This list includes countries and regions in the current common definition of the Balkans that were part of the Roman Empire, or that were given Latin place names in historical references.
Until the Modern Era, Latin was the common language for scholarship and mapmaking. During the 19th and 20th centuries, German scholars in particular have made significant contributions to the study of historical place names, or Ortsnamenkunde. These studies have, in turn, contributed to the study of genealogy. For genealogists and historians of pre-Modern Europe, knowing alternate names of places is vital to extracting information from both public and private records. Even specialists in this field point out, however, that the information can be easily taken out of context, since there is a great deal of repetition of place names throughout Europe; reliance purely on apparent connections should therefore be tempered with valid historical methodology.
Latin place names are not always exclusive to one place – for example, there were several Roman cities whose names began with Colonia and then a more descriptive term. During the Middle Ages, these were often shortened to just Colonia. One of these, Colonia Agrippinensis, retains the name today in the form of Cologne.
Early sources for Roman names show numerous variants and spellings of the Latin names.
The modern canonical name is listed first. Sources are listed chronologically. In general, only the earliest source is shown for each name, although many of the names are recorded in more than one of the sources. Where the source differs in spelling, or has other alternatives, these are listed following the source. As an aid to searching, variants are spelled completely, and listed in most likely chronology.
Superscripts indicate:
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Amantia | Amantia | |
| Antigonea | Gjirokastër | |
| Antipatrea | Berat | |
| Apollonia | Fier | |
| Aulona | Vlorë | |
| Buthrotum | Butrint | |
| Bylis | Ballsh | |
| Dyrrhachium (2PG15: Epidaurus) | Durrës | |
| Lissus (2PG15) | Lezhë - Lyssos | |
| Scodra (2PG15) | Shkodër - Shkodra - Scutari | |
| Tyrana (GOL) | Tirana | |
| Valebona | Tropojë |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Aquae Sulphurae | Ilidža | |
| Neuense | ||
| Pelva | Livno - Ludricensis | |
| Saloniana (2PG15) | Mostar - Vitrinica | |
| Salvia (2PG15), Salvium | Glamoč | |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Abritum, Abrittus | Razgrad | |
| Aetus, Astus, Idus, Aquilia | Aytos | |
| Almus, Artanus | Lom | |
| Anchialus | Pomorie | |
| Apollonia Pontica, Appolonia Magna, Antheia, Sozopolis | Sozopol | |
| Augusta Traiana, Augustra Trajana | Stara Zagora | |
| Aurea | Zlatitsa | |
| Bononia | Vidin | |
| Copsis | Karlovo | |
| Debeltum, Pyrgus | Burgas | |
| Diocletianopolis | Hisarya | |
| Dionysopolis | Balchik | |
| Diospolis | Yambol | |
| Durostorum | Silistra | |
| Escus, Oescus | Gigen | |
| Germanea | Separeva Banya | |
| Magura Piatra, Regianum, Camistrum, Augusta | Kozloduy | |
| Marcianopolis | Devnya | |
| Melta, Praesidium, Caesaria | Lovech | |
| Menebria, Mesembria, Metropolis Nova | Nesebar | |
| Montana, Municipium Montanensium | Montana | |
| Nicopolis | Nikopol | |
| Nicopolis ad Istrum | Nikyup (20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo) | |
| Nicopolis ad Nestum, Neurocopia | Gotse Delchev, Nevrokop | |
| Novae | Svishtov | |
| Odessus¹ | Varna | |
| Pautalia | Kyustendil | |
| Peronticus, Agathopolis | Ahtopol | |
