100 Latin Baby Names and Meanings

The Latin language was originally spoken in the area around Rome by an ancient Italic tribe called the Latium. Centuries later, through the power and influence of Rome, the language became dominant in Italy and western Europe.

Even after the fall of the Roman Empire, Latin language and culture began to spread throughout all of Europe. In modern times, there are people of Latin descent in many European countries, particularly Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, and Romania.

The language and culture also spread to the Western hemisphere, particularly in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, in what is now called "Latin America." Latin words are plentiful throughout English-speaking countries as well, since Latin is one of the root languages of English.

With so many languages and cultures influenced by Latin, it is no wonder that many beautiful Latin baby names are used all over the world. Some of these are more common in modern times, and others are taken from ancient Roman times. Pay attention to the meanings as well, and maybe you can find inspiration for your baby’s name.

Popular Latin Baby Names: Meanings and Origins
Name	Meaning	Origin
Amy	Beloved	Latin
Anthony	Priceless one	Latin
Ariana	Very holy	Latin
Ava	Like a bird	Latin
Bennett	Little blessed one	Latin
Caroline	Free woman	Latin
Dante	Everlasting	Latin
Dominic	Of the Lord	Latin
Emma	Universal	Latin
Miles	Soldier	Latin

Popular Latin Baby Names for Girls

Here are some of the top Latin names for baby girls, as well as their meanings, famous namesakes, and other information.

Adamaris

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Noble of the sea
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Adamari
Famous Namesakes: Adamari Lopez (Puerto Rican actor)
Peak Popularity: The name Adamaris reached peak popularity in 2006 with 287 baby girls given that name.

Adrianna

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Person from Hadria (Northern Italy)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Adriana, Adrianne, Adrienne, Adrian (masculine)
Famous Namesakes: Adrienne Rich (poet), Adriana Lima (Brazlian model)
Peak Popularity: The spelling Adriana hit its peak popularity in 2006 while the spelling Adrianna hit its peak popularity in 1997.

Allegra

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Joy
Famous Namesakes: Allegra Versace (Italian socialite)
Peak Popularity: This name is rare and has never appeared in the top 1,000 baby names for girls in the U.S.

Amanda

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Worthy of love
Famous Namesakes: Amanda Bynes and Amanda Plummer (actors)
Peak Popularity: In 1980, Amanda reached its peak popularity with 35,817 babies being names Amanda.

Amy

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Beloved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aimee
Famous Namesakes: Amy Grant and Amy Winehouse (singers), Amy Irving and Amy Smart (actors)
Peak Popularity: The name Amy was most popular in 1976 when 31,341 babies were named Amy.

Fun Fact: The musical documentary Amy won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2016. The film is centered around the life and career of the late British singer/songwriter, Amy Winehouse.

Angelica

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Messenger of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anjelica, Anglesea, Angela, Angel
Famous Namesakes: Anjelica Huston (actor/author/former model), Angelica Pickles (animated character in Rugrats), Angelica Schuyler (historical figure and character in Broadway's Hamilton)
Peak Popularity: Angelica reached its peak popularity in 1996.

April

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Opening, 4th month
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aprilis
Famous Namesakes: April Bowlby, April Lee Hernandez, and April Rose Pengilly (actors)
Peak Popularity: In 1979, April reached its peak popularity with more than 10,000 babies named April.

Ariana

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Very holy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ariane, Arianne, Arianna
Famous Namesakes: Ariana Grande (singer)
Peak Popularity: Ariana reached peak popularity in 2014.

Autumn

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Fall season
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Autum
Famous Namesakes: Autumn Reeser (actor), Autumn Phillips (British royal family)
Peak Popularity: In 2013, Autumn reached its peak popularity.

Ava

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Like a bird
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Avis, Aiva, Avah
Famous Namesakes: Ava Gardner (actor), Ava DuVernay (director), Ava Helen Pauling (civil rights activist), Saint Ava (Roman Catholic nun)
Peak Popularity: Ava hit peak popularity in 2020, when more than 13,000 babies in the U.S. were given the name.

Beatriz

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Bringer of joy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Beatrice, Beatrix
Famous Namesakes: Beatriz (fictional lead character in Beatriz), Princess Beatrice of York (British royal family)
Peak Popularity: The name Beatriz hit its peak popularity in 1990.

