← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
This lesson focuses on nōmen, nōminis (n.), meaning “name,” one of the most theologically significant words in the entire Latin tradition of the Catholic Church. As a third declension neuter noun, nōmen follows the characteristic pattern where nominative and accusative forms are identical, and the plural always ends in -a.
The word nōmen appears throughout Sacred Scripture, from the Third Commandment’s prohibition against taking God’s name in vain to the baptismal formula commanding the disciples to baptize “in nōmine Patris, et Fīliī, et Spīritūs Sānctī.” In the theological tradition, Saint Thomas Aquinas devoted an entire question of the Summa Theologica (Prima Pars, Quaestio XIII) to “De nominibus Dei” — concerning the names by which we may speak of God.
The most common liturgical construction is in nōmine followed by a genitive noun, meaning “in the name of.” This ablative usage forms the heart of Catholic sacramental practice, from the Sign of the Cross that begins every prayer to the words of absolution, blessing, and consecration.
For the complete course index, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “nōmen” mean in Ecclesiastical Latin? Nōmen is a third declension neuter noun meaning “name.” It appears prominently in liturgical formulae such as “In nōmine Patris” (In the name of the Father) and in the Lord’s Prayer as “sanctificētur nōmen tuum” (hallowed be thy name).
-
Nōmen is a third declension neuter noun (genitive: nōminis, stem: nomin-) -
As a neuter noun, nominative and accusative are always identical -
The most frequent liturgical use is “in nōmine” + genitive (in the name of X) -
The Trinitarian formula “In nōmine Patris, et Fīliī, et Spīritūs Sānctī” is ubiquitous in Catholic worship -
Aquinas treats the theology of divine names extensively in Summa I, Q.XIII
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
1.a Nōmen name Dominī of-the-Lord
1.b Nōmen (ˈno.men) name Dominī (ˈdo.mi.ni) of-the-Lord
2.a In in nōmine name-ABL Patris of-the-Father
2.b In (in) in nōmine (ˈno.mi.ne) name-ABL Patris (ˈpa.tris) of-the-Father
3.a Nōmen name tuum your est is sānctum holy
3.b Nōmen (ˈno.men) name tuum (ˈtu.um) your est (est) is sānctum (ˈsaŋk.tum) holy
4.a Laudāte praise-IMP-PL nōmen the-name Dominī of-the-Lord
4.b Laudāte (law.ˈda.te) praise-IMP-PL nōmen (ˈno.men) the-name Dominī (ˈdo.mi.ni) of-the-Lord
5.a Benedictum blessed sit may-be nōmen the-name ēius his
5.b Benedictum (be.ne.ˈdik.tum) blessed sit (sit) may-be nōmen (ˈno.men) the-name ēius (ˈe.jus) his
6.a In in nōmine name-ABL Patris of-the-Father et and Fīliī of-the-Son
6.b In (in) in nōmine (ˈno.mi.ne) name-ABL Patris (ˈpa.tris) of-the-Father et (et) and Fīliī (ˈfi.li.i) of-the-Son
7.a Sanctificētur may-be-hallowed nōmen name tuum your in in caelō heaven
7.b Sanctificētur (saŋk.ti.fi.ˈtʃe.tur) may-be-hallowed nōmen (ˈno.men) name tuum (ˈtu.um) your in (in) in caelō (ˈtʃe.lo) heaven
8.a Invocāvī I-have-called-upon nōmen the-name tuum your Domine O-Lord
8.b Invocāvī (in.vo.ˈka.vi) I-have-called-upon nōmen (ˈno.men) the-name tuum (ˈtu.um) your Domine (ˈdo.mi.ne) O-Lord
9.a Exaltēmus let-us-exalt nōmen the-name ēius his in in idīpsum together
9.b Exaltēmus (ek.sal.ˈte.mus) let-us-exalt nōmen (ˈno.men) the-name ēius (ˈe.jus) his in (in) in idīpsum (i.ˈdip.sum) together
10.a Cōnfitēmur we-confess nōmen the-name sānctum holy tuum your
10.b Cōnfitēmur (kon.fi.ˈte.mur) we-confess nōmen (ˈno.men) the-name sānctum (ˈsaŋk.tum) holy tuum (ˈtu.um) your
11.a In in nōmine name-ABL Patris of-the-Father et and Fīliī of-the-Son et and Spīritūs of-the-Spirit Sānctī Holy
11.b In (in) in nōmine (ˈno.mi.ne) name-ABL Patris (ˈpa.tris) of-the-Father et (et) and Fīliī (ˈfi.li.i) of-the-Son et (et) and Spīritūs (ˈspi.ri.tus) of-the-Spirit Sānctī (ˈsaŋk.ti) Holy
12.a Nōn not adsūmēs you-shall-take nōmen the-name Dominī of-the-Lord Deī God tuī your in in vānum vain
