ROMAN WOMEN NAMES
Girls were named simply using the feminization of their father’s nomen. Women's nomines (names) ended with "-a" or "-illa" instead of the masculine "-us i.e. Cornelia for Cornelius, Julia for Julius. In the event that there were more then three girls born to a Roman couple they would be distinguished from each other in one of a couple unimaginative ways. In the case of only two girls, Maior and Minor. If more than two, then, Primia, Secundia, Tertia, Quatta, Quinta, and so forth, denoting the birth-order of the daughters of the family. A Roman women did not change her name when she married.
In the case of a woman somehow distinguishing herself, she like a man might earn a cognomen. Some known Female cognomens are rather interesting in what they said about their bearers. For example, Isidora meant seller of birds, Cassia, cinnamon. Asste, had to do with a copper coin, a penny, or possibly a nanny. Recepta, one who receives, or takes in. Aphe, a Bee. Bassilla, “With Hands outstretched”. Caprasia, Nanny-Goat. Hedea, a young goat, kid. Helvia, one who spends immoderately, a glutton. Hortensia, one who works in a garden, a grower. Mussia, a mutter, one who whispers discontentedly. Thuria, Frankincense. Flavia, Golden haired, a blonde. Clodia, a lame person, limping, crippled. Magilla, little, small one. Artemis, One skilled at a craft, or art. Urbana, of the City.
Examples of female cognomen are:
Abudia – Aemilia – Afrania – Allia – Antiochis – Antonia – Aphe - Appulia - Aristarete – Arria – Artemis – Asste – Athenais – Athenodora – Atia – Aurelia - Bassilla - Caprasia - Cassia – Claudia – Clodia – Cornelia – Didymarion – Didyme – Dionysia – Domna – Domnina – Drusilla –Epicydilla – Epidia – Epria - Eucharis - Extricata – Fannia – Flavia – Gaia – Gnome – Hedea – Helvia – Hilara - Horaea - Hortensia – Irene – Isidora - Italia – Julia – Junia – Lalla – Larcia – Livilla – Magnilla – Marcella – Melino – Melitine – Messalina – Minicia – Minucia – Modia – Murdia – Musa – Mussia – Nitocris – Olympias – Olympionica – Paezusa – Panthia - Parthenia - Perenice – Phamphile – Phyllis – Pobicia – Politta – Posilla – Prima – Primia – Primilla - Pye - Quarta – Quintia – Recepta – Sallustia – Saufeia – Scholastica – Secundia – Semiramis – Senenia – Socratea – Sosis – Statilla – Sulpicia – Telephoris – Terentia – Tertia – Thalea – Theodora - Thuria - Timarete - Tryphosa - Tyrannis – Urbana - Venuleia