This list includes 61 Roman names that start with M, from “Macer” to “Musonius”. Many are family names or cognomina reflecting traits, occupations, or ancestral origins. Use this list when you name characters, research family history, or explore Roman culture.

Roman names that start with M are given and family names used across the Roman world. Many such names, like “Marcus” or the philosopher Musonius, carry social or familial meaning.

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

Name: The Roman name as recorded; you use it to identify individuals and sort or select names for characters or research.

Type: Indicates whether the entry is a praenomen, nomen, or cognomen so you see its social and naming role.

Gender: Shows the typical gender association, helping you pick appropriate names for male, female, or neutral characters.

Pronunciation: Provides a simple phonetic guide so you can say names confidently in speech or dialogue.

Meaning: Gives a concise meaning or origin note so you understand cultural significance and pick names with fitting connotations.

Notes: Offers brief historical context, variant spellings, or famous bearers to add depth to your choice or research.

Roman names that start with M

NameTypeGenderMeaning
MarcuspraenomenMaleOf Mars; warlike
ManiuspraenomenMalePossibly “of the Manes” (spirits)
MamercuspraenomenMaleFrom Mamers (Oscan Mars)
MettiuspraenomenMaleProbably Oscan origin; uncertain
MariusnomenMaleFrom Mars; martial family name
MarciusnomenMaleOf the Marcii; linked to Mars
ManliusnomenMaleOf the Manlia family
MamiliusnomenMaleGentilic name of Tusculan line
MaecenasnomenMaleUnknown, likely Etruscan origin
MaeciliusnomenMaleGentilic name (Etruscan/Latin)
MaeliusnomenMaleOld Latin gentilicium; uncertain
MaeniusnomenMaleGentilic name of unknown meaning
MemmiusnomenMaleGentilic name; origin unclear
MetiliusnomenMaleGentilic name; uncertain origin
MessiusnomenMaleGentilic name; uncertain
MinuciusnomenMaleGentilic name of the Minucii
MuciusnomenMaleGentilic name of the Mucii
MunatiusnomenMaleGentilic name; uncertain
MummiusnomenMaleGentilic name of unclear origin
ModiusnomenMaleGentilic name; likely local origin
MetellacognomenFemaleFeminine form of Metellus
MetelluscognomenMaleUnknown family name
MaximuscognomenMaleThe greatest
MaxentiuscognomenMaleLikely “very great” variant
MaximinuscognomenMaleDiminutive of Maximus
MacrinuscognomenMalePossibly “thin” or family name
MacercognomenMaleThin, lean
MelacognomenMaleFrom Greek ‘melas’, “dark”
MarcelluscognomenMaleLittle Marcus (diminutive)
MarcellinuscognomenMaleLittle Marcellus; diminutive
MarcianuscognomenMaleOf Marcus; derivative
MartialiscognomenMaleOf Mars; martial
MartiusnomenMaleOf Mars; family name
MaternuscognomenMaleOf the mother; family name
MessallacognomenMaleVariant of Messus; family name
MilocognomenMalePossibly “miller” or personal name
MurenacognomenMaleLamprey (nickname)
MucianuscognomenMaleFrom Mucius family
MuscognomenMaleMouse (nickname)
MerulacognomenMaleBlackbird, nickname
MontanuscognomenMaleFrom the mountain
ModeratuscognomenMaleMeasured, moderate
ModestuscognomenMaleHumble, modest
MercatorcognomenMaleMerchant
MeliorcognomenMaleBetter, superior
Macrinus (see above)cognomenMalePossibly “thin” or family name
MarinuscognomenMaleOf the sea
MusoniuscognomenMalePossibly Greek-origin surname
MessiuscognomenMaleGentilic/cognomen form
MeridiuscognomenMaleOf midday; uncertain
MinimuscognomenMaleSmallest, least
ModianuscognomenMaleFrom Modius family
MamilianuscognomenMaleFrom Mamilius gens
Maenius (see above)nomenMaleGentilic name of unknown meaning
MaesanomenFemaleGentilic feminine form
MaeruluscognomenMaleDiminutive of ‘sea’ or personal
MarulluscognomenMaleDiminutive of Marius/Marcus
MarsuscognomenMaleOf the Marsi people (Italic)
MaximianuscognomenMaleDerived from Maximus; “great”
MazimuscognomenMaleUnclear origin; attested
MedullinuscognomenMaleFrom Medulla family branch

