Papal Names
Papal names range from the totally normal (Paul, Alexander) to the wild and extravagant (ever met a Telesphorus?). Popes traditionally choose a new regnal name upon election — one of a saint or that of a previous pope.
The 56th pope, John II, who ruled the Catholic Church in the sixth century, was the first to not use his given name. It was Mercurius, after Mercury — a pagan god. Ever since, most popes have gone by a new name.
Along with John and Alexander, other papal names currently in the US Top 250 include Adrian, Felix, Leo, Marcus, Nicholas, Theodore, Victor, and Zachary. The most common name among popes is John, which has been used 23 times, followed by Benedict and Gregory at 16 each.
The selection of Pope Francis I has added a new name to the list of papal names, which began in the year 32 with St. Peter. Pope Francis is the first pope to choose a unique regnal name since Pope Lando in the year 913.
Here are some other names of popes that are still usable today — many of them worn by multiple bearers. The names are ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- Adrian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"man of Adria"
- Alexander
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"defending men"
- Benedict
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"blessed"
- Boniface
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fortunate, of good fate"
- Caius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"rejoice"
- Clement
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"mild, merciful"
- Cletus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"called forth"
- Constantine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"steadfast"
- Cornelius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"horn"
- Damasus
- Dionysius
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"god of Nysa"
- Eugene
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"wellborn, noble"
- Fabian
Origin:
Latin clan nameMeaning:
"bean grower"
- Felix
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"happy, fortunate"
- Francis
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"Frenchman or free man"
- Gregory
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"vigilant, a watchman"
- Hilary
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"cheerful, happy"
- Honorius
Origin:
Ancient Roman name
- Innocent
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"harmless, innocent"
- John
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is gracious"
- Julius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"youthful, downy-bearded"
- Lando
Origin:
Portuguese and Spanish diminutive of Orlando, Rolando
- Laurence
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
- Leo
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lion"
- Linus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"flax"
- Lucius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"light"
- Marcellus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"young warrior"
- Marcus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"warlike"
- Marinus
- Mark
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"warlike"
- Martin
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"warlike"
- Nicholas
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"people of victory"
- Paschal
- Paul
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"small"
- Pelagius
- Peter
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"rock, stone"
- Pius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"Pius"
- Romanus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"from Rome"
- Sergius
Origin:
Latin, a Roman clan name
- Sixtus
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"sixth born"
- Stephen
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"garland, crown"
- Sylvester
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"wood, forest"
- Theodore
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Urban
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the city"
- Ursinus
- Valentine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"strength, health"
- Victor
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"conqueror"
- Zachary
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"the Lord has remembered"
- Zephyrinus
Origin:
Latin form of Zephyrus, Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"west wind"