Roma Name Meaning, Origins & History

Roma

Pronunciation: ROH-muh

Meaning From Rome Origin Latin Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#1,496
TREND
190
BOYS RANK
#9,531
TREND
2,483

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Roma in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Roma

  • More than 8 thousand babies named Roma: U.S. records list 8,862 babies given the name Roma from 1880 through 2025. Even 576 boys received the name Roma - about 1 boy for every 14 girls.

What Does the Name Roma Mean?

Roma is the Latin and Italian name of the city of Rome, and as a feminine given name it is usually understood to mean "Rome" or "of Rome." The origin of the city name itself is disputed. Roman tradition traced it to Romulus, the legendary founder, but that is a traditional explanation rather than a documented etymology. Other proposals connect Roma to an Etruscan word sometimes cited as ruma (explained as "teat," in reference to the she-wolf of the Romulus and Remus myth) or to the Greek rhōmē, "strength." None of these has been settled.

In Slavic languages, especially Russian, Roma (Рома) is a familiar short form of the male name Roman, which comes from the Latin Romanus, "Roman." That use is a separate development from the Italian city name, though both lead back to Rome. Feminine names such as Romana (the feminine of Italian Romano, "Roman") and Romola are different formations, and a short form Roma drawn from one of them says nothing about the older city name.

Roma Name History & Origins

The city name Roma appears in the earliest Latin texts and was standard throughout the Roman world, and the derived adjective Romanus ("Roman") produced names such as Romano, Romana, and the Slavic Roman. In Italy, Roma is used as a feminine given name, generally in reference to the city. Italian also keeps Roma as the ordinary word for Rome, so the personal name and the place name have the same form.

In Russian and other Slavic languages, Roma is the everyday short form of Roman, used in speech and informal writing while the full name is kept for official documents; transliteration from the Cyrillic Рома gives the English spelling Roma. English speakers sometimes take Roma as a short form of Ramona or Romana, but those names have their own histories. The Northern Irish actress and television host Roma Downey (born 1960) is a well-known bearer in English.

The word Roma is also the self-designation of the Romani people. That ethnonym is not connected to the Latin city name; it comes from the Romani word rom, "man" or "husband." The 2018 film Roma takes its title from a neighborhood in Mexico City, not from the personal name.

How Popular is the Name Roma?

Roma recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1930. Its best rank was #495 in 1911.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Roma Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

✦ Roma's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Roma's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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