Romanus

Romanus is a masculine given name and a Latin adjective meaning “a Roman” or “of Rome.” In Latin, the gendered forms are Romanus (masculine), Romana (feminine), and Romanum (neuter). The corresponding Greek form is Romanos. The name has appeared across antiquity and persists in religious, political, and literary contexts in various languages, often rendered in English-language texts in its Latin form.

Historically, the name has been borne by notable figures in the Byzantine world and beyond. Romanus I Lekapenos was a Byzantine emperor who held effective power in the early 10th century, while Romanus III Argyros ruled from 1028 to 1034. In religious literature, the form Romanos (Latinized as Romanus) appears in writings from late antiquity and the medieval period; one well-known bearer is Romanos the Melodist, a prominent 6th-century hymnographer in the Byzantine tradition.

In Christian tradition, several saints named Romanus are venerated in different local calendars, reflecting the name’s popularity in early Christian communities. The title and name also function as a general demonym in Latin for a Roman citizen, and it has continued to surface in modern usage as a given name and surname in parts of Europe. Related forms appear in various languages, such as Romano in Italian and Romanos in Greek contexts.