The name Roman has a few origins. Most commonly, it is thought to be derived from the Latin name Romanus and referred to a citizen of the Roman Empire. It also has ties to the ancient Germanic language and French.
Roman is traditionally regarded as a masculine name and its use as a girl name is fairly rare. Sleek and distinctly European, Roman was the name of two Christian saints in the 5th and 9th centuries. Whether or not you feel a religious affiliation to the name, Roman no doubt evokes feelings of strength and power with ties to the ancient Roman Empire.
Roman was also a Proto-Germanic name that meant "famous man." And it's the French word for "novel," giving it an even greater meaning to literary parents who may think of themselves as book nerds.
Once obscure, the name Roman has taken off in recent years, no doubt thanks to celebrities like Cate Blanchett and Debra Messing, who both named their sons Roman in 2004.
Roman is simple to spell and say and bears resemblance to other popular "R" names, like Rowan and Ronan. Roman is pronounced "ROH-muhn" and doesn't come with too many different spelling variations, though you may occasionally see it spelled Romyn, Romen, or Romain. And with cute nicknames like Romy, Romeo, and Romilly, you can put your own spin on the name to fit your little one's personality.
This simple, two-syllable name has made appearances on the Social Security Administration's list of top baby names since at least the early 1900s. But it wasn't until a century later that this name really began to shine, breaking into the top 200 names in 2010 and then into the top 100 in 2016.
With its distinctly European and romantic feel, plus its simple pronunciation and spelling, Roman is sure to keep finding its way into parents' hearts for years to come.
Roman Jakobson : Russian-American linguist and literary theorist who pioneered structural linguistics
Roman Mars : American radio journalist and producer who created the podcast 99% Invisible
Roman Polanski : Polish-French film director, screenwriter producer, and actor
Roman Quinn : American professional baseball player
Roman Reigns : Alter ego of American professional wrestler Leati Joseph Anoa'i
Roman Verostko : American artist and educator who creates algorithmic art
Roman Yakub : American composer who received the National Telly Award for music in 2003
Roman Turek : hockey player
Roman Cechmanek : hockey player
Roman Colon : baseball player
Roman Hamrlik : hockey player
Roman Jebavy : tennis player
Roman Polanski : film director