Popes and Antipopes
By Sesquipadelian
Updated Sat May 20 2023
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Just interesting names Popes have had (whether given or chosen), as well as names related to the Popes. Not gonna include the obvious like Peter or John or John-Paul. While many early popes kept their given name, it was often latinized (similarly to how we call Christopher Columbus Christopher even though his first name was likely Cristoffa).
- Abramius
- Adeodatus
- Agapetus
- Agapito
- Agatho
- Agáthon
- Anacletus
- Anastasius
- Anicetus
- Anterus
- Anthērós
- Aníkētos
- Aristus
- Athalaric
- Avienus
- Benedetto
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"blessed"Description:
This Italian form of Benedict sidesteps the Benedict Arnold association that still clouds the English version.
- Boniface
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fortunate, of good fate"Description:
A name borne by nine popes and several saints, which carries strong Catholic connotations. British politician Jacob Rees-Mogg named his sixth child Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher in 2017.
- Berengar
- 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.
- Clement
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"mild, merciful"Description:
Clement, the name of fourteen popes and several saints, has a pleasantly, positive, slightly antiquated feel, like the phrase "clement weather."