| Archar | ||
| Scaptopara | Blagoevgrad | |
| Serdica | Sofia | |
| Sexaginta Prista | Ruse | |
| Stenimachus | Asenovgrad | |
| Stipum | Ihtiman | |
| Storgosia | Pleven | |
| Trimontium, Philippopolis | Plovdiv | |
| Ulpia Oescus, Palatiolum | Gigen | |
| Valve | Vratsa |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Aenona (2PG15) | Nin (Nona) | |
| Aequum (2PG15) | Čitluk, near Sinj Split-Dalmatia County | |
| Albona | Labin (Albona) | |
| Ščitarjevo near Zagreb | ||
| Aqua Balissae | Daruvar | |
| Petrijanec near Varaždin | ||
| Aquama | Čakovec | |
| Cibalae | Vinkovci | |
| Epidaurus (2PG15), Epidauros | Cavtat | |
| Flanona (2PG15) | Plomin (Fianona) | |
| Flumen | Rijeka (Fiume), (Terra Fluminis Sancti Viti) | |
| Iadera (2PG15: Iader) | Zadar (Zara) | |
| Issa (2PG15) | Vis (Lissa) | |
| Lopsica (2PG15) | Sveti Juraj | |
| Marsonia | Slavonski Brod | |
| Mursa | Osijek | |
| Narona (2PG15) | Vid, near Metković | |
| Neapolis-Aemonia | Novigrad (Cittanova) | |
| Nesactium | Vizače | |
| Oneum (2PG15: Onaeum) | Omiš | |
| Parentium | Poreč (Parenzo) | |
| Petina | Pićan (Pedena) | |
| Pharus | Hvar (Lesina) | |
| Piquentum | Buzet (Pinguente) | |
| Pola | Pula (Pola), Pulj | |
| Ragusa | Dubrovnik (Ragusa) | |
| Rocium (or Rotium) | Roč (Rozzo) | |
| Salona (2PG15) | Solin (Salona) | |
| Scardona (2PG15) | Skradin | |
| Senia (2PG15) | Senj (Segna, Zengg) | |
| Siscia | Sisak | |
| Spalatum | Split (Spalato) | |
| Tarsatica (2PG15) | Trsat (Tersatto) (near Rijeka) | |
| Tragurion (2PG15: Tragurium) | Trogir (Traù) | |
| Vegium | Karlobag |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Acharnae¹ | Acharnes, Menidi | |
| Aegina | Aegina | |
| Agrinium¹ | Agrinio - Agrinion | |
| Alexandropolis¹ | Alexandroupolis | |
| Almyrus¹ | Almyros | |
| Amphilochia¹ | Amphilochia | |
| Amphipolis¹ | Amphipolis | |
| Amphissa¹ | Amphissa - Amfissa | |
| Argos¹ | Argos | |
| Atalanta | Atalante - Atalanta | |
| Athenae¹ | Athens | |
| Berroea | Verroia - Berrea | |
| Carystus¹ | Carystos - Carystus | |
| Cenchreae¹ | Kechries - Cenchreae, near Corinth | |
| Chalcis¹ | Chalkida, Euboea | |
| Corcyra³ | Corfu | |
| Corinthus¹ | Corinth | |
| Delphi¹ | Delphi | |
| Dodona¹ | Dodona | |
| Eleusis¹ | Eleusis | |
| Epidaurus¹ | Epidaurus | |
| Gythium | Gytheion | |
| Heracleium¹ | the port of Knossos, perhaps Amnisos, east of modern Iraklion, Crete (the name Iraklion/Herakleion for the medieval and modern city only dates from around 1900) | |
| Isthmia¹ | Isthmia, slightly east of Corinth | |
| Laurium, (Thoricum before mid-1st century BC) | Laurium - Laurion | |
| Leucas | Lefkada - Lefkas - Leucas | |
| Marathon, Marathonis¹ | Marathon | |
| Megalopolis¹ | Megalopolis | |
| Megara | Megara, west of Athens | |
| Mycenae | Mycenae (Mykênes, Mykênai) | |
| Naupactus | Na(u)fpaktos | |
| Nauplium¹ | Na(u)fplion | |
| Nemea¹ | Nemea | |
| Nicopolis¹ | Nicopolis | |
| Nova Ionia (Athenae) | Nea Ionia - New Ionia, Athens | |
| Nova Ionia (Thessalia) | Nea Ionia - New Ionia, Thessaly | |
| Olympia¹ | Olympia | |
| Olympias¹ | Olympias - Olympiada | |
| Orchomenos¹ | Orchomenus | |
| Paeania¹ | Paiania - Paeania | |
| Patrae¹, Ares Patrensis | Patras | |
| Phalerum | Phaleron - Faliron | |
| Philippi | Philippi | |
| Piraeus | Piraeus | |
| Potidaea¹ | Potidaea - Potidaia | |
| Salamis¹ | Salamis | |
| Sparta¹ | Sparta | |
| Tegea | Tegea, near Tripoli | |
| Thebae (Boeotia/Athenae) | Theva - Thebes | |
| Thermopylae¹ | Thermopylae | |
| Thessalonica, Salonica¹ | Thessaloniki, Saloniki - Salonika, Makedonia | |
