agnomen

An agnomen is an additional name appended to a Roman personal name, typically as an honorific or epithet earned through achievement. It sits alongside the praenomen (given name), nomen (gens name), and cognomen (family branch) in the traditional Roman naming system, though not every individual possessed one.

The agnomen is usually bestowed to recognize notable deeds, military success, or public service. It is commonly appended after the cognomen, functioning as a formal, earned nickname that accompanies the full name. In some cases it could be used as part of the official title as well as a personal identifier.

Examples often cited in Roman history include Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, where Africanus denotes his victories in Africa. Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus is another example, with Germanicus used to highlight his reputation and campaigns in the German lands. The honorific Augustus, bestowed upon Octavian, is sometimes described as an agnomen or as a high honorary title that became integrated into his name as he established the imperial office.

Usage and interpretation of agnomens varied by era and author. By the late Republic and into the Empire, such epithets could reflect military success, political stature, or symbolic associations, and their placement in the full name could differ across sources. In modern onomastic language, an agnomen is defined as an earned nickname added to a person’s name, distinct from a familial cognomen or a birth praenomen, though it often functioned similarly to a formal title in Roman society.