Roman Legion Name Generator

Numbered legions, Latin cognomina, cohorts and auxiliary units

Military & Warfare500 names

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Generate Roman legion names the way Rome actually designated them: a numeral plus a Latin cognomen such as Legio VI Ferrata or Legio XII Fulminata, alongside auxiliary cohorts, cavalry alae, late-imperial field units, and English-language legion names for fantasy armies.

About Roman legion names

A real Roman legion was named in two parts: a numeral and a cognomen. The number came from the order in which the legion was raised, which is why the empire could have two Legio III at once (Gallica, Cyrenaica, Augusta and Italica all carried it). The cognomen told you something specific: where the legion had served (Hispana, Macedonica), the emperor who raised it (Augusta, Claudia, Ulpia, Flavia), a patron god (Apollinaris, Minervia, Fulminata for Jupiter's thunderbolt), or an earned reputation (Victrix, Ferrata the ironclad, Rapax the rapacious, Alaudae the larks). Honorifics like Pia Fidelis were awarded for loyalty in a civil war and stacked onto the name, giving mouthfuls like Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix.

Legions were only part of the army. Auxiliary infantry cohorts and cavalry alae were named for the people who first filled them (Cohors I Batavorum, Ala Petriana), and the late empire fielded units with fierce nicknames such as the Cornuti, Petulantes and Ioviani. The list below mixes all of these with original Latin cognomina and English legion names that keep the Roman shape for fantasy or sci-fi settings.

How to choose Roman legion names

  • Keep the numeral low and the cognomen meaningful. Rome rarely went above XXX, and a cognomen like Scythica or Fretensis implies a campaign history you can write later.
  • Stack honorifics to show age and loyalty: a young legion is Legio IV Nova; a veteran of three civil wars is Legio IV Nova Pia Fidelis Victrix.
  • Remember cognomina agree with legio, a feminine noun, so use the -a or -trix forms (Ferrata, Victrix, Ultrix), not Ferratus or Victor.
  • For cohorts and alae, name the unit after a conquered people or region plus a numeral, and add Milliaria or Equitata to signal size or mixed cavalry.
  • In fantasy settings, translate the epithet instead of inventing dog Latin: the Thunderbolt Legion or the Legion of the Strait reads as Roman without needing a dictionary.

Frequently asked questions

How were Roman legions actually named?

By a number and a cognomen. The number reflected the order of raising, and the cognomen recorded an origin, a founding emperor, a patron deity, a province of service, or an earned reputation. Numbers were reused, so the cognomen is what made a legion unique.

Why were there several legions with the same number?

Different commanders raised legions independently during the civil wars of the first century BC, and Augustus kept the duplicates rather than renumbering them. That is why Legio III Gallica, Legio III Cyrenaica and Legio III Augusta all served at the same time.

What do common cognomina like Victrix, Gemina and Fulminata mean?

Victrix means victorious; Gemina means twin, given when two depleted legions were merged; Fulminata means thunderbolt-armed; Ferrata means ironclad; Rapax means predatory; Pia Fidelis means dutiful and loyal; Adiutrix means helper, used for legions raised from marines.

Can I use these names for a fantasy or sci-fi legion?

Yes. The historical names are public knowledge, and the original Latin and English entries are free to use in novels, tabletop games, wargames and video games. Swap the numeral or translate the epithet to fit your own empire.

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All 500 Roman legion names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 21 names

  • Ala Agrippiana Miniata
  • Ala Augusta Gallorum Proculeiana
  • Ala Classiana
  • Ala Gallorum Sebosiana
  • Ala I Contariorum
  • Ala I Flavia Augusta Britannica
  • Ala I Gallorum et Pannoniorum Catafractata
  • Ala I Hamiorum
  • Ala I Hispanorum
  • Ala I Pannoniorum Tampiana
  • Ala I Thracum
  • Ala I Tungrorum
  • Ala I Ulpia Dromedariorum
  • Ala II Asturum
  • Ala II Flavia Pia Fidelis
  • Ala Indiana Gallorum
  • Ala Petriana
  • Ala Siliana
  • Ala Sulpicia
  • Ala Vocontiorum
  • Armigeri Defensores

