1. Virī Rōmānī tria nōmina habent.
Gaius Iulius Caesar

2. Not many praenomina in use
Gaius is praenomen
Not many praenomina in use
Often indicated by an abbreviation
– Aulus M. – Marcus
App. – Appius P. – Publius
C. – Gaius Q. – Quintus
Cn. – Gnaeus Ser. – Servius
D. – Decimus T. – Titus
L. – Lucius Ti. - Tiberius

3. praenomen used within family or between close friends
“Gaie, ambulēmus,” dīxit Marcus.
“Fiat, Marce,” dīxit Gaius.

4. Originally name of clan Familiar names in ancient Rome
Iulius is nōmen
Originally name of clan
Familiar names in ancient Rome
Aemilius Iunius
Claudius Pompeius
Cornelius Antonius
Domitius Valerius
Iulius Tullius

5. If person had no cognōmen, then would be called by nōmen.
Mihi nōmen est Gnaeus Pompeius. Quaeso, vocāte mē Pompeius.

6. Often nickname, then handed down as family name
Caesar is cognōmen
This is like immediate family name
Often nickname, then handed down as family name

7. Various explanations given in antiquity for “Caesar” e. g
Various explanations given in antiquity for “Caesar” e.g. from word for “hairy” or from word for “cut” – original ancestor born by Caesarian section

8. cognōmen most commonly used among friends
Mihi nōmen est Cicero. Quid est nōmen tibi?

9. Plutarch tells us that cognōmen, Cicero, meant chickpea
Plutarch tells us that cognōmen, Cicero, meant chickpea. Distant ancestor had cleft in tip of nose resembling a chickpea

10. Women’s names simpler system feminine form of name of nomen, clan thus Iulia, Claudia, Aemilia, Cornelia, Domitia, Pompeia, Antonia distinguished from other Iulias by father’s cognomen, once married by husband’s cognomen

11. Thus Tullia Ciceronis, daughter of Marcus Tullius Cicero, became Tullia Dolabellae, wife of Publius Cornelius Dolabella

12. If more than one daughter, then Iulia maior or Iulia minor or prīma, secunda, tertia, quarta, quinta, etc.

13. Freedmen took praenomen and nomen of master
Slaves had single name
Freedmen took praenomen and nomen of master
slave name kept as cognomen
Freedwomen took feminine form of master’s nomen, plus slave name

14. Marcus Tullius Cicero’s slave Tiro when freed became Marcus Tullius Tiro It was Tiro who collected and published Cicero’s works after his death

15. If Dāvus becomes freed by Gaius Cornēlius, what will he be called?