This list includes 57 Roman names that start with A, from “Acilius” to “Praeconius? (excluded)”. Many entries are family names (nomina) and cognomina found in inscriptions and literature, useful for fiction, genealogy, and historical reference.

Roman names that start with A are personal and family names beginning with A, including praenomina, nomina, and cognomina. Many such names, like “Aulus” and “Antonius”, appear often in inscriptions and Roman literature.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Type, Gender, Pronunciation, Meaning, and Notes.

Name: The actual Roman name as recorded; you use this to scan or copy entries for characters, research, or records.

Type: Identifies whether the entry is a praenomen, nomen, or cognomen, helping you place the name in Roman naming structure.

Gender: Shows the typical gender use, so you choose names suited to male or female individuals and family lines.

Pronunciation: Provides a simple phonetic guide so you pronounce names consistently when reading or voicing characters.

Meaning: Gives a concise translation or root meaning where known, aiding your understanding of name origin and connotation.

Notes: Lists brief context, historical usage, or variant forms so you can assess rarity or suitability for your project.

Roman names that start with A

NameTypeGenderMeaning
AulusPraenomenMaleuncertain; Italic origin
AppiusPraenomenMaleuncertain (possibly Oscan)
AviusPraenomenMaleuncertain (rare, Oscan influence)
AemiliusNomenUnisexrival (Latin aemulus)
AemiliaNomenFemalerival (Latin aemulus)
AeliusNomenUnisexpossibly Etruscan origin
AciliusNomenUnisexuncertain; possibly tree-related
AnniusNomenUnisexuncertain
AnniaNomenFemalesame as Annius
AntoniusNomenUnisexuncertain
AntoniaNomenFemalesame root as Antonius
AntistiusNomenUnisexpossibly Oscan origin
AppuleiusNomenUnisexfrom ‘Appulus’ or regional root
ApuleiusNomenUnisexuncertain; possibly Oscan/Italic
AponiusNomenUnisexprobably from a divine or local root
AproniusNomenUnisexuncertain; possible local origin
AquiliusNomenUnisexfrom aquila “eagle” (Latin)
ArriaNomenFemalefrom gens Arrius/Arria
ArriusNomenUnisexuncertain
AtiliusNomenUnisexuncertain (possibly Italic)
AttiusNomenUnisexOscan origin
AufidiusNomenUnisexOscan origin
AureliusNomenUnisexgolden (Latin aureus)
AureliaNomenFemalegolden (Latin aureus)
AutroniusNomenUnisexuncertain
AlbiusNomenUnisexwhite (Latin albus)
AsiniusNomenUnisexpossibly from root asin- “ass” or personal name
ArruntiusNomenUnisexuncertain
AniciusNomenUnisexuncertain; old Roman family
AvienusNomenUnisexuncertain
Praeconius? (excluded)Nomen
AfricanusCognomenMalefrom Africa (Latin)
AhenobarbusCognomenMalebronze-beard (aeneus + barba)
AgrippaCognomenMaleuncertain (possibly archaic praenomen origin)
AlbinusCognomenMalewhite-haired (Latin albus)
AlbusCognomenMalewhite (Latin albus)
AquilaCognomenUnisexeagle (Latin aquila)
AquilinusCognomenMalelittle eagle (diminutive)
AtticusCognomenMaleof Attica/Greece
AferCognomenMaleAfrican (Latin afer)
AsprenasCognomenMaleunknown
AgricolaCognomenMalefarmer (Latin agricola)
AmbustusCognomenMaleburnt (Latin ambustus)
AperCognomenMaleboar (Latin aper)
AelianusCognomenMalepertaining to Aelius (derivative)
AnullinusCognomenMalediminutive of Anullus (uncertain)
ApiciusCognomenMaleunknown; linked to gourmet tradition
ApianusCognomenMaleof the bee (Latin apis)
Anicius (cognomen form)CognomenMalefrom gens Anicia
AvitusCognomenMaleancient, “grandfather” sense (Latin avus)
AllectusCognomenMaleCeltic/Latinized origin
AemilianusCognomenMalepertaining to Aemilius (derivative)
Acron? (excluded)Cognomen
AproCognomenMalepossibly related to boar or local root
Asterius (rare)CognomenMalestar-like (Greek origin)
Auctor? (excluded)Cognomen
AvianusCognomenMalerelated to Avienus/Avius

