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Roman Names for Girls

Sophie Kihm
By Sophie Kihm
Updated Tue Jan 30 2024
Roman Names for Girls

Roman names for girls are white-hot right now. Stars such as Octavia Spencer and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, have brought attention to this attractive group of names.

Roman names for girls have history but feel fresh. Girl names from Ancient Rome are feminine but connote strength, such as Aurelia and Livia.

Along with Aurelia and Livia, other Roman girl names in the US Top 1000 include Cecilia, Octavia, Valentina, Camilla, Priscilla, and Tatiana. Unique Roman girl names garnering attention include Flavia, Sabina, Vita, and Cassia. These female names were used centuries ago in Ancient Rome but feel appropriate for babies born in America today.

Here, names from Ancient Rome that work for modern baby girls, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

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Ancient Roman Names

Girl Names

  1. Aurelia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "the golden one"

    • Description:

      Aurelia is an ancient Roman name that's become a surprise hit in the contemporary world. A top favorite on Nameberry, it reentered the US Top 1000 in 2014 after a 70-year absence and continues to climb.
  2. Cecilia

    • Origin:

      Feminine form of Cecil, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "blind"

    • Description:

      Cecilia is a lovely classic name deservedly enjoying a new turn in the sun. Always among the Top 500 girls' names in the US, Cecilia is now at its highest point ever.
  3. Valentina

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "strength, health"

    • Description:

      Effortlessly stylish, with plenty of sweetness and strength, Valentina feels like a fresh alternative to Valerie, Victoria, or Vanessa.
  4. Cassia

    • Origin:

      Feminine form of Cassius or Greek

    • Meaning:

      "cinnamon"

    • Description:

      Cassia is related to the cassia tree, which has yellow flowers and produces a spice that can be a substitute for cinnamon. Keziah, the name of Job’s daughter in the Old Testament, derives from the name of the plant as well. Cassia also has ties to the Ancient Roman name Cassius, an Ancient Roman family name meaning "hollow."
  5. Octavia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "eighth"

    • Description:

      Octavia began as the Latin, then Victorian name for an eighth child. While there aren't many eighth children anymore, this ancient Roman name has real possibilities as a substitute for the overused Olivia; recommended for its combination of classical and musical overtones. It was chosen for his daughter by Kevin Sorbo.
  6. Livia

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Olivia or Latin

    • Meaning:

      "blue, envious"

    • Description:

      Though it sounds like a chopped-off variation of Olivia, which means olive, the distinctively attractive Livia has been an independent name since the days of the ancient Romans, when it belonged to Livia Drusilla—the powerful wife of the Emperor Augustus—and is still commonly heard in modern Italy.
  7. Priscilla

    • Origin:

      Latin, diminutive of Prisca

    • Meaning:

      "ancient"

    • Description:

      Despite her somewhat prissy, puritanical air, Priscilla has managed to stay widely used for well over a century -- it reached as high as Number 127 in 1940 -- appreciated for its delicacy and solid history.
  8. Tatiana

    • Origin:

      Russian from Latin family name

    • Description:

      Tatiana was derived from Tatius, a Sabine-Latin family name of unknown origin. Titus Tatius was the name of an ancient king who ruled over the Sabines, an ancient Italic tribe who lived near Rome. The Romans used the name Tatius even after the Sabines died out and created the derivative forms Tatianus and Tatiana. The names were eventually disseminated throughout the Orthodox Christian world, including Russia.
  9. Sabina

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "Sabine"

    • Description:

      Sabina is a sleek but neglected name from an ancient Roman tribal name that's well worth consideration. The equally alluring Sabine is heard in France and Germany. Related names include the more popular Sabrina or Serena. All are equally lovely.
  10. Camilla

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "young ceremonial attendant"

    • Description:

      The Spanish Camila, pronounced ka-MEE-la, is the fastest rising version of this ancient Roman name, but recent royal Camilla may have helped promote the British brand. In Roman myth, Camilla was a swift-footed huntress so fast she could run over a field without bending a blade of grass.
  11. Augusta

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Augustus, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"

    • Description:

      Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts and stately homes, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, and the renewed interest in clunky classics like Gwendolyn and Winifred for girls, Augusta might just appeal to contemporary parents.
  12. Junia

    • Origin:

      Latin, Feminine variation of Junius

    • Meaning:

      "born in June"

    • Description:

      Juno is hot, June is showing signs of a comeback along with other month and day names, whereas Junia, the name of the the first century Christian referred to by the apostle Paul as an apostle (and who may have been male), is yet to be discovered.
  13. Antonia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Antium"

    • Description:

      Antonia is stronger than most feminized boys’ names, reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather's classic novel My Antonia. Antonia is hovering near the bottom of the US popularity list, which may be an excellent reason for you to use it.
  14. Marilla

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "shining sea"

    • Description:

      Marilla is a names that's familiar via its resemblance to Mary and variations, but also distinctive: It hasn't been on the Top 1000 since the 1800s and was given to only 27 baby girls last year.
  15. Vita

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "life"

    • Description:

      Vital and vivacious, Vita is stirring back to life along with many of her V-themed sisters -- Vivian, Vivica -- and is becoming a new celebrity baby favorite.
  16. Aeliana

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "sun"

    • Description:

      This female form of the ancient Latin Aelian has an appealing sound, though kids might have a hard time handling that initial "ae" spelling. Just remember that the "ae" is pronounced "ee" (think Aesop's fables).The Annals of Aeliana is a children's fantasy series by Ryan Watters. The meaning is uncertain but is thought to derive from the Greek helios, which means sun.
  17. Flavia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "golden, blond"

    • Description:

      An ancient Roman clan name, Flavia is one choice that's unusual but historic. Now a Top 60 name in Italy, Flavia has been a rarity in the US, but with the upswing in F names for girls, this could change. Seen more in literature than real life, Flavia was used as far back as an1580 romance, then in a William Dean Howells novel and as a Princess in The Prisoner of Zenda. Although the original pronunciation is FLAH-via, Flavie (as in flavor) could make a cute nickname.
  18. Drusilla

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fruitful"

    • Description:

      Drusilla is an ancient Roman name, (probably) borne by descendants of Antony and Cleopatra, and is one of the 'illa' names that are ready for a comeback, especially with its cute short form Dru.
  19. Laelia

    • Origin:

      Latin family name and botanical name

    • Description:

      Upside: it has an interesting ancient look and feel, related to the Roman family name Laelius of uncertain meaning. There is also a type of orchid called the Laelia. Downside: possible confusion with all those Laylas, Lailas, etc. out there.
  20. Decima

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "tenth"

    • Description:

      In the days of huge families, this name of the Roman goddess of prophecy and childbirth, and one of the Fates, would be saved for bambina number ten. Now it might be used for a girl born in October, the tenth month.