Decima is the feminine form of the Latin Decimus, a praenomen meaning "the tenth" in Latin. In Roman naming conventions, names like Decimus were often given to a tenth child or to a child born in the tenth month of the Roman calendar (December, originally the tenth month). Mythological Bedeutung In Roman mythology, Decima is one of the three Fates (Parcae), alongside Nona and Morta. According to tradition, Decima was the daughter of Jupiter and Justitia, and she was responsible for measuring the thread of life—determining its length and thus a person's lifespan. The three Fates were often depicted as spinning, measuring, and cutting the thread of life: Nona spun the thread on a spindle, Decima measured it, and Morta cut it. Decima is the Roman equivalent of the Greek fate Lachesis, who likewise apportioned the length of life. The name Decima thus carries connotations of fate, measurement, and inevitability. Usage and Variants As a given name, Decima is rare in modern times, but it has been occasionally used in English-speaking countries, often as a reference to mythology or as a literary choice. Its classical origin gives it a scholarly aura, and it is sometimes found in historical fiction set in ancient Rome. The male form Decimus—root of the English name Decimus—is similarly scarce but known through figures like the Roman general Decimus Brutus, one of Julius Caesar's assassins. The name connects to larger numerical naming traditions across cultures, such as the Hebrew name Asher (meaning "eighth") or the Anglo-Saxon Octavian ("eighth"), reflecting birth order or timed events. Meaning: "the tenth" (Latin) / Roman mythological function as measurer of life's thread Origin: Latin Decima, feminine of Decimus Type: Feminine first name Usage regions: Largely historical; English-speaking countries occasionally