Romeo

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ORIGIN AND HISTORY

Romeo has medieval and Latin origins with religious influence. Its etymological roots translate to "pilgrim to Rome." During this period in Europe and elsewhere, it was not uncommon to have one's first or surname affiliated with one's geographic origins. Its Italian origins also contribute to its legacy as being synonymous with a man with successful sexual prowess - a Romeo or lover. Many Italians have long prided themselves on this legacy, and it has been reinforced over the ages by such writers as William Shakespeare and his "Romeo and Juliet and the poet Arthur Brooke.^[1]

POPULARITY

According to the Social Security Administration, Romeo has had a series of steady popularity over the past 100 years in the United States, intermixed with large lapses of time when it never made the top 1000 most poplar names. Moderately popular in the beginning of the last century, Romeo held consistently in the top 500 most popular names or so from 1908 until about 1920. Then (in that year it ranked 620th), it experienced a steady slide in popularity throughout the 1920s and 1930s until it ranked 991st in 1943 and disappeared from the top 1000 list from 1944 through 1961. After a brief reappearance during 1962 and 1963 (in the 900s) and again in 1988 at 998th, it vanished again until 1996. Since then, it experienced a dramatic spike moving from 973rd in that year to 638th in 1997. It has remained in the top 500 to 600 names since then. (Please see chart below.)

Social Security Administration - Empty rankings indicate the name was not among the 1000 most popular names for that year.

FACTS

• William Shakespeare greatly contributed to and reinforced the affiliation of the name Romeo with that of a male lover beginning with his play Romeo and Juliet. In many ways over the years, however, the name Romeo became something more of a philanderer or someone who was popular with many women rather than as initially described with his one love, Juliet. Romeo's surname was Montague.
• A poem by Arthur Brooke, "The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet," is a story originally from Italian writer Matteo Bandello (1485 – 1561). Several of his works are used as the plots in Elizabethan and Jacobean plays.^[1]
• Romeo Must Die is a film starring Jet Li

NAMESAKES

• Romeo, Colorado - Population (1990): 341
• Romeo, Michigan - Population (1990): 3520

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Romeo Roselli is a professional wrestler
• Roméo Dallaire (born Roméo Alain Dallaire in 1946) is a French Canadian senator, author and humanitarian.^[1]

Author: Mike Szimanski

NOTES