This list includes 37 Roman names that start with S, from “Sabinius” to “Superbus”. These names cover praenomina, nomina, and cognomina used across republican and imperial Rome. Writers, parents, and students use them for character names, family-history research, or classroom study.
Roman names that start with S are Latin personal and family names beginning with the letter S. Many reflect family lines, personal traits, or regional origins, for example “Severus” and “Septimius”.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Gender, Pronunciation, Meaning, and Type.
Name: The Roman name itself, shown so you can scan entries quickly and pick options for use.
Gender: Indicates masculine, feminine, or unmarked forms so you choose names that fit your character or research needs.
Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide helps you say names confidently, useful for reading aloud or dialogue.
Meaning: A concise sense of original Latin meaning or derivation, which aids choosing names with appropriate connotations.
Type: Notes whether a name is a praenomen, nomen, or cognomen, so you understand its social and familial role.
Roman names that start with S
| Name | Gender | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sextus | male | Praenomen | sixth |
| Servius | male | Praenomen | from servo, “to preserve/keep” |
| Spurius | male | Praenomen | ancient name, origin uncertain |
| Secundus | male | Praenomen | second |
| Sempronius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | gens name, origin uncertain |
| Sulpicius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | old family name, origin uncertain |
| Servilius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | descendant of Servius (patronymic) |
| Sestius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | from Sextus (patronymic) |
| Silius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | family name, origin uncertain |
| Scribonius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | from scribo, “scribe/writer” |
| Sertorius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | family name, origin uncertain |
| Seius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | family name, origin uncertain |
| Sergius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | probably Sabine origin |
| Salvius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | Sabine/Oscan origin; perhaps from salv- “safe” |
| Sallustius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | family name, origin uncertain |
| Sentius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | family name, origin uncertain |
| Statilius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | family name, origin uncertain |
| Statius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | Oscan origin; related to “stature/forest” roots |
| Suetonius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | family name, origin uncertain |
| Silvius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | from silva “wood”; legendary Alban name |
| Sabinius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | of the Sabines |
| Stertinius | unisex | Nomen (gens) | family name, origin uncertain |
| Scaevola | male | Cognomen | left-handed (diminutive of scaeva) |
| Scipio | male | Cognomen | staff, stick |
| Scaurus | male | Cognomen | swollen, big-ankled |
| Sabinus | male | Cognomen | Sabine, of Sabine origin |
| Soranus | male | Cognomen | from the town Sora |
| Sulla | male | Cognomen | uncertain, probably diminutive form |
| Severus | male | Cognomen | stern, severe |
| Sejanus | male | Cognomen | origin uncertain |
| Sisenna | male | Cognomen | likely Oscan origin, uncertain |
| Seneca | male | Cognomen | diminutive of senex “old man” |
| Silanus | male | Cognomen | from silva “wood” (derivative) |
| Silvanus | male | Cognomen | of the woods (from silva) |
| Strabo | male | Cognomen | squinting, cross-eyed |
| Superbus | male | Cognomen | proud, arrogant |
| Scaeva | male | Cognomen | left-handed; unlucky or fortunate |
Descriptions
Sextus
Pronounce SEK-stus. A common Roman praenomen (e.g., Sextus Pompeius); used throughout Republic and Empire. Well-attested.
Servius
Pronounce SER-vee-us. Early praenomen; famous bearer King Servius Tullius. Common in early Republic, rarer later but well-attested.
Spurius
Pronounce SPUR-ee-us. Widespread in early Republic (e.g., Spurius Cassius); usage declined later. Well-attested in early sources.
Secundus
Pronounce seh-KOON-dus. Means “second”; frequent as a cognomen and attested as a praenomen in inscriptions. Attested, more common as cognomen.
Sempronius
Pronounce sem-PROH-nee-us. Gens Sempronia produced famous Romans like the Gracchi (Tiberius and Gaius). Well-attested Republican family.
Sulpicius
Pronounce sul-PISH-ee-us. Gens Sulpicia included many magistrates across the Republic. Very well-attested.
Servilius
Pronounce ser-VIL-ee-us. Gens Servilia produced consuls and jurists in the Republic. Well-attested.
