A freeborn person of Il Senso is typically given three names at birth. The first name is called a praenomen. The second name is the nomen gentile or clan name. The third name, the cognomen, is the name of the family branch. Nicknames either achieved by events fortunate or unfortunate can also be used.

Women usually recieve a nomen that is the feminine form of the father's nomen. A daughter of a man Cornelius might be named Cornelia. If there had been more than one daughter in the Cornelian family, the older could be called Cornelia Major and the younger Cornelia Minor. A third daughter could be named Cornelia Tertia! Of course, a name could be modified to indicate affection, as when a father addresses his daughter Tullia, as Tulliola ('little Tullia').

Praenomina
The praenomina is perhaps the closest equivalent to a modern day first name.

Cognomina
A cognomen often originated in a descriptive nickname that came to be passed down the family line. For example, a person who lost their right hand might become known as 'Scaevola' which translates as 'Lefty.'

A cognomen could refer to a quality or state of mind, such as Felix (fortunate); the color of your hair, such as Rufus (red); a hobby, such as Saltator/Saltatrix (male/female dancer) or Artifex (artist), Arcanus (magician).

Agnomina
 Sometimes a second cognomen, called an agnomen, was added. These descriptive names could further distinguish one branch of a family from another. The agnomen might refer to high political office that an ancestor had held or could be given as an honor to a man who had distinguished himself in war. The agnomen would then be the name of the campaign or after the region in which honor was gained. Such agnomina could become hereditary.