He brings to mind Ancient Empire – and 20th century soap operas.

Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting Roman as Name of the Day.

Roman might sound novel, but he’s actually been in steady use.  He’s appeared in the US Top 1000 every year since 1880, with the exception of just two – 1884 and 1892.  He’s been in the Top 500 most years since 1969.  By 2008, he stood at #205 and seems likely to rise.

While his meaning is geographic, there’s an irresistible literary link.  In French, a roman is a novel – as in roman d’amour (love story) or roman d’espionnage (spy thriller).

It’s an appealingly artistic undercurrent to a name that is otherwise masculine, though perhaps not quite as aggressive as Cannon or Gunnar.  Roman simply means from Rome, and the name was worn by nearly a dozen saints from the 300s into the 1600s.

You’ll hear Roman  in France and the Czech Republic (he’s in the Top 100 in both places) as well as throughout Eastern Europe, including Russia.  In France, the related Romain ranks even higher.

Since 1981, Roman has been a character on NBC’s Days of Our Lives.  As befits a soap opera character after nearly three decades, he’s been played by multiple actors, been murdered but actually not murdered and engaged in several international spy capers centered on his hometown of otherwise sleepy Salem.  Roman d’espionnage indeed.

The character’s debut gave the name a tiny boost.  There’s also a bump attributable to director Roman Polanski.  Today he’s arguably the best reason to give this name a miss, but back in 1968, he was simply the director of now legendary horror film Rosemary’s Baby.

In addition, Roman has been worn by:

• A tenth century Bulgarian tsar;
• Russian billionaire and black-marketeer turned politician Roman Abramovich;
• A member of the Coppola cinematic clan, Roman Coppola;
• Roman Harper plays for the New Orleans Saints;
• Russian Air Force major Roman Romanenko has been to space as a cosmonaut;
• The Godfather of Cantopop, the late Roman Tam is something of a Chinese Neil Diamond.

Toss in a handful of athletes, scientists and political and military figures and it is easy to argue that Roman is highly portable and adaptable.

He’s also fashion-forward, thanks to two starbabies sporting the name.  Debra Messing bestowed the moniker Roman Walker on her son in 2004.  Cate Blanchett chose Roman Robert for her second son just weeks later.

Today, Roman’s two-syllable, ends-in-n construction is all too familiar.  But unlike the Aidans’ “ay” or the Ryan/Brians’ “eye” sounds, Roman’s long “o” remains distinctive.  He could be confused with Ronan, Rohan and Rowan – but none of the three are especially popular.  (Though they all could move up the rankings, too.)

The Polanski reference might sway parents away from Roman.  But this is also a name that could serve as a reasonable compromise between the über-masculine and the traditional.  He’s not really either, but he might satisfy parents trying to split the difference between Uzi and Atticus.