Browse Names

This is a list of names in which the gender is masculine; and the pattern is *us*.
gender
usage
pattern
Maximinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was derived from Maximus. Saint Maximinus was a 4th-century bishop of Trier. Another saint by this name (also called Mesmin) was a 6th-century abbot from Orléans.
Maximus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin maximus "greatest". Saint Maximus was a monk and theologian from Constantinople in the 7th century.
Menelaus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Μενέλαος (Menelaos), derived either from μένω (meno) meaning "to stay, to last" or μένος (menos) meaning "mind, strength, force" combined with λαός (laos) meaning "people". In Greek legend he was a king of Sparta and the husband of Helen. When his wife was taken by Paris, the Greeks led by his brother Agamemnon besieged the city of Troy in an effort to get her back. After the war Menelaus and Helen settled down to a happy life.
Methodius m Late Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Μεθόδιος (Methodios), derived from Greek μέθοδος (methodos) meaning "pursuit" or "method", ultimately from μετά (meta) meaning "with" and ὁδός (hodos) meaning "road, way, journey". Saint Methodius was a Greek missionary to the Slavs who developed the Cyrillic alphabet (with his brother Cyril) in order to translate the Bible into Slavic.
Methuselah m Biblical
Means "man of the dart" in Hebrew, from מַת (maṯ) meaning "man" and שֶׁלַח (shelaḥ) meaning "dart, weapon". In the Old Testament he is the father of Lamech and the grandfather of Noah. He lived to age 969, making him the longest-lived person in the Bible.
Modestus m Late Roman
Means "moderate, restrained" in Late Latin. This was the name of several saints.
Morandus m Late Roman
Medieval Latin name of uncertain meaning. It could be derived from a Germanic name. Alternatively it might be from Latin demorandus meaning "lasting, staying" or Maurus meaning "North African, Moorish".
Morpheus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek μορφή (morphe) meaning "shape", referring to the shapes seen in dreams. In Greek mythology Morpheus was the god of dreams.
Motiejus m Lithuanian
Older Lithuanian form of Matthew.
Mousa m Persian, Arabic
Persian form of Musa, as well as an alternate Arabic transcription.
Mouses m Biblical Greek
Greek form of Moses.
Moussa m Arabic, Western African
Alternate transcription of Arabic موسى (see Musa), as well as the form commonly used in West Africa.
Moustafa m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic مصطفى (see Mustafa).
Moustapha m Western African
Form of Mustafa used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.
Muhammadyusuf m Uzbek
Combination of Muhammad and Yusuf.
Musa m Arabic, Turkish, Hausa, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay
Arabic form of Moses appearing in the Quran.
Mus'ad m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic مسعد (see Musad).
Musad m Arabic
Means "lucky" in Arabic, from the root سعد (saʿida) meaning "to be happy, to be lucky".
Muscowequan m Ojibwe (Anglicized)
From Ojibwe Maskawigwan meaning "hard quill", derived from mashkawaa "hard" and gaaway "quill". This was the name of a 19th-century Saulteaux chief.
Muslim m Arabic, Urdu, Kazakh, Indonesian, Malay
Name for a follower of Islam, ultimately from Arabic أسْلم (ʾaslama) meaning "to surrender, to submit".
Müslüm m Turkish, Azerbaijani
Turkish and Azerbaijani form of Muslim.
Mustafa m Arabic, Turkish, Bosnian, Urdu, Kazakh, Indonesian, Malay
Means "chosen" in Arabic, derived from اصطفا (iṣṭafā) meaning "to choose". This is an epithet of the Prophet Muhammad. It was borne by four Ottoman sultans. Another famous bearer was Mustafa Kemal (1881-1938), also known as Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey.
Mustafo m Tajik, Uzbek
Uzbek and Tajik form of Mustafa.
Mustapha m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic مصطفى (see Mustafa).
Naevius m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Nevio.
Narcissus m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Late Roman, Biblical
Latinized form of Greek Νάρκισσος (Narkissos), possibly derived from νάρκη (narke) meaning "sleep, numbness". Narkissos was a beautiful youth in Greek mythology who stared at his own reflection for so long that he eventually died and was turned into the narcissus flower.... [more]
Natalius m Late Roman
Masculine form of Natalia (see Natalie).
Nazarius m Late Roman
Latin name meaning "from Nazareth". Nazareth was the town in Galilee where Jesus lived. This name was borne by several early saints, including a man martyred with Celsus in Milan.
Nemesius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Νεμέσιος (Nemesios), derived from the name of the Greek goddess Nemesis. This name was borne by a 4th-century Christian philosopher. It was also borne by an early saint and martyr.
Nennius m History
Meaning unknown, presumably a Latinized form of a Brythonic name (perhaps Nynniaw). According to the 12th-century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth, this was the name of a British prince who fought against the invading forces of Julius Caesar. It was also borne by a 9th-century Welsh monk, traditionally credited with authoring the History of the Britons.
