Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Romeo

Romeo is an Italian name derived from a Late Latin religious name “Romaeus” meaning ‘pilgrim to Rome’ (pilgrim to the Holy Roman Catholic Church based in Rome). However, the name is most associated with William Shakespeare’s hero in his 1596 play about two star-crossed, ill-fated lovers, “Romeo and Juliet”. The Bard’s primary source for the play was a poem by Englishman Arthur Brooke, "The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet" said to be a translation of a story by the 16th century Italian writer Matteo Bandello (Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” is also based off of one of Bandello’s works). Ultimately, it is believed to have come from the Roman mythological legend of Pyramus and Thisbe in Ovid’s Metamorphoses (also about two lovers from rivaling families). Romeo is therefore a name loaded with sentimental romance and devoted, forbidden love. The name has been occasionally used but mostly considered an exotic choice among English-speaking nations, although it has been experiencing a bit of a revival in the 21st century.

All About the Baby Name – Romeo

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME ROMEO

The Three energy is powerful and enthusiastic. These personalities are cheerful, full of self-expression, and often quite emotional. They have an artistic flair and "gift-of-gab" that makes them natural entertainers. Their joyfulness bubbles over, and their infectious exuberance draws a crowd. The Three personality is like a child - forever young and full of delight. They are charming, witty, and generally happy people. The Three personality lives in the "now" and has a spontaneous nature. Threes seem to live with a bright and seemingly unbreakable aura that attracts others to them. In turn, they are deeply loyal and loving to their friends and family. Luck also has a tendency to favor number Threes.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME ROMEO

Romeo has had an interesting journey in terms of usage in the United States. It has appeared on the male naming charts since the late 19th century, but would appear and disappear like a fickle boyfriend. Essentially, the name had zero to low-moderate usage for over 100 years. The latter half of the 20th century could best be summed up with this question: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” The name was basically hiding in the shadows, barely visible. Enter 1997; the year Romeo saw its single biggest jump up the charts (338 positions in one year). No coincidence, the sudden love affair with Romeo was stimulated by the release of “Romeo + Juliet” in November 1996, an MTV-inspired modernized version of Shakespeare’s play starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Cementing Romeo’s new found fame came in 2002 when ϋber-celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham named their second son Romeo James and then in 2004, Jon Bon Jovi’s son received this dramatic moniker. We don’t need to ask wherefore art thou Romeo anymore. What was once exotic, perhaps even eccentric, is now embraced as an original choice. And we couldn’t be more pleased.

Quick Facts

ON ROMEO

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

Italian

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

339

PRONUNCIATION:

RO-mee-o; ro-MAY-o

SIMPLE MEANING:

Pilgrim to Rome

Characteristics

OF ROMEO

Communicative

Creative

Optimistic

Popular

Social

Dramatic

Happy

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Romeo

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME ROMEO

Juliet Capulet is half of the ill-fated couple in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, probably written between 1591 and 1595. At the play’s beginning, Juliet is a young, rather docile girl (not quite fourteen), obedient and ready to consider her parents’ choice for a suitor, yet demonstrating just a touch of reserved rebellion under the surface. After she meets and falls in love with Romeo, her every action seems to augur the woman she would have become if fate had treated her differently. Once equipped with the moral backbone that her love for Romeo gives her, there is no stopping this firebrand. She manages to defy the strictures of the generations-old feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, to declare her love for Romeo, to marry him and consummate the vows and, ultimately, to make the noblest sacrifice of all for him – her death. And no pretty poisoning death for her – she impales herself upon a dagger. All of this over the course of a few days! It is not that we would wish such a fate upon any fair maidens of thirteen of our acquaintance, but – really – could anyone you know fill the bill?

Romeo is perhaps one of the most recognized literary figures of all time. He is one of the two central figures in William Shakespeare’s 1596 tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet”. The story can best be summed up by the play’s final two lines: “For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo”. Romeo Montague is the teen-aged son of an affluent family involved in a bitter rivalry with the Capulets (Juliet’s peeps). Unfortunately for Romeo, when he lays eyes upon the fair Juliet there’s simply no turning back. The guy is seriously whipped and forgets about his crush on Rosaline in a Verona minute. He’s the typical teenager: emotional, impetuous, lovesick and overly-dramatic. Romeo evens the score for his buddy Mercutio’s death by killing Tybalt and is thus banished from Verona – and Juliet’s domineering parents arrange to have her married to Paris (not knowing she’s already eloped with Romeo). This is a recipe for disaster. Enter the benevolent Friar Laurence who attempts to help the young lovers back together again – a well-intentioned plan with tragic consequences. But then again, their fates were already written in the stars.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME ROMEO

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Romeo


Popular Songs

ON ROMEO

Romeo & Rebecca
a song by Blink 182

This Romeo Ain't Got Julie Yet
a song by Diamond Rio

Romeo Had Juliette
a song by Lou Reed

Not Romeo, Not Juliet
a song by Bryan Adams

Romeo Loves Juliet
a song by Rick Astley

Romeo and Juliet
a song by Snuff

Romeo & Juliet
a song by Blue System

Just Like Romeo and Juliet
a song by the Reflections

Famous People

NAMED ROMEO

Romeo Crennel (football coach)
Romeo James Beckham (son of celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham)
Lil' Romeo (actor/rapper)
Romeo Roselli (wrestler)
Roméo Dallaire (French Canadian senator, author and humanitarian)

Children of Famous People

NAMED ROMEO

Victoria Beckham; David Beckham;

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME ROMEO

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Romeo