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I'm in a unique position where I need to change my surname legally. I can change it to anything I want and I'd really like to incorporate my love for ancient Roman history into it/ use a Roman Cognomen.
Damnit, that’s what I was gonna say
Oh... you don't mean.......Biggus, right? Biggus Dickus?
The Romans did have surnames: Julius was a surname (the name of the gens). Some of the older families picked up a third name for different branches of the family (the cognomen), and a lot of those were insulting names: hairy, bald, crosseyed, etc. The early Romans were apparently into crude humor.
Here are some fun ones, but most of them are insulting:
https://ancthisttangents.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/latin-cognomina/
If you use the linked list, just do a quick check with some Italian/romance language speaker to check if the surname has got some unintended bad meaning in the last 2 millennia, a few of those aren't nice surnames!
In Spanish, we generally go by two last names and a friend of a friend has the last names Bastardo Matamoros (Bastard Moor Killer).
Katie Aileen Strabo!
This is the only one that sounds good ^
Katie Aileen Parthicus Germanicus Britannicus Optimus Maximus ….
Or something like Katie Aillen Hadrian/Aurelius
Katie Aileen Maximus Decimus Meridius
I’m a ginger and have made reservations under Ahenobarbus.
Well, I’m done with Reddit today.
Agrippa
Katie Aileen has a distinct Irish character already so why not Hibernia?
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1mo
This is the best one, but I'd stick with Hibernia because it won't confuse non-Latin speakers and seems less pretentious and more natural.
I also think Aurelia is very pretty.
According to ChatGPT, yes:
"Of Ireland" in Latin is "Hiberniae." This is the genitive form of "Hibernia," which is the Latin name for Ireland."
Another suggestion would be Agricola. As Roman governor of Britain, he assessed that Ireland could be conquered and garrisoned by 1 legion. He never did it though.
Katie Aileen Cincinnatus
Shoutout to the 513!!
Incontenantia
Buttocks!
Scipio!
This.
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1mo
If you’ve never heard the name Scipio then I’d honestly just avoid choosing a Roman name altogether
Don’t be such a rude elitist. This is not a cool way to respond to someone being interested in Roman history.
It’s not being a “rude elitist.”
When learning about history you read books 1st, change names 100th. It’s a common sense decision.
“Oh you chose that name because you love Roman history, what do you think of extremely famous person X”
“Who?”
Why doesn’t she just get an SPQR tattoo on her face while she’s at it? You could get a matching one.
Stop fighting! Stay in formation!
FORMATION!
confused look. Smack.
Reminds me of getting a Chinese character tattoo and not knowing what it means
Yeah, I don’t understand. Seems like this is a decision completely on a whim that will turn out to be a huge mistake.
u/Crudezero You should change your name to the suggestion at the top of this thread.
Good one
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1mo
As in Scipio Africanus. The man who finally put a stop to the one who is among, if not the best, military leaders in that part of the world at the time, Hannibal Barca.
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1mo
Lmk what you think ◡̈
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1mo
That was Cato, who said that. He ended every speech in the senate with „by the way I am of the opinion that Carthago should be destroyed.“ „Ceterum censeo carthago esse delendam.“
It was a long time after Scipio too, I honestly just realised. it wasn’t of course the great-grandfather who said that between the second and third Punic wars.
Hey dont feel too bad. Scipio is big in Rome but hes overshadowed a lot by the later history. A lot of people get into Roman stuff for Empire or Later Republic times and hes way before all that.
To be fair, the most famous Scipio is more memorable when you include his title Africanus. Just like your name would be more memorable if one were to hypothetically associate it with taint.
Seriously, you could do something like Aelia/Ailia which is the Gens of Hadrian… just look through some names
Fabius- Wore down Hannibal and eventually got him out of Italy by use of the reverse Zap Brannigan Strategy (Sometimes called Fabian strategy, also used successfully by Washington and Kutuzov)
Cunctator
"Aurelius" would make you a Golden Girl.
I know someone in Germany with the surname Agricola. Sounds pretty cool.
Hi everyone, Italian Redditor here. I studied Latin in high school so I can give you a few suggestions. 1. You can change your surname but do not use a name you cannot pronounce properly - regardless the Brits claim to be the last "latinists", their pronunciation is regularly...wrong. 2. Original Latin pronunciation was "harsh", i.e. "C" was pronounced "K" or cometimes "G", and "J" was a consonantic "I". Also, some claim "are = æ" was to be pronounced "ē", others insist it should actually be "ai" (as in "ice").
This means that the famous "Caius Julius Caesar" was not pronounced "Caius Yulius Cheysar" but "Gaius Yulius Kaiser". Marcus Tullius Cicero...was not Cheechero nor Seesero but Keekero. "Ti" was pronounced "TS" when followed by another vowel, so that "Portius" is not "Porshus" (typical Brit) but "Ports-yus". Originally it was "Porcius" as in "Por-chus". There's Greek here involved.
The current pronunciation of ancient Latin actually dates from the X-XII Century when the Crusades brought a huge variety of nobles and learned people to meet, compare and liaise, having Latin as the only applicable common language.
Anyway, some nice surnames can be Fùlvia (redheaded but also of fiery temper) Flāvia (more well behaved) Cāssia (like Cassius Clay) Verbāna (a lake in the Alps) Aōsta or Aùsta (from Augusta or famous).
Avoid names made famous in books or (eek!) movies because that's poor imagination and lower class.
Consider that in NCIS TV Drama, the coroner was "Donald Mallard", i.e. Donald Duck 😉
Valeria Messalina, of course.