B: 2 names

  • Batavi Seniores
  • Brachiati

C: 52 names

  • Caesar's Tenth
  • Candidati
  • Celtae
  • Cohors I Aelia Brittonum
  • Cohors I Aelia Dacorum
  • Cohors I Aquitanorum
  • Cohors I Augusta Praetoria Lusitanorum
  • Cohors I Baetasiorum
  • Cohors I Batavorum
  • Cohors I Brittonum
  • Cohors I Celtiberorum
  • Cohors I Cilicum
  • Cohors I Cretum Sagittariorum
  • Cohors I Cugernorum
  • Cohors I Fida Vardullorum
  • Cohors I Flavia Chalcidenorum
  • Cohors I Frisiavonum
  • Cohors I Germanorum
  • Cohors I Hamiorum Sagittariorum
  • Cohors I Hispanorum Equitata
  • Cohors I Ituraeorum
  • Cohors I Lusitanorum
  • Cohors I Menapiorum
  • Cohors I Morinorum
  • Cohors I Nerviorum
  • Cohors I Numidarum

C, continued

  • Cohors I Praetoria
  • Cohors I Sunucorum
  • Cohors I Thracum
  • Cohors I Ulpia Traiana Cugernorum
  • Cohors I Vangionum
  • Cohors II Asturum
  • Cohors II Britannorum Milliaria
  • Cohors II Delmatarum
  • Cohors II Gallorum Veterana
  • Cohors II Lingonum
  • Cohors II Pannoniorum
  • Cohors II Tungrorum
  • Cohors III Bracaraugustanorum
  • Cohors IV Gallorum
  • Cohors IV Lingonum
  • Cohors IX Batavorum
  • Cohors V Raetorum
  • Cohors VI Nerviorum
  • Cohors X Praetoria
  • Cohors XX Palmyrenorum
  • Cohortes Praetoriae
  • Cohortes Urbanae
  • Cohortes Vigilum
  • Cornuti
  • Cuneus Frisiorum
  • Cuneus Sarmatarum

D: 1 name

  • Decimani

E: 7 names

  • Equites Cataphractarii
  • Equites Clibanarii
  • Equites Dalmatae
  • Equites Promoti
  • Equites Scutarii
  • Equites Singulares Augusti
  • Equites Stablesiani

F: 2 names

  • Felices
  • Fortenses

G: 1 name

  • Germani Corporis Custodes

H: 1 name

  • Herculiani Iuniores

I: 2 names

  • Invicti
  • Ioviani Seniores

L: 335 names

  • Lanciarii Seniores
  • Legio Apri Albi
  • Legio Aquilae Aureae
  • Legio Aquilae Nigrae
  • Legio Ardoris
  • Legio Capricorni
  • Legio Centauri
  • Legio Cerberi
  • Legio Cervi Albi
  • Legio Chimaerae
  • Legio Corvi Nigri
  • Legio Cyclopis
  • Legio Decima Fretensis
  • Legio Delphini
  • Legio Draconis Viridis
  • Legio Duodecima Fulminata
  • Legio Ferrata Nova
  • Legio Flammae
  • Legio Fulguris
  • Legio Fulminatrix
  • Legio Gigantum
  • Legio Glaciei Borealis
  • Legio Gorgonis
  • Legio Gryphi
  • Legio Hippocampi
  • Legio Hydrae
  • Legio I Adiutrix
  • Legio I Aelia
  • Legio I Aeterna
  • Legio I Armeniaca
  • Legio I Dacica
  • Legio I Dianae
  • Legio I Flavia Constantia
  • Legio I Flavia Gallicana Constantia
  • Legio I Flavia Martis
  • Legio I Flavia Pacis
  • Legio I Flavia Theodosiana

