You may not know how to recognize Romanian last names when you see them. From the traditional to the unique, they can vary in appearance, meaning, and use. Ever wonder how these names arose and evolved over the centuries?
This list of memorable Romanian last names has everything you need. You can learn where Romanian family names come from, how often they’re used today and the stories behind them. Whether they are classic, creepy, or made for vampires, they’ll be all right here!
100 Popular Romanian Surnames
These beautiful Romanian last names will teach you about Romanian history, its people, and traditions.
Albescu
Albescu comes from the Romanian “alb,” meaning “white.” Like Roșu (red), Negru (black), and Albu (white), it’s one of many Romanian last names that represent colors.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: White
- Pronunciation: Ahl-BEHS-kuw
- Variations: Albu
- Popularity: Albescu is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania.
Albu
Albu was first a given name taken from the Latin “alb,” meaning “white.” It was a nickname used for someone with white hair or a pale complexion, and also means “white” in Portuguese.
- Origin: Romanian, Latin
- Meaning: White
- Pronunciation: AHL-buw
- Variations: Albescu
- Namesakes: Austen Alba, a British Member of Parliament from 1948 to 1974. Gheorghe Albu, a Romanian football player for the Romania national football team.
- Popularity: Albu is rare worldwide, mainly used in Romania, and ranked 100th in Moldova in 2014.
Alexandrescu
Alexandrescu was used as a surname for a “descendant of Alexandru.” Like the Greek Alexandros, it’s made up of “alexin,” meaning “to defend,” and “andros,” meaning “man.” Several Romanian family names originated with Greek first names.
- Origin: Romanian, Greek
- Meaning: Defender of men
- Pronunciation: Aal-eks-Ahn-DREHS-Kuw
- Namesakes: Grigore Alexandrescu, a Romanian poet who founded the periodical Albina Româneascǎ. V. A. Urechia (born Vasile Alexandrescu), a Moldavian-Romanian historian and a founding member of the Romanian Academy.
- Popularity: Alexandrescu is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 394th in 2014.
Andrei
Andrei is more popular as a first name used everywhere, from Russia and Belarus to Romania and Bulgaria. It’s a common form of Andrew based on the Greek Andreas, meaning “warrior.” Andrei also means “manly” in Russian but is very much used as a surname in Romania.
- Origin: Romanian, Russian
- Meaning: Brave
- Pronunciation: AHN-dray
- Variations: Andradi, Andre, Andreis, Andri
- Namesakes: Ionuț Andrei, a Romanian bobsledder who competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Popularity: Andrei is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 29th in 2014.
Ardelean
Ardelean refers to someone “from the region of Transylvania” without being creepy or scary. The root Ardeal is associated with the Hungarian Erdély, with the suffix “-ean.” Few other Transylvanian last names have as literal a meaning as Ardelean.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: From Transylvania
- Pronunciation: Ahr-DIY-liy-Ahn
- Namesakes: Virgil Ardelean, a Romanian police chief and the head of Direcţia Generală de Informaţii şi Protecţie Internă between 1998 and 2007. Aurel Ardelean, a Romanian senator and member of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
- Popularity: Ardelean is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it ranked 110th in 2014.
Argintari
Argintari uses the Romanian root “argint,” meaning “silver.” It was an old medieval occupational surname for anyone who worked with silver which is incredibly rare today.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Silversmith
- Pronunciation: Ahr-jin-TAHR-iy
- Variations: Argintaru
- Popularity: Argintari is extremely rare worldwide, with only two known occurrences in 2014, primarily in the U.S.
Athanasia
Athanasia comes from the Greek “a-,” meaning “without,” and “thanatos,” meaning “death.” It also refers to a family of plants in the daisy family. Athanasia is super rare as a surname, but it’s also a beautiful Greek girl’s name meaning “eternal life.”
- Origin: Romanian, Greek
- Meaning: Immortal
- Pronunciation: Ah-thaa-NAA-Siy-aa
- Popularity: Athanasia is extremely rare worldwide and mostly used in Greece.
Baciu
Baciu’s more complete meaning is “leader of the shepherds.” It also refers to a place in Transylvania and two rivers in Romania. Baciu is a traditional Romanian name, which also represents Transylvanian surnames well.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Shepherd
- Pronunciation: Bah-SAY-uw
- Namesakes: Ioana Baciu, a Romanian volleyball player with the Romania women’s national volleyball team. Diana Baciu, a Moldovan chess player and winner of the Moldovan Women’s Chess Championship in 2009.
- Popularity: Baciu is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 83rd in 2014.
Bălan
Bălan is a surname in Romania and a Jewish-Moldovan surname. It uses the root “bǎlan,” meaning “blond,” which appears as “belan” in Slavic. Bălan may also be a Spanish form of Balaam, a prophet in the bible.
- Origin: Romanian, Spanish
- Meaning: Blond
- Pronunciation: BAH-laan
- Variations: Baalham, Balan
- Namesakes: Eugen Bălan, a Romanian writer whose 1941 novel Într-o duminecă de august, won the Romanian Writers’ Society prize. Bogdan Bălan, a Romanian rugby union footballer for Bègles Bordeaux.
- Popularity: Bălan is rare worldwide, primarily used in Romania, and ranked 10th in Moldova in 2014.
Barbaneagra
Barbaneagra is made up of the Romanian “barba,” meaning “beard,” and “neagra,” meaning black. It’s one of the longer Romanian surnames with a cool meaning intended for the original Romanian bad-boy pirate.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Black beard
- Pronunciation: Baar-bah-NEG-rah
- Variations: Barbineagra
- Popularity: Barbaneagra is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Moldova, where it ranked 1,460th in 2014.
Barbu
Barbu uses the Romanian “barbă,” meaning “beard,” along with “bărbat,” the Romanian word for “man.” It can mean “the bearded one” and is also a masculine form of the given name Barbara.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Beard
- Pronunciation: BAHR-buw
- Variations: Barbut, Barbuat
- Namesakes: Florin Barbu, a Romanian bass player awarded the Cultural Merit Order. Sulfina Barbu, a Romanian politician and member of the Chamber of Deputies.
- Popularity: Barbu is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 30th in 2014.