| Tripolis | Tripoli | |
| Troezen, Troezena¹ | Troezen | |
| Uranopolis¹ | Uranopoli - some prefer Uranopolis | |
| Zycanthus, Zacynthus¹ | Zante - Zakynthos |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Theranda | Prizren | |
| Ulpiana | Lipjan | |
| Vicianum |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Acruvium | Kotor | |
| Anagastum, Anderva, Anderba | Nikšić | |
| Antipargal (Antibarium, 10th century) | Bar | |
| Birziminium | Podgorica (Titograd, Ribnica) | |
| Colchinium, Olcinium, Ulcinium | Ulcinj | |
| D(i)oclea | Duklja | |
| Rhizon (2PG15: Rhisium), Rhizinium, Risinium | Risan |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Lychnidus | ||
| Monasterium | Bitola | |
| Scopium, Scupium | Skopje | |
| Stibo, Estipium | Štip |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Abruttus | Abrud | |
| Aegyssus | Tulcea | |
| Ad Aquas | Călan | |
| Ad Mediam | Mehadia | |
| Ad Pannonios | Teregova | |
| Ad Stoma | Brețcu | |
| Alburnus Maior | Roșia Montană | |
| Altinum | Oltina | |
| Ampelum | Zlatna | |
| Angustia | Râșnov | |
| Apulum | Alba Iulia | |
| Arcidava | Vărădia | |
| Arrubium | Măcin | |
| Arutela | Călimănești | |
| Bersobis, Berzobis | Berzovia | |
| Brucla | Aiud | |
| Calatis, Callatis | Mangalia (Tomisovara), (Panglicara, Pangalia) | |
| Caput Stenarum | Boița | |
| Carsium | Hârșova | |
| Centum Putea | Surducu Mare | |
| Cibinum | Sibiu, Sibiu County | |
| Colonia Ulpia Traiana | Sarmizegetusa | |
| Corona, Civitas Coronensis | Brașov, (Kronstadt, Brassó) | |
| Dierna | Orșova | |
| Drobeta | Drobeta-Turnu Severin | |
| Forum Novum Siculorum | Târgu-Mureș, Mureș County | |
| Germisara | Geoagiu | |
| Iassium | Iași | |
| Media | Mediaș, Sibiu County | |
| Micia | Vețel | |
| Napoca, Claudiopolis | Cluj-Napoca | |
| Noviodunum | Isaccea, Tulcea County | |
| Porolissum | Moigrad | |
| Potaissa | Turda | |
| Praetorium | Copăceni, Vâlcea County | |
| Resculum | Bologa | |
| Romula-Malva | Reșca Dobrosloveni | |
| Salinae | Ocna Mureș | |
| Sucidava | Celei | |
| Tapae | Poarta de Fier a Transilvaniei | |
| Temesiensis | Timișoara, Timiș County | |
| Jupa, Caraș-Severin | ||
| Tomis | Constanța | |
| Iglița (Turcoaia) | ||
| Ulmetum | Pantelimonul de Sus, Constanța County | |
| Varadinum | Oradea |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adrianopolis | Edirne - Adrianople | |
| Istanbul, Constantinople | ||
| Constantinopolis | Istanbul, Constantinople | |
| Roma Nova | Istanbul, Constantinople |
See main article: List of Greek and Latin place names in Serbia.
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Stari Slankamen - Slankamen | ||
| Bassianae | Donji Petrovci | |
| Banoštor | ||
| Novi Banovci | ||
| Cusum | Petrovaradin | |
| Lederata | Rama | |
| Naissus | Niš | |
| Neoplanta | Novi Sad | |
| Bela Palanka | ||
| Surduk | ||
| Smederevo | ||
| Belgrade (Beograd) | ||
| Sremska Mitrovica | ||
| Taurunum | Zemun | |
| Viminacium (2PG15: Iminacium) | Kostolac |
| Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ad Pirum | ||
| Aegida, Capris, Caput Histriae | Koper (Capodistria) | |
| Arae Postumiae | Postojna | |
| Atrans | Trojane | |
| Carnium, Carnioburgum | ||
| Castra | Ajdovščina | |
| Celeia | Celje | |
| Emona, Aemona, Labacum | Ljubljana | |
| Lithopolis | Kamnik | |
| Longaticum | Logatec | |
| Marburgum | Maribor | |
| Nauportus | Vrhnika | |
| Neviodunum | Drnovo | |
| Poetovio | Ptuj | |
| Pyrrhanum | Piran (Pirano) |
In order of likely publication: