Helvia

Helvia was a common Roman nomen, or family name, belonging to the gens Helvia. This gens was of plebeian origin and first appears prominently in Roman history during the late Republic.

The most famous member of the gens Helvia was likely Gaius Helvius Cinna, a poet and tribune of the plebs who was assassinated in 44 BC. The name itself suggests a connection to the term "Helvetii," the name of a Celtic people who inhabited the region of modern-day Switzerland. While the precise origins of the gens are debated, a connection to the Cisalpine Gaul region is often suggested.

The name Helvia could also be used as a praenomen (given name), though less frequently. It was more typically a nomen gentilicium, identifying a person's family affiliation. Notable individuals bearing the nomen Helvia, besides Gaius Helvius Cinna, were generally figures of lesser historical significance, occupying positions within the Roman administration or military. The frequency of the name's appearance in inscriptions suggests a relatively widespread presence throughout the Roman world.