Bogdan
Bogdan is best known as a Slavic first name. It’s composed of “bog,” meaning “God,” and “dan,” meaning “gift.” It’s also sometimes associated with the Greek Theodōros and is found regularly in Moldova.
- Origin: Romanian, Slavic
- Meaning: God’s gift
- Pronunciation: BOG-Dahn
- Variations: Bohdan
- Namesakes: Rareș Bogdan, a member of the European Parliament for Romania since 2019. Goran Bogdan, a Croatian actor appearing in the series Fargo.
- Popularity: Bogdan is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 91st in 2014.
Bolboceanu
Bolboceanu is one of the rarest Romanian last names, yet one of the longest. It’s based on the Romanian “bolborosit,” meaning “talkative.” Bolboceanu also refers to a person from the village of Bolbocii Noi in Romania.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Chatty
- Pronunciation: BOHL-boh-See-AH-nuw
- Popularity: Bolboceanu is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania.
Botezatu
Botezatu has a very specific meaning of “a baptizer” or “someone who baptizes Christians at church.” It derives from the Romanian “botez(a),” meaning “christened” and “immersed” or “put in water.”
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: One who baptizes
- Pronunciation: Boh-teh-ZAH-tuw
- Namesakes: Cătălin Botezatu, a Romanian rugby union player for Baia Mare. Gheorghe Botezatu, a Romanian-Russian American engineer hired by the US Army to build a prototype helicopter in 1921.
- Popularity: Botezatu is rare worldwide, mainly used in Romania, and ranked 136th in Moldova in 2014.
Bucur
Bucur was first a given name based on “bucurie,” meaning “joy.” It also means “beautiful” in Albanian. Bucur is the famous Romanian shepherd who founded and named the city of Bucharest.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Joy
- Pronunciation: BUW-cur
- Namesakes: Florica Bucur, a Romanian rower who competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics. Dragoș Bucur, a Romanian actor and TV presenter for the show Visuri la cheie.
- Popularity: Bucur is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, ranking 68th in 2014.
Burcea
Burcea is one of the most obscure Romanian surnames. Its meaning is unknown, yet it’s relatively common in Romania, where its secret is safely kept.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: Buhr-SIY-ah
- Namesakes: Florina-Cristina Burcea-Zamfir, a Romanian handballer for SCM Craiova. Bogdan Burcea, a Romanian handball coach for the Romanian national team.
- Popularity: Burcea is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, where it ranked 243rd in 2014.
Calcan
Calcan is based on the Romanian “călcâi,” meaning “ankle.” While it has a literal meaning, Calcan may also be associated with the Turkish town of Kalkan.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Ankle
- Pronunciation: CAAL-caan
- Namesakes: Andreias Calcan, a Romanian footballer for FC Argeș Pitești.
- Popularity: Calcan is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it’s slightly uncommon.
Călugăru
Călugăru is a geographically based surname for a person from Călugăru. It’s a village in the Botoroaga Commune in Romania, which must be small since Călugăru is very rarely used.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: From Călugăru
- Pronunciation: Cah-LUW-gah-Ruw
- Variations: Călugaru, Cälugäru
- Namesakes: Ion Călugăru (born Ștrul Croitoru), a Romanian novelist of the modernist scene.
- Popularity: Călugăru is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania.
Camelia
Camelia is literally taken from the Camellia flowering shrub, more recognizable as a female first name. Camelia is also based on the Latin “camillus,” meaning a “youthful acolyte” in ancient Roman rituals.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Camellia flower
- Pronunciation: Kaa-MIY-liy-Ah
- Variations: Camilio, Cameli
- Popularity: Camelia is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Indonesia.
Cazacu
Cazacu is a geographical surname for someone who resided “along the Cazacu River” in Romania. Though there’s disagreement, many think Cazacu also means “descendant of Kazakhs,” people who came from Kazakhstan.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Living near the Cazacu river
- Pronunciation: Cah-ZAH-kuw
- Namesakes: Claudia Cazacu, a Romanian DJ who founded the record label “Couture.” Petru Cazacu, the prime minister of the Moldavian Democratic Republic in 1918.
- Popularity: Cazacu is rare worldwide, mainly used in Romania, and ranked 21st in Moldova in 2014.
Cel Tradat
Cel Tradat may look unusual because it’s actually a Wallachian surname from southern Romania. It uses the root “tradat,” meaning “betrayed.” It’s also an Assassin’s Creed game character—Vali cel Tradat, a Wallachian member of the Byzantine Rite of the Templars.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: The betrayed one
- Pronunciation: Chel-TRAH-daat
- Variations: Cel Tradet
Ciobanu
Ciobanu is an old surname for a “shepherd” or “one who tends sheep.” It’s based on the Romanian “cioban,” meaning “shepherd.” While used in Moldova, Ciobanu originally comes from the Turkish Coban, also meaning “shepherd.”
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Shepherd
- Pronunciation: Cho-BAH-nuw
- Namesakes: Ghenadie Ciobanu, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Moldova from 1997 to 2001. Nelly Ciobanu, a Moldovan singer who competed in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009.
- Popularity: Ciobanu is rare worldwide, primarily used in Romania, and ranked 3rd in Moldova in 2014.
Ciucă
Ciucă’s meaning is unclear, but it likely derives from the Latin “ciuco,” meaning “ass” or “foolish person.” Hopefully, people can see through the original meanings to appreciate it.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Fool
- Pronunciation: CHUW-kah
- Namesakes: Eugen Ciucă, a Romanian-American artist who designed The Festive Column monument in Bucharest in 1964. Nicolae Ciucă, the Prime Minister of Romania since 2021.
- Popularity: Ciucă is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 1,093rd in 2014.
Codona
Codon’s meaning is mostly unexplained, except how it originated with the Codoni, a famous gypsy circus family. It first arrived in Scotland in the late 18th-century with Italian-Swiss origins, where it remains most common today.
- Origin: Romanian, Gypsy
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: Coh-DOH-nah
- Namesakes: Alfredo Codona, a Mexican trapeze artist in the “Flying Codonas” family and the first aerialist to continually perform the triple somersault.
- Popularity: Codona is extremely rare worldwide and mainly used in Scotland.
