At a Glance
- Meaning
- Traditionally traced to Greek 'lonchē' (lance), referencing the legendary Roman soldier who pierced Christ's side with a spear
- Origin
- Greek (via Latin/Christian tradition)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- lon-JY-nuhs
Longinus is a Greek (via Latin/Christian tradition) boy's name meaning “traditionally traced to Greek 'lonchē' (lance), referencing the legendary Roman soldier who pierced Christ's side with a spear”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Longinus
Meaning: Traditionally traced to Greek 'lonchē' (lance), referencing the legendary Roman soldier who pierced Christ's side with a spear.
Origin: Greek (via Latin/Christian tradition).
A common claim: 'Long, tall', assumed from Latin 'longus' Actually: This is a folk etymology based on surface resemblance to Latin 'longus'; the name is more commonly traced to Greek 'lonchē' (lance), tied to the legend of the soldier's spear.
How to Pronounce Longinus
lon-JY-nuhsIPA /lɒnˈdʒaɪnəs/
Popularity of Longinus
Longinus doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Longinus
Similar Names
Lucullus · Livius · Lepidus · Llew · Lulama · Vitruvius
