Latin Names for Boys

This French feminine version of Germain is a unisex choice in the U.S., also spelled Jermaine, Jemaine, and Germain. Rooted in the ancient Latin Germanus, which may mean sprout or brother, it's no longer a fashionable choice in any version.

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

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

A more distinctive alternative to Angelo.

This name of a famous ancient Roman jurist is sometimes heard in the Hispanic community.

Spartacus is the famous name of an ancient Roman slave -- and star of his own eponymous TV series! -- who led a slave revolt and became a renowned gladiator, only to die in the ring. Not considered baby-appropriate for centuries, Spartacus just might rise again along with the names of his fellow gladiators.

This softer version of Adolf is sadly still off-limits due to the connotations with Hitler.

Had a burst of popularity in 2000 when the controversial case of the Cuban boy Elián González was in the news; his name combined his parents': Elizabeth and Juan.

Merc has been introduced to the American public by the network executive character on Showtime's Episodes, and is a contemporary-sounding short form of the Roman god and planet name Mercury. Mercury, from the Latin for trade or wages, was the god of tradesmen and travelers and is the fast-moving first planet in our solar system.

Pastor might be a brother for Parson and Deacon.

Heard in both Italy and Spain, Tulio could make a more unusual alternative to Julio. Or with the rediscovery of many Roman names, you might want to go to the original Tullius, the middle name of the philosopher and statesman Cicero.

If you're looking for a presidential first name, keep looking.

Dacia was an ancient region comprised of what is modern Romania and Moldova and smaller parts of other Eastern European countries. Its inhabitants were called the Dacians, and the Dacian Kingdom flourished around the time of Christ until it was toppled by the Romans. Daciana is the female version sometimes used in Romania.

Gardener is surely one of the most pleasant and evocative of the occupational options, calling up images of green grass and budding blooms. The name can also be spelled without the first 'e', as in Gardner (born George Cadogan Gardner) McCay, a hunky TV heartthrob of the 1950s and 60s. Gardner is a much more common surname spelling, associated with screen legend Ava, mystery writer Erle Stanley and art collector and patron Isabella Stewart, founder of Boston's Gardner Museum.

Marino is an Italian first and surname with distinct crossover possibilities, having pleasant seaside undertones, and is far more unusual in the U.S. than sister Marina.

The revival of long-dormant Roman names would put this back in the lexicon if it wasn't so connected to a telecommunications network.

Pacific is an adventurous kind of place-name, with the added bonus of the association with peace.

Unconventional nickname option that's best kept as a nickname.

Swaggering, cutting-edge choice equally appropriate for both genders. It's also very rare, given in the US in 2015 to only seven baby girls....and no recorded baby boys. Do you want to be the first?