Neoptolemus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Νεοπτόλεμος (Neoptolemos) meaning "new war", derived from νέος (neos) meaning "new" combined with an Epic Greek form of πόλεμος (polemos) meaning "war". In Greek legend this was the name of the son of Achilles, brought into the Trojan War because it was prophesied the Greeks could not win it unless he was present. After the war he was slain by Orestes fighting over Hermione.
Nereus m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Derived from Greek νηρός (neros) meaning "water". In Greek myth this was the name of a god of the sea, the father of the Nereids. It is mentioned briefly in the New Testament, belonging to a Christian in Rome. This was also the name of a Roman saint of the 1st century, a member of the army, who was martyred with his companion Achilleus because they refused to execute Christians.
Nicodemus m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Νικόδημος (Nikodemos) meaning "victory of the people", derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and δῆμος (demos) meaning "the people". This is the name of a character in the New Testament who helps Joseph of Arimathea entomb Jesus.
Nicolaus m German, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Nikolaos (see Nicholas). This form is also used in Germany as a variant of Nikolaus. A notable bearer was the German-speaking Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543). This was his Latin name; his German name was recorded in various spellings such as Niklas Koppernigk.
Nicușor m Romanian
Diminutive of Nicolae.
Niklaus m German (Swiss)
Swiss German form of Nicholas.
Nikolaus m German
German form of Nicholas.
Nikusha m Georgian
Diminutive of Nikoloz.
Nisus m Roman Mythology
Meaning unknown. According to Virgil's Aeneid, this was the name of the son of the Trojan Hyrtacus (himself mentioned in the Iliad, though Nisus is not). In the Aeneid Nisus is the friend of Euryalus. After Euryalus is captured by the Rutuli, both are slain when Nisus attempts to save him.
Nojus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Noah 1.
Nonus m Ancient Roman (Rare)
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "ninth" in Latin. This was a rare praenomen.
Nostradamus m History
Latinized form of the surname of Michel de Nostredame (1503-1566), a French astrologer famous for his book of prophecies. The surname, meaning "our lady" in Old French, was acquired by his father upon his conversion from Judaism to Christianity.
Notus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Νότος (Notos) meaning "south wind". This was the name of the god of the south wind in Greek mythology.
Octavius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from Latin octavus meaning "eighth". This was the original family name of the emperor Augustus (born Gaius Octavius). It was also rarely used as a Roman praenomen, or given name.
Odysseus m Greek Mythology
Perhaps derived from Greek ὀδύσσομαι (odyssomai) meaning "to hate". In Greek legend Odysseus was one of the Greek heroes who fought in the Trojan War. In the Odyssey Homer relates Odysseus's misadventures on his way back to his kingdom and his wife Penelope.
Oedipus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Οἰδίπους (Oidipous), meaning "swollen foot" from οἰδέω (oideo) meaning "to swell" and πούς (pous) meaning "foot". In Greek mythology Oedipus was the son of the Theban king Laius and his wife Jocasta. Laius received a prophesy that he would be killed by his son, so he left the newborn to die of exposure. Oedipus was however rescued and raised in the home of the Corinthian king Polybus. After he had grown and learned of the same prophesy, Oedipus left Corinth so that he would not be a danger to Polybus, whom he assumed was his father. On the road to Delphi he chanced upon his real father Laius and slew him in a petty disagreement, thus fulfilling the prophecy. He then correctly answered the Sphinx's riddle, winning the now vacant throne of Thebes and marrying the widowed Queen Jocasta, his own mother. Years later they learned the truth of their relationship, prompting Jocasta to commit suicide and Oedipus to blind himself.
Oktawiusz m Polish
Polish form of Octavius.
Ōkuninushi m Japanese Mythology
Means "master of the great country", from Japanese (ō) meaning "big, great", (kuni) meaning "country, land" and (nushi) meaning "master". In Japanese myth he was the divine ruler of the lands, until the gods of the heavens seized control and he retreated to the unseen world.
Olusegun m Yoruba
Means "God conquers" in Yoruba.
Olusola m & f Yoruba
Means "God makes wealth" in Yoruba.
Onesimus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Ὀνήσιμος (Onesimos), which meant "beneficial, profitable". Saint Onesimus was an escaped slave of Philemon who met Saint Paul while in prison and was converted by him. Paul sent him back to Philemon carrying the epistle that appears in the New Testament.
Onesiphorus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Ὀνησίφορος (Onesiphoros), which meant "bringing advantage, beneficial". This name is mentioned briefly in Paul's second epistle to Timothy in the New Testament. According to tradition he was martyred by being tied to horses and then torn apart.
Onuphrius m Egyptian Mythology (Latinized), Late Roman
Latinized form of Greek Ὀνούφριος (Onouphrios), derived from Egyptian wnn-nfr meaning "he who is good, he who is happy". This was an epithet of the god Osiris. It was later used by an Egyptian saint and hermit from the 4th or 5th century.