Cojocaru
Cojocaru is both a Romanian and Moldovan surname given to someone who “makes winter coats.” These fur or sheepskin coats are called “cojoc.” It also relates to the Slavic “kožuh,” meaning “fur.”
- Origin: Romanian, Slavic
- Meaning: Furrier
- Pronunciation: Coh-joh-CAAR-uw
- Namesakes: Maxim Cojocaru, a Moldovan footballer for Petrocub Hîncești. Steven Cojocaru, a Canadian TV fashion critic for Access Hollywood.
- Popularity: Cojocaru is rare worldwide, primarily used in Romania, and ranked 16th in Moldova in 2014.
Constantin
Constantin appears among French and Romanian family names as a version of the Greek Konstantinos. Like the first name, it refers to a “steady” man who knows exactly what to do.
- Origin: Romanian, Greek
- Meaning: Constant
- Pronunciation: KHAN-staan-teen
- Variations: Constantine, Konstantin, Konstantyn
- Popularity: Constantin is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, where it ranked 13th in 2014.
Cosma
Cosma was originally a given name taken from the Latin Cosmas. The Greek “kosmos” means “ordered arrangement” or “ordered universe.” It’s also found in Hungary and is the name of a river in Romania.
- Origin: Romanian, Greek
- Meaning: Ornament
- Pronunciation: KOHS-mah
- Variations: Cosmas
- Namesakes: Gheorghe Cosma, a Romanian major general during World War II who took part in the Siege of Odessa. Maria Cosma, a Romanian sprint canoer and silver medalist at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.
- Popularity: Cosma is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 185th in 2014.
Covaci
Covaci is a Romanian variation of the given name Kovač, meaning “forger” or “blacksmith.” Others believe it’s based on “covac,” meaning “bald,” which carries very different connotations.
- Origin: Romanian, Slavic
- Meaning: Blacksmith
- Pronunciation: KOH-vah-Chiy
- Namesakes: Iosif Covaci, a Romanian alpine skier who competed at the 1936 Winter Olympics. Nicu Covaci, a Romanian musician and member of the rock band Phoenix.
- Popularity: Covaci is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 266th in 2014.
Craioveanue
Craioveanue refers to someone from the Romanian city of Craiova. It’s the 7th largest city in Romania and is located in the country’s southwestern part.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: From Craiova
- Pronunciation: Cray-oh-VEH-nuw
- Variations: Craioveanu
- Namesakes: Costin Craioveanu, a modern Romanian artist with more paintings sold than any other artist in Romania.
- Popularity: Craioveanue is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, where it’s slightly uncommon.
Cristian
Cristian is the Romanian spelling of Christian. It also means “anointed one” and is more recognizable for boys who use it as a first name.
- Origin: Romanian, Spanish
- Meaning: Follower of Christ
- Pronunciation: KRIHST-yaen
- Variations: Christian
- Popularity: Cristian is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 319th in 2014.
Croitoru
Croituru was used as an occupational surname because “croitor” is the Romanian word for “tailor.” It’s also a Jewish name that translates from the Hebrew “hayat,” meaning “tailor.”
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Tailor
- Pronunciation: CROAY-toh-Ruw
- Namesakes: Constantin Croitoru, the Romanian Air Force Staff chief from 1974 to 2009. Ion Croitoru, a Canadian wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
- Popularity: Croitoru is rare worldwide, primarily used in Romania, and ranked 78th in Moldova in 2014.
Dalcǎ
Dalcǎ is the Romanian word for “lighting.” There is little information about Dalcǎ other than a shared Turkish heritage. Dalca is also a canoe made by the Chonos, an indigenous people located in Chile.
- Origin: Romanian, Turkish
- Meaning: Lighting
- Pronunciation: DAAL-kah
- Popularity: Dalcǎ is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Turkey.
Darian
Darian is also a Persian unisex name based on Darius. It also means “he who holds firm to good and is hardly found these days as a surname.
- Origin: Romanian, Persian
- Meaning: To possess good
- Pronunciation: DAH-riy-ahn
- Variations: Darin
- Namesakes: Anita Darian, an American New York City Opera performer. Yeghishe Darian, a Lebanese footballer who played with the Lebanon national team.
- Popularity: Darian is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Dascalu
Dascălu is also a place name in Ilfov County, Romania, and Balta Dascălului, a tributary of the Olteț river. There is no information on how it came to mean “teacher,” but it’s relatively common in Romania today.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Teacher
- Pronunciation: DAAS-kah-Luw
- Variations: Dascălu, Dascälu
- Namesakes: Alexandra Dăscalu, a French volleyball player for Baronissi. Mihaela Dascălu, a Romanian speed skater and bronze medalist at the 1994 World Allround Speed Skating Championships.
- Popularity: Dascalu is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 193rd in 2014.
Diaconescu
Diaconescu isn’t often found outside of Romania, possibly because of its specific meaning. It refers to Diaconescu’s mathematical theory stating “the full axiom of choice is sufficient to derive the law of the excluded middle.” Try repeating that three times in a row!
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Mathematical theory
- Pronunciation: DAEY-ah-Koh-NESS-kuw
- Namesakes: Cristian Diaconescu, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2009. Ioana Diaconescu, a Romanian freestyle swimmer and gold medalist at the 2000 European LC Championships.
- Popularity: Diaconescu is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 270th in 2014.
Dobrin
Dobrin is based on the Slavic first name Dobrin, with the root “dobr,” meaning “good.” The Slavic “dobr” also means ”wood” and “forest.”
- Origin: Romanian, Slavic
- Meaning: Kind
- Pronunciation: Doh-BREEN
- Namesakes: Neta Dobrin, an Israeli member of the Knesset between February and April 2006. Sergei Dobrin, a Russian figure skater and the two-time ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist.
- Popularity: Dobrin is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it ranked 296th in 2014.
Dumitrache
Dumitrache refers to a “descendant of Dumitru,” the first name equivalent to Demetrius in Greek. It means “devoted to Demeter,” the ancient Greek goddess of grain and agriculture.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Descendent of Dumitru
- Pronunciation: Duw-mih-TRAHK-eh
- Variations: Dumitru
- Namesakes: Florea Dumitrache, a Romanian footballer for Dinamo București. Cristiana Dumitrache, the Romanian head of the Astrophysical Institute at the Astronomical Observatory of the Romanian Academy.