L, continued

  • Legio I Gemella
  • Legio I Germanica
  • Legio I Illyricorum
  • Legio I Iovia
  • Legio I Isaura Sagittaria
  • Legio I Italica
  • Legio I Iulia Alpina
  • Legio I Macriana Liberatrix
  • Legio I Martia
  • Legio I Maximiana
  • Legio I Minervia
  • Legio I Noricorum
  • Legio I Parthica
  • Legio I Pontica
  • Legio I Sagittaria
  • Legio I Ulpia Fidelis
  • Legio I Victrix Gallorum
  • Legio Ignis Sacri
  • Legio II Adiutrix
  • Legio II Antoniniana
  • Legio II Armeniaca
  • Legio II Augusta
  • Legio II Britannica
  • Legio II Equitata
  • Legio II Felix Valentis Thebaeorum
  • Legio II Flavia Constantia
  • Legio II Flavia Virtutis
  • Legio II Fortis Germanorum
  • Legio II Herculia
  • Legio II Invicta
  • Legio II Isaura
  • Legio II Italica
  • Legio II Iulia Alpina
  • Legio II Parthica
  • Legio II Rhaetica
  • Legio II Traiana Fortis
  • Legio II Traiana Invicta

L, continued

  • Legio II Veneris
  • Legio III Augusta
  • Legio III Classica
  • Legio III Concors
  • Legio III Cyrenaica
  • Legio III Diocletiana
  • Legio III Flavia Felix Gemina
  • Legio III Flavia Salutis
  • Legio III Gallica
  • Legio III Isaura
  • Legio III Italica
  • Legio III Iulia Alpina
  • Legio III Mercurialis
  • Legio III Pannonica
  • Legio III Parthica
  • Legio III Severiana
  • Legio III Ultrix Thracum
  • Legio IV Cataphractaria
  • Legio IV Claudia Constans
  • Legio IV Felix Hispanorum
  • Legio IV Fidelis Constans
  • Legio IV Flavia Felix
  • Legio IV Gordiana
  • Legio IV Italica
  • Legio IV Macedonica
  • Legio IV Martia
  • Legio IV Neptunia
  • Legio IV Scythica
  • Legio IV Syriaca
  • Legio IX Danubiana
  • Legio IX Gladiata
  • Legio IX Hadriana Firma
  • Legio IX Hispana
  • Legio IX Honoriana
  • Legio IX Nivalis
  • Legio IX Rediviva
  • Legio IX Redux

L, continued

  • Legio IX Thracica
  • Legio IX Vestalis
  • Legio Leonis Rampantis
  • Legio Lunae Plenae
  • Legio Lupae Romanae
  • Legio Lupi Capitolini
  • Legio Minotauri
  • Legio Noctis Aeternae
  • Legio Nona Hispana
  • Legio Octava Augusta
  • Legio Pegasi
  • Legio Phoenicis
  • Legio Prima Adiutrix
  • Legio Procellae
  • Legio Quarta Scythica
  • Legio Quinta Alaudae
  • Legio Scintillae
  • Legio Secunda Augusta
  • Legio Septima Gemina
  • Legio Serpentis Aenei
  • Legio Sexta Ferrata
  • Legio Solis Orientis
  • Legio Sphingis
  • Legio Stellae Matutinae
  • Legio Tauri Rubri
  • Legio Tempestatis
  • Legio Tertia Decima Gemina
  • Legio Tertia Gallica
  • Legio Titanum
  • Legio Tonitrus
  • Legio Tricesima Ulpia Victrix
  • Legio Tritonis
  • Legio Umbrae Longae
  • Legio Undecima Claudia
  • Legio Ursae Maioris
  • Legio V Aegyptia
  • Legio V Aeterna Britannorum

L, continued

  • Legio V Alaudae
  • Legio V Antoniniana Pia
  • Legio V Aureliana
  • Legio V Iovia
  • Legio V Lanciaria
  • Legio V Macedonica
  • Legio V Parthica
  • Legio V Vigil
  • Legio V Vulcania
  • Legio Ventorum
  • Legio VI Africana
  • Legio VI Ardens
  • Legio VI Cerealis
  • Legio VI Concors Pannoniorum
  • Legio VI Ferrata
  • Legio VI Herculia
  • Legio VI Hispaniensis
  • Legio VI Parthica
  • Legio VI Probiana
  • Legio VI Scutata
  • Legio VI Severiana Victrix
  • Legio VI Victrix
  • Legio Vicesima Valeria Victrix
  • Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis
  • Legio VII Constantiniana
  • Legio VII Gemina
  • Legio VII Hastata
  • Legio VII Lucida
  • Legio VII Nova Dacorum
  • Legio VII Numidica
  • Legio VII Saturnia
  • Legio VII Valeria Fortis
  • Legio VIII Augusta
  • Legio VIII Aurelia Tenax
  • Legio VIII Illyrica
  • Legio VIII Iunonia
  • Legio VIII Mauretanica
  • Legio VIII Pilata