Ophiuchus m Astronomy
Latinized form of Greek Ὀφιοῦχος (Ophiouchos) meaning "serpent bearer". This is the name of an equatorial constellation that depicts the god Asklepios holding a snake.
Orpheus m Greek Mythology
Perhaps related to Greek ὄρφνη (orphne) meaning "the darkness of night". In Greek mythology Orpheus was a poet and musician who went to the underworld to retrieve his dead wife Eurydice. He succeeded in charming Hades with his lyre, and he was allowed to lead his wife out of the underworld on the condition that he not look back at her until they reached the surface. Unfortunately, just before they arrived his love for her overcame his will and he glanced back at her, causing her to be drawn back to Hades.
Ousmane m Western African
Form of Uthman used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.
Ovidius m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Ovid.
Pancratius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Παγκράτιος (Pankratios), derived from the Greek word παγκρατής (pankrates) meaning "all-powerful", from the roots πᾶν (pan) meaning "all" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". Early Byzantine Christians used this as a title of Christ. It was borne by two saints, a 1st-century Sicilian martyr and a semi-legendary 4th-century Roman martyr.
Paphnutius m Ancient Egyptian (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Παφνούτιος (Paphnoutios), derived from Egyptian pꜣj-pꜣ-nṯr meaning "the one of God". This was the name of several saints, including the 4th-century bishop Paphnutius of Thebes.
Patricius m Late Roman
Original Latin form of Patrick.
Patroclus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Πάτροκλος (Patroklos) meaning "glory of the father", derived from πατήρ (pater) meaning "father" (genitive πατρός) and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". In Greek legend he was one of the heroes who fought against the Trojans. His death at the hands of Hector drew his friend Achilles back into the war.
Paulinus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Paulino.
Paulius m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Paul.
Pausanias m Ancient Greek
From the Greek word παυσανίας (pausanias) meaning "reliever of sorrow", itself from παῦσις (pausis) meaning "stopping" and ἀνία (ania) meaning "grief, sorrow". Notable bearers include the kings Pausanias of Sparta (5th century BC) and Pausanias of Macedon (4th century BC), as well as a 2nd-century geographer.
Pegasus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Πήγασος (Pegasos), possibly either from πηγός (pegos) meaning "strong" or πηγαῖος (pegaios) meaning "from a water spring". In Greek mythology Pegasus was the winged horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa after she was killed by Perseus. There is a constellation in the northern sky named after the horse.
Pelagius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Πελάγιος (Pelagios), which was derived from πέλαγος (pelagos) meaning "the sea". This was the name of several saints and two popes. It was also borne by a 4th-century British theologian whose teachings were eventually declared heretical.
Peleus m Greek Mythology
Probably derived from Greek πηλός (pelos) meaning "clay". In Greek mythology Peleus was a king of Phthia. With his wife the sea nymph Thetis he was the father of the hero Achilles.
Perseus m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πέρθω (pertho) meaning "to destroy". In Greek mythology Perseus was a hero who was said to have founded the ancient city of Mycenae. He was the son of Zeus and Danaë. Mother and child were exiled by Danaë's father Acrisius, and Perseus was raised on the island of Seriphos. The king of the island compelled Perseus to kill the Gorgon Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who gazed upon her was turned to stone. After obtaining winged sandals and other tools from the gods, he succeeded in his task by looking at Medusa in the reflection of his shield and slaying her in her sleep. On his return he defeated a sea monster in order to save Andromeda, who became his wife.
Petronius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was possibly derived from Latin petro, petronis meaning "yokel".
Petrus m Dutch, Biblical Latin
Latin form of Peter. As a Dutch name, it is used on birth certificates though a vernacular form such as Pieter is typically used in daily life.
Phaedrus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φαῖδρος (Phaidros), which meant "bright". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek philosopher, and also of a 1st-century Roman fabulist who was originally a slave from Thrace.
Philetus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Greek name Φίλητος (Philetos) meaning "beloved". In the New Testament, Philetus is a heretic in the church at Ephesus denounced by Paul.
Phineus m Greek Mythology
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Greek φίνις (phinis), a variant of φήνη (phene) meaning "vulture". According to Greek mythology this was the name of a king of Thrace visited by Jason and the Argonauts.
Phoebus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φοῖβος (Phoibos), which meant "bright, pure". This was an epithet of the Greek god Apollo.
Phrixus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Φρίξος (Phrixos) meaning "thrilling, causing shivers", derived from φρίξ (phrix) meaning "ripple, shiver". In Greek myth Phrixus was the son of Athamus and Nephele. He was to be sacrificed to Zeus, but he escaped with his sister Helle on the back of the ram with the Golden Fleece.
Pijus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Pius.
Pius m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "pious, dutiful". This was the name of twelve popes.
Placidus m Late Roman
Latin form of Placido.
Plinius m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Pliny.
Polonius m Literature
From Latin Polonia meaning "Poland". In Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet (1600) this is the name of the counsellor to Claudius and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. He is accidentally murdered by Hamlet.