Fun Fact: The critically acclaimed independent film Beatriz at Dinner stars Mexican actress Salma Hayek as the lead character.

Carmen

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Poem
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Karmyn, Carmin
Famous Namesakes: Carmen (lead role in Carmen), Carmen Miranda (singer/actor)
Peak Popularity: The name Carmen hit its peak popularity in 1968.

Fun Fact: The composer of Carmen, Georges Bizet of France, died before his work achieved international acclaim. Carmen has since become one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in history.

Caroline

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Free/beautiful woman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carolyn, Carolina, Charles (masculine form)
Famous Namesakes: Caroline Kennedy (daughter of U.S. President John F. Kennedy), Carolina Herrera (fashion designer)
Peak Popularity: Caroline hit its peak popularity in 2018.

Cecilia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blind to one’s own beauty
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cecelia, Cecily, Cecil (masculine form)
Famous Namesakes: Cecily Neville (Duchess of York), Cecilia Bowes-Lyon (Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne)
Peak Popularity: The name Cecilia hit is peak popularity in 2020 when nearly 2,000 babies were given that name.

Celeste

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Heavenly
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Celina
Famous Namesakes: Celeste Holm (actor), Celeste (animated character in Babar)
Peak Popularity: Celeste hit its peak popularity in 2004 when more than 1,600 babies were given the name. In 2020, less than 900 newborns in the U.S. were named Celeste.

Clara

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Illustrious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Claire, Clare, Clarissa
Famous Namesakes: Clara Bow (actor), Clara Burton (nurse), Clara Luper (civil rights activist), Clara Schumann (pianist)
Peak Popularity: The name Clara hit its peak in 1901, but the name Claire, a version of Clara hit its peak in 2016.

Crystal

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Mineral or brilliant glass
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Chrystal, Cristal, Krystal, Krystle
Famous Namesakes: Billy Crystal (actor), Crystal Gayle (singer)
Peak Popularity: The name Crystal was most popular in 1982 when more than 19,000 babies were given the name.

Daniella

Origin: Latin
Meaning: God is my judge
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Danielle, Daniela, Daniel (masculine)
Famous Namesakes: Daniella Monet (actor), Danielle Steele (author), Daniel (prophet of the Bible)
Peak Popularity: Daniella hit its peak popularity in 2011.

Deanna

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Divine
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Diana
Famous Namesakes: Deanna Durbin (actor), Diana, Princess of Wales (British royal family)
Peak Popularity: Deanna was in the top 100 baby names in 1969 and in 1970 but has not been that popular since.

Donna

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Lady, woman
Famous Namesakes: Donna Karan (fashion designer), Donna Mills (actor), Donna Summer (singer)
Peak Popularity: The name Donna was ranked number five in 1960 when the name hit its peak popularity. More than 34,000 babies were named Donna that year.

Eleanora

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Unknown
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eleanor, Elinor
Famous Namesakes: Eleanor of Aquitane (queen consort of France and England)
Peak Popularity: Eleanora its peak popularity 1916 when nearly 200 babies were given the name. Meanwhile, Eleanor hit is peak in 2020 when it was ranked in the top 25 in the U.S.

Elysia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Heaven
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elise, Elisia, Elyse
Famous Namesakes: Elyse Knox (actor)
Peak Popularity: Elysia is a rare baby name and has not been ranked in the top 1,000 baby names since 1900.

Emma

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Universal
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Emme, Emmy
Famous Namesakes: Emma Stone, Emma Roberts, Emma Thompson, and Emma Watson (actors)
Peak Popularity: The name Emma is extremely popular hovering in the top five since 2002. In 2008, it claimed the number one spot and then again every year between 2014 and 2018. In 2020, it held the number two spot as the most popular name in the U.S.

Emilia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: To strive, excel, or rival
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aemilia, Amelia, Emelia, Emily, Amilya, Emiliana, Amilia
Famous Namesakes: Emilia Clarke (actor), Amelia Earhart (aviator), Emily Ratajkowski (model)
Peak Popularity: Emilia hit is peak popularity in 2020 when it landed in the top 50 for baby names. Meanwhile, the variation Amelia secured the number six spot in 2020.

Estelle

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Star
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Stella, Estella
Famous Namesakes: Estelle (singer), Stella Kowalski (fictional character in A Streetcar Named Desire)
Peak Popularity: The name Estelle hit its peak popularity in 1911 while Stella hit its peak in 2018 landing in the top 50 in the U.S.

Felicity

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Happiness
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Felicia, Felice, Felix (masculine)
Famous Namesakes: Felicity Huffman (actor), Felicity (fictional lead character in TV series “Felicity”)
Peak Popularity: Felicity hit its peak popularity in 2017.

Florence

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Prosperous, flowering
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Flora, Floria, Floriane, Florian (masculine)
Famous Namesakes: Florence Nightingale (nurse), Florence Henderson (singer/actor), Florence Welch (singer in Florence + the Machine)
Peak Popularity: Florence hits its peak of popularity in 1902 when it held the number seven spot for names in the U.S. It was consistently in the top 10 between 1900 and 1906 until it slipped to top 15 in 1907 and stayed in that position through 1919.

Francesca

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Free
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fransheska, Francheska, Fransisca, Frances, Francis
Famous Namesakes: Francesca Annis and Frances Farmer (actors), Pope Francis (head of the Catholic Church)
Peak Popularity: Francesca hit the peak of its popularity in 1996.

Gloria

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Glory to God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Glora
Famous Namesakes: Gloria Steinem (feminist activist), Gloria Gaynor (singer), Gloria Estefan (singer), Gloria Vanderbilt (fashion designer)
Peak Popularity: Gloria hit its peak popularity in 1925 and 1926 when it claimed a top 20 spot two years in a row.

Imogene

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Maiden, Innocent
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Imogen
Famous Namesakes: Imogen Heap (singer)
Peak Popularity: In 1927, Imogene hit is peak popularity in the U.S.

Fun Fact: It is widely believed that the name Imogene (or Imogen) was invented by playwright William Shakespeare.

Joy

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Happiness
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joi
Famous Namesakes: Joy Behar (comedian/co-host of "The View")
Peak Popularity: Joy reached its peak in popularity in 1974 when nearly 3,000 babies were given the name.

Julia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Youthful
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Julie
Famous Namesakes: Julia Roberts and Julia Stiles (actors)
Peak Popularity: The name Julia has regularly ranked in the top 50 for names, reaching its peak of popularity in 2001.

Fun Fact: The popular 1968 song, “Julia,” by the Beatles was written by John Lennon in honor of his mother Julia Lennon.

Laura

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Laurel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lauren, Lara
Famous Namesakes: Laura Ingalls Wilder (author), Laura Nyro (singer), Laura Bush (U.S. First Lady), Laura Linney (actor)
Peak Popularity: The name Laura has been a popular choice since 1900 when it was in the top 50 but its peak popularity was in 1969 when it claimed the number 10 spot in the U.S. It didn't slip out of at least a top 100 spot until 2002.

Letitia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Joy
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Leticia (Spanish), Letty (diminutive)
Famous Namesakes: Letitia Wright (actor), Letty (fictional character in The Fast and the Furious)
Peak Popularity: In 1964, Letitia hit its peak popularity with nearly 400 babies claiming the name that year.

Lilac

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lily (English), Lila and Lilah (Persian)
Famous Namesakes: Lily Allen (singer), Lila Diane Sawyer (news anchor)
Peak Popularity: The name Lilac is a rare name and has not been in the top 1000 names since 1900.

Livia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Envious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Olivia (full form)
Famous Namesakes: Livia Drusilla (wife of Roman emperor Augustus), Olivia Newton-John (singer)
Peak Popularity: Livia hit its peak popularity in 2014 while the name Olivia claimed the number one spot in 2020.

Madelaine

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Woman of Magdala
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Madeleine, Madeline, Madelyn
Famous Namesakes: Madelaine Petsch and Madeleine Stowe (actors)
Peak Popularity: While the name Madelaine is rare, the Madelyn spelling is more popular and peaked in 2015.

Madonna

Origin: Latin
Meaning: My lady
Famous Namesakes: Madonna (Mother of Christ), Madonna (singer)
Peak Popularity: Madonna hit its peak popularity in 1933.

Fun Fact: Singer-songwriter Madonna is the best-selling female recording artist of all time.

