Boy name · Latin
Roman
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: Roman, from RomeRoman is a boy's name that comes from Latin and means "Roman, from Rome". It is used in English, Russian and Polish.
- Meaning
- Roman, from Rome
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #42 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Roman
As a boy's name, Roman comes from Latin and means "Roman, from Rome". It is used in English, Russian and Polish.
In Russian, say rah-MAHN. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Roman is also a surname: the 444th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 72,391 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Roman on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Roman on 1 list.
“From Rome; Latin Romanus. Diminutive Roma. Say rah-MAHN”
From Russian boy names, russian male names from Latin and English
How popular is Roman?
- US rank in 2025
- #42
- 6,162 babies, 3,608 per million boys
- Best rank
- #42 in 2025
- 6,162 babies that year
- Babies since 1882
- At least 104,653
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 69 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 118 per million |
| 1900s | 195 per million |
| 1910s | 269 per million |
| 1920s | 213 per million |
| 1930s | 122 per million |
| 1940s | 75 per million |
| 1950s | 81 per million |
| 1960s | 93 per million |
| 1970s | 203 per million |
| 1980s | 214 per million |
| 1990s | 348 per million |
| 2000s | 738 per million |
| 2010s | 1,867 per million |
| 2020s | 2,921 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #98 | #91 | #86 | #72 | #77 | #74 | #68 | #66 | #52 | #42 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Roman
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- RomainRoman (Latin, boy)
- RomeoRoman, from Rome (Latin, boy)
Names spelled like Roman
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- RonanLittle seal (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RowanLittle red one (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- RohanAscending, rising (Sanskrit, boy)
- RolandFamous land (Germanic, boy)
- RoshanLight, bright (Persian, unisex)
- RaminPeace, joy (Persian, boy)
- RamónCounsel protector (Germanic, boy)
- RanIndigo (Japanese, boy)
- RíanTraditionally little king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- JulianaFeminine form of Julian, from the Roman family name Julius (Latin, girl)
- JulianFrom the Roman name Julianus, from the family name Julius (Latin, boy)
- MarianaFeminine of Marianus, from the Roman family name Marius (Latin, girl)
- TatianaFrom the Roman family name Tatius (Latin, girl)
- VirginiaMaiden, from a Roman family name (Latin, girl)
- AdrienneFrom Hadria, a Roman town (Latin, girl)
- AntonellaPet form of Antonia, from the Roman family name Antonius (Latin, girl)
- SheilaFrom the Roman family name Caecilius (Latin, girl)
- AnthonyMeaning unknown; from the Roman family name Antonius (Latin, boy)
- AntonioFrom the Roman family name Antonius; the most common man's name in Spain (Latin, boy)
- AntoniosFrom the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown origin (Latin, boy)
- CamillaFrom the Roman family name Camillus (Latin, girl)
- EimíleFrom the Roman family name Aemilius (Latin, girl)
- EllianaVariant of Eliana, from Roman Aelius, traditionally linked to sun (Latin, girl)
- IgnacioFrom the Roman family name Egnatius (Latin, boy)
Middle names for Roman
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Latin
- LeoA lion (Latin, boy)
- MaxThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- AdrianFrom Hadria (Latin, boy)
- FelixLucky, happy (Latin, boy)
- MartinDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- AugustExalted, venerable (Latin, boy)
- MagnusThe great (Latin, boy)
- MarcoOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- MarcusOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- PatrickNobleman, patrician (Latin, boy)
- PaulSmall, humble (Latin, boy)
- VictorThe conqueror (Latin, boy)
- VincentConquering one (Latin, boy)
- CelestinoHeavenly (Latin, boy)
- ClemensMerciful (Latin, boy)
- ConstantineConstant, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- DanteEnduring, steadfast (Latin, boy)
Roman: common questions
What does the name Roman mean?
Roman comes from Latin and means "Roman, from Rome".
Is Roman a boy or girl name?
Roman is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 23 girls and 6,162 boys in the US were named Roman, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Roman come from?
Roman comes from Latin and means "Roman, from Rome". Today it is used in English, Russian and Polish.
How popular is the name Roman?
Roman ranked #42 in the US in 2025, with 6,162 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Roman?
Forms of Roman with the same meaning and origin include Romain (French) and Romeo (Italian).
What middle names go with Roman?
Middle names that flow well with Roman include Emmanuel, George, Jameson, Laurence and Leland. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.