Find out how popular the first name Roman has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Roman by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Roman is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Roman being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 4,777 male babies and 27 female babies born with the name Roman.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 27 baby girls were named Roman in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Roman

The name Roman has its origins in the Latin language and is derived from the word "Romanus," which means "of Rome" or "Roman." This name has a rich history that can be traced back to ancient Rome, where it was initially used to identify citizens of the Roman Empire.

During the Roman Empire, the name Roman held great significance. It was a name that embodied the ideals of Roman culture, such as strength, valor, and loyalty to the state. Many prominent figures from this era bore the name, including several Roman emperors, such as Romanus I Lecapenus, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 920 to 944 AD.

As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the name Roman also gained religious connotations. It was associated with the Christian Church in Rome and its influence on the development of Western civilization. One notable figure was Saint Roman the Melodist, a 6th-century Byzantine composer and hymnographer.

In the Middle Ages, the name Roman continued to be used across Europe, particularly in regions that were part of the former Roman Empire or had strong ties to the Catholic Church. For example, Roman the Great, a 9th-century king of Western Francia, was a prominent figure during the Carolingian dynasty.

The Renaissance period saw a resurgence of interest in classical Roman culture, leading to a renewed popularity of the name Roman. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Roman Romanov, the first Tsar of the Romanov dynasty, who ruled Russia from 1613 to 1645.

Over the centuries, the name Roman has been borne by many notable figures from various fields. These include Roman Vishniac, a Russian-American photographer and pioneer of photomicroscopy (1897-1990); Roman Polanski, a Polish-French film director and screenwriter (born 1933); Roman Abramovich, a Russian-Israeli businessman and former governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (born 1966); Roman Reigns, an American professional wrestler (born 1985); and Roman Coppola, an American filmmaker and entrepreneur (born 1965).

While the name Roman has its roots in ancient Rome, it has transcended its geographical and cultural boundaries, becoming a popular choice across various regions and ethnicities. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its rich historical significance and the positive associations it evokes.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Roman was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Roman, please contact us.

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