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Gladiator Baby Names

  1. Gaius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "to rejoice"

    • Description:

      Stately Gaius (pronounced GUY-us) was in the name of many ancient Romans, including Julius Caesar. Little-used before the year 2000, it now feels like a fresh possibility in the revival of Latin boys' names like Atticus and Cassius. Caius and derivatives like Caio come from the same root, and in ancient Roman times Caius was probably pronounced as Gaius. You could also see Gaius as a male version of the earth-goddess name Gaia.
  2. Thelonius

    • Origin:

      Latinized form of German Tielo or Till

    • Meaning:

      "people"

    • Description:

      One of the coolest of names, thanks to legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Sphere Monk, who inherited it from his father. It has been used very sparingly since the 1960s--just a sprinkling of baby boys receive the name each year. Monk's middle name Sphere is pretty unique too--a cousin of Cosmos and Cosmo. Some other jazz names to consider: Bix, Ellington, Ella, Etta, Mingus, Dexter and Calloway. :
  3. Seneca

    • Origin:

      Latin surname and Native American

    • Meaning:

      "people of the standing rock"

    • Description:

      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.
  4. Octavius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "eighth"

    • Description:

      Octavius, which was at one time used for the eighth child in a family, has the worn leather patina of all the ancient Roman names now up for reconsideration. As a Roman family name, it derives from the uncommon forename Octavus, which designated an eighth son.
  5. Claudius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "lame; enclosure"

    • Description:

      Claudius is one of the most user-friendly of the ancient Roman names – even though it's associated with the villainous character in Shakespeare's Hamlet. But as with feminine form Claudia, the "lame" meaning may stymie the rise of Claudius. 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.
  6. Nero

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "stern"

    • Description:

      The association with the infamous Nero, the fiddling Roman emperor, would be unavoidable. But there was also the detective Nero Wolfe, hero of many mystery stories.
  7. Silvius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "wood, forest"

    • Description:

      With the rise of ancient Roman names, the now-obscure Silvius may be rediscovered. Sleek and silvery, Silvius was the name of several legendary kings and an early saint. It survives in the contemporary world in its Spanish and Italian form Silvio, used for the character played by Steven Van Zandt on The Sopranos, while its traditional form appears in the Shakespeare play, As You Like It.
  8. Pontius

    • Origin:

      Roman

    • Meaning:

      "fifth"

    • Description:

      This Roman name is featured in the New Testament as that of the governor of Judea.
  9. Vinicius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "wine / vine"

    • Description:

      An Ancient Roman clan name, deriving from Latin vinum ("wine"). Marcus Vinicius was a Roman consul, general, and friend of the emperor Augustus.
  10. Decimus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "tenth"

    • Description:

      Decimus is one of the Roman numeral names used in large Victorian families--in this case for the tenth child. It is now seeing some new life thanks to the cutting-edge fashion for ancient Roman names.
  11. Valerius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "strength, health"

    • Description:

      Valerius is an ancient Roman family name turned first name. While Valerius is more familiar as its derivatives Valerie and Valerian, the rise of Roman names ending in S for boys may inspire a revival of this strong choice.
  12. Ambrosius

    • Description:

      Ambrosius is a masculine name of Greek and Latin origin, derived from the Greek word "ambrosios," meaning "immortal" or "divine." It is the original Latin form of the more common Ambrose. The name carries significant historical weight, having been borne by Saint Ambrosius of Milan, an important 4th-century theologian and one of the four original doctors of the Catholic Church. Throughout European history, the name appeared among clergy, nobility, and scholars, maintaining associations with learning and spiritual devotion. While Ambrosius has never been widely popular in modern English-speaking countries, it retains appeal for parents drawn to names with classical roots and substantial historical significance. The name projects dignity and intellectual seriousness, with potential nicknames including Ambrose, Brose, or even Sio.

  13. Flavius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "yellow, blond"

    • Description:

      Flavius is an ancient Roman family name associated with a dynasty of emperors. It has an appealingly flavorful first syllable, and is the name of a stylist in the Hunger Games series.
  14. Primus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "first"

    • Description:

      The revival of long-dormant Roman names would put this back in the lexicon if it wasn't so connected to a telecommunications network.
  15. Quintus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fifth"

    • Description:

      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 twenty male first names in ancient Rome, and was often (though not exclusively) used for fifth sons.
  16. Viridius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "green"

    • Description:

      Viridius was a pagan god of ancient Roman Britain. An alternative spelling is Viridios.
  17. Tullius

    • Origin:

      Roman, meaning unknown

    • Description:

      An ancient Roman family name, best known from the orator and author Marcus Tullius Cicero.
  18. Antonius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Antium; priceless"

    • Description:

      This is the original Roman form of Anthony, and it might just be ready for revival, now that Latin names like Maximus and Atticus have hit the big time. Antonius is also a form used in the Netherlands. The Roman general Mark Antony (as in Antony and Cleopatra) was born Marcus Antonius.
  19. Sextus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "sixth born"

    • Description:

      Just think about those inescapable "sexy" nicknames. The related Sixtus is not a huge improvement.
  20. Sabellius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "Sabine"

    • Description:

      At one time, the name Sabellius was given to someone with Sabine origins — i.e., from the Apennine Mountain region of ancient Italy.

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