Nomen
/ˈnoː.men/noun
A name; in Latin, a word used to identify a person, thing, or concept.
Did you know?In Roman culture, a person’s *nomen* was part of a larger naming system that encoded family, status, and identity, which is why names could function almost like social magic.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁nómn̥
“Name; a term of identification”
Proto-Italic
PI
*nōmən
“Name”
Old Latin
Latin
nōmen
“Name; reputation; designation”
Classical Latin
Latin
nōmen
“A name, title, or personal designation”
Modern English
English
name / noun / nominate
“Descendants and borrowings ultimately reflecting the same ancient root”