Nomenclature (Naming System)

Praenomen

first name, personal name, only 17 used

A.

Aulus

Ap.

Appius

C.

Gaius

Cn.

Gnaeus

D.

Decimus

Sp. (or S.)

Spurius

T.

Titus

Ti.

Tiberius

V.

Vibius

L.

Lucius

M.

Marcus

M’.

Manius

N.

Numerius

P.

Publius

Q.

Quintus

Ser.

Servius

Sex.

Sextus

Nomen Gentilicium

Family name (gens), ends in -ius or -ia (masc or fem), immediately after praenomen

Cognomen

most persona, of the tria nomina, were either descriptive, honorary, or family-derived (esp after adoption for men). Usually hereditary, identifies the specific branch/family of the gens

Filiation

Man’s immediate male ancestry were indicated by recording the father’s praneomen and abbreviation f. (filius, son of) or n (grandson of)

Women’s names

adopted feminine forms of family’s nomen, did not change upon marriage, had descriptive middle names (maior, minor, tertia, quarta) from oldest to youngest

Slaves/Freedpeople

used Tiro as a suffix upon freedom granted by master, also middle prefixes M/L (marci libertus, freedman)