Cnaeus is an archaic Roman variant of Gnaeus. It reflects the early spelling conventions of Latin before the letter C came to represent both /k/ and /ɡ/ sounds prior to the 2nd century BCE. In later periods, and especially during the Renaissance and New Latin, the spelling Cnaeus was sometimes revived as a hypercorrect form, influenced by the abbreviation Cn. (used for Cnaeus or Gnaeus), much like Gaius was sometimes written Caius. However, scholars consider Gnaeus to be the authentic form. Gnaeus itself is a Latin praenomen, a personal name used in ancient Rome. Its meaning is uncertain, though it may be connected to Latin naevus ('birthmark'), suggesting a possible original reference to a physical trait. The most famous bearer of the parent form was Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, known as Pompey the Great (106–48 BC), a leading Roman general and statesman. In pronouncing Cnaeus, the C was originally not sounded; the Classical Latin pronunciation is [ˈnae̯.ʊs], but hypercorrect readings [ˈknɛː.us] are also found in modern usage. Key Facts Meaning: Variant of Gnaeus; possible meaning 'birthmark' (Latin naevus) Origin: Roman (Latin), possibly Etruscan Type: First name (praenomen) Usage Region: Ancient Rome (Republican period), also later as an archaism Related Names: Gnaeus