Mable) of Rouen (female). 
 
Unexpected and rare, it may be an unusual way to reach nicknames Billie, Bliss, Mab, Ami, Lissy, or Issy.

Amadeaus is a variation of the name Amadeus, which has Latin and Italian origins meaning 'love of God' or 'beloved by God.' The additional 'a' in this spelling creates a unique twist on the classical name. Most famously associated with the renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the name carries strong artistic and musical connotations. 

Despite its historical gravitas, Amadeaus remains uncommon as a given name, making it distinctive for modern bearers. Parents who choose this name often appreciate its cultural significance, melodic qualities, and the spiritual dimension of its meaning. The name suggests refinement, creative talent, and a connection to European classical traditions.

Amadeaus

An alternative variation of the musical Amadeus — best associated with composer Mozart, perhaps — this variation appeared in the Top 1000 in Brazil for much of the 20th-century, peaking in the 1930s when it reached #152. Out of the charts since the 1980s, it would still be a familiar option.
 
Meaning "lover of God", the pronunciation may vary depending on location and dialect. In European Portuguese, it would typically be said as u-mu-DEW, while in Brazilian Portuguese, it would be a-ma-DEW; in Galician, you would hear a-ma-DHEW, while in Catalan, it would be uh-muh-DHEW.

Amadeu

The obscure yet not unappealing name of a legendary heroine of Rome, likely derived from the Roman family name, Cloelius. It is believed to come from the Latin word cluere, meaning "to have renowned fame". 
 
The ancient Clelia escaped an Etruscan invader by swimming across the Tiber River.

Clelia

A fanciful and frilly form of Amora, Amore, and Amor, Amorella combines the Latin word for love with the popular -ella ending. As such, it could simply mean "love", but if it is viewed as a smoosh name, "fairy maiden of love" and "love completely, love all" are other whimsical possibilities.
 
Currently a very rare choice, it has potential as an alternative to Annabella, Arabella, Amor, and Aurelia.

Amorella

A medieval name with a light, friendly feel, Amphelise emerged in the 11th or 12th century from the Latin Amphelisia. While the exact meaning is unknown, theories include that it is a blend of amicus or amo, Latin elements meaning "friendship" and "love", with felix, meaning "lucky" and fortunate". As such, it could be interpreted more figuratively as meaning "lucky friend" or "lucky in love". 
 
Other forms of the name include Anflis, Amphelisia and Aunfelisa, and it might make an appealing alternative to Amelia, Ophelia, or Elise, particularly for a fictional character, perhaps.

Amphelise

Also appearing as Andronikos, this Latinized Ancient Greek name is reminiscent of more popular choices such as Andrew, Andreas, Nickolas, and Atticus. Made up of the elements aner (meaning "man") and nike (meaning "victory"), it's a strong, albeit heavy choice.
 
Appearing in the New Testament and borne by a number of emperors, saints, poets, and scholars, the name is also associated with the Shakespeare play Titus Andronicus. A bloodthirsty revenge play, loved in its time but rejected by the Victorians, it involves sacrifices, murder, executions, and being baked in a pie. 
 
Pronounced as ahn-drawn-NEE-kus in Latin, it is also heard as an-drawn-ih-kus in English.

Andronicus

A rare elaboration of Angela, likely inspired by Elena. As such, you could interpret it as meaning "angel of light" or "bright, shining messenger".

Angelenia

The Roman goddess Annona personified Rome's grain supply. Her name is derived from the Latin word annōna, meaning "corn" or "grain," which ultimately originated from annus, "year."

Annona

Yes, we tend to think of Claude as a male name and Claudia and Claudette as the female, but this ancient clan name is used in France for girls as well as boys, and could make a distinctively chic <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/79/boy-names-for-girls">boy name for girls</a> here too. You may be surprised to know that Claude was in fairly regular use for American girls in the 1880's and nineties, reaching as high as 553 in 1880.

 In her native country, there have been some famous female Claudes, including Queen Claude of France (1499 to 1524), daughter of Louis XII, and another sixteenth century Claude de France, daughter of Henri II.

 Later Claudes include the daughter of Claude Debussy, Claude-Emma (called Chouchou), the leading female character in Tracy Chevalier's novel Lady and the Unicorn, French actress Claude Jade and photographer Claude Cahun, and the widow of French Prime Minister Georges Pompidou.

 While the "lame" meaning is the most widely acknowledged, some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-appealing name.

Claude

A floral and saintly choice, Anthusa derives from the Greek word athos meaning "flower", in turn connecting it to more familiar choices such Anthea and Xanthe. Also written as Anthousa, this Latinized form is associated with a number of saints, including Saint Anthusa of Constantinople (the patroness of convents and abbeys), and the earlier Saint Anthusa of Mantinea, for whom the former was named.

Anthusa

There may be some parents who deliberately transpose the i and the o in this name, pronouncing it an-tee-oh-net. And then there are those parents who are just spelling Antoinette differently. 

Most famously associated with Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the Revolution, the name carries an air of aristocratic refinement. But unless you have a good reason to go with Antionette, Antoinette is really the correct spelling.

Antionette

Aquilla appears in the New Testament. The name carries powerful symbolism through its association with eagles, conveying qualities of strength, vision, and nobility. 

Despite its classical origins, Aquilla remains quite rare as a given name, offering distinction while still having historical precedent. The name has a commanding presence with its unusual letter combination and strong sound. 

For parents seeking a name with both gravitas and uncommon status, Aquilla provides a meaningful option with rich symbolic connections to one of the most majestic birds in cultural traditions.

Aquilla

A shimmery ancient Roman name that could still shine today.
VARIATION: ARGENTA

Argentia

South America provides a continent of interesting, undiscovered names -- Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, and the tango-rhythmed Argentina. 

Argentina

A poetic name first used in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" in 1596, it had a literary vogue in the 18th century, especially favored by Robert Burns.  "inda" names--Melinda, Belinda, Linda" are not particularly in right now.

Clarinda

Clorinda is a romantic name invented by a sixteenth-century poet, but has a synthetic sound today. 

Clorinda

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 31)