Descriptions

Aulus
AU-lus; very common Roman praenomen, borne by Aulus Gabinius and Aulus Plautius; archaic, everyday use.
Appius
AP-pee-us; archaic praenomen chiefly used by the Claudii, e.g., Appius Claudius Caecus (App-ee-us).
Avius
AY-vee-us; rare archaic praenomen attested in early inscriptions and fasti.
Aemilius
eh-MEE-lee-us; gens Aemilia, one of Rome’s oldest patrician families (e.g., M. Aemilius Lepidus, Scipio Aemilianus).
Aemilia
eh-MEE-lee-a; feminine form of the gens Aemilia; women like Aemilia Tertia appear in sources.
Aelius
AY-lee-us; gens Aelia, imperial link via Publius Aelius Hadrianus (Hadrian); common in inscriptions.
Acilius
ah-KEE-lee-us; gens Acilia known from Republican and imperial records (e.g., Manius Acilius Glabrio).
Annius
AN-nee-us; gens Annia, attested in Republican and imperial families (Marcus Annius Verus).
Annia
AN-nee-a; feminine nomen of the Annia gens (e.g., Annia Galeria Faustina).
Antonius
an-TOH-nee-us; gens Antonia, famously Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) and his descendants.
Antonia
an-TOH-nee-a; feminine form used widely, e.g., Antonia Minor.
Antistius
an-TIS-tee-us; gens Antistia attested in Republican-era sources and inscriptions.
Appuleius
ap-oo-LAY-ee-us; gens Appuleia, includes Lucius Appuleius Saturninus.
Apuleius
ah-poo-LAY-ee-us; gens Apuleia — Lucius Apuleius, author of The Golden Ass.
Aponius
ah-POH-nee-us; nomen Aponius appears in inscriptions (epigraphic attestation).
Apronius
ah-PROH-nee-us; gens Apronia known from Republican and imperial inscriptions.
Aquilius
ah-KWIL-ee-us; gens Aquilia/Aquil(i)us attested in Republican records.
Arria
AR-ree-a; feminine nomen of the Arria gens; famous bearer: Arria, wife of Caecina Paetus.
Arrius
AR-ee-us; gens Arrius appears in Republican and imperial sources.
Atilius
ah-TIL-ee-us; gens Atilia includes Marcus Atilius Regulus.
Attius
AT-ee-us; archaic nomen attested in early Roman and Italic sources.
Aufidius
aw-FID-ee-us; gens Aufidia attested in late Republic and imperial literature/inscriptions.
Aurelius
aw-REH-lee-us; gens Aurelia—imperial prominence (Marcus Aurelius).
Aurelia
aw-REH-lee-a; feminine form (e.g., Aurelia, mother of Julius Caesar).
Autronius
aw-TRON-ee-us; gens Autronia attested in late-Republican sources (Publius Autronius Paetus).
Albius
AL-bee-us; nomen Albius/Albia attested in inscriptions and literature.
Asinius
ah-SIN-ee-us; gens Asinia — Gaius Asinius Pollio is notable.
Arruntius
ar-ROON-shee-us; gens Arruntia attested in Republican/imperial sources (Lucius Arruntius).
Anicius
ah-NEE-shee-us; gens Anicia attested especially in late antiquity (Anicius family).
Avienus
ah-VEE-en-us; nomen Avienus attested (Rufus Festus Avienus, later poet).
Praeconius? (excluded)
Excluded: not starting with A — placeholder removed.
Africanus
ah-FREE-kah-nus; famous honorific cognomen of Scipio Africanus for African victories.
Ahenobarbus
ah-hay-no BAR-bus; Domitius Ahenobarbus, ancestral name of Nero’s family.
Agrippa
ah-GRIP-pa; famous cognomen (M. Vipsanius Agrippa), major Roman statesman.
Albinus
al-BEE-nus; widespread senatorial cognomen (e.g., Clodius Albinus).
Albus
AL-bus; early cognomen indicating pale or white-haired.
Aquila
ah-KEE-la; used across families (e.g., Cornelius Aquila), also appears on inscriptions.
Aquilinus
ah-kwi-LEE-nus; attested as a cognomen in imperial-era inscriptions.
Atticus
AT-tih-kus; famed Titus Pomponius Atticus, friend and correspondent of Cicero.
Afer
AH-fer; used as an ethnic cognomen (e.g., Domitius Afer, Terence as P. Terentius Afer).
Asprenas
as-PREH-nas; well-attested cognomen of the Nonius family (Nonius Asprenas).
Agricola
ah-GREE-co-la; famous Gnaeus Julius Agricola (Tacitus) — general and governor of Britain.
Ambustus
am-BUS-tus; early cognomen of the Furia gens (e.g., Marcus Furius Camillus Ambustus).
Aper
AH-per; cognomen attested in imperial inscriptions (e.g., Vettius Aper).
Aelianus
ay-LEE-ah-nus; common cognomen derived from gens Aelia (e.g., Aelianus).
Anullinus
ah-nul-LEE-nus; attested in inscriptions and late-antique officials.
Apicius
ah-PEE-see-us; famous as the name of a gourmand family and cookbook attribution.
Apianus
ah-PEE-ah-nus; attested as a cognomen in inscriptions and papyri.
Anicius (cognomen form)
ah-NEE-shee-us; used as a cognomen/gentilic marker in late-antique contexts.
Avitus
ah-VEE-tus; attested as a cognomen and later as a personal name (e.g., Emperor Avitus).
Allectus
al-LEK-tus; name of the late-3rd-century usurper in Britain, attested in Roman sources.
Aemilianus
ay-MIL-ee-AH-nus; cognomen formed from gens Aemilia; emperor Aemilianus (brief reign).
Acron? (excluded)
Excluded: Greek name not commonly Roman personal name in primary sources.
Apro
AH-pro; attested rarely as a cognomen in inscriptions (rare, epigraphic).
Asterius (rare)
AS-teer-ee-us; used occasionally by Romans as a cognomen in inscriptions.
Auctor? (excluded)
Excluded because primarily a Latin noun/title, not attested as common personal name.
Avianus
ah-VEE-ah-nus; attested as a cognomen in late-Roman inscriptions and minor authors.
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