Roman
Roman was the 42nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 6,162 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 60 places. More babies were named Roman in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning a Roman · Latin
Say it ROH-mun /ˈroʊmən/
- Rank in 2025
- #42 boys, up 35 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 6,162boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20256,162 babies
- Total since 1880
- 105,131babies recorded
What does the name Roman mean?
Roman comes from Latin Romanus, 'a Roman, of Rome'. It is a long-standing name in Eastern Europe: DMNES lists saints, a pope, Byzantine emperors and princes of Kyiv. Wiktionary describes English use as a recent borrowing from continental Europe.
Rōmānus (Latin, “Roman”)
How sure is this? Well established.
See also: Latin names, names from places.
Nicknames for Roman
The usual nicknames for Roman are Ro.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ro · also for Rowan, Ronan, Rowyn | Modern | — | — |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Romans go by each one.
Roman popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 478 since 1972, 23 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #42 | 6,162 |
| 2020 | #77 | 4,491 |
| 2010 | #186 | 1,993 |
| 2000 | #317 | 906 |
| 1990 | #374 | 623 |
| 1980 | #535 | 258 |
| 1970 | #423 | 376 |
| 1960 | #664 | 140 |
| 1950 | #556 | 148 |
| 1940 | #523 | 124 |
| 1930 | #462 | 165 |
| 1920 | #379 | 248 |
| 1910 | #405 | 44 |
| 1900 | #549 | 20 |
| 1890 | #662 | 10 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Roman, counting every spelling?
Roman is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #49 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #42 for Roman on its own. Together these spellings went to 6,215 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman | 6,162 | #42 | 25,778 |
| Romyn | 30 | #3,737 | 105 |
| Romen | 15 | #6,080 | 77 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Roman?
6,162 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Roman (1.71 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Roman born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is about 1 in 31. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 1 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Roman.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Roman?
About 95,800 people born in the US named Roman are alive today, with a median age of 11; half are between 5 and 20. That makes Roman a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Roman by state
How common Roman was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Hawaii (2.3×), Rhode Island (2.2×), Alaska (2.1×), Delaware (1.9×), Nevada (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Vermont, Wyoming, Mississippi.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Roman: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Roman, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Roman · Sibling names for Roman
Questions about the name Roman
What does Roman mean?
Roman means “a Roman” (Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Roman?
Roman was the 42nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 6,162 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 60 places. More babies were named Roman in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Roman a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Roman in the US.
Where is Roman most popular?
In 2021–2025, Roman was most common in Hawaii (6.89 per 1,000 boys), followed by Rhode Island and Alaska.