Novatus was a second-century Christian priest living in Rome. Born into a prominent family, he was the son of Pudens and the brother of the martyr Timotheus, as well as the sisters Pudentiana and Praxedes. His grandfather, the senator Quintus Cornelius Pudens, was an early convert of the apostle Peter, whose residence was located within the family estate. Some historical traditions suggest that Novatus may have had Phrygian ancestry.