L, continued

  • Legio VIII Umbrosa
  • Legio VIII Valentiniana
  • Legio VIII Veteranorum
  • Legio VIII Vetus Syrorum
  • Legio Vulturis
  • Legio X Aquilifera Augusta
  • Legio X Augusta Aeterna
  • Legio X Aurea
  • Legio X Bellonaria
  • Legio X Equestris
  • Legio X Fretensis
  • Legio X Funditoria
  • Legio X Gemina
  • Legio X Iustiniana
  • Legio X Moesica
  • Legio X Rhenana
  • Legio XI Alpina
  • Legio XI Argentea
  • Legio XI Claudia
  • Legio XI Dalmatica
  • Legio XI Gemina Rapax
  • Legio XI Taurina Fidelis
  • Legio XI Victoriae
  • Legio XII Aenea
  • Legio XII Apennina
  • Legio XII Cappadocica
  • Legio XII Civium Romanorum
  • Legio XII Fortunae
  • Legio XII Fulminata
  • Legio XII Lupina Victrix
  • Legio XII Macedonica Felix
  • Legio XII Victrix
  • Legio XIII Ferrata Invicta
  • Legio XIII Galatica
  • Legio XIII Gemina
  • Legio XIII Nocturna Invicta
  • Legio XIII Sanguinea

L, continued

  • Legio XIII Solis Invicti
  • Legio XIII Tiberina
  • Legio XIII Velox
  • Legio XIV Candida
  • Legio XIV Cilicia
  • Legio XIV Fortunata
  • Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix
  • Legio XIV Hispana Fidelis
  • Legio XIV Ignea Ferox
  • Legio XIV Lunae
  • Legio XIV Padana
  • Legio XIX
  • Legio XIX Comitatensis
  • Legio XIX Fulminata Nova
  • Legio XIX Plutonia
  • Legio XIX Sarmatica
  • Legio XIX Ursina
  • Legio XV Apollinaris
  • Legio XV Bithynica
  • Legio XV Corvina
  • Legio XV Euphratensis
  • Legio XV Gallica Constans
  • Legio XV Glacialis Tenax
  • Legio XV Marina
  • Legio XV Mithraea
  • Legio XV Primigenia
  • Legio XVI Arabica
  • Legio XVI Flavia Firma
  • Legio XVI Fluminea
  • Legio XVI Gallica
  • Legio XVI Isiaca
  • Legio XVI Italica Victrix
  • Legio XVI Leonina
  • Legio XVI Nilotica
  • Legio XVII
  • Legio XVII Aquilina
  • Legio XVII Castrensis

L, continued

  • Legio XVII Iudaica
  • Legio XVII Primigenia Pia
  • Legio XVII Sacra
  • Legio XVII Serapia
  • Legio XVIII
  • Legio XVIII Apollinaris Aurea
  • Legio XVIII Bacchica
  • Legio XVIII Libyca
  • Legio XVIII Limitanea
  • Legio XVIII Mesopotamica
  • Legio XVIII Taurina
  • Legio XX Aprina
  • Legio XX Gothica
  • Legio XX Palatina
  • Legio XX Pia Vindex
  • Legio XX Quirina
  • Legio XX Scythica Ferox
  • Legio XX Valeria Victrix
  • Legio XXI Alamannica
  • Legio XXI Draconia
  • Legio XXI Ianuaria
  • Legio XXI Rapax
  • Legio XXI Ultima
  • Legio XXI Ultrix
  • Legio XXII Deiotariana
  • Legio XXII Persica
  • Legio XXII Primigenia
  • Legio XXII Punitrix
  • Legio XXII Romana
  • Legio XXII Serpentina
  • Legio XXIII Aquilifera
  • Legio XXIII Belgica
  • Legio XXIII Domitrix
  • Legio XXIII Felix Invicta
  • Legio XXIII Vulpina
  • Legio XXIV Cervina
  • Legio XXIV Debellatrix

