The Roman Emperor That Inspired Mark Zuckerberg's Baby Names

APRIL 2, 2023 20:00

celebrities

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, the Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, have recently welcomed their third child and named her Aurelia, a reference to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. The couple has a rich history of naming their children after famous figures from Roman history.

"Fascinating" Roman Emperor Inspiration

The first daughter of the couple, Maxima, is named after the Latin name Maximus, while their second daughter, Augustus, is named after the Roman emperor Augustus. In an interview with The New Yorker, Zuckerberg described Augustus as "one of the most fascinating figures in history." He went on to say, "Basically, through a really harsh approach, he established two hundred years of world peace." The Facebook CEO compared Augustus to himself, as they both assumed power at a young age.

Zuckerberg acknowledged the fact that Augustus had to make difficult choices to attain world peace, but ultimately believed that the emperor was able to achieve a significant period of peace.

Honeymoon in Rome

Zuckerberg and Chan's love for Roman history dates back to their honeymoon in Rome in 2012.

The couple announced the arrival of their third child on social media in September 2022, with Zuckerberg writing, "Happy to share that Max and August are getting a new baby sister next year."

A Love Story

The couple's journey together began in 2003 when they met as students at Harvard.

Nine years later, they got married in an intimate ceremony in their backyard and have been together ever since. In a post on Instagram last month, Zuckerberg paid tribute to his wife, describing her as his "favorite person." In an interview with the New Yorker in 2010, Chan described Zuckerberg as a "nerdy guy who was just a little bit out there," with a "nerdy, computer-science appeal." Over the years, their love for each other has only grown stronger and they now have three beautiful children to show for it.