CLAS224 Word Elements. Monmouth College Monmouth, Illinois
Instructor: Thomas J. Sienkewicz (toms@monm.edu)
Personal Names Based upon Latin Roots
Note: The Romans often formed feminine names from the "clan" or family name, so that there are many parallel
boys' and firls' names -- e.g. Quintus, Quinta, Tertius, Tertia. (However, a boy named Quintus was not necessarily
the fifth child.) The early Christians tended to form names from virtues or qualities that they wished to emphasize
-- e.g. Patietia (Patience), Caritas (Charity).
A. Names which come from Roman personal (first) names and family (clan) names.
EnglishLatin
Antony, Anthony; Antonia,
Antoinette Antonius, Antonia
Aurelia Aurelius, Aurelia (aurus=gold)
Cecil; Cecilia, Cecile Caecilius, Caecilia (caecus=blind)
Claude; Claudia Claudius, Claudia (claudus=lame)
Cornelius; Cornelia Cornelius, Cornelia
Emil, Emile; Emily Aemilius, Aemilia
Horace; Horatia Horatius, Horatia
Julian; Juliana, Julianne Julianus, Juliana
Julius, Jules; Julia, Julie Julius, Julia
Lucretia, Lucrece Lucretius, Lucretia
Marcellus, Marcella Marcellus, Marcella (diminutive)
Marcus, Mark; Marcia Marcus, Marcia
Terence; Terry Terentius, Terentia
Vergil Vergilius, Vergilia
B. Names from other Latin works (particularly abstract qualities, gods, flowers, etc.) Alma Alma (cherishing, kind --cf. Alma Mater)
Amabel, Mabel amabilis (lovable) (Am-)
Amanda, Mandy amanda (worthy of love) (AM-)
Amy amata (beloved) (AM-)
April Aprilis (from the month of April)
Augustus, August, Gus; augustus, augusta (majestic, Augusta honored)
Beatrice, Beatrix beata (blessed, happy)
Barbara barbarus, barbare (foreign; a stranger)
Benedict benedictus (blessed) (BENE- DICT-)
Boniface bonifactus (lucky, fortunate) (BON- FACT-)
Bonnie; Bonny bonus, bona (good, attractive) (BON-)
Carmen carmen (a song or poem)
Celia, Cleste, Celestine Caelum (heaven, the sky)
Charity caritas (love; dearness, caring)
Clarence; Clara, Clarice, clarus, clara (bright, famous)
Claire
Clement; Clemence, clemens (kind, merciful)
Clementine
Constantine; Constance, constens (firm); constantia Connie (firmness) (STA-)
Dexter dexter (right, right hand)
Diana, Diane Diana (shining; from the goddess of the hunt & moon
Dolores, Delores dolor (grief, sadness)
Dominic; Dominique (also dominus, domina (lord, lady; Donna) master, mistress)
Faith, Fidelity fidelis (faithful) (FID-)
Felix; Felicia, Felice felix (happy, blessed, fortunate)
Flavia flava (yellow; yellow-haired)
Flora, Florence Flora (goddess of spring; flower) (FLOR-)
Gloria gloria (glory, fame, honor)
Grace gratia (grace, charm; thankfulness)
Hilary hilaris (joyful, laughing)
Honoria, Honora, Nora honora (honorable, respected)
June Junius (the month of June, named after the goddess Juno
Justin; Justine justus, justa (honest)
Laura, Lauretta (Loretta) laurus, laura (laurel; crowned with laurel)
Laurence, Lawrence, Larry Laurentius (crowned with laurel;
victorious)
Lavina Lavinia (early Roman name)
Leo, Leon, Leonard; Leonie, leo (a lion)
Leonora
Lionel leo & ellus (a little lion)
Letitia, Laetitia, Letty laetitia (happiness, joy)
Lillian, Lily lilia (a lily)
Lucinda, Cindy lucinda (bringing light) (LUC-)
Lucius, Luke; Lucia lux (light) (LUC- to shine)
Martin, Marty; Martine Martinus, Martina (belonging to Mars; warlike)
Maximilian, Max; Maxine maximus (very large, important)
Magnus magnus (large, great) (MAGN-)
May Maia (the month of May)
Minerva, Minnie Minerva (goddess of wisdom)
Miranda miranda (admirable, wonderful)
Monica, Monique Monica
Natalia, Natalie natus, nata (born--probably Christina, referring to the birth of Christ, like Noel)
Octavins, Octavia octavius, octavia (8th) (OCTAV-)
Olivia, Olive oliva (the olive tree)
Patience patientia (patience, endurance) (PAT-PASS-)
Patricia, Pat; Patrick patricius, patricia (well-born, noble) (PATR-)
Paul; Paula, Paulette paulus, paula (little, small--also a Roman) family name
Priscilla, Prisca prisca (old-fashioned)
Prudence prudentia (caution, moderation,
discretion)
Regina, Rex regina (queen); rex (king) (REG-to rule)
Renee, Renata renata (born again) (NAT-)
Roma Roma (the city of Rome)
Rose, Rosalie, Rosalind rosa (a rose)
Ruby rubeus, rubea (red, rose-colored)
Rufus rufus (red, red-haired)
Stella, Estella, Estelle stella (a star)
Sylvester; Sylvia silvanus, silvester (belonging to the forest, rural, rustic); silva (forest, woods)
Ursula ursa (bear) & ula (little)
Valentine; Valeria, Valerie probably from VAL (to be strong, to be worth)
Vera, Verity verus, vera (true) (VER-)
Verna verna (a home-born slave; but also may be related to VER- spring)
Victor; Victoria, Vicky, victor (conqueror); victoria Victorine (victory)
Vincent vincens (conquering, winning)
Viola, Violet viola ( a violet)
Virginia, Ginny, Ginger virgo, virgins (young woman, virgin--the state of Virginia was named after Elizabeth I of England, the virgin queen)
Vivian, Vivianne vivus, viva (alive, lively) (VIV-)