Noun
The first name of a person, by which individuals of the same family were distinguished, answering to our Christian name, as Caius, Lucius, Marcus, etc.
Source: Webster's dictionaryAlso, because praenomina had grammatical gender, a brother and sister could have the same praenomen, in masculine and feminine forms, and still be easily distinguished. Source: Internet
Another factor was probably that the praenomen was not usually necessary to distinguish between women within the family. Source: Internet
An emperor might emancipate or enfranchise large groups of people at once, all of whom would automatically receive the emperor's praenomen and nomen. Source: Internet
Almost all other persons mentioned as part of the traditions surrounding Romulus as the first King of Rome have both praenomen and nomen. Source: Internet
As a result, "New Romans" and, under their influence, "old Romans" too, either dropped the nomen from their name or, in some cases, treated the nomen as a praenomen. Source: Internet
Both inscriptions are from Roman Spain, and are also notable for the doubled nomen and for the cognomen Secunda, which in this case is really a praenomen placed after the filiation, a common practice in Roman women's names of this period. Source: Internet