flavius

Flavius is a masculine given name of Latin origin. It derives from flāvus, meaning "yellow" or "golden," and was used as a nomen gentile in the Roman gens Flavia. As a byname or praenomen, it recurred among late antique and Byzantine elites and became part of several prominent imperial names.

Notable bearers include Flavius Josephus, a 1st-century Jewish historian and military figure; Flavius Aetius, a 5th-century magister militum who played a key role in defending the Western Roman Empire; Flavius Stilicho, the generalissimo of the Western Empire; Flavius Belisarius, a general under Justinian I; Flavius Odoacer, chieftain who ruled Italy after deposing Romulus Augustulus; and the emperors Flavius Honorius (Honorius) and Flavius Gratianus (Gratian), as well as Flavius Valentinianus (Valentinian I). The future Emperor Constantine the Great was born Flavius Valerius Constantinus.

In modern times, Flavius remains a given name in some regions, notably Romania and parts of Italy, and appears in scholarly and historical contexts in English. It has produced various forms such as Flavio (Italian), Flávio (Portuguese), and Flavius as a surname in rare cases. The feminine form is Flavia.