- Popularity: Dumitrache is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, ranking 111th in 2014.
Dumitru
Dumitru is also a personal name corresponding to the Greek Demetrious. It’s made up of “gê,” meaning “land” and “soil,” and “mā́tēr,” meaning “mother” or “source.” Demeter was believed to be “Mother Earth” in ancient cultures.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Devoted to Demeter
- Pronunciation: Duw-MIH-truw
- Variations: Dumitrache
- Namesakes: Nicolao Dumitru, an Italian footballer for Bnei Sakhnin. Dumitru Alexe, a Romanian sprint canoeist and gold medalist at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Dumitru is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, where it ranked 5th in 2014.
Enache
Enache works as a nickname for Ion, or John. The suffix “-ache” comes from the Greek suffix “-akis,” which formulates a patronymic surname for the “son of Ene.”
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Descendent of Ene
- Pronunciation: Eh-NACK-eh
- Namesakes: Ion Enache, a Romanian wrestler who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Toma Enache, a Romanian film director of I’m Not Famous but I’m Aromanian, the first film in the Aromanian language.
- Popularity: Enache is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 37th in 2014.
Ermer
Ermer is a shorter variation of an ancient German name. It’s made up of the German “erm,” meaning “all-encompassing great.” It’s one of the few Romanian last names that share German origins.
- Origin: Romanian, German
- Meaning: All-encompassing great
- Pronunciation: EHR-mehr
- Variations: Erner
- Namesakes: Cal Ermer, an American baseball player and recipient of The Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year award (1958).
- Popularity: Erner is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Germany.
Fischer
Fischer is common in Germany and made its way to Romania while still meaning “fisherman.” It comes from the Middle German “visch,” meaning “fish.” While it’s somewhat common in France, Fischer occurs less in Romania overall.
- Origin: Romanian, German
- Meaning: Fisherman
- Pronunciation: FIH-shur
- Variations: Ficher, Fisscher, Fisher, Fissher
- Namesakes: Carlos Fischer, the President of Uruguay from 1958 to 1959. Jiří Fischer, a Czech ice hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings.
- Popularity: Fischer ranked 883rd worldwide and is mainly used in Germany, ranking 4th in 2014.
Floarea
Floarea is the Romanian word for “flower,” which is all the information available on Floarea. Though still common in Romania, it may appear as the boy’s name Florian, taken from the Roman Florianus.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Flower
- Pronunciation: FLOH-riy-Ah
- Popularity: Florarea is rare worldwide and is mainly used in Romania, where it ranked 782nd in 2014.
Funar
Funar is an occupational name used for a person who constructs ropes. Though super rare, it made its way to a Romanian mayor, so Funars may be going places.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Ropemaker
- Pronunciation: FUW-Naar
- Namesakes: Gheorghe Funar, the Romanian mayor of Cluj-Napoca between 1992 and 2004.
- Popularity: Fubar is extremely rare worldwide, with 64 occurrences worldwide, primarily in Romania.
Gheata
Few other Romanian surnames have less information about them than Gheata. It’s the literal Romanian word for “ice,” so it feels far less spooky than old vampire stories.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Ice
- Pronunciation: JHAH-Tah
- Popularity: Gheata is extremely rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania.
Gheorghe
Gheorghe is the Romanian version of George. It’s often used as a first name based on the Greek Geōrgios, yet it has been in the top 10 Romanian last names for some time.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Earthworker
- Pronunciation: Giy-OHR-geh
- Variations: George, Georgios
- Namesakes: Elena Gheorghe, a Romanian singer with the pop group Mandinga. Nicolae Gheorghe, a Romanian human rights activist who founded the Centre for Social Intervention and Studies in 1993.
- Popularity: Gheorghe is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 8th in 2014.
Grigorescu
Grigorescu means “son of Grigore,” the Romanian version of Gregory. Saint Gregory the Illuminator made it popular as both a first name and surname in the Eastern Orthodox world.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Son of Grigore
- Pronunciation: Griy-gor-RHES-kuw
- Namesakes: Nicolae Grigorescu, a Romanian artist and one of the founders of modern Romanian painting. Alexandra Grigorescu, a Romanian author of Cauchemar and the 2016 nominee for the Sunburst Award.
- Popularity: Grigorescu is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 375th in 2014.
Grosu
Grosu comes from the Romanian “gros,” meaning “stout” and “bulky.” It also means “coarse,” so it’s the most refined of Romanian last names.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Thick
- Pronunciation: GROH-suw
- Variations: Grossu
- Namesakes: Aneta Grosu, a Moldovan journalist and editor-in-chief of the Ziarul de Gardă newspaper. Alina Grosu, a Ukrainian-Romanian singer who competed in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
- Popularity: Grosu is rare worldwide, mostly used in Romania, and ranked 13th in Moldova in 2014.
Hagi
Hagi derives from the Arabic “hajji,” a title given to a Muslim who made the pilgrimage to Mecca. It’s also a nickname using the Romanian root “hagi(u),” meaning “pilgrim,” which came from Turkey. Hagi is also a Japanese name meaning “bush clover,” which is far less spiritual.
- Origin: Romanian, Arabic
- Meaning: Pilgrim
- Pronunciation: HAH-giy
- Variations: Hadži, Hadzhi
- Namesakes: Mohamed Yusuf Haji, the Kenyan Minister of Defence from 2008 to 2013. Seamus Haji, an English DJ whose cover “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life” was number one on the UK dance chart.
- Popularity: Hagi is rare worldwide, mainly used in Japan, and ranked 252nd in the Solomon Islands in 2014.
Hatmanu
Hatmanu is an impressive Romanian word meaning “general.” It’s incredibly rare but still feels like a powerful title for any Romanian to enjoy.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: General
- Pronunciation: HAAT-maa-Nuw
- Popularity: Hatmanu is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania.
Ilie
Ilie is also a Romanian boy’s name meaning “the Lord is my God.” It’s the Romanian form of Elias, yet it still sounds cute enough for a little guy to enjoy.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Lord is my God
- Pronunciation: IH-liy
- Namesakes: Giulian Ilie, a Romanian boxer and the IBF International cruiserweight champion. Lucian Ilie, a Romanian footballer for Rapid Bucharest.
