The baby name Roman brings to mind an ancient empire – and 20th century soap operas.
Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME ROMAN MEAN?
Roman might sound new, a brother for Kai or Dash.
Except this name has history galore, even without considering the glories of Rome.
The meaning of Roman is wrapped up with the eternal city. Legend tells that Rome took its name from founder Romulus. That’s probably more story than fact. Instead, Rome might come from an old Etruscan name for the Tiber River, a Greek word meaning strength, or maybe something else entirely.
We do know that, for millennia, Roman has referred to a citizen of the world-changing city.
Because we tend to think of the Roman Empire as a formidable military strength, the name projects a certain kind of raw power and will, too. It’s a little bit Gladiator and rather grand, with images of the Colosseum and legions of soldiers associated with the name, too.
ROMANS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
As it happens, the baby name Roman isn’t an adjective recently borrowed. Instead, it has been a given name for centuries.
A tenth century Bulgarian ruler answered to the name, followed by a half-dozen other Slavic royals. Another six or more saints claim the name. In more recent generations, the name has been used across the globe. Cantopop legend Roman Tam is one; there’s also a Russian cosmonaut, to name just a few.
Factor in athletes, scientists, politicians, and the like, and the name emerges as an international, adaptable, nearly traditional choice for a son.
ROMANS in the BIBLE
It might also read as a spiritual choice.
The sixth book of the New Testament is called Epistle to the Romans. It’s a letter from Paul, meant to explain salvation through Christ to his audience of new believers.
With names like Eden and Selah, Chosen and Messiah finding wider use, Roman might fit in the same, broad category.
ROMAN BRADY
The original reason that the baby name Roman caught on?
Soap opera character Roman Brady, introduced on Days of Our Lives in 1981.
Like any great soap opera character, he’s been killed off, recast, and retconned through a dozen outlandish storylines. Mostly Brady is a cop, or maybe a secret agent. He’s been quite popular across the years, and while the character comes and goes, he’s a central figure in the Brady family and a long-standing part of the show.
The baby name Roman started to really catch on during the 1980s, when the character was first introduced. But today that feels like a footnote in the name’s bigger story.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME ROMAN?
The baby name Roman has ranked in the US Top 1000 nearly every year, typically in the Top 500.
The 2008 version of this post noted that the baby name Roman stood at #205, and the name “seems likely to rise.”
That’s exactly what happened.
In 1980, the year before Days of Our Lives introduced their Roman, the name ranked #535 in the US. A decade later, in 1990, it reached #374.
By 2016, Roman entered the US Top 100. As of 2023, it stood at #66 – a new high.
A VERY 21ST CENTURY SOUND
Besides all that history, the spiritual and pop culture ties, the baby name Roman succeeds on sound.
We love a good two-syllable, ends-with-N name for a boy. The letter R, and that Ro- sound, have been powerfully popular. Rowan, Rowen, Ronan, Rohan, and Ronin are all current Top 1000 favorites. Irish surname/nature name Rowan, in particular, is rising.
MORE REASONS TO LOVE ROMAN
In French, Dutch, Danish and several other languages, roman is the word for novel.
The phrase roman à clef refers to a novel that blurs the line between fiction and non-fiction. Famous examples range from Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises to Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada.
That makes this name literally literary – and perhaps an appealing pick for a reader.
POWERFUL and STYLISH CHOICE
The baby name Roman makes for a strong, powerful choice for a son. But it’s stylish, too, with a hint of meaning and a cosmopolitan appeal. Names like Colton and Cash might be strong, but they’re solidly American, at home on the range. Roman is a citizen of the world. Factoring in centuries of history helps, too. It makes Roman more modern than Theodore, but still as fresh and interesting as Zion.
What do you think of the baby name Roman?
This post was first published on November 24, 2009. It was substantially revised and reposted on July 1, 2016 and August 26, 2024.
While attractive in many ways, this name is irretrievably associated to a guy from my high school who was given to trying to put down anyone and everyone’s personal beliefs. While he and I actually got along fairly well, the associations are still too strong.
I really like the name Roman, but Polanski is such a horrid human being that I just can’t bring myself to put it on my list.
I agree, Panya.
I like it, but probably wouldn’t ever use it. Having started out with Ethan, I couldn’t just switch styles. Anyway, when I even mentioned it to my husband, he basically snarled at me. I do like it, though. It doesn’t offend me at all! Still, a baby or toddler named Roman would seem a bit off, maybe.
Roman Wolf, I like that!
Very butch but certainly not in the McManlyDestroyer way. More elegant than that.
I knew a Roman with the last name Wolf. He actually wore it very well but being incredibly handsome probably helped.
Roman is incredibly strong, crisp, and romantic. This is the type of male name I just adore. He is a classic in Poland, and I am happy to see him finally catch on in the States, I have noticed quite a few baby Romans in the birth announcements lately.