Which term refers to a person’s first name in the context of Roman naming conventions?

In Roman naming conventions, the term that refers to a person's first name is "praenomen." The praenomen was the personal name given to an individual at birth, much like a first name today. This would be used in a family setting and in informal contexts to address someone directly.

To elaborate further, the Roman naming system typically comprised three main components: the praenomen (the first name), the nomen (the family name or gens), and the cognomen (which often indicated a branch of the family or a specific characteristic). The praenomen was quite limited in choice, with only about 18 commonly used names, such as Gaius or Lucius, making it unique yet standardized.

While cognomen and nomen relate to other aspects of a Roman's identity, they do not represent the first name specifically, and titulus pertains to a different context, often relating to a label or title in other scenarios. The significance of understanding these components helps clarify personal identity and social standing in ancient Roman culture.