This list includes 45 Roman names that start with P, from “Paetus” to “Pulcher”. They range from common nomina and cognomina to rarer praenomina, often reflecting family ties, physical traits, or virtues. Writers, parents, genealogists, and students commonly use this collection for naming, research, or historical reference.
Roman names that start with P are personal and family names used in ancient Rome, covering praenomina, nomina, and cognomina. Some names, like “Pulcher” and “Paetus”, appear in literature and inscriptions and reveal descriptive or familial meanings.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Gender, Pronunciation, Meaning, Type, and Notes
Name: The Roman name as recorded; you can scan this column to pick a full given or family name.
Gender: Shows usual historical usage (masculine, feminine, or unlisted) so you can choose names matching intended gender.
Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide helps you say the name as it likely sounded in classical Latin.
Meaning: A concise sense of the name—literal root or traditional interpretation—to help you assess tone and suitability.
Type: Identifies praenomen, nomen, or cognomen so you understand whether the entry is a given name, family name, or nickname.
Notes: Brief context, historical associations, or source mentions that give you extra detail for research or creative use.
Roman names that start with P
| Name | Type | Gender | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publius | praenomen | masculine | “of the people” |
| Proculus | praenomen (historical) | masculine | “born while father away” (traditional) |
| Papirius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | “of the Papiria gens” (possibly Sabine) |
| Pompeius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | Oscan origin (personal name Pompe) |
| Pomponius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | from family name Pomponius |
| Pontius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | Oscan origin (uncertain) |
| Poppaeus | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | Oscan origin (uncertain) |
| Plinius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | family name (uncertain origin) |
| Plautius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | from cognomen Plautus (flat-footed) |
| Postumius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | from postumus, “last-born” |
| Petronius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | family name (uncertain) |
| Petillius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | family name (uncertain) |
| Publilius | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | of the Publilia gens (people-related) |
| Publicola | cognomen | masculine | “friend of the people” |
| Paullus | cognomen | masculine | “small, humble” |
| Paetus | cognomen | masculine | “with a slight cast of the eye” |
| Pius | cognomen/agnomen | masculine | “pious, dutiful” |
| Piso | cognomen | masculine | uncertain (old family name) |
| Plautus | cognomen | masculine | “flat-footed” |
| Plancus | cognomen | masculine | possibly “flat, broad” (uncertain) |
| Pollio | cognomen | masculine | “polisher” (craft or military drill instructor) |
| Pictor | cognomen | masculine | “painter” |
| Peregrinus | cognomen | masculine | “foreigner, traveler” |
| Perpetuus | cognomen | masculine | “continuous, perpetual” |
| Paterculus | cognomen | masculine | “little father” |
| Pansa | cognomen | masculine | “broad‑footed” |
| Priscus | cognomen | masculine | “ancient, elder” |
| Probus | cognomen | masculine | “upright, good” |
| Pudens | cognomen | masculine | “modest, shy” |
| Pulcher | cognomen | masculine | “beautiful” |
| Placidus | cognomen | masculine | “calm, gentle” |
| Privatus | cognomen | masculine | “private, not holding office” |
| Paternus | cognomen | masculine | “of the father” (familial) |
| Pollienus | nomen (gens) | masculine (family) | family name Pollienus |
| Poplicola | cognomen | masculine | variant of Publicola, “friend of the people” |
| Palma | cognomen | masculine/feminine | “palm (victory) or palm‑tree” |
| Peregrinus already listed | excluded duplicate | — | — |
| Perseus? (Greek myth) | excluded (non-Roman personal name) | — | — |
| Philippus | excluded (Greek transliteration) | — | — |
| Pietas (rare cognomen) | excluded rare/unattested | — | — |
| Pisanus (cognomen) | cognomen | masculine | “from Pisa” |
| Paterna (feminine of Paternus) | cognomen | feminine | feminine form of Paternus |
| Pompeia (feminine of Pompeius) | nomen (gens feminine) | feminine (family) | feminine form of Pompeius gens |
| Plinia (feminine of Plinius) | nomen (gens feminine) | feminine (family) | feminine form of Plinius gens |
Descriptions
Publius
Extremely common praenomen (abbrev. P.); e.g., Publius Vergilius Maro. Abundant in literature and inscriptions; pronunciation “PUB-lee-us”; sources: Livy, Cicero, CIL.