Sestius
Pronounce SES-tee-us. Gens Sestia appears in late Republic and Imperial inscriptions (e.g., Publius Sestius). Moderately attested.
Silius
Pronounce SIL-ee-us. Gens Silia includes authors and officials (e.g., Silius Italicus). Attested in Republic and Empire.
Scribonius
Pronounce skri-BOH-nee-us. Gens Scribonia produced consuls (e.g., Lucius Scribonius Libo). Well-attested.
Sertorius
Pronounce ser-TOR-ee-us. Quintus Sertorius (rebel leader in Spain) is the best-known bearer. Attested, moderately known.
Seius
Pronounce SAY-us. Gens Seia includes Seius Strabo (connected to Tiberius’ court). Attested but less common.
Sergius
Pronounce SER-jee-us. Gens Sergia was prominent across Republic and Empire (many magistrates). Well-attested.
Salvius
Pronounce SAL-vee-us. Gens Salvia appears in Imperial inscriptions (e.g., Salvius Liberalis). Attested, especially in provinces.
Sallustius
Pronounce sa-loo-STEE-us. Gaius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust), the historian. Well-attested.
Sentius
Pronounce SEN-tee-us. Gens Sentia provides magistrates (e.g., Gaius Sentius Saturninus). Attested.
Statilius
Pronounce sta-TIL-ee-us. Gens Statilia includes Statilius Taurus; attested in late Republic and Empire.
Statius
Pronounce STAH-tee-us. Gens Statia/Statius of Oscan origin; Publius Papinius Statius (poet) used Statius as a cognomen. Attested.
Suetonius
Pronounce soo-EE-toh-nee-us. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, historian (Lives of the Caesars). Well-attested.
Silvius
Pronounce SIL-vee-us. Legendary Alban kings bore Silvius; later used as a family name. Attested in myth and some inscriptions.
Sabinius
Pronounce sa-BIN-ee-us. Indicates Sabine origin; attested as a nomen in classical inscriptions. Moderately attested.
Stertinius
Pronounce ster-TIN-ee-us. Gens Stertinius appears in Imperial inscriptions and officials. Attested, relatively rare.
Scaevola
Pronounce skay-WO-la. Famous: Mucius Scaevola and legal family of jurists. Well-attested.
Scipio
Pronounce SKIP-ee-oh. Most famous in gens Cornelia (Scipio Africanus). Very well-attested and iconic.
Scaurus
Pronounce SKAW-rus. Marcus Aemilius Scaurus is a key bearer. Well-attested in Republican elite.
Sabinus
Pronounce sa-BEE-nus. Common cognomen (e.g., Titus Flavius Sabinus). Well-attested.
Soranus
Pronounce SOR-ah-nus. Attested among physicians and jurists (e.g., Aulus Cornelius Soranus). Moderately attested.
Sulla
Pronounce SOOL-la. Lucius Cornelius Sulla, dictator. Very well-attested.
Severus
Pronounce seh-VEH-rus. Famous: Emperor Septimius Severus; common imperial cognomen. Well-attested.
Sejanus
Pronounce SAY-ah-nus. Lucius Aelius Sejanus, Praetorian prefect under Tiberius. Attested but relatively rare.
Sisenna
Pronounce sis-EN-na. Cornelius Sisenna (historian) is a known bearer. Rare but attested.
Seneca
Pronounce seh-NEH-ka. Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Stoic philosopher and writer. Well-attested.
Silanus
Pronounce sil-AH-nus. The Silani were a notable family (e.g., Junius Silanus). Well-attested.
Silvanus
Pronounce sil-VAH-nus. Also a deity-name; used as cognomen in inscriptions. Attested.
Strabo
Pronounce STRAY-boh. Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo and others; also Greek geographer Strabo as a cognomen. Well-attested.
Superbus
Pronounce soo-PER-bus. Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last Roman king. Attested in regal tradition and rare later.
Scaeva
Pronounce SKAY-va. An older cognomen related to Scaevola (e.g., Titus Quinctius Scaeva). Attested though less common than Scaevola.