Latin Names for Boys

An ancient and highly unusual name; St. Alban -- sometimes also called Albinus or Aubin -- was an early martyr in Roman Britain.  Using an alternate spelling, Alben Barkley was the 35th U.S. Vice-President, serving under Harry Truman.  And Albin is popular in modern Sweden. But only the form Alban has the alternate meaning "from Alba".

Alban

One for the truly adventurous baby namers, or perhaps an unexpected middle name to liven up a more traditional first. But on trend short form Bo does make it feel a little more accessible.

Bonaventure

A welcoming name that seems to say "hello". Celio can be thought of as a much rarer male variation of Celia. With heavenly names in the ascendant, we may be hearing lots more of Celio.

Celio

Like Horace, Horatio is a variation on the Latin Horatius, but its Shakespearean and optimistic Horatio Alger pedigree makes it an attractive up-and-comer, especially with its cool final o. A modern reference is the charismatic TV character Horatio Caine played by David Caruso in CSI: Miami.
 Horatio was the given name of Lord Nelson, one of the most dashing of British heroes, the naval commander who led the British fleet to destroy the French at Trafalgar, and it also belonged to Hamlet's loyal friend. Another literary namesake is Captain Horatio Hornblower, the protagonist of a long-running series of naval novels penned by C. S. Forester, played on screen by Gregory Peck.

Horatio

An old aristocratic English name which also belongs to Cambridge college, named for George Augustus Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand, subsequently Bishop of Lichfield. 

Selwyn

On one hand, Caron is a place name, deived from the Welsh caru meaning "to love", and therefore related to Carys and Caradoc. Alternatively, it's influenced by the Greek Charon ("fierce brightness" and mythological ferryman for the dead) or the French Chèron (possibly from Roman Carinu, "beloved, dear").

Caron

Roman statesman's name with a cool and quirky sound. Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman scholar, orator and lawyer who had an immense impact on the Latin language. 

Cicero

Dacia was an ancient region comprised of what is modern Romania and Moldova and smaller parts of other Eastern European countries.  Its inhabitants were called the Dacians, and the Dacian Kingdom flourished around the time of Christ until it was toppled by the Romans.  Daciana is the female version sometimes used in Romania.

Dacian

Made cool by that final X (as seen in Felix, Lennox, and Rex), Pollux is the Romanized form of Polydeukes, the half-twin of Castor, and the son of Zeus and Leda. Associated with the Gemini constellation, the name means "very sweet".
 
While Castor is held back by the oil, parents may be put off Pollux by its similarity to words like pollock, polyps, pollution, and pox — and with its almost rhyme, beginning with B. 
 
If you can look past that, as a handful of parents in the US have been doing since at least 2008, it could make an unexpected way to honor a Paul or a Polly and a way to nicknames Lux and Lockie.

Pollux

With its stylish -o ending and similarity to the likes of Remy, Rio, and Leo, this Italian name could make an appealing and distinctive choice. A variation of Remus, it is associated with Roman mythology, Remus being one of the founders of the city of Rome, alongside his twin brother Romulus — who later killed him. While the exact meaning of the name is unknown, "twin" has been suggested.
 
Familiar in Switzerland, Remo might work for those who enjoy gentler names, and by those who love mythology but want something more subtle — and less Harry Potter connected too.

Remo

The o ending and the positive meaning in many languages makes this a winner, and with the feminine Vera making a surprise return, and the new love for the letter 'V', this becomes a name that has definite possibilities. 
 A geographical tie is to Vero Beach in Florida, former home of the Dodgers training camp.

Vero

Deriving from the Roman cognomen Vivianus, Vivian was originally a masculine name, with Vivien being a feminine soundalike coined by Alfred Lord Tennyson for the Lady of the Lake in his famous poetic adaptation of the legend of King Arthur. It has since become a much more popular choice for girls in the US, but retains a refined British charm which sees it cropping up occasionally for boys in the Telegraph birth announcements. Fun fact: Vivian is the middle name of Daniel Cleaver, Hugh Grant's rakish character in the Bridget Jones movies.

Vivian

An easy-going name reflecting tranquillity, stillness and silence, Sileo comes from the Latin sileō meaning "to be quiet" or "to rest". Despite this calming meaning, the name has plenty of energy in its sounds and flow, and could be an interesting route to nickname Leo.
 
Some sources suggest the name is also a Spanish and Italian variation of the Greek Syleus, a name meaning "privateer" or "right to seize a ship".

Sileo

A hyperkinetic name, might be more kid-friendly without the second a. 

Actaeon

This softer version of Adolf is sadly still off-limits due to the connotations with Hitler.

Adolphus

More often spelled ALBAN, Alben is an ancient and highly unusual name.  Alben Barkley was Harry Truman's vice president.

Alben

With its musical allusions, a harmonious possibility. 

Alto

Common Roman name mentioned in the Bible that has a crisply attractive sound. 

Aquilo

A more distinctive alternative to Angelo. 

Argento

Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. This name is also associated with bay leaves, the bay laurel, the contemporary term of endearment, "bae", and the Old English word beġ meaning "berry"

 for boys have held a vast array of connotations over the millennia. Latin boys’ names have been very popular among the European aristocracy during some periods.

Some Latin names conjure images of Ancient Rome, while others feel more understated. The two most popular Latin boys’ names in the United States are Oliver and Lucas.

Along with Oliver and Lucas, other Latin boys’ names in the US Top 200 include Adrian, Dominic, Jude, Julian, Leo, Miles, Roman, and Sebastian.

Baby boy names popular in Rome include Christian — the most common Latin boys’ name in Italy — Anthony, Santiago, and Leo.

Latin names for boys, such as Caius and Remus, were also given by masters to their slaves in the Antebellum South, making them particularly resonant among African-Americans.

Latin boys’ names are coming into fashion, on balance, in the U.S., so this list of Latin names for boys is well worth exploring. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.

Latin names for boys have held a vast array of connotations over the millennia. Latin boys’ names have been very popular among the European aristocracy during some periods. Some Latin names conjure images of Ancient Rome, while others feel more understated. The two most popular Latin boys’ names in the United States are Oliver and Lucas. Along with Oliver and Lucas, other Latin boys’ names in the US Top 200 include Adrian, Dominic, Jude, Julian, Leo, Miles, Roman, and Sebastian. Baby boy names popular in Rome include Christian — the most common Latin boys’ name in Italy — Anthony, Santiago, and Leo. Latin names for boys, such as Caius and Remus, were also given by masters to their slaves in the Antebellum South, making them particularly resonant among African-Americans. Latin boys’ names are coming into fashion, on balance, in the U.S., so this list of Latin names for boys is well worth exploring. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically. (Page 11)