Lucius is a masculinegiven name derived from Lucius (Latin ; ), abbreviated L., one of the small group of common Latin forenames () found in the culture of ancient Rome. Lucius probably derives from Latin word (gen. ), meaning "light" (<PIE *''leuk-'', "brightness"), related to the Latin verb ("to shine") and cognate to the name Lucas. Another proposed etymology is derivation from Etruscan ''Lauchum'' (or ''Lauchme'') meaning "king", which was more directly transferred into Latin as .