Manius

Manius is a Latin masculine praenomen used in ancient Rome. As an early Roman given name, it would appear with a nomen and cognomen, and in inscriptions or texts it was commonly abbreviated M. The use of Manius was relatively common in the early Republic, but it faded over time and is rarely seen in later periods.

The exact origin of Manius is unclear, as with many archaic Roman praenomina. It belongs to a class of names that were used extensively in early Rome, often transmitted within families and occasionally revived in later genealogies. By the late Republic and into the Imperial era, Manius had largely fallen out of regular use, surviving mainly in inscriptions or historical references to earlier generations.

Notable bearers of the name include Manius Curius Dentatus, a celebrated Roman consul and general who appears in early Republican history. The praenomen is also attested in other, less-documented members of Roman families, illustrating how a single archaic praenomen could circulate across patrician and plebeian lineages. Today Manius is primarily of historical interest as an example of Roman naming practices rather than as a common modern given name.