Descriptions

Marcus
(/MAR-kus/) The most common Roman praenomen; e.g., Marcus Tullius Cicero. Widely attested in inscriptions and authors (Livy, Cicero).
Manius
(/MAH-nee-us/) Archaic but regular praenomen, abbreviated M’. Found in inscriptions and Republican authors (Livy, inscriptions).
Mamercus
(/ma-MER-kus/) Early praenomen used by patrician families (Aemilii Mamercini); appears in Livy and inscriptions.
Mettius
(/MET-ee-us/) Early/legendary praenomen (Mettius Fufetius); attested in Livy and archaic sources.
Marius
(/MAR-ee-us/) Well-known gens Maria (Gaius Marius); frequent in Republican and Imperial sources (Plutarch, Cicero).
Marcius
(/MAR-kee-us/) Nomen of gens Marcia; famous holders include Marcius Coriolanus (Livy, inscriptions).
Manlius
(/MAN-lee-us/) Noble patrician gens (Marcus Manlius Capitolinus); attested in Livy and inscriptions.
Mamilius
(/ma-MIL-ee-us/) Ancient c. Tusculum gens; early republican figures appear in Livy and Dionysius.
Maecenas
(/my-SEE-nas/) Gaius Maecenas, patron of Horace; attested in Horace, Vergil, and inscriptions.
Maecilius
(/my-SEE-lee-us/) Attested nomen in inscriptions and Republican records; minor magistrates and epigraphic evidence.
Maelius
(/MAE-lee-us/) Gens Maelia; Spurius Maelius appears in early Roman history (Livy).
Maenius
(/MAE-nee-us/) Attested in Republican records and inscriptions (e.g., tribunes and magistrates).
Memmius
(/MEM-ee-us/) Gaius Memmius appears in Cicero and Catullus; epigraphic attestations exist.
Metilius
(/meh-TIL-ee-us/) Attested nomen in inscriptions and Republican lists.
Messius
(/MES-ee-us/) Occurs in inscriptions and imperial references (men of equestrian rank).
Minucius
(/mi-NOO-see-us/) Well-attested gens (Minucius Rufus); appears in Livy and Cicero.
Mucius
(/MOO-see-us/) Famous early hero Gaius Mucius Scaevola; very common in Republican sources (Livy, Plutarch).
Munatius
(/moo-NAH-ti-us/) Munatius Plancus and others appear in Caesar and inscriptions.
Mummius
(/MUM-mee-us/) Lucius Mummius Achaicus, Roman general; attested in Livy and Pliny.
Modius
(/MOH-dee-us/) Attested in inscriptions and municipal records; minor Republican/Imperial references.
Metella
(/meh-TEL-la/) Female cognomen of the Caecilius Metellus family; appears in inscriptions and Livy (female members).
Metellus
(/meh-TEL-us/) Famous cognomen of the Caecilii (Quintus Caecilius Metellus); common in Republican histories.
Maximus
(/MAKS-ee-mus/) Very common honorific cognomen (Quintus Fabius Maximus); attested widely (Livy, Cicero).
Maxentius
(/maks-EN-shee-us/) Later imperial cognomen (Emperor Maxentius); attested in imperial chronicles.
Maximinus
(/maks-IM-in-us/) Imperial-era cognomen (Emperor Maximinus); found in later Latin histories.
Macrinus
(/mack-RY-nus/) Emperor Macrinus (Historia Augusta, Cassius Dio); attested in imperial sources.
Macer
(/MAH-ker/) Used as cognomen (e.g., Licinius Macer); attested in historians and inscriptions.
Mela
(/MAY-la/) Lucius Annaeus Mela (Seneca’s father); appears in Seneca and inscriptions.
Marcellus
(/mar-CELL-us/) Famous cognomen (Marcus Claudius Marcellus); found in Livy, Cicero.
Marcellinus
