Nameberry of the Day: Julius
March 15
In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, a fortune teller warns Caesar to "beware the Ides of March", meaning March 15.
In Ancient Rome, March 15 was once a day for making sacrifices to the deity Jupiter and celebrating the Feast of Anna Perenna with picnics and revelry. In 44 BC however, the date gained notoriety for the assassination of Julius Caesar.
More than 60 conspirators plotted to stab Caesar during a meeting in The Senate and his subsequent death triggered a wave of wars that led, ultimately, to the end of the Roman Republic.
Despite its infamous past, today’s featured name, Julius, hasn’t been condemned to the history books. It was revived in Italy during the Renaissance, made the US Top 100 in the early 1900’s, and has proved popular in Finland, where it currently ranks at #35.
The roots of Julius are obscure, and it has been attributed with several meanings: “youthful and downy-bearded”; “devoted to Jove”; “sky father”; and “descended from the mythological son of Aeneas” (which Caesar claimed to be).
While Julius has yet to catch up with the popularity of its well-loved variants, Julia and Julian, it fits right in with the rise of Ancient Roman names, such as Atticus, Maximus, and Augustus. It also offers the gender-neutral nickname of Jules and the popular J initial of classic favorites, like James, Jesse, and Jonathan.
Ranking currently at #348 in the US, Julius might just be ready to shake off its dark past and climb the charts.
In case you missed these Names of the Day:
Nameberry of the Day: Penn
Magician and comedian Penn Fraser Jillette was born on March 5, 1955 in Massachusettes. Along with partner Raymond Teller, Penn makes up half of the entertainment duo Penn & Teller. The team has been performing since the 70s, famous for their ongoing act that