Quote Originally Posted by mini
take for example Caius Flaminius here..

He would have to be adressed as such :) Caius Flaminius, ave!

Normally a roman name would consist of 2 parts.
Sometimes, a man is given a third part. A nickname sort of speak.

let's say some famous ancestor of our dear Caius Flaminius would have had a red beard, and the man was so famous, they gave him a nickname to distinguish him
Our friend here would then be called Caius Flaminius Ahenobarbus :)
Although he has a third name, it was considered rude to adress him by or with his nickname.


Talking to gaius Julius Caesar, and saying "well look here Caesar, I fancy a trip to Gaul" is just plain impolite

you should say "Well look here, Gaius Julius"
of course, when calling eachother cuss names, it doesn't matter a fig to be polite sort of speak ;)


After Dentatus dies, i will either reserve me a new FM (my right as Gm, sue me :p) or I will make a forum senator, by the name of Marcus Cornelius Vulpeculus :) Member of the great patrician Cornelius clan, cognomened Vulpeculus becaus of my foxish slyness yarrrr ^^


We'll be settign up soon, just a little more patience.
Well, after the early days and evolution of the system a roman (male) name would consist of three names, the Praenomen (the given name), the Nomen Gentile (name of the gens) and the Cognomen (name of the family within the gens). Sometimes there would be a Agnomen (nickname) which would be used instead or aditionally to the Cognomen. When adressing someone you'd either use the first name or the second and third name ("Gaius" or "Iulius Caesar"; usually in form of vocativ). Admittedly i don't know since when this was used commonly.