Gaius

Gaius

Gender	Male
Origin
Word/name	Latin
Meaning	Rejoice
Region of origin	Ancient Rome
Other names
Related names	Caius, Gaius Julius Caesar

Gaius is a common Latin praenomen (given name) used during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. The name is traditionally abbreviated as C. The feminine form of Gaius is Gaia.

Etymology

The name Gaius is believed to derive from the Latin verb gaudere, meaning "to rejoice." It was a popular name among the Romans and was borne by several notable historical figures.

Notable Individuals Named Gaius

• Gaius Julius Caesar – A prominent Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.
• Gaius Marius – A Roman general and statesman who held the office of consul an unprecedented seven times during his career.
• Gaius Octavius – The birth name of Augustus, the first Roman emperor.
• Gaius Cassius Longinus – A Roman senator and a leading instigator of the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar.

Usage

The name Gaius was commonly used in Roman naming conventions, where it was typically the first name (praenomen) followed by the family name (nomen) and the clan name (cognomen). For example, in the name Gaius Julius Caesar, "Gaius" is the praenomen, "Julius" is the nomen, and "Caesar" is the cognomen.

Related Names

• Caius – An alternative spelling of Gaius.
• Gaia – The feminine form of Gaius.

See Also

• Roman naming conventions
• List of Roman praenomina
• Ancient Roman names

Related Pages

• Gaius Julius Caesar
• Gaius Marius
• Gaius Octavius
• Gaius Cassius Longinus
• Roman Republic
• Roman Empire
• Latin language