Placidus

Placidus is a first name of Latin origin that was widely used in ancient Rome both as an independent first name and as a nickname. Derived from the Latin 'placidus', which means 'pleasing, peaceful, or gentle', the name is translated as 'the peaceful' or 'the gentle'.

What does the name Placidus mean?

Placidus is a Latin first name that was common in ancient Rome both as a first name and as a nickname. The translation of the Latin 'placidus' stands for 'pleasing, peaceful, gentle', which gives the name the meaning 'the peaceful' or 'the gentle'. The name Placidus was particularly used in early Christianity. Besides the martyr Eustachius (around 118), who originally bore this name, several other historical figures from antiquity and the Middle Ages are honored as saints in the Catholic Church. Since the 17th century, the name Placidus has been used among Benedictine monks as a religious name. Today, Placidus is relatively rare as a common first name and is scarcely used, but it continues to be found occasionally in German- and English-speaking regions as well as in Africa. Variants of the name include Placid (English), Placide (French), Placido (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese), and Plazidus, as well as the short forms Placi and Plaze. The feminine form of the name is Placida.

Where does the name Placidus come from?

The name Placidus has its roots in Latin and Roman and means 'the peaceful' or 'the gentle'. The etymology is based on the Latin term 'placidus', which means 'pleasing, peaceful, gentle'.

How do you pronounce Placidus?

The pronunciation of Placidus is three syllables and has a classical sound structure. It is pronounced as 'Pla-ci-dus' [ˈplaːtsiːdʊs], with the first syllable stressed. The open 'a' at the beginning gives the name a certain breadth, while the ending '-us' creates a solemn, ancient sound. Overall, Placidus appears dignified and serene – traditional and with a deep Roman timbre.

When is the name day of Placidus?

The name days of Placidus are celebrated on July 11 (Placidus of Disentis), September 20 (Eustachius), and October 5 (Placidus of Subiaco).

Popularity

In Switzerland, the name Placidus ranks 20,745th in the official list of most commonly given first names, with a total of 4 people bearing this name. The distribution of the name in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland shows that Placidus is particularly common in the following regions: In Germany, it is 100% represented in Hamburg, in Austria 100% in Tyrol, and in Switzerland, the name is distributed 50% in Basel-Landschaft and 50% in Zug.

Nicknames & pet names

Placi

Famous people

• Jakob Placidus Altmutter (Austrian painter)
• Placidus a Spescha (Swiss mountaineer)
• Placidus Braun (German historian)
• Placidus Franz Bliemetzrieder (historian from Austria)
• Placidus Sprenger (German historian)
• Placidus von Camerloher (composer from Germany)
• Placidus von Droste OSB (* 1641) Prince Abbot of Fulda