Latin Names for Boys

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

Sargent, as in Kennedy brother-in-law Shriver, is the more familiar and usable form of this name.

The original version of an Old World name more often found as the Spanish Salvador or the Italian Salvatore.

Merc has been introduced to the American public by the network executive character on Showtime's Episodes, and is a contemporary-sounding short form of the Roman god and planet name Mercury. Mercury, from the Latin for trade or wages, was the god of tradesmen and travelers and is the fast-moving first planet in our solar system.

After Leo, this is one of the most usable names in the zodiac: part ancient, part new-age, part high-tech. In the night sky, the constellation Gemini is present all year round in both hemispheres. It has been associated with twins since ancient times, and its two brightest stars are named Castor and Pollux after the twins of Greek mythology. It also has STEM connections: Project Gemini was a NASA spaceflight program before Apollo.

Rarely heard in modern times, it was used by Norman Mailer for the hero of his book The Deer Park.

Vicus, an unusual ancient Roman place-name, is used for modern-day boys in Africa.

The name Pacificus has historical roots in Christian tradition, where it was adopted by several saints and religious figures for its peaceful meaning. Pacificus emerged during the early Christian era when virtue names in Latin were popular among the devout.

Cute as a nickname, slight as a first.

Phar-phetched.

Esaias is a masculine name of ancient origin, representing the Greek form of Isaiah (Hebrew Yesha'yahu), meaning 'God is salvation' or 'Yahweh is salvation.' This classical variation was used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. While less common than Isaiah in English-speaking countries, Esaias maintains popularity in certain European regions, particularly in Greece and among communities with strong Orthodox Christian traditions. The name carries the gravitas of its biblical connection—Isaiah being one of the major prophets in the Old Testament—while offering a distinctive alternative to more common biblical names. Its elegant pronunciation and meaningful heritage continue to attract parents seeking a name with historical depth.

Fidelis has significant historical connections to Christianity, as Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen was a 17th-century Capuchin friar who was martyred. The name has been used across various European countries, particularly in Catholic families who value its religious significance.

This Italian saint's name is one of the most unusual of the o-ending names.

Ancient Italian martyr's name that's a rarity here and now.

With the new fashion for occupational names, we may hear more of this one.

Pacific is an adventurous kind of place-name, with the added bonus of the association with peace.

The ancient father of all the Stephen names. The modern Greek version is STEPHANOS.

One of the few military ranks used as a name, as in Kennedy in-law and Peace Corps creator Sargent (born Robert Sargent) Shriver. There's also a more creative, artistic association with painter John Singer Sargent.

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.