Pompeius m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Pompey.
Pomponius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that is of unknown meaning, possibly a derivative of Pompeius (see Pompey).
Pontius m Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, Biblical
Roman family name. The family had Samnite roots so the name probably originated from the Oscan language, likely meaning "fifth" (a cognate of Latin Quintus). Alternatively, it could be derived from the name of the ancient province of Pontus in Asia Minor, itself probably from Greek πόντος (pontos) meaning "sea". A notable bearer of this name was Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who appears in the New Testament.
Pontus 1 m Swedish
Possibly a form of Pontius. It was brought to Sweden by the French general Pontus De la Gardie, who served under the Swedish king John III.
Pontus 2 m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Πόντος (Pontos) meaning "sea". This was the name of a Greek god of the sea. He was the son of Gaia.
Porcius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name meaning "pig", derived from Latin porcus. Famous members of the family include the Roman statesmen Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) and his great-grandson Cato the Younger (Marcus Porcius Cato Uticencis).
Postumus m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, which meant "last" in Latin, postumus being the superlative of posterus meaning "next". It was sometimes given to children born after the death of their father. It was also a nomen and cognomen. A notable bearer was the Roman commander Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus, usually known simply as Postumus, who established the breakaway Gallic Empire in the 3rd century.
Pranciškus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Franciscus (see Francis).
Priapus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Meaning unknown. This was the name of a Greek god of fertility, gardens, and the phallus.
Primitivus m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "first formed". Saint Primitivus was a 3rd-century Spanish martyr.
Primus m Late Roman
Original Latin form of Primo.
Priscus m Ancient Roman
Masculine form of Prisca.
Prochorus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Πρόχορος (Prochoros) meaning "leader of the dance". Saint Prochorus was one of the original seven deacons of the church, as told in Acts in the New Testament.
Prometheus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek προμήθεια (prometheia) meaning "foresight, forethought". In Greek myth he was the Titan who gave the knowledge of fire to mankind. For doing this he was punished by Zeus, who had him chained to a rock and caused an eagle to feast daily on his liver, which regenerated itself each night. Herakles eventually freed him.
Prosdocimus m Late Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Προσδόκιμος (Prosdokimos) meaning "expected, looked for". The 1st-century saint Prosdocimus was the first bishop of Padua.
Prosperus m Late Roman
Latin form of Prosper.
Proteus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek πρῶτος (protos) meaning "first". In Greek mythology this was the name of a prophetic god of the sea. Shakespeare later utilized it for a character in his play The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594).
Prudentius m Late Roman
Late Latin name derived from prudens "prudent, wise, skilled". This was the name of a 9th-century bishop of Troyes. He is considered a local saint there.
Ptolemaeus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ptolemaios (see Ptolemy).
Publius m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "public" in Latin. This was among the more common of the Roman praenomina, being borne by (among others) the emperor Hadrian and the poet Virgil.
Purushottama m Hinduism
Means "the highest man" from Sanskrit पुरुष (puruṣa) meaning "man" and उत्तम (uttama) meaning "highest". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu or his avatars Krishna and Rama.
Pushpa f & m Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Nepali
From Sanskrit पुष्प (puṣpa) meaning "flower". This is a transcription of both the feminine form पुष्पा and the masculine form पुष्प. Especially in Nepal it is frequently masculine.
Pyrrhus m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Πύρρος (Pyrrhos) meaning "flame-coloured, red", related to πῦρ (pyr) meaning "fire". This was another name of Neoptolemus the son of Achilles. This was also the name of a 3rd-century BC king of Epirus who was famed for his victorious yet costly battles against Rome.
Quinctilianus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Quintilian.
Quinctilius m Ancient Roman
Roman family derived from the given name Quintus (which was itself originally spelled Quinctus).
Quinctius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from the given name Quintus (which was itself originally spelled Quinctus). This was the name of a patrician family that was especially prominent during the early Republic.
Quinctus m Ancient Roman
Earlier form of Quintus.
Quintillus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from the given name Quintus.
Quintinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was originally derived from Quintus.
Quintus m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "fifth" in Latin. Originally, during the time of the early Roman Republic, it was spelled Quinctus. This name was traditionally given to the fifth child, or possibly a child born in the fifth month. It was a common praenomen, being more popular than the other numeric Roman names. A notable bearer was the poet Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus).
Quirinus m Roman Mythology, Late Roman
Possibly derived from the Sabine word quiris meaning "spear". Quirinus was a Sabine and Roman god, sometimes identified with Romulus. He declined in importance after the early Republican era. The name was also borne by several early saints.
Qusay m Arabic
Possibly derived from Arabic قصي (qaṣī) meaning "distant". This was the name of an ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad who was in charge of a temple in Mecca.
Ramirus m Gothic (Latinized)
Latinized (Old Spanish) form of *Ranamers or possibly *Raginamers (see Ramiro).
Rasmus m Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Estonian
Scandinavian, Finnish and Estonian form of Erasmus.
