The gens Baebia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. The first member of the gens who obtained the consulship was Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus, in 182 BC. During the later Republic, the Baebii were frequently connected with the patrician family of the Aemilii.

Praenomina

The main praenomina of Baebii during the Republic were Quintus, Gnaeus, Marcus, and Lucius, all of which were common names throughout Roman history. In addition to these, they occasionally used Gaius and Aulus. Other names occur under the Empire.

Branches and cognomina

The cognomina of the Baebii are Dives, Herennius, Sulca, and Tamphilus. The last, borne by the oldest family of the Baebii appearing in history, is the only surname which appears on coins, where it is written Tampilus. All of the consuls and most of the praetors of this gens during the Republic belonged to this branch of the family. Chase describes their surname as one of considerable curiosity, suggested by some scholars to be of Greek origin, but perhaps an Oscan name sharing a common root with the Tampia gens, who may have been of Sabine origin. Certainly Herennius, borne as a surname by one of the Baebii, was originally an Oscan praenomen. In imperial times, one family of the Baebii settled around Saguntum, the Spanish town over which the Second Punic War had begun.

Members

Baebii Tamphili

Other Baebii of the Republic

Baebii under the Empire