L, continued

  • Legio XXIV Lugdunensis
  • Legio XXIV Lupina
  • Legio XXIX Excubitrix
  • Legio XXIX Lusitanica
  • Legio XXIX Magnifica
  • Legio XXIX Maritima
  • Legio XXV Expugnatrix
  • Legio XXV Narbonensis
  • Legio XXV Nocturna
  • Legio XXV Tigrina
  • Legio XXVI Aquitanica
  • Legio XXVI Conservatrix
  • Legio XXVI Ignea
  • Legio XXVI Pantherina
  • Legio XXVII Arietina
  • Legio XXVII Clara
  • Legio XXVII Glacialis
  • Legio XXVII Protectrix
  • Legio XXVII Tarraconensis
  • Legio XXVIII Baetica
  • Legio XXVIII Elephantina
  • Legio XXVIII Montana
  • Legio XXVIII Splendida
  • Legio XXX Gloriosa
  • Legio XXX Sicula
  • Legio XXX Speculatrix
  • Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix
  • Legio XXXI Exploratrix
  • Legio XXXI Saxea
  • Legio XXXII Ferox
  • Legio XXXII Venatrix
  • Legio XXXIII Praedatrix
  • Legio XXXIII Tenax
  • Legio XXXIV Audax
  • Legio XXXIV Raptrix
  • Legio XXXV Celer
  • Legio XXXV Devastatrix
  • Legio XXXV Victrix Pia Fidelis

M: 1 name

  • Mattiaci Iuniores

N: 4 names

  • Numerus Barcariorum Tigrisiensium
  • Numerus Exploratorum Bremeniensium
  • Numerus Hnaudifridi
  • Numerus Maurorum Aurelianorum

O: 1 name

  • Octavani

P: 3 names

  • Petulantes
  • Primani
  • Protectores Domestici

Q: 2 names

  • Quartani
  • Quintani

S: 6 names

  • Sagittarii Nervii
  • Scholae Palatinae
  • Scutarii
  • Secundani
  • Septimani
  • Sextani

T: 53 names

  • Tertiani
  • Tertiodecimani
  • The Augustan Eighth
  • The Claudian Seventh
  • The Cyrenaican Third
  • The Deiotarian Twenty-Second
  • The Emperor's Tenth
  • The Firstborn Legion
  • The Full Moon Legion
  • The Gale Legion
  • The Gallic Third
  • The Hailstorm Legion
  • The Hydra Legion
  • The Ironclad Legion
  • The Ironclad Sixth
  • The Italian Legion
  • The Larks
  • The Legion of Apollo
  • The Legion of Eternal Night
  • The Legion of Hercules
  • The Legion of Jupiter
  • The Legion of Mars
  • The Legion of Minerva
  • The Legion of the Black Aquila
  • The Legion of the Capitoline Wolf
  • The Legion of the Rising Sun

T, continued

  • The Legion of the Sacred Fire
  • The Legion of the Strait
  • The Legion of the Twin Eagles
  • The Legion of the White Boar
  • The Legion of the Winds
  • The Legion of Thunder
  • The Legions of Varus
  • The Liberator Legion
  • The Lightning Legion
  • The Long Shadow Legion
  • The Lost Ninth
  • The Macedonian Fourth
  • The Morning Star Legion
  • The Ninth Legion
  • The Northern Ice Legion
  • The Parthian Legions
  • The Phoenix Legion
  • The Rapacious Twenty-First
  • The Scythian Fourth
  • The Spanish Ninth
  • The Storm Legion
  • The Thunderbolt Legion
  • The Thunderbolt Twelfth
  • The Twin Legion
  • The Twin Martian Victorious Fourteenth
  • The Valiant and Victorious Twentieth
  • Tricesimani

U: 1 name

  • Undecimani

V: 5 names

  • Vexillatio Britannica
  • Vexillatio Dacica
  • Vexillatio Legionis VI Victricis
  • Vicesimani
  • Victores