Paganus as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Paganus

What is the meaning of the name Paganus ?

The baby name Paganus is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈpeɪɡənəs/ (PAY-gə-nəs); Classical Latin: /paːˈɡaː.nus/.

Paganus is Latin in Origin.

Paganus is a learned Latin given name from paganus, “villager” or “country-dweller,” literally “of the pagus” (rural district), and by extension “civilian” as opposed to a soldier. In Late Latin Christian usage the term shifted to denote a non-Christian; as a personal name, however, its core sense remains “rural person” or “man of the countryside.” The name is traditionally masculine.

Documented as a cognomen in the Roman world, it became a modestly common forename in medieval Latin Europe, especially in Norman and Old French circles (Païen/Payen), and appears among Crusader officials and knights. Carried to England after 1066, it produced forms such as Pagan, Pain/Payn and later the surnames Paine and Payne. Other variants include Italian Pagano, Occitan Payan/Pagan, and Spanish/Catalan Pagán (now chiefly a surname). Usage waned as the pejorative sense of “pagan” strengthened, though rare modern revivals occur.

⚙ We can't find Paganus in any of the birth registries or name datasets we track. Such a name is generally either rare, regional or traditional, or a brand-new coinage. By any reading, it's an exceptionally uncommon choice.