Rastus m English (Rare)
Short form of Erastus.
Regulus m Ancient Roman, Astronomy
Roman cognomen meaning "prince, little king", a diminutive of Latin rex "king". This was the cognomen of several 3rd-century BC consuls from the gens Atilia. It was also the name of several early saints. A star in the constellation Leo bears this name as well.
Remigius m Late Roman
Latin form of Rémy.
Remigiusz m Polish
Polish form of Remigius (see Rémy).
Remus m Roman Mythology, Romanian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Old Latin *yemos meaning "twin" with the initial consonant altered due to the influence of Romulus. In Roman legend the twin brothers Romulus and Remus were the founders of the city of Rome. Remus was later slain by his brother.
Renatus m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "born again".
Rinus m Dutch
Short form of Marinus.
Rochus m German (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Germanic (Latinized)
Latinized form of Rocco, used in occasionally German and Dutch.
Rogatus m Late Roman
From Latin rogatus meaning "request, entreaty", in turn derived from rogo meaning "to ask, to request". This name was borne by several early and relatively obscure martyrs and saints.
Rokus m Dutch
Dutch variant of Rochus.
Romaeus m Late Roman
Latin form of Romeo.
Romanus m Late Roman
Latin form of Roman.
Romilius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from the mythological name Romulus.
Romulus m Roman Mythology, Romanian
From Roma, the Latin name of the city of Rome, combined with a diminutive suffix. In Roman legend Romulus and Remus were the twin sons of Rhea Silvia and the god Mars. Romulus killed his brother when they argued about where to found Rome. According to the tale he gave the city its name, though in reality it was likely the other way around.
Rudericus m Gothic (Latinized)
Latinized (Old Spanish) form of *Hroþireiks, the Gothic form of Roderick.
Rudesindus m Gothic (Latinized)
Latinized (Old Spanish) form of *Hroþisinþs (see Rosendo).
Rufinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was derived from the cognomen Rufus. It was borne by several early saints.
Rufus m Ancient Roman, English, Biblical
Roman cognomen meaning "red-haired" in Latin. Several early saints had this name, including one mentioned in one of Paul's epistles in the New Testament. As a nickname it was used by William II Rufus, a king of England, because of his red hair. It came into general use in the English-speaking world after the Protestant Reformation.
Ruşen m & f Turkish
Turkish form of Roshan.
Rushd m Arabic
Means "following the right path" in Arabic, from the root رشد (rashada) meaning "to be on the right path".
Ruslan m Russian, Tatar, Bashkir, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Ossetian, Chechen, Ingush, Avar, Circassian, Indonesian, Malay
Form of Yeruslan used by Aleksandr Pushkin in his poem Ruslan and Ludmila (1820), which was loosely based on Russian and Tatar folktales of Yeruslan Lazarevich.
Russ m English
Short form of Russell.
Russel m English
Variant of Russell.
Russell m English
From an English surname, of Norman origin, meaning "little red one" (a diminutive of Old French rous "red"). A notable bearer of the surname was the agnostic British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), who wrote on many subjects including logic, epistemology and mathematics. He was also a political activist for causes such as pacifism and women's rights.... [more]
Rüstəm m Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Rostam.
Rustam m Kazakh, Uzbek, Tajik, Indonesian
Form of Rostam in various languages.
Rüstem m Turkish
Turkish form of Rostam.
Rusticus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from Latin rusticus meaning "rural, rustic", a derivative of rus meaning "open land, countryside". This name was borne by several early saints.
Rustik m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Rusticus.
Rusty m English
From a nickname that was originally given to someone with a rusty, or reddish-brown, hair colour.
Rusul m Arabic
Means "prophets, messengers" in Arabic.
Ryousuke m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 亮介 or 亮輔 or 涼介 or 良介 (see Ryōsuke).
Sabellius m Late Roman
Latin form of Saveliy.
Sabinus m Ancient Roman
Latin masculine form of Sabina.
Salvius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from Latin salvus meaning "safe". This was the family name of the short-lived Roman emperor Otho. It was also borne by several early saints.
Sanctius m Late Roman
Latin form of Sancho.
Saturninus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from the name of the Roman god Saturnus (see Saturn). This was the name of several early saints.
Saulius m Lithuanian
Masculine form of Saulė. This is also the Lithuanian form of Saul.
Scorpius m Astronomy
From a Latin variant of Scorpio. This is the name of a zodiacal constellation said to have the shape of a scorpion. According to Greek and Roman legend it was the monster that was sent to kill Orion.
Séamus m Irish
Irish form of James.
Secundinus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from the praenomen Secundus. Saint Secundinus, also known as Seachnall, was a 5th-century assistant to Saint Patrick who became the first bishop of Dunshaughlin.
Secundus m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, which meant "second" in Latin. This name was borne by a few early saints, including a 2nd-century martyr from Asti, Italy.
Seleucus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Σέλευκος (Seleukos), of unknown meaning. It is possibly related to λευκός (leukos) meaning "bright, white". This was the name of one of Alexander the Great's generals, who established the Seleucid Empire in western Asia after Alexander's death.
Septimius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Septimus. Septimius Severus was an early 3rd-century Roman emperor. This was also the name of a 4th-century saint and martyr.
Septimus m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, which meant "seventh" in Latin.
Seraphinus m Late Roman
Masculine form of Seraphina.
Sergejus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Sergius.
Sergius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name, possibly meaning "servant" in Latin but most likely of unknown Etruscan origin. Saint Sergius was a 4th-century Roman officer who was martyred in Syria with his companion Bacchus. They are the patron saints of Christian desert nomads. Another saint by this name (in the Russian form Sergey) was a 14th-century Russian spiritual leader. The name was also borne by four popes.
Sergiusz m Polish
Polish form of Sergius.
Servatius m Late Roman
Latin form of Servaas.
Servius m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "to preserve" from Latin servo.
Severianus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was derived from Severus.
Severinus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Severus. Severinus was the name of many early saints, including a 6th-century Roman philosopher martyred by the Ostrogothic king Theodoric. It was also borne by a pope.
Severus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name meaning "stern" in Latin. This name was borne by several early saints including a 6th-century patriarch of Antioch.
Sextilius m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Sextus.
Sextus m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "sixth" in Latin. It was traditionally given to the sixth child.
Shamus m Irish
Anglicized form of Séamus.
Sheamus m Irish
Anglicized form of Séamus.
Siavush m Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian سیاوش (see Siavash).
Sibusiso m Zulu, Swazi, Ndebele
Means "blessed" in Zulu, Swazi and Ndebele, from busisa "to bless".
Sidonius m Late Roman
Latin name meaning "of Sidon". Sidon was an ancient Phoenician city corresponding to modern-day Saida in Lebanon. This name was borne by the 5th-century saint Sidonius Apollinaris, a 5th-century bishop of Clermont.
Silenus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Σειληνός (Seilenos), of unknown meaning. In Greek mythology he was a companion and teacher of Dionysos, often depicted as an intoxicated, portly old man.
Silvanus m Roman Mythology, Ancient Roman, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Roman cognomen meaning "of the woods", derived from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest". Silvanus was the Roman god of forests. This name appears in the New Testament belonging to one of Saint Paul's companions, also called Silas.
Silverius m Late Roman
Probably from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest" (compare Silvanus, Silvester and Silvius). This name was borne by a 6th-century pope who served for less than a year but is considered a saint.
Silvinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a variant of Silvanus. This name was borne by an 8th-century saint who evangelized in northern France.
Silvius m Late Roman, Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest". This was the family name of several of the legendary kings of Alba Longa. It was also the name of an early saint martyred in Alexandria.
Siorus m Welsh
Welsh form of George.
Sirius m Astronomy
The name of a bright star in the constellation Canis Major, derived via Latin from Greek σείριος (seirios) meaning "burning".
Sixtus m Late Roman
Probably the Latin form of the Greek name Ξύστος (Xystos) meaning "scraped, polished". This name was borne by five popes. The first pope by this name was the sixth to serve after Saint Peter, so there is a possibility that this name is in fact derived from Latin sextus "sixth".
Sophronius m Late Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Σωφρόνιος (Sophronios), which was derived from Greek σώφρων (sophron) meaning "self-controlled, sensible". Saint Sophronius was a 7th-century patriarch of Jerusalem.
Sophus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Σόφος (Sophos) meaning "skilled, clever".
Soroush m Persian Mythology, Persian
Modern Persian form of Avestan 𐬯𐬭𐬀𐬊𐬱𐬀 (Sraosha) meaning "obedience". In Zoroastrianism this was the name of a Yazata (a holy being), later equated with the angel Gabriel.
Spartacus m History
Means "from the city of Sparta" in Latin. Spartacus was the name of a Thracian-born Roman slave who led a slave revolt in Italy in the 1st century BC. He was eventually killed in battle and many of his followers were crucified.
Spurius m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, which is of uncertain meaning, probably of Etruscan origin. It may be related to the Late Latin word spurius "of illegitimate birth", which was derived from Etruscan srural "public".
Stefanus m Dutch
Official Dutch form of Stephen, used on birth certificates but not commonly in daily life.
Summanus m Roman Mythology
Means "before the morning", derived from Latin sub "under, before" and mane "morning". Summanus was the Roman god of the night sky and night lightning, a nocturnal counterpart to Jupiter.
Susanoo m Japanese Mythology
Of Japanese origin, possibly meaning "wild male, impetuous male". In Japanese mythology he was the god of storms and the sea, as well as the brother and adversary of the goddess Amaterasu. He was born when Izanagi washed his nose after returning from the underworld. After he was banished from the heavens, he descended to earth and slew an eight-headed dragon.
Sushil m Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Modern masculine form of Sushila.
Sushila f & m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "good-tempered, well-disposed", derived from the Sanskrit prefix सु (su) meaning "good" combined with शील (śīla) meaning "conduct, disposition". This is a transcription of both the feminine form सुशीला (long final vowel, borne by a consort of the Hindu god Yama) and the masculine form सुशील (short final vowel).
Susila m Indonesian
Indonesian form of Sushila.
Susilo m Javanese
Javanese form of Sushila.
Susumu m Japanese
From Japanese (susumu) meaning "advance, make progress", as well as other kanji or kanji combinations having the same pronunciation.
Syrus m Greek Mythology, Ancient Roman
Means "a Syrian" in Greek. According to Greek mythology Syros was the eponymous founder of Assyria. This was also a Roman cognomen, as in the case of the 1st-century BC author Publilius Syrus, originally a slave from Syria. Two saints by this name were a 1st-century bishop of Pavia and a 4th-century bishop of Genoa.
Tacitus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "silent, mute" in Latin. This was the name of a 1st-century Roman historian, known for writing the Histories and the Annals.
Tadeusz m Polish
Polish form of Thaddeus. This name is borne by Tadeusz Soplica, the title character in Adam Mickiewicz's epic poem Pan Tadeusz (1834), which is considered to be the national epic of Poland.
Tatianus m Ancient Roman
Masculine form of Tatiana.
Tatius m Roman Mythology, Ancient Roman
Roman family name of unknown meaning, possibly of Sabine origin. According to Roman legend, Titus Tatius was an 8th-century BC king of the Sabines who came to jointly rule over the Romans and Sabines with the Roman king Romulus.
Taurus m Astronomy
Means "bull" in Latin. This is the name of a constellation and the second sign of the zodiac.
Telemachus m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Τηλέμαχος (Telemachos), derived from a Greek word meaning "fighting from afar", itself from τῆλε (tele) meaning "afar, far off" and μάχη (mache) meaning "battle". In Homer's epic the Odyssey this is the name of the son of Odysseus. It was also borne by a 4th-century saint who was martyred when trying to stop a gladiatorial fight.
Telesphorus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Telesphoros (see Télesphore).
Terentius m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Terence.
Terminus m Roman Mythology
Means "limit, boundary, end" in Latin. This was the name of the Roman god of boundaries.
Tertius m Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, Biblical
This was both a Roman praenomen and a cognomen meaning "third" in Latin. It is mentioned in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament as the name of the person who wrote the letter (while Paul dictated it).
Thaddaeus m Biblical Latin, Biblical
Usual Latin form of Thaddeus, as well as the form used in most English versions of the New Testament.
Thaddeus m English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From Θαδδαῖος (Thaddaios), the Greek form of the Aramaic name תַדַּי (Ṯaddai). It is possibly derived from Aramaic תַּד (taḏ) meaning "heart, breast", but it may in fact be an Aramaic form of a Greek name such as Θεόδωρος (see Theodore). In the Gospel of Matthew, Thaddaeus is listed as one of the twelve apostles, though elsewhere in the New Testament his name is omitted and Jude's appears instead. It is likely that the two names refer to the same person.
Thelonius m Various (Rare)
Latinized form of Tielo (see Till). A famous bearer was jazz musician Thelonious Monk (1917-1982).
Theocritus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Θεόκριτος (Theokritos), a Greek name meaning "judge of god" from θεός (theos) meaning "god" and κριτής (krites) meaning "judge, critic". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek poet.
Theodorus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Dutch
Latinized form of the Greek name Theodoros (see Theodore). As a Dutch name, it is used on birth certificates though a vernacular form such as Theodoor is typically used in daily life.
Theodosius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεοδόσιος (Theodosios) meaning "giving to god", derived from θεός (theos) meaning "god" and δόσις (dosis) meaning "giving". Saint Theodosius of Palestine was a monk who founded a monastery near Bethlehem in the 5th century. This also was the name of emperors of the Eastern Roman and Byzantine Empires.
Theodotus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεόδοτος (Theodotos) meaning "given to god", derived from θεός (theos) meaning "god" and δοτός (dotos) meaning "given". This name belonged to several early saints and martyrs.
Theodulus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεόδουλος (Theodoulos) meaning "servant of god", derived from θεός (theos) meaning "god" and δοῦλος (doulos) meaning "slave, servant". This name was borne by several early saints.
Theophilus m Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεόφιλος (Theophilos) meaning "friend of god", derived from θεός (theos) meaning "god" and φίλος (philos) meaning "friend". In the New Testament the evangelist Luke addresses his gospel and the Book of Acts to a man named Theophilus.
Theotimus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεότιμος (Theotimos) meaning "honouring god", derived from the elements θεός (theos) meaning "god" and τιμάω (timao) meaning "to honour". Saint Theotimus was a 4th-century bishop of Tomi in Scythia.
