Editing Roman naming conventions (section)

===Traditional nomen replaced===
Although a nomen would long be required for official purposes, and, in isolated corners of the empire and in parts of Italy, its usage would persist into the seventh century, the nomen was generally omitted from the name (even of emperors) by the third century.<ref name=Salway135/>

Two factors encouraged its frequent non-use. Firstly, the cognomen increasingly became the distinguishing name and general name of address.<ref name=Salway135/> As a result, "New Romans" and, under their influence, "old Romans" too, either dropped the nomen from their name<ref name=Salway135/> or, in some cases, treated the nomen as a praenomen.<ref name=Salway136/>

Secondly, with the nomen becoming an increasingly fossilized formality, non-Italian families, even those who had acquired citizenship and a nomen prior to 212, began to ignore their nomen.<ref name=Salway135>Salway, p.135</ref> When a nomen was required for official purposes they would simply put the default nomen of "Aurelius" in front of their name, rather than use their actual nomen.<ref name=Salway135/>