Many modern European languages have their roots in Latin. Even English takes many words and pieces of grammar from Latin, and many languages (including English) use the Roman alphabet for their writing systems. It’s for this reason that there are plenty of Latin names that feel as fresh and charming today as they did two thousand years ago.
There are many unusual gender-neutral Latin names you can consider for either a boy or a girl. For example, Faunus means “god of the forest,” and evokes images of woodland creatures and peaceful forest canopies. Jules is another Latin name that forms the basis for names like Julia and Julian. Jules can be used for children of either gender and means “soft-haired” or “soft-bearded.”
If you’d an interesting and less common boys’ name from Latin, you might like Gaines. This name has been used in old English and old French, but originates in Latin and has the same base as the word “ingenuity.” It translates to “clever man.” Kalum is another masculine Latin name. This means “dove.”
Another favorite for boys is Atticus. The name was made famous by the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, but it’s still a fairly uncommon name. In Latin, it means “of Attica,” the Greek peninsula where the city of Athens is located.
There are some beautiful girls’ names that also sound modern, despite being quite ancient. Allegra is a girls’ name that simply means “joy.” It’s experienced a small spike in popularity in recent years but is still fairly modern. Marina is also a great name for a baby girl. In Latin, it’s related to Mars, the god of war, but it translates to “from the shore.”
Atticus
Meaning: Of Attica
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Allegra
Meaning: Joy
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Academia
Meaning: Named for Cicero’s villa
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Ace
Meaning: First in luck
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Adeline
Meaning: Noble
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Adora
Meaning: Glory
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Adriana
Meaning: Dark
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Balint
Meaning: Strong and healthy
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Benedid
Meaning: Blessed
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Callista
Meaning: Chalice
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Camella
Meaning: Goblet
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Celistine
Meaning: Heavenly
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Dedo
Meaning: The Lord’s
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Desirata
Meaning: Desired
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Echidna
Meaning: Monster
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Elric
Meaning: The king
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Faunus
Meaning: God of forests
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Fama
Meaning: Rumor
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Flor
Meaning: Flower
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Gill
Meaning: Young
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Gaines
Meaning: Clever man
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Hadria
Meaning: Dark
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Hilary
Meaning: Happy
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Ibolya
Meaning: Flower
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Ignatius
Meaning: Ardent
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Jewel
Meaning: Precious
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Joost
Meaning: Just
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Jules
Meaning: Soft-haired
Origin: Latin
Gender: Unisex
Kalara
Meaning: Shines
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Kalum
Meaning: Dove
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Lachesis
Meaning: A Fury
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Laurent
Meaning: Laurel
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Marina
Meaning: Of the sea
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Mabelle
Meaning: Beautiful
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Makimus
Meaning: Greatest
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Naiadia
Meaning: A nymph
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Nelek
Meaning: Horn
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Omora
Meaning: Honor
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Orson
Meaning: Little bear
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Padhraig
Meaning: Regal
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Palmira
Meaning: Palm tree
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Reva
Meaning: Regain strength
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Rhesus
Meaning: King of Thrace
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Sage
Meaning: Wise
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Sebastianus
Meaning: August
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Tacita
Meaning: Silent
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Tertius
Meaning: Third child
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Una
Meaning: One
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Urbain
Meaning: Of the city
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Valarie
Meaning: Brave
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