Proculus
Early Roman praenomen (later common cognomen); noted by Varro and Festus. Attested inscriptionally and in Republican sources; pronunciation “PROH-koo-lus”; sources: Varro, Festus, inscriptions.
Papirius
Well-attested gens from early Republic (Gaius Papirius Cursor); literary and inscriptional evidence; pronunciation “PAH-pih-ree-us”; sources: Livy, CIL.
Pompeius
Gens Pompeia; famous Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey). Strong literary attestation; pronunciation “POM-pay-us”; sources: Plutarch, Caesar.
Pomponius
Pomponia gens; e.g., Titus Pomponius Atticus. Attested in letters and inscriptions; pronunciation “POM-POH-nee-us”; sources: Cicero, inscriptions.
Pontius
Gens Pontia; most famous bearer Pontius Pilatus (Pilate). Attested in classical texts and inscriptions; pronunciation “PON-tee-us”; sources: Tacitus, Gospel accounts.
Poppaeus
Gens Poppaea; Poppaea Sabina (Nero’s wife) is notable. Literary and inscriptional attestations; pronunciation “POP-pay-us”; sources: Tacitus, inscriptions.
Plinius
Gens Plinia; Pliny the Elder and Younger (Gaius Plinius). Abundant literary testimony; pronunciation “PLIN-ee-us”; sources: Pliny, Naturalis Historia.
Plautius
Gens Plautia; Aulus Plautius (conqueror of Britain). Attested in histories and inscriptions; pronunciation “PLAU-ti-us”; sources: Tacitus, Dio.
Postumius
Gens Postumia; numerous Republican magistrates. Well attested in Livy and inscriptions; pronunciation “POS-too-mee-us”; sources: Livy, CIL.
Petronius
Gens Petronia; Petronius Arbiter (Nero’s courtier, Satyricon attributed). Literary and epigraphic attestations; pronunciation “peh-TROH-nee-us”; sources: Tacitus, Satyricon.
Petillius
Gens Petillia; e.g., Quintus Petilius/ Petillius Cerialis in Tacitus. Attested in inscriptions and histories; pronunciation “peh-TIL-ee-us”; sources: Tacitus, CIL.
Publilius
Gens Publilia; early Republican figures such as Publilius Volero. Literary and inscriptional evidence; pronunciation “PUB-ih-lee-us”; sources: Livy, Dionysius.
Publicola
Famous cognomen of Valerii (Publius Valerius Publicola), early Republic. Attested in Livy and Dionysius; pronunciation “PUB-li-KOH-la”; sources: Livy, Dionysius of Halicarnassus.
Paullus
Widespread cognomen (Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus). Frequent in Republican sources and inscriptions; pronunciation “POW-lus”; sources: Livy, Polybius.
Paetus
Common cognomen in several gentes (e.g., Paetus family branches). Literary and epigraphic attestations; pronunciation “PYE-tus”; sources: Cicero, inscriptions.
Pius
Used as agnomen/cognomen (e.g., Antoninus Pius). Attested in imperial titulature and inscriptions; pronunciation “PEE-us”; sources: Historia Augusta, inscriptions.
Piso
Famous cognomen among several gentes (Calpurnii Pisones). Well attested in Tacitus and other historians; pronunciation “PEE-so”; sources: Tacitus, inscriptions.
Plautus
Notable bearer Titus Maccius Plautus, playwright. Well attested in Latin literature; pronunciation “PLAU-tus”; sources: Plautus’ comedies.
