US Popularity Rank: 588

Origin: Italian

Meaning: Pilgrim to Rome; Roman

This name comes from the most famous ill-fated couple in literature, Romeo is a well-known title thanks to a one Mr. William Shakespeare. Meaning “pilgrim to Rome” or “Roman,” this name has Italian origins and escaped the top baby name charts for many years. That was until in 1996 a modern version of Romeo + Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes came out in the United States, and the name became a favorite. No matter your connection to Shakespeare, Romeo is a romantic name made to last for centuries.