12.b Nōn (non) not adsūmēs (ad.ˈsu.mes) you-shall-take nōmen (ˈno.men) the-name Dominī (ˈdo.mi.ni) of-the-Lord Deī (ˈde.i) God tuī (ˈtu.i) your in (in) in vānum (ˈva.num) vain
13.a Prōtegat may-protect tē you nōmen the-name Deī of-the-God Iācob of-Jacob
13.b Prōtegat (ˈpro.te.gat) may-protect tē (te) you nōmen (ˈno.men) the-name Deī (ˈde.i) of-the-God Iācob (ˈja.kob) of-Jacob
14.a Baptizantēs baptizing eōs them in in nōmine name-ABL Patris of-the-Father et and Fīliī of-the-Son
14.b Baptizantēs (bap.ti.ˈzan.tes) baptizing eōs (ˈe.os) them in (in) in nōmine (ˈno.mi.ne) name-ABL Patris (ˈpa.tris) of-the-Father et (et) and Fīliī (ˈfi.li.i) of-the-Son
15.a Dā give glōriam glory nōminī to-the-name tuō your Domine O-Lord propter on-account-of misericordiam mercy tuam your
15.b Dā (da) give glōriam (ˈglo.ri.am) glory nōminī (ˈno.mi.ni) to-the-name tuō (ˈtu.o) your Domine (ˈdo.mi.ne) O-Lord propter (ˈprop.ter) on-account-of misericordiam (mi.ze.ri.ˈkor.di.am) mercy tuam (ˈtu.am) your
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
-
Nōmen Dominī → “The name of the Lord” -
In nōmine Patris → “In the name of the Father” -
Nōmen tuum est sānctum → “Your name is holy” -
Laudāte nōmen Dominī → “Praise the name of the Lord” -
Benedictum sit nōmen ēius → “Blessed be his name” -
In nōmine Patris et Fīliī → “In the name of the Father and of the Son” -
Sanctificētur nōmen tuum in caelō → “May your name be hallowed in heaven” -
Invocāvī nōmen tuum, Domine → “I have called upon your name, O Lord” -
Exaltēmus nōmen ēius in idīpsum → “Let us exalt his name together” -
Cōnfitēmur nōmen sānctum tuum → “We confess your holy name” -
In nōmine Patris, et Fīliī, et Spīritūs Sānctī → “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” -
Nōn adsūmēs nōmen Dominī Deī tuī in vānum → “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” -
Prōtegat tē nōmen Deī Iācob → “May the name of the God of Jacob protect you” -
Baptizantēs eōs in nōmine Patris et Fīliī → “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son” -
Dā glōriam nōminī tuō, Domine, propter misericordiam tuam → “Give glory to your name, O Lord, on account of your mercy”
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
-
Nōmen Dominī -
In nōmine Patris -
Nōmen tuum est sānctum -
Laudāte nōmen Dominī -
Benedictum sit nōmen ēius -
In nōmine Patris et Fīliī -
Sanctificētur nōmen tuum in caelō -
Invocāvī nōmen tuum, Domine -
Exaltēmus nōmen ēius in idīpsum -
Cōnfitēmur nōmen sānctum tuum -
In nōmine Patris, et Fīliī, et Spīritūs Sānctī -
Nōn adsūmēs nōmen Dominī Deī tuī in vānum -
Prōtegat tē nōmen Deī Iācob -
Baptizantēs eōs in nōmine Patris et Fīliī -
Dā glōriam nōminī tuō, Domine, propter misericordiam tuam
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
These are the grammar rules for nōmen in Ecclesiastical Latin:
Third Declension Neuter Paradigm
The noun nōmen, nōminis belongs to the third declension and is neuter in gender. To identify the stem, we take the genitive singular nōminis and remove the ending -is, yielding the stem nomin-. All case endings are then added to this stem.
The complete paradigm runs as follows:
Singular: nominative nōmen, genitive nōminis, dative nōminī, accusative nōmen, ablative nōmine.
Plural: nominative nōmina, genitive nōminum, dative nōminibus, accusative nōmina, ablative nōminibus.
The Neuter Rule
In all neuter nouns across all declensions, the nominative and accusative cases are always identical. In the plural, neuter nouns consistently end in -a for nominative and accusative. This is an absolute rule in Latin grammar.
The Ablative with “In Nōmine”
The most common liturgical construction uses in with the ablative nōmine, meaning “in the name.” The preposition in when expressing location or means takes the ablative case. Following nōmine, a genitive noun indicates whose name is invoked: in nōmine Patris (in the name of the Father), in nōmine Dominī (in the name of the Lord).