Plancus
Munatius Plancus (consul, founder of Lugudunum). Attested in histories and inscriptions; pronunciation “PLAN-kus”; sources: Cassius Dio, CIL.
Pollio
Gaius Asinius Pollio (historian, orator). Literary and inscriptional attestation; pronunciation “POL-ee-oh”; sources: Cicero, Pliny.
Pictor
Early cognomen of the Fabii (Q. Fabius Pictor, historian). Attested in Livy and fragments; pronunciation “PIK-tor”; sources: Livy, Fabius.
Peregrinus
Used as cognomen across Republic and Empire; also a famous 2nd-century philosopher. Attested in literature and inscriptions; pronunciation “peh-REH-gri-nus”; sources: inscriptions, Lucian.
Perpetuus
Attested epigraphically and in later classical literature; pronunciation “per-PEH-too-us”; sources: inscriptions.
Paterculus
Cognomen in ASINII and other families (Asinius Paterculus). Literary and inscriptional evidence; pronunciation “pa-TER-ku-lus”; sources: Tacitus, inscriptions.
Pansa
Noted bearer Gaius Vibius Pansa (consul 43 BC). Attested in histories and inscriptions; pronunciation “PAN-sa”; sources: Appian, inscriptions.
Priscus
Very common cognomen across centuries (e.g., Helvidius Priscus). Literary and epigraphic attestations; pronunciation “PRIS-kus”; sources: Tacitus, inscriptions.
Probus
Common cognomen and imperial name (Emperor Probus). Attested broadly in inscriptions and histories; pronunciation “PROH-bus”; sources: Historia Augusta, inscriptions.
Pudens
Mentioned by Martial and in letters; literary and epigraphic attestations; pronunciation “PYOO-dens”; sources: Martial, Pliny.
Pulcher
Notable in Claudian family branches (Claudii Pulchri). Attested in Republican literature; pronunciation “POOL-ker”; sources: Livy, Cicero.
Placidus
Attested in inscriptions and later classical texts; pronunciation “pla-SEE-dus”; sources: inscriptions.
Privatus
Cognomen attested in inscriptions and letters; pronunciation “pri-VAH-tus”; sources: epigraphic corpus.
Paternus
Attested across imperial inscriptions and occasional literary mention; pronunciation “pa-TER-nus”; sources: inscriptions, Historia Augusta.
Pollienus
Attested nomen (Pollienus Auspex and others) in imperial period inscriptions and prosopography; pronunciation “po-LEE-en-us”; sources: inscriptions, PIR.
Poplicola
Alternate spelling Poplicola found in Livy and early sources for Valerii; pronunciation “pop-LI-ko-la”; sources: Livy.
Palma
Used as cognomen and agnomen (e.g., Vibius Palma). Literary and epigraphic attestations; pronunciation “PAL-mah”; sources: Tacitus, inscriptions.
Peregrinus already listed
—
Perseus? (Greek myth)
Excluded: mythological/Greek names not attested as Roman praenomen/nomen/cognomen in classical Roman sources.
Philippus
Excluded per inclusion rules: classical Latin uses “Philippus” with Greek origin; omitted when not primarily Roman family/personal name.
Pietas (rare cognomen)
Excluded: forms like Pietas mainly abstract or epithet, not attested as standard Roman personal name in classical sources.
Pisanus (cognomen)
Toponymic cognomen attested in inscriptions and some literary sources; pronunciation “PI-sa-nus”; sources: inscriptions.
Paterna (feminine of Paternus)
Female form attested in inscriptions as feminine cognomen derived from family name; pronunciation “pa-TER-na”; sources: epigraphy.
Pompeia (feminine of Pompeius)
Female form (Pompeia) attested widely (Pompeia sisters); pronunciation “pom-PAY-a”; sources: Cicero, inscriptions.
Plinia (feminine of Plinius)
Female Plinii attested in letters and inscriptions (e.g., Plinia Marcella); pronunciation “PLIN-ee-a”; sources: Pliny, CIL.