Latin Names for Boys

Valerio

Latin

"strength, health"

The final o adds a macho touch.

Crispin

Latin

"curly-haired"

Crispin, which was introduced into the mainstream by actor Crispin Glover and which means "curly-haired" in Latin, has an image very much like its first syllable: crisp, autumnal, and colorful. St.…

Pryor

English surname

"head of the monastery, prior"

Pryor is for those in search of an unusual occupational name...or in memory of comedian Richard.

Remus

Latin, meaning unknown

Remus is one of the legendary twins who, with brother Romulus, founded Rome. An unusual yet classic name for the extremely adventurous who can put aside the stereotyped image of Uncle Remus. Though…

Seneca

Latin surname and Native American

"people of the standing rock"

Seneca's distinguished heritage as the name of the ancient Roman philosopher-playwright who tutored Nero, and of an Iroquois tribe makes this an interesting choice for either sex.

Garner

English surname

"granary"

Garner is an unncommon word and surname with some prospect of garnering popularity, especially now that Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have given it to son Samuel as his middle name, and Jessica…

Bastien

French and Spanish, diminutive of Sebastien

"person from ancient city of Sebastia"

In this form, or as Sebastian or as Bas, Bastien is a fashionable Euro name with a possible future in America. There is a one-act comic opera by Mozart titled Bastien and Bastienne . An alternate…

Gemini

Latin

"twins"

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…

Horace

Latin clan name

"timekeeper"

The ancient name Horace sounds fustily fuddy-duddy, and yet, with the resurrection of Homer, and the new interest in old Roman names...who knows. Its early popularity--it was in the Top 100 at the…

July

English word name

"month name"

Most things Jul-related – from the month of July to popular modern names Julia and Julian – originate with Roman emperor Julius Caesar, and the month name July is no exception. Fifteen girls and…

Roux

French from Latin

"russet"

Roux is the name of the dashing Johnny Depp character in Chocolat . Roux is French from a Latin word meaning russet or brownish red; it's also a cooking term for a mixture of flour and butter that…

Cipriano

Latin

"from Cyprus"

A saint and surname often heard in Italy.

Donato

Latin

"given by God"

Widely used in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, has an air of generosity and could easily be adopted here.

Taurus

Sign of the Zodiac, Latin

"bull"

The Zodiac name hasn't caught on like Leo or Aries, though it did appear in the US Top 1000 for five consecutive years back in the '70s.

Corin

Latin

"spear"

Corin was used by Shakespeare in As You Like It , an unusual name that could make a more distinctive alternative to Corey or Colin. It is a name used in the illustrious Redgrave family of actors.

Junius

Latin

"born in June"

Junius is one of those names that's growing on us, along with many of its Roman countrymen such as Julius and Atticus. We once thought it was a combination of the least attractive elements of Junior…

Quintus

Latin

"fifth"

A literary name figuring in the story of Ben Hur and the novels of Anthony Trollope that has the feel of Roman antiquity that is beginning to appeal to many parents. Quintus was one of only about…

Jove

Mythological name

Another name for Jupiter, king of the Roman gods, this jovial name is eminently ready for modern use. Feminine variations include Jovita and Jovie.

Mercury

Latin

"Roman messenger god"

Adventurous parents are starting to look back to names of ancient gods like Mercury, Zeus, and Apollo. This one is also a planet and a metallic element, and has a friendly nickname, Merc. The Roman…

Millard

Latin

"caretaker of the mill"

If you're looking for a presidential first name, keep looking.