- Popularity: Ilie is extremely rare worldwide and mostly used in Niger.
Ionescu
Ionescu means “son/descendant of Ion.” Ion is the Romanian variation of John, which may be why Ionescu is quite popular there today.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Son of John
- Pronunciation: AY-oh-NESS-kuw
- Variations: Ionesco, Jonesco
- Namesakes: Constantin Ionescu, a Romanian chess player and the 1999 Romanian Chess Championship winner. Sabrina Ionescu, an American basketball player for the New York Liberty of the WNBA.
- Popularity: Ionescu is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 15th in 2014.
Iordanescu
Iordanescu is based on the Romanian given name Iordan, which corresponds to Jordan. It originated with the Hebrew “yardên,” meaning “descender” and “flow down.” The River Jordan is the ultimate inspiration for Iordanescu.
- Origin: Romanian, Bulgarian
- Meaning: Son/descendant of Iordan
- Pronunciation: Ay-Ohr-dah-NESS-kuw
- Popularity: Iordanescu is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 1,815th in 2014.
Lăcustă
Lăcustă is based on “locusta,” meaning both “locust” and “lobster.” Other words seem to be connected too, like “lacertus,” meaning “lizard,” and “lacus,”meaning “lake.” It may have even originated with the Latin “iocusta,” meaning “grasshopper.”
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Locust
- Pronunciation: Lah-KOOS-tah
- Variations: Lagosta, Llangosta
- Namesakes: Florian Lăcustă, a Romanian footballer with the Romania national football team. Larisa Lăcustă, a Romanian swimmer and silver medalist at the 1997 FINA Short Course World Championships.
- Popularity: Lăcustă is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania.
Lazarescu
Lazarescu is based on the first name Lazar, which comes from the Hebrew Eleazar. It means “God helps” and has helped create one of many long Romanian last names.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Descendent of Lazar
- Pronunciation: Lah-zah-RES-kuw
- Variations: Lăzărescu, Läzärescu
- Namesakes: Nae Lăzărescu, a Romanian actor famous for work with the Constantin Tănase Theater. Marian Lăzărescu, a Romanian luger who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Popularity: Lazarescu is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 633rd in 2014.
Luminita
Luminita is a memorable surname that derives from the Romanian “lumină,” meaning “light.” It becomes “little light” with the diminutive “luminiță.” As a girl’s name, Luminita ranked 147th in Romania in 2014. In Spanish, it’s a girl’s name meaning “illuminating.”
- Origin: Romanian, Spanish
- Meaning: Little light
- Pronunciation: loo-mee-NEE-tsa
- Popularity: Luminita is extremely rare worldwide, with 119 occurrences in 2014, primarily in Romania.
Lupu
Lupu comes from the Romanian “lup,” meaning “wolf.” Like many old surnames, Lupu was once used to describe personal characteristics. In this case, it’s used for someone who resembles or acts like a “wolf.”
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Wolf
- Pronunciation: LUW-puw
- Variations: Lupo, Loup, Lopo
- Namesakes: Nataliia Lupu, a Ukrainian runner who competed at the 2010 World Indoor Championships. Sabin Lupu, a Romanian footballer for CSO Filiași. Radu Lupu, a Romanian pianist and winner of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition (1969).
- Popularity: Lupu is rare worldwide, mostly used in Romania, and ranked 30th in Moldova in 2014.
Maier
Maier is possibly associated with the Romanian “farmier,” meaning “farmer.” It’s also a German surname relating to “meier,” meaning “administrator.”
- Origin: Romanian, German
- Meaning: Farmer
- Pronunciation: MEY-ehr
- Variations: Meyer
- Namesakes: Lothar Maier, a German member of the Bundestag since 2017. Hermann Maier, an Austrian alpine ski racer and gold medalist at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Popularity: Maier is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in Germany, and ranked 21st in Austria in 2014.
Marcu
Marcu, like Mark, Marc, and Marco, derives from the Latin personal name Marcus. It was used for an ancient Roman follower of Mars, the Roman god of war and agriculture.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Follower of Mars
- Pronunciation: MAAR-kuw
- Variations: Marco
- Namesakes: Valeriu Marcu, a Romanian poet of the first biography of Vladimir Lenin. Gavorielle Marcu, a Romanian tennis player who competed at the 1974 French Open.
- Popularity: Marcu is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 78th in 2014.
Matei
Matei is a Romanian variation of Matthew, meaning “gift of God.” As a boy’s name, it ranked 360th in 2014.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Pronunciation: Mah-TAY
- Namesakes: Adrian Matei, a Romanian figure skater and a four-time Romanian national silver medalist. Valeriu Matei, a member of the Parliament of Moldova from 1990.
- Popularity: Matei is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 9th in 2014.
Mazilu
Mazilu is practically unknown among Romanian, Moldovan, and Transylvanian last names. It occurs mostly in Romania, followed by Moldova, then Spain, America, and Italy.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: MAA-zih-Luw
- Namesakes: Dumitru Mazilu, a Romanian politician who took part in the Romanian Revolution in 1989.
- Popularity: Mazilu is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it ranked 314th in 2014.
Mihăescu
Mihăescu was originally the traditional name given to the family of a man called Mihâlcea. When the Romanian “escu” suffix is added, it connotes his family members. Mihâlcea is the Romanian version of Michael.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: From the family of Mihâlcea
- Pronunciation: MIY-haey-Ehs-kuw
- Namesakes: Mădălin Mihăescu, a Romanian footballer for CSA Steaua București. Eugen Mihăescu, a Romanian member of the European Parliament since 2007.
- Popularity: Mihăescu is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, ranking 929th in 2014.
Mitrea
Mitrea means “administrator” when taken from its original Greek origins. It might be associated with the Greek Minos, the king of Crete, central to the Minotaur.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Administrator
- Pronunciation: MAEY-triy-Ah
- Namesakes: Ionuţ Mitrea, a Romanian sprint canoeist for Dynamo Bucharest Sports Club. Miron Mitrea, a member of the Romanian Senate from 2008 to 2012.
- Popularity: Mitrea is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, where it ranked 361st in 2014.