Magdalene

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Woman of Magdala
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Magdalena (Spanish)
Famous Namesakes: Mary Magdalene (follower of Christ)
Peak Popularity: Magadalene hit its peak popularity in 1904 but has not been listed in the top 1,000 baby names since 1944.

Marcella

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Young warrior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marcello and Marcellus (masculine)
Famous Namesakes: Saint Marcella (Roman Catholic saint), Marcella Albani (Italian actor)
Peak Popularity: The name Marcella hit its peak popularity in 1922 but has not been listed in the top 1,000 baby names since 2002.

Marina

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of the sea
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marin, Marianne, Marinel, Marion (Hebrew), Mariana (Spanish)
Famous Namesakes: Marina (singer/songwriter), Marion Cotillard (French actor)
Peak Popularity: Marina hit its peak popularity in 1994 when it was ranked at 218.

Miranda

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Admirable
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maranda, Myranda, Meranda, Mirabella, Mira, Mirinda
Famous Namesakes: Miranda Richardson and Miranda Cosgrove (actors), Miranda Lambert (singer), Carmen Miranda (singer/actress), Lin-Manuel Miranda (actor/playwright/composer)
Peak Popularity: In 1995, Miranda hit its peak popularity.

Monica

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Advisor, truth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Monika
Famous Namesakes: Monica (singer), Monica (fictional character in the TV series Friends)
Peak Popularity: The name Monica was in the top 100 baby names between 1964 and 1997, hitting its peak popularity in 1977 when it was ranked 39th in the U.S.

Portia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Roman Clan name
Famous Namesakes: Portia (fictional character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice), Portia di Rossi (actor)
Peak Popularity: The name Portia reached peak popularity in 1949.

Priscilla

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Ancient
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pricilla, Prisca
Famous Namesakes: Priscilla Presley (actor)
Peak Popularity: Priscilla reached peak popularity in 1940.

Regina

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Queen
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Regis (masculine), Rex (masculine)
Famous Namesakes: Regina Spektor (singer), Regina Hall and Regina King (actors)
Peak Popularity: Regina hit its peak popularity in 1967 when nearly 5,000 babies in the U.S. were given the name.

Rosalia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rose
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rosalie, Rosalyn, Rosa, Rose, Rosalba
Famous Namesakes: Rosalia (Spanish singer)
Peak Popularity: In 1906, Rosalia hit its peak popularity.

Sabrina

Origin: Latin
Meaning: From the river Severn
Famous Namesakes: Sabrina the Teenage Witch (fictional TV character)
Peak Popularity: Sabrina hit its peak popularity in 1997 when it was ranked number 53 out of 1,000 baby names in the U.S.

Serena

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Serene, calm
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Serenay
Famous Namesakes: Serena Williams (champion tennis player)
Peak Popularity: In 2000, Serena hit its peak popularity.

Sylvia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Forest
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Silvia, Sylvana, Sylvie
Famous Namesakes: Sylvia Plath (writer)
Peak Popularity: Sylvia hit its peak popularity in 1937 when nearly 4,500 babies were given then name.

Tricia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Noble
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Trisia, Trisha, Patricia (long form)
Famous Namesakes: Tricia Helfer and Trisha Krishnan (actors), Trisha Yearwood (singer)
Peak Popularity: Tricia hit its peak popularity in 1971 but it has not ranked in the 1,000 baby names since 1994.

Valentina

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Strength, health
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Valentin, Valentine, Valentino, Valentini (all masculine forms), Val (diminutive)
Famous Namesakes: Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshskova (cosmonaut), Valentina de Angelis and Valentina Cervi (actors)
Peak Popularity: Valentina has ranked in the top 100 since 2017 and hit its peak in 2019.

Fun Fact: Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tershkskova was the first woman in space in 1963.

Victoria

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Winner, conqueror
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Viktoria, Viktorya, Victor (masculine)
Famous Namesakes: Queen Victoria (Queen of the United Kingdom), Victoria Principal (actor), Victoria Beckham (singer in Spice Girls)
Peak Popularity: Victoria has consistently been a popular name choice since 1981 and hit is peak popularity in 1999 when it was ranked 16 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Queen Victoria’s reign of 63 years was the longest of any of her predecessors until it was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.

Virginia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Virginal, pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Virginie
Famous Namesakes: Virginia Madsen (actor), Virginia Woolf (author, critic), Virginia Apgar (scientist)
Peak Popularity: Virginia hit its peak popularity in 1921 when more than 19,000 babies were given that name.

Fun Fact: The Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English colony in the New World.

Vivian

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Alive
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vivien, Vievienne, Vivianne, Vivaan, Vivi and Viva (both diminutive)
Famous Namesakes: Vivian Vance, Vivian Dandridge, and Vivien Leigh (actors), Vivienne Westwood and Vivienne Tam (fashion designers), Vivienne Jolie-Pitt (daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt)
Peak Popularity: Vivian hit peak popularity in 1920 when more than 4,000 babies were given that name.

Popular Latin Baby Names for Boys

Here are some of the top Latin names for baby boys, as well as their meanings, famous namesakes, and other information.

Amadeus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Love of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Amadis
Famous Namesakes: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer)
Peak Popularity: Amadeus is a rare name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 baby names since 1900 and beyond.

Fun Fact: The motion picture drama Amadeus won the Academy Award for Best Picture (as well as 7 other Academy Awards) in 1985. The film is a fictionalized biographical drama about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Anthony

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Unknown, priceless one
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Antony, Antonio, Antonia (feminine)
Famous Namesakes: Anthony Hopkins, Anthony LaPaglia, and Anthony Michael Hall (actors), Marc Anthony (singer)
Peak Popularity: Anthony is a popular name that has consistently ranked in the top 50 since 1900. It reached its peak popularity in 2008 when it was ranked number seven.

Atticus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of Attica
Famous Namesakes: Atticus Finch (fictional hero of To Kill a Mockingbird)
Peak Popularity: Atticus only recently became a popular baby name and reached its peak popularity in 2020.

Augustine

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Great
Alternative Spellings & Variations: August, Augusta
Famous Namesakes: Saint Augustine of Hippo (philosopher, early father of the Christian church)
Peak Popularity: The name Augustine reached its peak popularity in 1906.

Fun Fact: The city of St. Augustine, Florida is widely considered to be the oldest European-established city in the continental United States.

Aurelius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Golden
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aurelia (feminine)
Famous Namesakes: Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor)
Peak Popularity: Aurelius is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Belvedere

Origin: Latin
Meaning: A beautiful sight
Famous Namesakes: Belvedere (animated Looney Tunes character), Mr. Belvedere (fictional TV character)
Peak Popularity: Belvedere is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Bennett

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Little blessed one
Famous Namesakes: Tony Bennett (singer), Joan Bennett (actor)
Peak Popularity: The name Bennett has been increasing in popularity. In 2021, it broached the top 100 for the first time when it ranked 90.

Cadence

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rhythm
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kadence, Kaidence, Caydence, Cadance, Caydance, Kaidance
Peak Popularity: Cadence is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names for boys since 1900. For girls, this name hit its peak popularity in 2007.

Caesar

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Thick head of hair
Alternative Spellings & Variations: César, Cesar, Zésar, Cesare, Sezer
Famous Namesakes: César Millan (The Dog Whisperer), Gaius Julius Caesar (Roman political leader)
Peak Popularity: Caesar reached its peak popularity in 1904 but it has not been ranked in the top 1,000 baby names since 1922.

Fun Fact: Julius Caesar was the first historical Roman to be officially deified.

Cassius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Vain
Famous Namesakes: Cassius Clay (champion boxer, aka Muhammad Ali)
Peak Popularity: Cassius first became popular in 1964 and then was not ranked again until 2008 and then hit its peak popularity in 2020.

Fun Fact: Champion boxer Cassius Clay (who later took the name Muhammad Ali, following his conversion to Islam) was nicknamed “The Greatest” and was one of the most significant sports figures of all time.

Constantine

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Constant, Loyal
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Constance
Famous Namesakes: Constantine the Great (Roman Emperor), Constantine Maroulis (singer), Michael Constantine (actor)
Peak Popularity: The name Constantine hit peak popularity in 1919, but has not been ranked since 1970.

Fun Fact: Constantine the Great was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity.

Cornelius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Horn
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cornelia (feminine)
Famous Namesakes: Cornelius the Centurion (Roman centurion)
Peak Popularity: Cornelius reached its peak popularity in 1904, but has not been ranked since 2008.

