Roman
Roman is a boys' name of Latin origin meaning “Citizen of Rome, or strong and powerful.” It ranked #42 in the United States in 2025. Derived from the Latin 'Romanus,' meaning citizen of Rome.
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how do you pronounce Roman?
ROH-mun
where does the name Roman come from?
From the Latin Romanus, meaning a citizen of Rome. The Slavic languages took it early and use it as an ordinary given name, which is why Roman is common in Russia, Poland and Ukraine as well as in the Romance-speaking world.
It has been used throughout the Christian world due to early saints named Romanus and carries an air of classical strength and sophistication.
how popular is this name?
Roman has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 142 years since 1882, and fell outside it for 2. It peaked at #42 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #42 |
| 2024 | #52 |
| 2023 | #66 |
| 2022 | #68 |
| 2021 | #74 |
| 2020 | #77 |
| 2019 | #72 |
| 2018 | #86 |
| 2017 | #91 |
| 2016 | #98 |
| 2010 | #186 |
| 2000 | #317 |
| 1990 | #374 |
| 1980 | #535 |
| 1970 | #423 |
| 1960 | #662 |
| 1950 | #555 |
| 1940 | #521 |
| 1930 | #461 |
| 1920 | #379 |
| 1910 | #396 |
| 1900 | #534 |
| 1890 | #629 |
| 1882 | #754 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Roman fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Roman
St Roman of Rome and several Byzantine emperors named Romanos carried the name through the early Christian centuries. It has been in continuous use across eastern Europe ever since, and its recent English-speaking rise is separate and much more recent, entering the American top hundred in the 2010s.
who are famous people named Roman?
- Roman Polanski
- Roman Reigns
- Roman Holiday
what are the nicknames and variants of Roman?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Roman?
what names go well with Roman?
Sibling names that share Roman's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Roman
What does the name Roman mean?
Roman means “Citizen of Rome, or strong and powerful”.
What is the origin of the name Roman?
Roman comes from the Latin naming tradition. Related forms include Romain, Romano and Romanus.
How popular is the name Roman?
Roman ranked #42 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2025, at #42, and it has spent 142 years in the top 1,000 since 1882.
Is Roman a boy or girl name?
Roman is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Roman?
Roman is pronounced ROH-mun, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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