Moldovan
Moldovan also means “son of or descendant of someone from Moldova.” Many Romanian last names involve Moldova, a region in the Eastern part of Romania. It’s a powerful location deep in the Carpathian mountains, where many horror tales were created.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: From Moldova
- Pronunciation: MOHL-doh-vaan
- Namesakes: Vasile Moldovan, a Romanian gymnast who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Leonte Moldovan, the Romanian Senate President from 1934 to 1935.
- Popularity: Moldovan is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 25th in 2014.
Morariu
Morariu is the Romanian word for “miller,” but it’s a mystery beyond that fact. Many modern Romanians have the name, so it’s still relatively popular today.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Miller
- Pronunciation: Moh-RAH-riy-uw
- Namesakes: Ana Caterina Morariu, a Romanian-Italian actress appearing in the 2005 French miniseries Les Rois maudits. Octavian Morariu, the president of Rugby Europe.
- Popularity: Morariu is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 366th in 2014.
Musat
Musat has connections with the Aromanian people of the southern Balkans. It’s also the name of the House of Bogdan-Muşat, the dynasty of rulers who established what is now Moldova.
- Origin: Romanian, Arabic
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Pronunciation: MUW-saat
- Variations: Muscat
- Namesakes: Simona Muşat, a Romanian rower who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Nicolae Mușat, a Romanian footballer for Khazar Lankaran.
- Popularity: Musat is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 213th in 2014.
Nectaria
Nectaria comes from the Greek “néktar,” meaning “overcoming death.” It referred to a drink made of honey consumed by the gods. Religious clergy used some versions of Nectaria, but they are more often found in Cyprus and Greece today.
- Origin: Romanian, Greek
- Meaning: Nectar
- Pronunciation: Nek-TAAR-iy-Ah
- Variations: Nectarios, Nektarios, Nectarius
- Popularity: Nectaria is very rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 1,941st in Cyprus in 2014.
Negrescu
Nergescu comes from the Romanian “negru,” meaning “black.” It’s one of many Romanian last names based on colors. This one may have been used for someone with a dark complexion or black hair.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Black
- Pronunciation: Neh-GRES-kuw
- Namesakes: Ion Negrescu, the Romanian mayor of Chișinău from 1928 to 1931. Igor Negrescu, a Moldavian football coach for FC Dacia Chişinău.
- Popularity: Negescu is very rare worldwide, primarily used in Romania, and ranked 880th in Moldova in 2014.
Nicolae
Nicolae is also a boy’s name and is the equivalent of Nicholas. It’s made up of the Greek ”nikē,” meaning “’victory,” and “laos,” meaning “people.” Little Romanian girls with this name are named Nicoleta.
- Origin: Romanian, Greek
- Meaning: Victor of the people
- Pronunciation: NIK-oh-Laey
- Variations: Niculae
- Namesakes: Petre Nicolae, a Romanian actor appearing in Pas în doi (1985).
- Popularity: Nicolae is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, where it ranked 58th in 2014.
Olarescu
Olarescu is an occupational surname using the Romanian root “olaru,” meaning “potter.” It’s one of many variations of Olar, along with Olaru, Olari, and Olaroiu.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Son of Olaru
- Pronunciation: Ow-lah-RES-kuw
- Popularity: Olarescu is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Moldova, ranking 1,782nd in 2014.
Oprea
Oprea comes from the Romanian “opri,” meaning “stop” or “halt.” It’s a part of traditional Romanian folklore for someone with too many children. “Oprea” was a wish for no more children in the family.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Stop
- Pronunciation: OP-riy-Ah
- Namesakes: Leonard Oprea, a Romanian novelist known for the book series Theophil Magus. Vasile Oprea, a Romanian handball player and bronze medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Opera is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 22nd in 2014.
Panait
Panait originated with the Greek Panagiotis. It’s also a boy’s name that appears as Panayot in Bulgarian, although its meaning is unknown.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: Pahn-ay-IYT
- Variations: Panaiot, Panaiote, Panaiut, Panaet, Panaitache
- Namesakes: Enache Panait, a Romanian wrestler who competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Ion Panait, a Romanian Greco-Roman wrestler and silver medalist at the 2008 European Wrestling Championships.
- Popularity: Panait is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 168th in 2014.
Păun
Păun means “peacock” in Romanian. Peacocks are considered the prettiest and most regal birds around. It may have been used as a nickname for someone who took great pride in their appearance.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Peacock
- Pronunciation: Pao-UYN
- Variations: Payun
- Namesakes: Georgian Păun, a Romanian footballer for Dinamo București. Emilian Galaicu-Păun, an author and member of the Writers’ Union of Moldova.
- Popularity: Păun is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it ranked 118th in 2014.
Pekrul
Though found more in Poland, Pekrul comes from the German Peker. It was given to people who made spears since “pek” means “spear” in German.
- Origin: Romanian, Polish
- Meaning: Spear maker
- Pronunciation: PEK-ruwl
- Popularity: Pekrul is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Pichler
Pichler is typically found in Austria and has German roots. It uses the root “pichl,” meaning ‘hill.” Pichler also relates to the Old German “Buehel,” given to farmers.
- Origin: Romanian, German
- Meaning: Hill
- Pronunciation: PITCH-ler
- Namesakes: Gabriela Pichler, a Swedish filmmaker and winner of a 2010 Guldbagge Award at the 45th Guldbagge Awards. Ralph Pichler, a Swiss bobsledder and gold medalist at the FIBT World Championships.
- Popularity: Pichler is rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 6th in 2014.
Popa
Popa derives from the Romanian “popă,” meaning “priest” or “pope.” It was used as a title for priests in the Orthodox Church. Popa also indicates a pious person and is the top surname in Romania.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Priest
- Pronunciation: POW-pah
- Variations: Popescu
- Namesakes: Toma Popa, a Romanian chess player and the 1948 Romanian Chess Championship winner. Constantin Popa, a Romanian-Israeli basketball player for Dinamo Bucharest.
- Popularity: Popa is uncommon worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it ranked number one in 2014.
Popescu
Popescu is a companion name to Popa, meaning “priest.” The classic Romanian suffix “-escu” becomes “son of.” It follows Popa as Poland’s second most popular surname, so it is as traditional as it gets.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Son of a priest
- Pronunciation: Poh-PES-koo
- Variations: Popesco
- Namesakes: Constantin Popescu-Tăriceanu, the Prime Minister of Romania from 2004 to 2008. Stela Popescu, a Romanian actress whose voice appeared in the film Cars.
