Boy · Latin · Christian
Placid
PlacidSay it PLAS-id
- Meaning
- Gentle, quiet, calm, mild, peaceful Lewis & Short, s.v. placidus
- Say it
- PLAS-id
- Other spellings
- Placido, Placidus
Placid
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Placid meaning
Placid is a Christian boy's name of Latin origin.
Gentle, quiet, calm, mild, peaceful
Placid comes from the Latin name Placidus, from the adjective placidus, which Lewis & Short translate 'gentle, quiet, still, calm, mild, peaceful'. Romans used the word for a calm sea, a still night or a mild-tempered person. The Christian name honours St Placid, who as a boy was entrusted to St Benedict and, by tradition, was saved from drowning when another disciple ran across the water at Benedict's word. In India the name is closely tied to Kerala, where Fr Placid J. Podipara (1899–1985), a CMI priest and scholar of the Syriac liturgy, was a well-known bearer.
Source: Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary (1879), s.v. placidus · entry placidus · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Lewis & Short, placidus (alatius.com) · Wikipedia, Placid J. Podipara · Wikipedia, Saint Placidus
Famous namesakes
- St Placid, disciple of St Benedict
- Placid J. Podipara, Kerala priest and Syriac scholar
Spellings
Placid · Placido · Placidus