How to say it
ROH · mun
ˈroʊ.mən
Masculine
Roman
From Rome
What it means
From the Latin Romanus, meaning 'from Rome' or 'a citizen of Rome.' A name that names a city the way some names name a virtue.
Used as a name since classical times. Several saints and a Russian prince (Roman the Great of Galicia, 12th to 13th centuries) carried it forward through medieval Europe. The name lives most strongly today in Slavic countries (Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic), where Roman is consistently a top boys' name. The Spanish Román is also widespread in Latin America. American adoption is recent: Roman entered the US top hundred for boys in 2017 and has kept climbing. Often shortened to Ro or Roma.
How to spell Roman
The standard spelling is Roman. Common variants include Román, Romain, Romano, Romanus, but Roman is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #42 in 2025, currently #42 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Roman Holiday 1953 Audrey Hepburn film set in Rome
- Roman Roy Kieran Culkin's youngest-Roy in HBO's Succession
Spelling variants
- Román
- Romain
- Romano
- Romanus
Names with the same feeling
See Roman from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Roman mean?
- From the Latin Romanus, meaning 'from Rome' or 'a citizen of Rome.' A name that names a city the way some names name a virtue.
- What does Roman mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Roman means "From Rome." Used as a name since classical times. Several saints and a Russian prince (Roman the Great of Galicia, 12th to 13th centuries) carried it forward through medieval Europe. The name lives most strongly today in Slavic countries (Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic), where Roman is consistently a top boys' name. The Spanish Román is also widespread in Latin America. American adoption is recent: Roman entered the US top hundred for boys in 2017 and has kept climbing. Often shortened to Ro or Roma.
- How do you pronounce Roman?
- Roman is pronounced ˈroʊ.mən. Say it as ROH-mun, with the stress on the "roh" syllable.
- How do you spell Roman?
- The standard spelling is Roman. Common spelling variants include Román, Romain, Romano, Romanus.
- Is Roman a boy or girl name?
- Roman is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Roman?
- Roman ranked #42 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.