A male name. Latin Horatius, the name of a famous patrician gens, amongst whose members were the legendary three Horatii who fought the three Curiatii, and Horatius Cocles who defended a bridge across the Tiber, single-handed. The chief glory of the name, however, and the reason for its survival, is Quintus Horatius Flaccus, the s. of a freedman who had adopted the name of Horatius. Its use as a christian name dates from the Renaissance, and seems to have started (as Horatio) in Italy (cf. Shakespeare’s Horatio in Hamlet). The earliest example in England was Sir Horatio Vere (1503-1635), 1st Lord Vere of Tilbury. His grandson, 1st Viscount Townshend, was named Horatio after him, and in turn stood sponsor to one of the ss. of his neighbour Sir Edward Walpole. The name was thenceforward much used by the Walpoles, sometimes written Horatio, sometimes Horace, but apparently usually called Horace. It was carried by marriage into the families of Suckling and Nelson. Horatio, 1st Viscount Nelson, received his name from his godfather and distant relative Horatio Walpole, 2nd Baron Walpole of Wolterton. It is a little surprising that the immense fame of the admiral did not bring his name into general use, but it remains for the most part still the peculiar property of a few families.

‘The Horatian gens was a very old and noble one, memorable for the battle of the Horatii, in the mythic times of early Rome’. If derived from Latin hora, ‘an hour,’ it means ‘the punctual (man)’, but this is probably an instance of folk-etymology; ‘the family themselves derived it from the hero ancestor, Horatus, to whom an oakwood was dedicated.’ Its traditional use in the Walpole family—where it alternates with Robert (after the C18 statesman)—arises probably from admiration for the great lyric and satiric Roman poet. The name now causes amusement—as do Algernon, Cuthbert and Clarence—among derisive half-wits.

From the classical name Horatius, which Littleton derives from ορατος, aspectabilis, vel dignus aspectu; that is, worthy to be looked upon, or becoming in appearance.

Latin (masculine) - Worthy to be beheld.

A Latin name, meaning: Light of the sun: hour-keeper.