Curtis

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Courteous, courtly
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kurtis, Curt, Kurt
Famous Namesakes: Curtis Stone (chef), Curtis Conway (American football player), Curtis Sliwa (radio host), Curtis Mayfield and Kurt Cobain (singers)
Peak Popularity: Curtis reached peak popularity in 1963 when more than 5,000 babies were given this name.

Dante

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Everlasting
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Donte
Famous Namesakes: Dante (Italian poet)
Peak Popularity: The name Dante reached peak popularity in 1997.

Dominic

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of the Lord
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dominik, Dominick, Dominica (feminine)
Famous Namesakes: Dom DeLuise and Dominic Chianese (actors)
Peak Popularity: Dominic reached peak popularity in 2015, but has been ranked in the top 100 since 2002.

Galileo

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Person from Galilee
Famous Namesakes: Galileo Galilei (Italian astronomer)
Peak Popularity: Galileo is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Fun Fact: Galileo Galilei has been given many nicknames, including "father of observational astronomy," "father of modern physics," "father of the scientific method," and "father of modern science.”

Hercules

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Glory to Hera (associated with strength, power)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Herakles
Famous Namesakes: Hercules (Roman god)
Peak Popularity: Hercules is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Fun Fact: There have been over 30 motion pictures based on the legend of the mythological Hercules. He has been depicted by actors including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, as well as an animated Disney character.

Horatio

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Man of time
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Horace
Famous Namesakes: Lord Horatio Nelson (admiral), Horatio (fictional character in Hamlet)
Peak Popularity: Horatio is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Jerome

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Holy name
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jeremiah, Jeremy
Famous Namesakes: Saint Jerome (Latin priest), Jerome Kern (composer), Jerome Robbins (choreographer)
Peak Popularity: The name Jerome reached peak popularity in 1939 but has been steadily declining since then.

Fun Fact: The 2019 song “Jerome,” by Lizzo, won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Josephus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: God Will Increase
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Joseph (Hebrew), Jose (Spanish)
Famous Namesakes: Flavius Josephus (historian), Joseph (figure in Genesis of the Bible), Saint Joseph (husband of Mary, mother of Christ)
Peak Popularity: Josephus is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Juno

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Goddess of Marriage & Childbirth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: June, Junia, Junius (masculine)
Famous Namesakes: Juno (fictional lead character in the movie Juno)
Peak Popularity: Juno is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Fun Fact: The motion picture Juno won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2008.

Justus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Just, fair
Famous Namesakes: Justus von Liebig (scientist)
Peak Popularity: Justus reached peak popularity in 2002.

Kato

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Good judgment
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cato
Famous Namesakes: Kato (fictional character in TV series The Green Hornet)
Peak Popularity: Kato is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Fun Fact: The fictional character Kato was portrayed by a number of actors, most notably the late actor/martial artist Bruce Lee.

Leviticus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Referring to the Descendants of Levi
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Levi
Famous Namesakes: Book of the Bible, Levi Strauss (businessman)
Peak Popularity: Leviticus is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900. However, the name Levi reached peak popularity in 2020.

Lucius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lucious, Lucilius, Lucian, Lucien,
Famous Namesakes: Lucian of Samosata (satirist), Lucian Grainge (CEO of Universal Music Group), Lucious Lyon (fictional lead character in Empire)
Peak Popularity: Lucius reached peak popularity in 1902, but it has not been in the top 1,000 baby names since 1968.

Marcus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Warlike
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marc, Markus, Mark
Famous Namesakes: Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor, philosopher), Mark Wahlberg (actor), Mark Twain (author)
Peak Popularity: Marcus reached peak popularity in 1964 with nearly 6,000 babies given that name.

Martin

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Servant of Mars (God of War)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Martina (feminine)
Famous Namesakes: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights activist), Martin Sheen (actor), Martin Lawrence (comedian/actor)
Peak Popularity: The name Martin was in the top 100 baby names from 1900 to 1970, reaching peak popularity in 1963.

Maximilian

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Greatest
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maximus, Max (diminutive), Maxima (feminine)
Famous Namesakes: Maximilian Schell (actor), Max Rockatansky (fictional lead character in Mad Max)
Peak Popularity: The name Maximilian did not break into the top 1,000 baby names until 1986 and reached its peak popularity in 2013.

