Titus

What does Titus mean?

The name Titus carries a sense of standing and authority rooted in its Latin origin. It originally functioned as a Roman family name and is linked to the idea of a title or inscription, giving the name an association with honour and public standing.

As a given name it feels both solid and energetic. It balances classical weight with a concise, contemporary sound. Parents may hear echoes of Roman history or the New Testament figure, and the name brings a tone that is at once robust, familiar and slightly distinctive compared with more common classics like Marcus or Julius.

Historical Context

Titus began as a Roman family name, recorded in inscriptions and adopted by several notable figures in antiquity. The Latin word titulus, meaning an inscription or title, is often connected to the name and helps explain its sense of public standing. Over time it moved from a family name to a personal name within Roman and later Christian contexts.

The name gained additional visibility through early Christian history. A companion and delegate of the apostle Paul appears as Titus in the New Testament, which helped the name persist in Christian Europe. In later centuries Titus also appears in literature, most famously in Shakespeare's tragedy Titus Andronicus, giving it a dramatic, literary colour. In the modern era Titus is used across English speaking countries and has regional variants such as Tito and Tytus, showing its adaptability while retaining its classical core.

Popularity of Titus over time

In 2025, Titus was given to 910 boys in the US. Titus has risen sharply over the last 20 years, and is now an uncommon boys' name in the US.

What do parents think of Titus?