(/mar-cel-LEE-nus/) Attested in late Republic and Imperial inscriptions and chronicles.
Marcianus
(/mar-SEE-an-us/) Common Imperial cognomen (e.g., Odenathus’ circles); inscriptions and historians.
Martialis
(/mar-TI-al-is/) Marcus Valerius Martialis (poet “Martial”); attested in his own epigrams.
Martius
(/MAR-tee-us/) Gens Martia/Martius appears in Republican lists and inscriptions.
Maternus
(/mah-TER-nus/) Several late-Republic and Imperial figures (explorers, bishops); attested in inscriptions and Ammianus.
Messalla
(/mes-SAL-la/) Valerius Messalla family; appears in Cicero and Horace.
Milo
(/MY-lo/) Titus Annius Milo, noted political figure; attested in Cicero and Tacitus.
Murena
(/moo-REH-na/) Licinii Murenae (e.g., Lucius Licinius Murena); attested in Cicero and Livy.
Mucianus
(/moo-CHYAH-nus/) Licinius Mucianus and others; attested in Tacitus and inscriptions.
Mus
(/moos/) Ancient cognomen in Sulpicii and others; appears in Livy and inscriptions.
Merula
(/MEH-roo-la/) Lucius Cornelius Merula appears in Republican histories and inscriptions.
Montanus
(/mon-TAH-nus/) Common cognomen in inscriptions across Republic and Empire.
Moderatus
(/mo-deh-RAH-tus/) Attested in inscriptions and Stoic authors as a family cognomen.
Modestus
(/mo-DES-tus/) Frequent cognomen in Empire; attested in inscriptions and letters.
Mercator
(/mer-KAH-tor/) Attested as cognomen in inscriptions and municipal records.
Melior
(/MEH-lee-or/) Appears as a cognomen in Republican and Imperial inscriptions.
Macrinus (see above)
(/mack-RY-nus/) Emperor Macrinus; attested in Historia Augusta, Cassius Dio.
Marinus
(/MAH-ri-nus/) Used as cognomen in imperial period; attested in inscriptions and chroniclers.
Musonius
(/moo-SOH-nee-us/) Musonius Rufus (Stoic philosopher); attested in Epictetus and inscriptions.
Messius
(/MES-ee-us/) Used as both nomen and cognomen in inscriptions and occasional literary mentions.
Meridius
(/meh-RID-ee-us/) Attested in inscriptions as a cognomen; local and municipal uses.
Minimus
(/mi-NI-mus/) Used as ironic or descriptive cognomen; appears in inscriptions and letters.
Modianus
(/mo-dee-AH-nus/) Formed from Modius; attested in inscriptions and Imperial records.
Mamilianus
(/ma-mil-ee-AH-nus/) Derived cognomen of Mamilii; found in Republican/Imperial inscriptions.
Maenius (see above)
(/MAE-nee-us/) Attested in Republican sources and inscriptions.
Maesa
(/MY-ee-sa/) Female nomen form (Maesa) appears in inscriptions and Imperial genealogies.
Maerulus
(/my-ROO-lus/) Attested as a cognomen in Republican inscriptions and letters.
Marullus
(/ma-RUL-us/) Marcus Antonius Marullus-like names; appears in late-Republic sources and inscriptions.
Marsus
(/MAR-sus/) Cognomen indicating Marsic origin; attested in Republican and Sullan-era sources.
Maximianus
(/maks-ee-MEE-an-us/) Imperial cognomen (Maximian); attested in panegyrics and inscriptions.
Mazimus
(/MAH-zee-mus/) Rare cognomen found in inscriptions; local and municipal evidence.
Medullinus
(/meh-DUL-ih-nus/) Branch cognomen in ancient patrician families; appears in Livy and inscriptions.
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