| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Latin, possibly from Etruscan |
| Meaning | Unknown, originally "member of the Latin Gens Sergia". "Servant (of the law)" or "Protector", in connection with the Latin praenomen Servius, has been proposed. |
| Region of origin | Italy, Europe |
Sergius /ˈsɜːrdʒiəs/ is a male given name of Ancient Roman origin after the name of the Latin gens Sergia or Sergii of regal and republican ages. It is a common Christian name, in honour of Saint Sergius, and has been the name of four popes. It has given rise to numerous variants, present today mainly in the Romance (Serge, Sergio, Sergi, Sergiu) and Slavic languages (Serhii, Sergey, Serguei, Srđan). It is not common in English, although the Anglo-French name Sargent is possibly related to it.
The name originates from the Roman nomen (patrician family name) Sergius, after the name of the Roman gens of Latin origins Sergia or Sergii from Alba Longa, Old Latium, counted by Theodor Mommsen as one of the oldest Roman families, one of the original 100 gentes originaria. It has been speculated to derive from a more ancient Etruscan name but the etymology of the nomen Sergius is problematic. Chase hesitantly suggests a connection with the praenomen Servius, probably from an old Latin root meaning "to preserve" or "keep safe".
It became a personal name in Roman imperial times and spread to the Byzantine Empire in the Greek form Sergios (Σέργιος). It became popular in Christianity in honour of the fourth-century martyr and saint Sergius, especially among Roman ecclesiastics of Syrian extraction, starting in the seventh century.
Sergei was the second most popular name in Russia in the 1980s. In the Middle Ages in Western Europe, it fell into disuse. It became widespread again in the 1800s through translations of Russian literature, especially French translations.
Its form varies by language: