Baby names from ancient cultures that are gaining popularity today

There’s so much in a name. That’s why it’s important to give your little bundle of joy one that fits — and also why it can feel so hard to pick! Not to worry, though, because we’ve done a ton of the heavy lifting for you, by sourcing the following list of unique and creative baby names with staying power. They are derived from ancient cultures, after all, and if it was good enough for the ancient Romans, frankly, it’s good enough for us.

From folklore and mythology to classical Roman emperors and philosophers, there’s something for everyone ahead. Not to mention, every single one of these monikers has got some serious clout, and it has for thousands of years! Keep reading for plenty of beautiful baby name inspiration from classical empires and ancient cultures.

Written by Kimia Madani for Livingly.

Atticus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “from Attica”; the name of a Roman literary figure from the Greek region around Athens

Amadeus

Origin: Latin version of “Theophilus” (from the ancient Greek)
Meaning: “lover of God”

Caesar

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “long-haired“; famous Roman politician and military general

Theon

Origin: Greek
Meaning: “godly”; Theon was an ancient Greek teacher of astronomy and mathematics, in addition to being father of the first female mathematician

Nero

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “stern”; Roman emperor

Remus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: One of the legendary twins who, with his brother Romulus, founded Rome

Romulus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “citizen of Rome”; he was one of the famous twins of classical Roman mythology who, with brother Remus, founded Rome

Titus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “title of honor”; a Roman military commander who became Emperor, the name also appears in the New Testament, and in Shakespeare

Aurelia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “the golden one”; female form of the classic Roman “Aurelius”

Cassia

Origin: Latin, feminine form of “Cassius”; Greek
Meaning: “cinnamon”

Rufus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “redhead”; ancient Roman name, along with being mentioned in the New Testament

Cyra

Origin: Persian or Greek
Meaning: “sun or throne, or lord”; may be feminine version of “Cyrus”, also a standalone Persian name

Dominica

Origin: Spanish; Italian, feminine version of “Dominic”
Meaning: “belonging to the Lord”; has been used since the Middle Ages

Felicia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “lucky”

Julius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “youthful, downy-bearded”; immortal through its association with Caesar, it was a common Christian name in Roman times

Felix

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “happy, fortunate”; the name of four popes and 76 saints; an ancient Roman name

Mila

Origin: Russian; diminutive of several European names
Meaning: “gracious” or “dear”

Justina

Origin: Latin, feminine version of “Justin”; Greek
Meaning: “fair” or “just”

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “ice ruler”; the beautiful Irish princess of Arthurian-era folklore and one of the fabled lovers, the mythological Tristan and Isolde

Gaia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: “earth mother”; classical Greek goddess of the earth, the universal Mother

Aine

Origin: Irish
Meaning: “brightness, splendor”; a traditional Irish name (pronounced AWN-ya), after the queen of the fairies, and a Celtic goddess of summertime and abundance

Lucius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “light”; exotic, old Roman clan name

Marcus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “warlike”; common in ancient Rome (for example, the emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius)

Lazarus

Origin: Latinized, Greek variation of Hebrew “Eleazar”
Meaning: “God is my helper”; after several saints, and in the Bible, Jesus raised him from the dead

Cyrus

Origin: Persian
Meaning: “sun”; after the ancient Persian king, Cyrus the Great, who conquered Babylon in the fifth century B.C. to found the Persian Empire

Sabina

Origin: Latin; version of “Sabine”
Meaning: ancient Roman tribal name

Valentina

Origin: Latin, feminine version of “Valentine”
Meaning: “strength, health”

Cato

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “all-knowing”; after an ancient, wise Roman statesman named Cato the Elder

Thor

Origin: Norse
Meaning: “thunder”; after the Norse god of thunder, strength, and rain (Thor’s hammer, anyone?)

Severus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: “stern”; an ancient Roman emperor