Anonymous

“ But every name which has been chosen to define any one of us (Romans) has the same meaning for the person who is to be signified by it. That which is called a proper [name] is different from this, because the family is known by it, for which reason it is also known as a family name (gentilicum) . Other names are distinct due to their order, since one that comes first is a praenomen, one placed after is a cognomen, and one placed at the end is an agnomen. ”

“ It is judged that children called Gaius were named for the joy (gaudium) of their parents; Aulus because they were born to parents who were longing (auentes) for children; Marcius because they were born in the month of March (Martius) ; Publius for those who became orphans (pupilli) before they took praenomina - but others say it is from 'genitals' (pubes) .
6. Children began to be called Tiberius because they were born by the River Tiber. Titus derived from the Sabine name Titus, Appius from Attus, which is a praenomen of the same region. ”

“ Opiter was the name for one who was born when his father was dead, but his grandfather was still alive, [1] Vopiscus for someone who was born safely, despite having been conceived in his mother's womb with a twin, who was then miscarried. Hostus was the praenomen, who was born away from home in the house of a host - as in the case of (Hostus) Lucretius Tricipitinus the colleague of Lucius Sergius. [2] Volero turned into a praenomen, for children who were seen to be born to willing parents, in which sense Publilius Philo used it. ”