Theseus m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek τίθημι (tithemi) meaning "to set, to place". Theseus was a heroic king of Athens in Greek mythology. He was the son of Aethra, either by Aegeus or by the god Poseidon. According to legend, every seven years the Cretan king Minos demanded that Athens supply Crete with seven boys and seven girls to be devoured by the Minotaur, a half-bull creature that was the son of Minos's wife Pasiphaë. Theseus volunteered to go in place of one of these youths in order to slay the Minotaur in the Labyrinth where it lived. He succeeded with the help of Minos's daughter Ariadne, who provided him with a sword and a roll of string so he could find his way out of the maze.... [more]
Thracius m Ancient Roman
From a Roman name meaning "of Thracia". Thracia was a region in southeastern Europe, now divided between Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey.
Thusitha f & m Sinhalese
Means "heaven" in Sinhala.
Tiberius m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "of the Tiber" in Latin. The Tiber is the river that runs through Rome. Tiberius was the second Roman emperor, the stepson of Emperor Augustus. He was born Tiberius Claudius Nero, but was renamed Tiberius Julius Caesar after he was designated as the heir of Augustus.
Tiitus m Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Titus.
Timaeus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latinized form of the Greek name Τίμαιος (Timaios), derived from τιμάω (timao) meaning "to honour". This is the name of one of Plato's dialogues, featuring Timaeus and Socrates. Timaeus is also the name of a person mentioned briefly in the New Testament (Mark 10:46).
Timeus m Biblical
Variant of Timaeus.
Timotheus m Biblical Latin, German (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Latinized form of Timotheos (see Timothy).
Titianus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Tiziano.
Titus m Ancient Roman, English, German, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Roman praenomen, or given name, which is of unknown meaning, possibly related to Latin titulus "title of honour". It is more likely of Oscan origin, since it was borne by the legendary Sabine king Titus Tatius.... [more]
Torquatus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from Latin torquis meaning "twisted neck chain, collar", a derivative of torqueo "to twist". This name was borne by Titus Manlius Imperiosus Torquatus, a noted Roman consul and dictator of the 4th century BC. It was also the name of the 1st-century saint Torquatus of Acci.
Toussaint m French
Means "all saints" in French. This is the name of a Christian festival celebrated on November 1 (All Saints' Day).
Traianus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Trajan 1.
Troilus m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Literature
Latinized form of Greek Τρωΐλος (Troilos), from the Greek name of the city of Troy Τροία (Troia). In Greek legend this was a son of king Priam killed by Achilles. His story was greatly expanded by medieval European writers such as Boccaccio and Chaucer, who make him the lover of Criseida. Shakespeare based his play Troilus and Cressida (1602) on these tales.
Trophimus m Biblical Latin, Biblical
From the Greek name Τρόφιμος (Trophimos) meaning "nourishing", a derivative of τροφή (trophe) meaning "nourishment, food". In the New Testament this is the name of a companion of Paul.
Tullius m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Tullio.
Tullus m Ancient Roman (Rare)
Roman praenomen, or given name, of unknown meaning. This was a rare praenomen.
Turibius m Late Roman
Latin form of Toribio.
Turnus m Roman Mythology
Meaning unknown. According to Virgil's Aeneid, Turnus was a king of the Rutuli. He led the Latins in war against the Trojans led by Aeneas. At the end of the book he is killed by Aeneas in a duel.
Tushar m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati
From Sanskrit तुषार (tuṣāra) meaning "cold, frost, snow".
Tymoteusz m Polish
Polish form of Timothy.
Tytus m Polish
Polish form of Titus.
Uranus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Οὐρανός (Ouranos), the name of the husband of Gaia and the father of the Titans in Greek mythology. His name is derived from οὐρανός (ouranos) meaning "the heavens". This is also the name of the seventh planet in the solar system.
Urbanus m Late Roman, Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latin form of Urban. This is the form found in most English translations of the New Testament.
Ursinus m Late Roman
Latin name that was a derivative of Ursus (see Urs).
Ursus m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Urs.
Usama m Arabic
Means "lion" in Arabic.
Usko m Finnish
Means "faith" in Finnish.
Usman m Urdu, Indonesian, Hausa
Urdu, Indonesian and Hausa form of Uthman.
Valentinianus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of the cognomen Valentinus (see Valentine 1). This name was borne by three Roman emperors.
Valerianus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Valerian.
Valerius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin valere "to be strong". This was the name of several early saints.
Varinius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name possibly derived from Varius.
Varius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name meaning "versatile" in Latin. Varius Rufus was a Roman epic poet of the 1st century BC.
Vasilijus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Basil 1.
Vedastus m History (Ecclesiastical)
Possibly a Latinized form of a Germanic or Celtic name, possibly Germanic Widogast. This was the name of a 6th-century saint who helped to convert the Frankish king Clovis to Christianity. He is called Gaston in French and Vaast in Flemish.
Venantius m Late Roman
Derived from Latin venans meaning "hunting, chasing, pursuing". This name was borne by several early saints, including a 6th-century bishop of Poitiers who was a noted poet.
Venceslaus m Medieval Slavic (Latinized)
Medieval Latinized form of Veceslav (see Václav).