Latin Names for Boys

  1. Aquilo
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "eagle"
    • Description:

      Common Roman name mentioned in the Bible that has a crisply attractive sound.
  2. Branch
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Branch is an attractive name with associations both with trees and with branching out into brave new worlds. Baseball's Branch (born Wesley, with Branch as his middle name) Rickey broke the color barrier by hiring Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers. Like Leaf, Branch makes a nice, not-so-obvious, addition to the tree category.
  3. Sextus
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "sixth born"
    • Description:

      Just think about those inescapable "sexy" nicknames. The related Sixtus is not a huge improvement.
  4. Actaeon
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Attica"
    • Description:

      A hyperkinetic name, might be more kid-friendly without the second a.
  5. Sixtus
    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "sixth born"
    • Description:

      The name of several popes and saints, Sixtus is certainly unusual but would have trouble making it in the modern world outside the Vatican. Even worse is its brother Sextus. Try making it through seventh grade with that name.
  6. Quillon
    • Origin:

      Latin or Greek
    • Meaning:

      "crossing swords; strong"
    • Description:

      Pronounced KILL-on, might lead a young boy astray--though that doesn't seem to have halted the progress of the popular Killian.
  7. Cupid
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "desire"
    • Description:

      The name of the Roman god of love, the son of Venus, considered so romantic as to be unfit for mere mortals. Yet now that Romeo and Venus herself are fair game for modern babies, why not Cupid?
  8. Hilary
    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "cheerful, happy"
    • Description:

      The only version that works for boys anymore is the Latinate Hilario or Ilario. Better to look to Felix for a happy-meaning name.
  9. Destin
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "destiny"
    • Description:

      Synthesized name in the Justin/Dustin mold, but has an unpleasant similarity to the diaper rash ointment called Desitin.
  10. Quintus
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "fifth"
    • Description:

      A literary name figuring in the story of Ben Hur and the novels of Anthony Trollope that has the feel of Roman antiquity that is beginning to appeal to many parents. Quintus was one of only about twenty male first names in ancient Rome, and was often (though not exclusively) used for fifth sons.
  11. Cipriano
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Cyprus"
    • Description:

      A saint and surname often heard in Italy.
  12. Gabin
    • Origin:

      French form of the Latin Gabinus
    • Meaning:

      "of Gabium"
    • Description:

      Fans of the classic French film actor Jean Gabin might want to consider this one. Gabin is also a harmonica-playing character in the manga and anime series "Mirmo!"
  13. Alphonsus
    • Origin:

      Latin form of Alfonso
    • Meaning:

      "noble and ready"
    • Description:

      This Latinized form of a name that's well used in Italy and Spain is sometimes heard, oddly enough, in Ireland.
  14. Constantin
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "steadfast"
    • Description:

      More likely to be spelled Constantine, this was the name of the first Christian emperor of the Roman empire, as well as three Scottish kings. Previously thought of as too bulky and unwieldy a name for a modern child, these days it would be perfectly acceptable.
  15. Junior
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "young"
    • Description:

      The line should end with Junior Soprano. While most would expect this to be a nickname rather than an actual given name, Junior has always ranked in the US Top 1000, hitting its peak in 1925 at Number 116.
  16. Silvano
    • Origin:

      Italian form of Silvanus
    • Meaning:

      "wood, forest"
    • Description:

      Silvanus was the Roman god of the forests and is also an alternate name in the New Testament for Silas. Relatives include Silvio, Silvius, and Sylvia.
  17. Ilario
    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "cheerful, happy"
    • Description:

      Ilario's merry, jovial sound reflects a shared root with the word hilarious.
  18. Nelius
    • Origin:

      Latin, diminutive of Cornelius
    • Description:

      A lot more substantial than Corny or Nellie.
  19. Prosper
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "favorable, prosperous"
    • Description:

      In France, pronounced PRO-spare, Prosper is a fairly common name; here it presents a worthy aspirational message for a child.
  20. Morrie
    • Origin:

      Latin, diminutive of Maurice
    • Description:

      Soft and sensitive and elderly, associated with mega-best-seller Tuesdays with Morrie.