Julius
proper nouncommon in dialogue
- //ˈd͡ʒuːliəs//
- //ˈd͡ʒuːljəs//
- //ˈd͡ʒuːləs//
A male given name from Latin.
proper noun
- 1
A male given name from Latin.
WHẽ it was cõcluded that we ſhulde ſayle into italy / they delivered Paul / and certayne other pꝛeſoners vnto won named Iulius / ã vnder captayne of Ceſars ſoudiars.
The seven [centurions] from II Adiutrix, whose stay in the province can be closely dated to the years 71–85/6, have an instructive set of names – two Julii, appropriately enough in a period when two of the governors also bore this name; […]
Vespasian, a simple man, always laughed because so many Julii and Claudii were made divine after their deaths. On his deathbed he said, “Alas! I think I’m becoming a god.”
So the man whom we know as Julius Caesar was a member of the Julii clan belonging to a particular branch whose paternal designation was Caesar. Only intimate family members would have called him Gaius. Caesar was known by his cognomen, presumably because there were many Julii and it would have caused confusion to use that nomen.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin Iūlius, of uncertain origin, possibly from Ancient Greek ἴουλος (íoulos, “downy first beard hairs”), i.e. the young, or from Latin Jovilius (“devoted to Jove”). Doublet of Jules.
Forms
- plural
- Juliuses, Julii