Sulla
Wasn't Strabo used as an insult to describe a lazy eye?
It was. Interestingly enough, in modern portuguese, the name of that condition is estrábico.
In English it's strabismus. Actually I think that's just the English language using a Latin word.
Aurelia
Valeria? Pretty sure that was a family…
Cornelius sprang to mind, but it would sound rather funny with a name like Katie.
Would sound like a Harry Potter witch.
Katie Aileen Barbatus
How about Cotta?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_cognomina
I would go with either one of the “A” ones or “C” ones. I feel like they roll off the tongue with the first names.
Stilico would be a cool one but if it's Rome Rome you're into there's a bit of baggage there
Stilico is a badass name for sure
Katie Aileen Caligula.
I think Caligula is a beautiful name..
Caecilli
If you're a girl then it would be "Caecillia".
Which can be translated as Cecily in English.
Metelli
Aquillia Aternia Claudia Fabia Furia Romilia All examples of patrician gentes
I like Claudia or Romilia for u personally
Octavia, Anthony, kaeso, Claudia, Thurin…any of these? You might have to do the thing of just looking down entire lists of ancient names and writing down possible good ones, then you have a final list. If you have no strong preference to having more affinity than it being Roman then this might be a good option. If you want a more personal touch, like "oh it's Roman but I know a decent amount of the family history / this dude was a first spear for Caesar" then you'd need to lock down what's important to you and I'm sure people could lock down some historical names in here.
Brutus
I like the sound of "Caludus" "Faustus" "Felix"
The occupation based ones are interesting too, perhaps you want to tie your surname to your trade just like in the old days.
Some of these names do remind me of wizards but I think aside from the noble titles most people wouldn't immediately know the meaning or origin.
Aetius
Princess Consuela Bananahammock.
Cunnilingus
I am concerned about you going into the witness protection program with a name chosen with the help of Reddit. Hope it all works out and that whoever is hunting you doesn't stumble upon this thread!
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1mo
Oh I am sorry to hear about that. My half-sister actually had a tense relationship with her father leading her to change her last name to that of our mother, so I understand that this can cause a lot of stress and synpathize with you. I read through the names here (after making my little lame joke) and I agree that they don't sound all that good – Priscus may just be the best and that's saying a lot! But Riordan is a beautiful name and would go well with the others. Wishing you the best in your journey of healing, whatever name you end up taking!
Aquila. Go with Aquila.
Primus, because you’re the first in your family to use it?
Sybil.
Then buy a lottery ticket.
Also keep in mind that Sibyl was doomed by Apollo to have her voice live forever while her body shriveled away. Maybe not the kind of lottery I’d want to win haha.
Tbf. Normally both eventually shrivel away.
Just make sure it’s the feminine declension
Cato is one which is still used
Getacus
Why can you choose your surname? How does it work?
Trouble is, there aren't many Latin names that fit with Katie that don't sound forced. The best I can come up with are like, Katie Cornelia, or Katie Pulcheria. Severina?
I have a vewwy good fwiend in Wome you know…
Favonius Cornelius
Romania
Katie Aileen Priscus
Perinads
The cognomen was usually used to denote some physical or character feature, something about a job or profession, or the place a family came from. Are there any components to your appearance, character, or history you would like to emphasize?
You could also use an agnomen, especially if you have conquered any territory lately.
Failing that, are there any characters from Roman history you have a particular liking for who you would like to adopt you?
Gracchus
There are some good suggestions here. While I obviously can't top biggus dickus, and naming yourself after the stone cold badass Aggrippa would be great, personally I'd start by thinking about the values you'd like to embody and look at the Latin terms for those. For example, if a focus is my life is trying to be a kind/compassionate person and cultivating wisdom, then I might look up words that vaguely fall within those areas (a quick Google translate suggests sapiens and prudens for wise, both of which could work as surnames). I probably would not call myself (Name) Misericordia for kindness/compassion but closely related terms like bonitas or clementia might work.
Maybe think about the type of person you'd like to be seen as/want to present to the world and look at Latin translations of those terms? Something might connect with you.
If you want something very dramatic you could name yourself Zenobia, who was the formidable empress of the Palmyrene Empire in the third century AD. She rebelled against Rome and was ultimately defeated by Emperor Aurelian after a brutal conflict. Dr. Zenobia?
Africanus
I’ve always liked Agrippa
ChatGPT:
Choosing a Roman cognomen can be a fascinating way to incorporate your love for ancient Roman history into your surname. Here are a few suggestions that might fit well with "Dr. Katie Aileen" and won't sound overly pretentious:
- Felix (meaning "happy" or "lucky")
- Maximus (meaning "greatest")
- Aurelius (meaning "golden")
- Lucius (meaning "light" or "illumination")
- Flavian (related to the Flavian dynasty, meaning "blond" or "yellow-haired")
- Marcellus (a diminutive of Marcus, meaning "little warrior")
- Quintus (meaning "fifth", traditionally given to the fifth child)
- Rufus (meaning "red-haired")
- Severus (meaning "stern" or "serious")
- Victor (meaning "conqueror")
These cognomina have historical significance but are also relatively easy to pronounce and recognize in modern contexts. They should complement "Dr. Katie Aileen" nicely without sounding too out of place or overly dramatic.
Since you're a Dr. I'd go with Dr. Katie Aileen Medica (or Medici, like the Italian dynasty).
I'd love Katie Aileen Victrix, but it's a little pretentious...
Dickus