Genitive Chains
Ecclesiastical Latin frequently chains genitives together: nōmen Dominī Deī tuī literally reads “the name of-the-Lord of-God of-you,” rendered idiomatically as “the name of the Lord your God.”
Common Errors to Avoid
Students sometimes confuse the accusative nōmen with nominative, but since they are identical in neuter nouns, context determines function. Watch for the dative nōminī (with long final -ī) when “to/for the name” is required, as in dā glōriam nōminī tuō (give glory to your name).
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Theology of the Divine Name
In Catholic tradition, the name of God is treated with profound reverence. The Third Commandment’s prohibition against taking God’s name “in vain” (in vānum) established the sanctity of divine naming in Judeo-Christian practice. This reverence transferred directly into Latin Christianity, where nōmen became loaded with theological significance.
Sacramental Formulae
Every sacrament of the Catholic Church is administered “in the name of” the Trinity or of Christ. Baptism requires the Trinitarian formula from Matthew 28:19. Absolution is granted in nōmine Patris. Blessings invoke divine authority through in nōmine Dominī. The phrase functions as more than a dedicatory formula; it claims the power and authority of the one named.
The Sign of the Cross
Catholics begin and end prayers with the Sign of the Cross, speaking the words In nōmine Patris, et Fīliī, et Spīritūs Sānctī while tracing the cross upon their bodies. This gesture dates to the earliest centuries of the Church and appears in the writings of Tertullian (c. 200 AD).
Aquinas on Divine Names
Saint Thomas Aquinas devoted Quaestio XIII of the Prima Pars to De nominibus Dei (Concerning the Names of God). He argued that while no name perfectly captures God’s essence, the name revealed to Moses—Qui est (”He Who Is”)—is the most proper name, since existence itself is God’s most fundamental attribute.
Latin as the Language of Worship
For over fifteen centuries, Latin served as the primary liturgical language of the Western Church. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) codified the Latin Mass, and though vernacular worship became normative after Vatican II, Latin remains the official language of the Roman Rite. Knowledge of words like nōmen opens access to this vast heritage of prayer, theology, and sacred music.
Reminder: This lesson is designed for English speakers learning Ecclesiastical Latin.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Laudāte praise-IMP-PL puerī children Dominī of-the-Lord laudāte praise nōmen the-name Dominī of-the-Lord. Sit may-be nōmen the-name Dominī of-the-Lord benedictum blessed ex from hōc this nunc now et and ūsque until in into saeculum age. Ā from sōlis of-the-sun ortū rising ūsque until ad to occāsum setting laudābile praiseworthy nōmen the-name Dominī of-the-Lord.
Part F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Laudāte, puerī, Dominī; laudāte nōmen Dominī. Sit nōmen Dominī benedictum, ex hōc nunc et ūsque in saeculum. Ā sōlis ortū ūsque ad occāsum, laudābile nōmen Dominī.
→ “Praise, O children of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. May the name of the Lord be blessed, from this time now and unto eternity. From the rising of the sun unto its setting, praiseworthy is the name of the Lord.”
Part F-C: Latin Text Only
Laudāte, puerī, Dominī; laudāte nōmen Dominī. Sit nōmen Dominī benedictum, ex hōc nunc et ūsque in saeculum. Ā sōlis ortū ūsque ad occāsum, laudābile nōmen Dominī.
Part F-D: Grammar Commentary
This Psalm passage (numbered 112 in the Vulgate, 113 in Hebrew numbering) exemplifies how nōmen functions in praise literature. The imperative laudāte (praise!) governs both Dominī and nōmen Dominī, showing nōmen in the accusative as direct object. The subjunctive sit expresses a wish: “may it be.” The phrase ā sōlis ortū ūsque ad occāsum uses two ablatives marking spatial extent—from the sun’s rising to its setting—a poetic way of saying “everywhere on earth.” The predicate adjective laudābile (praiseworthy) modifies nōmen, completing the chiastic structure of the verse.
This Psalm is sung daily in the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours (Vespers) and has been set to music by countless composers including Handel, Mozart, and Vivaldi.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
This narrative follows a priest blessing a congregation, showing how nōmen appears throughout Catholic liturgical practice.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text Laudāte praise-IMP-PL puerī children Dominī of-the-Lord laudāte praise nōmen the-name Dominī of-the-Lord. Sit may-be nōmen the-name Dominī of-the-Lord benedictum blessed ex from hōc this nunc now et and ūsque until in into saeculum age. Ā from sōlis of-the-sun ortū rising ūsque until ad to occāsum setting laudābile praiseworthy nōmen the-name Dominī of-the-Lord.