* Ancient civilizations had their own names: The Romans, who named the planet after their god of war, weren't the first to observe and name it. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, Babylonians, and others also observed Mars and gave it their own names. These names, however, have largely been lost to history.
* Names connected to its appearance: It's likely that early cultures named Mars based on its appearance in the sky. The red color, its bright glow, and its seemingly erratic movement compared to other stars might have inspired various descriptive names.
* The "wanderer": The name Mars itself ultimately derives from the Greek god Ares, the god of war. This connection stemmed from the planet's apparent movement across the sky, which was seen as unpredictable and even hostile, similar to the god of war.
So, while we don't have a single, definitive name for Mars before it was called Mars, it's clear that various ancient civilizations observed and named it based on its appearance and their own cultural beliefs.