- Popularity: Popescu is uncommon worldwide and primarily used in Romania, ranking 2nd in 2014.
Răceanu
Little information is available on the Romanian surname Răceanu. It’s primarily used in Romania but is still mildly uncommon there.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: Rah-ciy-AH-nuw
- Namesakes: Grigore Răceanu, a Romanian politician and opponent of Nicolae Ceaușescu. Mircea Răceanu, a Romanian diplomat and the first secretary at the Embassy of Romania in Washington, D.C., from 1974 to 1979.
- Popularity: Răceanu is very rare worldwide.
Radu
Radu has a long history and is associated with the Bulgarian “radost” and the Russian “radosti,” meaning “joyful.” Most Slavic cultures use the same root, “rad,” meaning “glad.”
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Joyful
- Pronunciation: RAA-duw
- Namesakes: Cosmin Radu, a Romanian water polo player and vice-president of the Romanian Water Polo Federation. Paul Radu, a Romanian investigative journalist, and director of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
- Popularity: Radu is uncommon worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it ranked 4th in 2014.
Razvan
Razvan may be related to the Arabic “Rizwan,” meaning “pleased” and “satisfaction.” Many Romanian and Transylvanian surnames come from the Dacians, an ancient group who once inhabited Romania before the Romans.
- Origin: Romanian, Arabic
- Meaning: One who brings good news
- Pronunciation: REHZ-Vohn
- Popularity: Razvan is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania.
Romanescu
Romanescu specifically means “from the family of Roman.” Since the 1st-century, Romans occupied what is now Romania, along with the Dacians. Romanescu Park is also called the People’s Park in Craiova, Romania. It was built on the site of the noble Bibescu family.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Son of Roman
- Pronunciation: Roh-mah-NES-kuw
- Variations: Romänescu
- Namesakes: Marcel Romanescu, a Romanian poet and attaché to the legation at the Vatican from 1921 to 1923. Elena Alistar-Romanescu, a Bessarabian-Romanian politician and member of the Sfatul Țării council.
- Popularity: Romanescu is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 1,064th in 2014.
Roşu
Roşu is one of many Romanian and Transylvanian last names taken from colors. It’s also a nickname for red-haired people taken from the Latin “roseus.”
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Red
- Pronunciation: ROH-suw
- Variations: Rošu, Rosú
- Namesakes: Pelaghia Roșu, a Romanian revolutionary who took part in the 1848 Wallachian Revolution. Alexandru Roșu, a Romanian weightlifter who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Roşu is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it ranked 92nd in 2014.
Sasan
Sasan uses the Romanian root “sas” to describe a German person. It’s also the Arabic name of the founder of the Sasani dynasty, who ruled modern-day Iran.
- Origin: Romanian, Arabic
- Meaning: German, founder of the Sasani dynasty
- Pronunciation: Sah-SAWN
- Variations: Sassan
- Namesakes: Lovey Sasan, an Indian actress known for Saath Nibhaana Saathiya.
- Popularity: Sasan is rare worldwide and primarily used in Iran.
Sebastian
Sebastian also means “reverence.” It was also used in ancient Rome as the Latin Sebastianus, meaning “from Sebaste.” Sebaste is a place in Turkey today, but it influences this surname, which is very popular as a boy’s name.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Venerable
- Pronunciation: Seh-BAES-chuhn
- Variations: Sebastien
- Namesakes: John Sebastian, an American musician and founder of the band The Lovin’ Spoonful. Guy Sebastian, an Malaysian-Australian singer and winner of the first Australian Idol in 2003.
- Popularity: Sebastian is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Tanzania, ranking 193rd in 2014.
Serban
Serban also means “someone from Serbia.” It comes from the Romanian “şerb,” meaning “serf” and “slave,” but is only common in Romania and almost nowhere else.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Servant
- Pronunciation: SER-bahn
- Namesakes: Constantin II Șerban, Prince of Wallachia from 1654 to 1658. Rareș Șerban, a Canadian soccer player for Cavalry FC.
- Popularity: Serban is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, where it ranked 31st in 2014.
Simionescu
Simionescu also means “descendant of Simion,” the Romanian equivalent to Simon. Simon means “to listen” in Hebrew and represents an example of a classic male name turned into a surname.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Son of Simion
- Pronunciation: SIH-mih-Ah-NES-Kuw
- Namesakes: Mariana Simionescu, a Romanian tennis player who played on the WTA Tour from 1973 to 1980. Vlăduț Simionescu, a Romanian judoka who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Simionescu is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, ranking 418th in 2014.
Spânu
Spânu is an unknown Romanian name and may relate to Spano, a nickname from Sardinia. It’s based on the Latin “spanus,” meaning “light chestnut gray.”
- Origin: Romanian, Latin
- Meaning: Light gray
- Pronunciation: SPAH-nuw
- Popularity: Spânu is rare worldwide and mostly used in Italy, where it ranked 1,327th in 2014.
Stefan
Stefan also means “descendant of Stefan,” based on the male name Stephen. Ninety percent of people with the surname Stefan live in Romania, while it ranked 886th worldwide as a boy’s name.
- Origin: Romanian, Polish
- Meaning: Garland
- Pronunciation: Steh-FAHN
- Namesakes: Oleg Stefan (born Oleg Shtefanko), a Soviet-Russian actor appearing in The Good Shepherd. Karl Stefan, a Czech-American member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1935 to 1951.
- Popularity: Stefan is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 39th in 2014.
Stoian
Stoian also means “stay” or “one who stands firmly.” It’s related to the Bulgarian Stoyan and is often used as a boy’s name.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Remain
- Pronunciation: STOY-ahn
- Namesakes: Nicolae Stoian, a Romanian volleyball player who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics. Monica Stoian, a Romanian javelin thrower and silver medalist at the 2007 Summer Universiade.
- Popularity: Stoian is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 62nd in 2014.
