Here's a breakdown:
* Latin: The official language of the Roman Empire.
* Vulgar Latin: The everyday language spoken by the common people, which evolved and diversified depending on region and time.
* Romance Languages: After the fall of the Roman Empire, Vulgar Latin continued to evolve in different parts of Europe, giving rise to languages like Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Romanian, and many others.
Therefore, the name "Romance" refers to their common ancestor, Latin, and the connection to the Roman Empire.