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. However, this hasn’t always been the case. The 56th pope, John II, 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 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.
Along with John and Alexander, other papal names 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.
- Theodore
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
As unlikely as it may seem, Theodore is a hot new hit name, vaulting into the Top 10 in 2021 for the first time ever. Friendly nickname Theo may be responsible for some of that, though there are plenty of baby boys given Theo as their full name too. Add their numbers together, and the two names jump to Number 6.
- Felix
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"happy, fortunate"Description:
Felix was originally a Roman surname but was adopted as a nickname by the ancient Roman Sulla, who believed that he was especially blessed with luck by the gods. It is the name of four popes and sixty-seven saints; in the Bible, Felix is a Roman procurator of Judea.
- Zachary
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"the Lord has remembered"Description:
Zachary is the English variation of Zacharias, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Zechariah. The name Zachary is attached to eight different people in the Bible, the most prominent being the father of John the Baptist, and it's also presidential, via 12th president Zachary Taylor. Zackery is an alternate spelling, and nicknames include Zack, Zach, Zac, and Zak.
- Alexander
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
Alexander is derived from the Greek name Aléxandros, composed of the elements aléxein, meaning “to defend,” and aner, meaning “man.” According to Greek legend, the first Alexander was Paris, who was given the nickname Alexander by the shepherds whose flocks he defended against robbers. He was followed by Alexander the Great, aka Alexander III, who conquered much of Asia.
- Leo
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lion"Description:
Leo was derived from the Latin leo, meaning “lion.” Thirteen popes have carried the name, including St. Leo the Great. In Germanic languages, Leo has historically been used as a nickname for names including Leon and Leopold. In Latinate languages, Leonardo is considered a full form for Leo.
- Lucius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"light"Description:
Lucius is an old Roman clan name that has lots of religious and literary resonance, yet is still vital today. It was the name of three popes, appears in several Shakespeare plays, and, like all the names beginning with 'luc' relates to the Latin word for light.It was one of a limited number of forenames used in ancient Rome, and because of its meaning was often given to boys born at dawn.
- Caius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"rejoice"Description:
Caius is classical and serious but also has a simple, joyful quality. There was a third century pope named Caius, as well as an early Christian writer, several Shakespearean characters, and a Twilight vampire. We would pronounce the name to rhyme with eye-us though at Cambridge University in England, where it's the name of a college, it's pronounced keys.
- Peter
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"rock"Description:
Peter is derived from the Greek Petros, meaning “rock” or “stone.” One of the most important figures in the Christian hagiography is Saint Peter, keeper of the Gates of Heaven. Born Simon bar Jonah, he was given the nickname Peter by Jesus, to signify that he would be the rock on which Christ would build Christianity. Centuries later, there was Peter the Great, the czar who developed Russia as a major European power.
- Nicholas
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"people of victory"Description:
Nicholas is derived from the Greek Nikolaos, a name that evolved from the components nikē, meaning “victory”, and laos, “people.” It shares origins with Nike, the name of the Greek goddess of victory. Nicholas is also a New Testament name that is well-used in literature, such as in Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby.
- Linus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"flax"Description:
Can Linus lose its metaphorical security blanket and move from the Peanuts page onto the birth certificate? We think it has enough charm and other positive elements going for it for the answer to be yes.
- Victor
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"conqueror"Description:
Victor is one of the earliest Christian names, borne (as Vittorio) by several saints and popes, symbolizing Christ's victory over death. It has been quietly in the Top 200 since 1880, but just recently has taken on a cool edge by fashionable parents in London and seems ripe for a similar reevaluation here too.
- Cornelius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"horn"Description:
Cornelius, the New Testament name of a third century Pope and saint, is one of those venerable Latin names on the edge of consideration, despite the corny nickname alert.
- Francis
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"Frenchman or free man"Description:
Since this was the name chosen by the current Roman Catholic pope, Francis has come into the spotlight.
- Paul
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"small"Description:
To the thousands of girls who screamed the name of their favorite Beatle in the 1960s, the boys' name Paul had a thrillingly unique image, but to the rest of the world, then and now, it's a name that's so simple and yet so widely diffuse that it could belong to almost anyone. Paul is an ancient name for boys -- popular in Roman and medieval times -- that's not very fashionable now, which can work in its favor, scarcity balancing simplicity.
- John
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
John is an English derivative of the Hebrew name Yochanan via the Latin name Iohannes, itself coming from the Greek Ioannes. John was a key name in early Christianity, borne by John the Baptist, John the Apostle and John the Evangelist, plus 84 saints and 23 popes, as well as kings and countless other illustrious notables. Contrary to popular belief, the names John and Jonathan are unrelated, the latter being an elaboration of Nathan.
- Adrian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"man of Adria"Description:
Adrian is derived from Hadrianus, a Roman family name meaning “from Hadria.” There were two Roman towns called Hadria, the first in Northern Italy, modern day Adria, and the second in Central Italy, known today as Atri. The name of the Adriatic Sea comes from the same origins as Adrian.
- Fabian
Origin:
Latin clan nameMeaning:
"bean grower"Description:
Fabian is the ancient name of a saint and pope that also has Shakespearean cred as Olivia's servant in Twelfth Night and more recently made an appearance in Harry Potter. In the U.S. Fabian became best known via the 1960s teen idol/singer who went solely by his first name.
- Eugene
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"wellborn, noble"Description:
Eugene is a classic that has rather lost its way. On the one hand, it's a grandpa, even great-grandpa name that hasn't been one of the cool kids recently—or to quote Jim Carrey, who bears this name in the middle spot, "You can never get too cool with a name like Eugene." The hero of Disney's Tangled felt the same way, when he changed his birth name of Eugene to the more romantic Flynn.
- Martin
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"warlike"Description:
Martin is one of those names like Arthur and Vincent and George that is in the process of throwing off its balding middle-aged image to start sounding possible again, used in full without the dated Marty nickname.
- Marcus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"warlike"Description:
Though ancient, Marcus now sounds more current than Mark, in tune with today's trend towards us-ending Latinate names.