This list includes 27 Roman names that start with O, from “Ocellus” to “Ovinius”. They range from common family names to rare personal cognomina and help writers, parents, genealogists, and students find authentic options.
Roman names that start with O are Latin personal and family names used in ancient Rome. Ocellus appears in inscriptions as a cognomen, while Ovinius survives as a family (nomen) name.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Gender, Pronunciation, Meaning, and Notes.
Name: The full Roman name as recorded, with common spelling variants, so you can quickly pick the exact form you need.
Gender: Indicates typical use for male, female, or both, helping you choose names that fit historical or fictional characters.
Pronunciation: Provides a straightforward phonetic guide so you can say each name confidently and consistently.
Meaning: Gives concise origin or literal meaning when known, useful for symbolic naming or thematic choices.
Notes: Offers context on type (praenomen, nomen, cognomen), rarity, and notable bearers to help you assess authenticity and use.
Roman names that start with O
Name
Gender
Name type
Meaning
Opiter
Male
Praenomen
Octavius
Male
Nomen
eighth
Octavianus
Male
Cognomen/Agnomen
belonging to the Octavii
Otho
Male
Cognomen
Ovidius
Male
Nomen
Ovinius
Male
Nomen
Opimius
Male
Nomen
rich, abundant
Oppius
Male
Nomen
Oppianicus
Male
Cognomen
Orbilius
Male
Nomen
Ogulnius
Male
Nomen
Ostorius
Male
Nomen
Orellius
Male
Nomen
Opellius
Male
Nomen
Ocellus
Male
Cognomen
little eye
Optatus
Male
Cognomen
desired
Ornatus
Male
Cognomen
adorned
Oppianus
Male
Other
Orestes
Male
Cognomen/Other
mountain dweller
Onesimus
Male
Other
useful
Olybrius
Male
Cognomen/Nomen
Orbus
Male
Cognomen
bereft, orphaned
Orfitus
Male
Cognomen
Otacilius
Male
Nomen
Opilio
Male
Cognomen
Opimius
Male
Cognomen
Orcivius
Male
Nomen
Descriptions
Opiter
Rare archaic praenomen known from early Republican sources (e.g., Livy, Varro). Used by patrician families like the Verginii; very uncommon by Late Republic.
Octavius
Gentile name of the well-known gens Octavia; borne by Gaius Octavius (Augustus). Widely attested in literature and inscriptions.
Octavianus
A familial agnomen/cognomen borne famously by Gaius Octavianus (Augustus). Attested in literary sources and inscriptions.
Otho
Famous as Marcus Salvius Otho, emperor AD 69; attested in Tacitus, Suetonius and inscriptions. Likely of non-Latin (Etruscan) origin.
Ovidius
Nomen of the poet Publius Ovidius Naso. Well attested in literary sources and epigraphy.
Ovinius
Gentilicium Ovinius attested in inscriptions and imperial-era magistracies.
Opimius
Nomen of a Republican family (e.g., Lucius Opimius, consul 121 BC); attested in Livy and epigraphy.
Oppius
Nomen of gens Oppia/Oppius; plebeian family attested in Republican and Imperial inscriptions.
Oppianicus
Notorious cognomen known from Cicero’s Pro Cluentio (legal case). Attested in literary sources.
Orbilius
Nomen of Orbilius Pupillus, Horace’s schoolmaster; attested in Horace and inscriptions.
Ogulnius
Nomen of the Ogulnia gens (e.g., tribunes Ogulnii); attested in Livy and Republican records.
Ostorius
Nomen of Publius Ostorius Scapula, governor of Britain; attested in Tacitus and inscriptions.
Orellius
Gentilicium Orellius attested in Roman inscriptions (epigraphy) across the Empire.
Opellius
Nomen of Marcus Opellius Macrinus, emperor 217–218; attested in Historia Augusta and inscriptions.
Ocellus
Cognomen derived from oculus, attested in Republican and Imperial inscriptions and occasional literary mentions.
Optatus
Common cognomen in Imperial and late-antique sources; borne by various bishops and senators, attested epigraphically and in literature.
Ornatus
Widespread cognomen meaning “ornate”; found in inscriptions and literary sources across the Empire.
Oppianus
Latinized form of Greek name Oppian (poet); appears as a personal name in some Roman literary and epigraphic contexts.
Orestes
Greek personal name used in Roman contexts; attested (e.g., Flavius Orestes, late-Roman general), in chronicles and inscriptions.
Onesimus
Greek slave name widely attested in New Testament (Philemon) and Roman inscriptions as a slave/freedman name.
Olybrius
Name borne by Anicius Olybrius, Western emperor 472; attested in consular fasti and late antique chronicles.
Orbus
Latin cognomen attested in Republican and Imperial inscriptions and occasional literary sources.
Orfitus
Cognomen attested in senatorial and equestrian families in Imperial epigraphy (2nd–3rd centuries).
Otacilius
Gentilicium Otacilius/Otacilia attested in Republican and municipal inscriptions; known in regional contexts.
Opilio
Cognomen attested in inscriptions and some late-antique sources, used for freeborn and servile individuals.
Opimius
Also appears as a cognomen in some families (distinct from the Opimius nomen); attested epigraphically.
Orcivius
Rare gentilicium attested in Roman inscriptions; shows local or regional use (epigraphy).
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