Miles

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Soldier
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Myles
Famous Namesakes: Miles Davis (jazz composer/musician), Miles Standish (pilgrim/settler)
Peak Popularity: The name Miles reached peak popularity in 2020.

Fun Fact: Jazz trumpeter/bandleader/composer Miles Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was described by Rolling Stone as "the most revered jazz trumpeter of all time, not to mention one of the most important musicians of the 20th century.”

Montana

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Mountain
Famous Namesakes: Joe Montana (American football champion player), Tony Montana (fictional lead character in Scarface)
Peak Popularity: The name Montana reached peak popularity in 1995 (male) and in 1998 (female).

Nero

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Powerful
Famous Namesakes: Nero (ancient Roman emperor)
Peak Popularity: Nero is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Nova

Origin: Latin
Meaning: New
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Novah
Peak Popularity: The name Nova hit peak popularity in 2020 but has only been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 2017.

Octavian

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Eighth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Octavio, Octavius, Octavious, Octavia (feminine)
Famous Namesakes: Octavian “Augustus” (ancient ruler of Rome), Octavia Spencer (actor)
Peak Popularity: Octavian is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Paul

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Humble, small
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paolo, Pablo, Paula (feminine), Paola (feminine)
Famous Namesakes: Paul McCartney (singer in The Beatles), Paul Anka (singer), Paul Revere (folk hero), Paul Newman and Paul Walker (actors)
Peak Popularity: Paul has been a consistently popular name since 1900 hitting peak popularity in 1931 when more than 12,000 babies were given the name.

Pluto

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Roman God of the underworld
Famous Namesakes: Pluto (dwarf planet), Pluto (animated Disney character)
Peak Popularity: Pluto is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Prince

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Royal son
Famous Namesakes: Prince (singer/musician/composer), Prince Jackson (son of Michael Jackson)
Peak Popularity: The name Prince hit peak popularity in 2019.

Fun Fact: Singer/songwriter/producer Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and is considered by Rolling Stone to be one of the greatest musical artists of all time.

Quentin

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Fifth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Quintin, Quinton, Quinn
Famous Namesakes: Quentin Tarantino (filmmaker)
Peak Popularity: Quentin hit peak popularity in 1919.

Remus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Oar
Famous Namesakes: Remus (mythical founder of Rome)
Peak Popularity: Remus is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Romulus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Citizen of Rome
Famous Namesakes: Romulus (mythical founder of Rome)
Peak Popularity: Romulus is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Fun Fact: In Roman mythology, the story of twin brothers Romulus and Remus tells the events that led to the founding of Rome.

Rufus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Red-haired
Famous Namesakes: Rufus Sewell (actor), Rufus Wainwright (singer)
Peak Popularity: Rufus hit peak popularity in 1902 but has not been ranked in the top 1,000 baby names since 1988.

Fun Fact: Rufus is one of the most influential funk bands of all time and also helped launch the musical career of lead singer Chaka Khan.

Thiago

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Supplanter
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tiago
Peak Popularity: Thiago reached peak popularity in 2020 and has only ranked in the top 1,000 baby names since 2012.

Tiberius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of or near the Tiber River
Famous Namesakes: Tiberius (second Roman emperor)
Peak Popularity: Tiberius is a rare baby name that has not been ranked in the top 1,000 names since 1900.

Vincent

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Victorious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vince, Vin, Vinny (all diminutive forms)
Famous Namesakes: Vincent Van Gogh (artist), Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn, Vincent Kartheiser (actors)
Peak Popularity: Vincent has been a consistently popular name and reached peak popularity in 1966.

Virgil

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Unknown
Famous Namesakes: Virgil (Roman poet), Virgil Tibbs (fictional character in In the Heat of the Night)
Peak Popularity: Virgil hit peak popularity in 1907.

Xavier

Origin: Latin
Meaning: The new house
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Xzavier
Famous Namesakes: Saint Francis Xavier (Catholic missionary)
Peak Popularity: The name Xavier has been in the top 100 baby names since 2001 hitting peak popularity in 2009.

1 Source

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Social security administration. Popularity of name.

Additional Reading

BabyNames.com. Latin Baby Names.
Social Security. Popular Baby Names.

By Amy Morin, LCSW
Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, an international bestselling author of books on mental strength and host of The Verywell Mind Podcast. She delivered one of the most popular TEDx talks of all time.

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