 Furthermore, a number of the oldest and most influential patrician families made a habit of choosing unusual names; in particular the Fabii, Aemilii, Furii, Claudii, Cornelii, and Valerii all used praenomina that were uncommon amongst the patricians, or which had fallen out of general use.In the last two centuries of the Republic, and under the early Empire, it was fashionable for aristocratic families to revive older praenomina.About three dozen Latin praenomina were in use at the beginning of the Republic, although only about eighteen were common.