Surdul
Surdul is associated with the Romanian surname Surdu, itself a version of “surdo.” A surdo is a bass drum that originated in the Near East. Surdul is also a village in Vranje, Serbia.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: SUR-duhl
- Popularity: Surdul is very rare worldwide, mostly used in Ukraine, and ranked 1,110th in Transnistria in 2014.
Suta
Suta is a rare example of a Romanian and Transylvanian surname also used in India. It’s even an Indian girl’s name meaning “begotten.”
- Origin: Romanian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Left-handed
- Pronunciation: SUW-tah
- Namesakes: Khassaraporn Suta, a Thai weightlifter and bronze medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Jocelino Suta, a French rugby union player for RC Toulonnais.
- Popularity: Suta is rare worldwide, mainly used in Indonesia, and ranked 1,253rd in Romania in 2014.
Tarniceriu
Tarniceriu describes the occupation of a “saddler” who constructed and repaired saddles for horses. It’s almost extinct, but might have Romani origins in a culture that cherishes horses.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Saddler
- Pronunciation: Taar-nih-SEH-riy-Uw
- Popularity: Tarniceriu is extremely rare worldwide, with only 19 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in Romania.
Toma
Toma is a Romanian version of Thomas, connected to the Aramaic “t’om’a,” meaning “twin.” Toma can also mean “date palm tree” in Hebrew, taken from the Arabic Tamar.
- Origin: Romanian, Hebrew
- Meaning: Twin
- Pronunciation: TOH-mah
- Namesakes: Svetlana Toma, a Soviet actress known for the film Queen of the Gypsies. Sanda Toma, a Romanian sprint canoer and bronze medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Toma is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Romania, ranking 18th in 2014.
Turca
Turca is a variation of Turco, a nickname used for someone from Turkey. It was also used in medieval times for an impatient person.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Turk
- Pronunciation: TUHRK-ah
- Variations: Turco
- Popularity: Turca is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania.
Ungureanu
Ungureanu is a name for someone from Hungary. Many believe it was actually used for those from Transylvania, once part of Hungary.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Hungarian
- Pronunciation: UHN-Guh-riy-Ah-nuw
- Namesakes: Emil Ungureanu, a Romanian chess player and the Romanian Chess Championships medalist in 1975. Paula-Claudia Ungureanu, a Romanian handballer for Rapid București.
- Popularity: Ungureanu is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 27th in 2014.
Vacarescu
Vacarescu is famous in Romania due to the House of Văcărescu. They were a Wallachian noble family who left little information about this royal-sounding name.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: Vah-cah-RES-kuw
- Namesakes: Marițica Bibescu (born Maria Văcărescu), the Princess-consort of Wallachia from 1845 to 1848. Mihail Văcărescu (known as Claymoor), a Wallachian-Romanian fashion journalist and a contributor to L’Indépendence Roumaine.
- Popularity: Vacarescu is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Romania.
Vaduva
Vaduva comes from the Latin “vidua,” meaning “widow.” It may sound like the name of a vampire in a Romanian horror folktale, but it has a pretty straightforward meaning.
- Origin: Romanian, Latin
- Meaning: Widow
- Pronunciation: Vah-DUW-vah
- Namesakes: Ilie Văduva, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania from 1985 to 1986. Leontina Vaduva, a Romanian opera singer and winner of the Laurence Olivier Opera Award.
- Popularity: Vaduva is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 228th in 2014.
Vulpe
Vulpe is the literal Romanian word for “fox.” It’s one of many animal surnames found globally, like Hare, Pheasant, and Wolf.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Fox
- Pronunciation: VULP-ey
- Namesakes: Bishop Nicodim (born Ioan Vulpe), a Bishop in Edineț and Briceni with the Russian Orthodox Church in Moldova. Alexandru Vulpe, a Romanian archaeologist and director of the Vasile Pârvan Institute of Archaeology.
- Popularity: Vulpe is rare worldwide and primarily used in Romania, where it ranked 481st in 2014.
Weber
Weber originated as a German occupational term for a weaver. Germans are one of the more prominent ethnic minorities in Romania, so their names make a statement.
- Origin: Romanian, German
- Meaning: Weaver
- Pronunciation: WEH-ber
- Variations: Webber
- Namesakes: Alain Weber, a French composer awarded The Grand Prix du disque français in 1982 for La Rivière Perdue. Jon Weber, an American pianist and host of Piano Jazz With Jon Weber on NPR.
- Popularity: Weber ranked 838th worldwide, is mostly used in Germany and ranked 3rd in Luxembourg in 2014.
Zamfir
Zamfir derives from the Slavic “samfirŭ,” meaning “sapphire.” There’s also a town called Zamfir in Bulgaria, where there may or may not be a lot of sapphires found.
- Origin: Romanian, Slavic
- Meaning: Sapphire
- Pronunciation: ZAHM-fiyr
- Namesakes: Florina-Cristina Burcea-Zamfir, a Romanian handballer for SCM Craiova. Gheorghe Zamfir, a Romanian musician called “The Master of the Pan Flute.”
- Popularity: Zamfir is rare worldwide and mainly used in Romania, ranking 117th in 2014.
Zugravescu
Zugravescu more specifically means “son of the one who describes or portrays the past.” It’s quite rare, but a great example of long Romanian names with unique meanings.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Portray, depict
- Pronunciation: Zuw-grah-VES-kuw
- Namesakes: Dorel Zugrăvescu, a Romanian geophysicist and honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. Gabriel Zugrăvescu, a Romanian handball player with the Romania women’s national handball team.
- Popularity: Zugravescu is extremely rare worldwide, with 90 occurrences in 2014, primarily in Romania.
Romanian Family Names FAQs
How do Romanian Last Names Work?
Romanian last names are traditionally patronymic in style. They often have suffixes like “-escu” and “-eanu.” If Ivan is the father’s name, the family name may be Ioveanu, meaning “son of Ivan.” Other Romanian surnames may reflect a nickname, a physical characteristic, or a place. For example, Cazacu is a last name of a person who lived on the Cazacu River.
What is the Most Common Romanian Last Name?
Some of the most popular Romanian last names are Popa, meaning “priest,” and Popescu, meaning “priest’s son/daughter.” Though slightly uncommon worldwide, Popa ranked #1 in Romania in 2014. Popescu ranked #2 and is also mildly uncommon in the rest of the world.
