About the name Roman
Etymology & meaning
Roman comes from the Latin Romanus — "a Roman, citizen of Rome". In Bulgarian history the name also carries royal weight — Tsar Roman was a son of Tsar Peter I.
History & patron saint
The name day is tied to Saint Romanos the Melodist — the 6th-century Byzantine hymnographer credited with hundreds of kontakia — and to Saint Roman the monk, whose memory the calendar keeps in February.
Traditions & customs
The feast passes domestically — daytime guests over coffee and sweets, dinner for the closest. Thanks to the musical patron saint, greetings often include "may your soul sing".
Popularity & notable bearers
Roman is moderately common in Bulgaria, more so among older generations, but its international portability keeps bringing it back to young parents' attention.