Paullus_(praenomen)
Paullus (praenomen)
Latin name
Paullus (/ˈpaʊləs/ or /ˈpɔːləs/) is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, used throughout Roman history. The masculine form was not particularly common at Rome, but the feminine form, Paulla or Polla, is one of the most common praenomina. The name was later used as a cognomen in many families. It was not normally abbreviated, but is sometimes found with the abbreviation Paul.[1][2]
- This page is about the Latin praenomen. For a list of prominent individuals with this name, see Paullus.
The masculine praenomen Paullus was not widely used at Rome, but was used by gentes Aemilia and Fabia, which also used it as a cognomen. Both gentes had a long history of using rare and archaic praenomina. The name was probably more widespread amongst the plebeians and in the countryside. Many other families which used Paullus as a cognomen may originally have used it as a praenomen. The feminine form, Paulla or Polla, was one of the most common praenomina in both patrician and plebeian gentes, including the Aemilii, Caecilii, Cornelii, Flaminii, Fulvii, Licinii, Minucii, Sergii, Servilii, Sulpicii, and Valerii. The name has survived into modern times.[3][4]