Roman cognomen of unknown meaning, possibly from Greek αγριος (agrios) "wild" and ‘ιππος (hippos) "horse" or possibly of Etruscan origin. In the New Testament this name was borne by Herod Agrippa (a grandson of Herod the Great), the king of Israel who put the apostle James to death. It was also borne by the 1st-century Bc Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. Agrippa is a Latin term used to refer to babies who were born feet first. According to the “Naturalis Historia” of Pliny, a baby born contrary to natural procedure was to be called Agrippa. The name could therefore also be taken to mean any person who has a contrary nature.
