The name Seneca has its origins in ancient Rome, deriving from the Latin word "senex," meaning "old man" or "elder." It was commonly used as a family name among the Romans, particularly the Seneca gens, a prominent Roman family known for producing several notable philosophers and statesmen.

One of the most famous individuals associated with the name Seneca was Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist, who lived from around 4 BC to 65 AD. He was a tutor and advisor to the Roman emperor Nero and is renowned for his influential writings on ethics, morality, and philosophy.

Another prominent figure bearing the name Seneca was Marcus Annaeus Seneca, known as Seneca the Elder, who lived from around 54 BC to 39 AD. He was a Roman rhetorician and writer, and the father of the philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca.

In ancient Roman literature, the name Seneca appears in various texts, including the works of historians such as Tacitus and Suetonius, who documented the lives and actions of the Seneca family members.

Beyond the Roman era, the name Seneca continued to be used throughout history, although less frequently. One notable individual was Seneca the Younger, a 4th-century Christian philosopher and writer who lived in Gaul (modern-day France).

Another famous bearer of the name was Seneca Grubb, an American Quaker botanist and horticulturist who lived from 1788 to 1834. He is remembered for his contributions to the study and cultivation of plants, particularly in the Philadelphia area.

Other notable individuals with the first name Seneca include Seneca Crisman (1834-1898), an American Civil War soldier and politician from Ohio, and Seneca Ray Stoddard (1844-1917), an American landscape photographer and writer known for his images of the Adirondack Mountains.

While the name Seneca has its roots in ancient Rome, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, often associated with individuals who made significant contributions to fields such as philosophy, literature, politics, and science.