How to say it
RO · me · o
ˈroʊ.mi.oʊ
Masculine
Romeo
Pilgrim to Rome
What it means
Italian, from the Latin Romaeus, 'a pilgrim to Rome.'
Romeo is an Italian name from Latin Romaeus, 'a pilgrim bound for Rome.' Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet turned it into the word for a devoted, headlong lover, which is both its gift and its weight. It reads romantic and confidently Italian, and recent celebrity use (one of the Beckham sons) has nudged it into wider circulation. It pairs naturally with Leo and Enzo.
How to spell Romeo
The standard spelling is Romeo. Common variants include Romero, Roméo, but Romeo is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #283 in 2024, currently #302 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
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Shakespeare's Romeo makes the name shorthand for a romantic; some parents love that, some find it a lot to carry.
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.
- Romeo the young lover of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
- Romeo Beckham son of David and Victoria Beckham
Spelling variants
- Romero
- Roméo
Names with the same feeling
See Romeo from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Romeo mean?
- Italian, from the Latin Romaeus, 'a pilgrim to Rome.'
- What does Romeo mean in Italian?
- In Italian, Romeo means "Pilgrim to Rome." Romeo is an Italian name from Latin Romaeus, 'a pilgrim bound for Rome.' Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet turned it into the word for a devoted, headlong lover, which is both its gift and its weight. It reads romantic and confidently Italian, and recent celebrity use (one of the Beckham sons) has nudged it into wider circulation. It pairs naturally with Leo and Enzo.
- How do you pronounce Romeo?
- Romeo is pronounced ˈroʊ.mi.oʊ. Say it as RO-me-o, with the stress on the "ro" syllable.
- How do you spell Romeo?
- The standard spelling is Romeo. Common spelling variants include Romero, Roméo.
- Is Romeo a boy or girl name?
- Romeo is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Romeo?
- Romeo ranked #302 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.