Augustus

The name Augustus has its roots in antiquity and was used as a nickname for the first Roman emperor Gaius Octavianus. Translated, it means something like "the Exalted", "the Venerable", "the Holy", or "the Great".

What does the name Augustus mean?

Originally, Augustus served as a nickname for Gaius Octavianus, the first emperor of Rome. Its meanings include terms like "the Exalted", "the Venerable", "the Holy", and "the Distinguished". The name is derived from the Latin verb augĕo or augēre, meaning "to increase", "to develop", "to expand", "to strengthen", or "to improve". Its comparative form, augustus, stands for "holy", "venerable", and "exalted". Gaius Octavianus was honored with this title by his senators due to his heroic deeds. Augustus can also appear as a surname. There are numerous variants, including Augustinus, August, Augusto, Augustas, Augustin, Austin, Aaustin, Austen, Augustijn, Augustinas, Augustyn, Agust, Agustin, Aukusti, Agostinho, Agostin, Agostino, Agoston, Guus, Stijn, Avgust, and Awgust.

Where does the name Augustus come from?

The name Augustus comes from Latin and carries meanings such as "the Holy" or "the Exalted". The Latin origin includes the terms augĕo or augēre, which mean "to increase", "to develop", "to expand", "to strengthen", and "to improve". In its comparative form, augustus is used, meaning "holy", "venerable", and "exalted".

How do you pronounce Augustus?

The pronunciation of Augustus is three syllables and powerful. It is pronounced as "Au-gus-tus" [auˈɡʊstʊs], with two distinct syllables featuring clear consonants. The recurring -us enhances the historical sound of the name. Overall, Augustus conveys a strong and majestic impression - dignified, determined, and impressive.

When is the name day of Augustus?

The name days for Augustus fall on March 22, May 27, and August 28.

Popularity

In Germany, Augustus is among the rarer first names. Currently, it ranks 5,840th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 2011 at 1,564th. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 70 times, placing it 3,010th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,563rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Gus / Gussie / Gussy

Famous people

• Albert Augustus David (British bishop)
• Arthur Augustus Zimmerman (cyclist from the USA)
• Augustus Applegath (1788–1871, British inventor)
• Augustus Bernard Hipkin (British cricketer)
• Augustus Bozzi Granville (British physician)
• Augustus C. Merriam (American archaeologist)
• Augustus Carney (American actor)
• Augustus de Morgan (English mathematician and logician)
• Augustus Edward Hough Love (English mathematician)
• Augustus Ferdinand Möbius (German mathematician)
• Augustus George Vernon Harcourt (English chemist)
• Augustus Glossop Harris (English actor)
• Augustus Hamilton (British biologist)
• Augustus John (British artist)
• Augustus Lukeman (American sculptor)
• Augustus N. Allen (architect)
• Augustus Neville (actor from Australia)
• Augustus Nicholas Burke (Irish artist)
• Augustus Quirinus Rivinus (German physicist)
• Augustus Radcliffe Grote (American biologist)