The name of the child given to him at birth will have an impact on his entire future life. It is not for nothing that history has names happy and unhappy, they are associated with some events, natural phenomena, religious holidays, etc. It is believed that one should not give the name of a deceased child to a newly born one, since he will be unhappy, taking upon himself all the misfortunes of a deceased brother.
Where to look for a name for a girl
When Christianity was introduced in Russia, and people began to plan their lives according to the Orthodox calendar, children began to be named in honor of Orthodox saints. It is quite rightly believed that receiving the name of a saint, a person receives both a close spiritual connection and the protection of this saint. He can even receive the power and grace of a holy person. Therefore, when choosing names for children, you should think carefully, because you are also choosing a caring guardian angel and spiritual patron for him for life.
Orthodox Messeslov will help you choose a name by date of birth
In Orthodox saints there are much more male names than female ones. But some male names also have feminine counterparts.
Every day of the year preserves the memory of a canonized saint, some days can boast of a dozen birthday people. In addition, the names of some saints are repeated several times in the Orthodox calendar, and therefore the names are suitable for children born at different times of the year.
Church Calendar or Months
Many modern parents turn to the Monthly or the holy calendar. The church calendar can provide invaluable help in this, as it contains the names of Orthodox, Old Slavonic, Hebrew and Greek, of very different origins. Some names are anachronistic today, they have long gone out of use, and cause a slight smile at their mention. But many names are in great demand today.
Orthodox calendar for 2016 Of course, almost all parents want to choose a rare and unusual name, and the Saints can help them choose a name by month.
Choosing an Orthodox name for a girl
Parents are especially careful when choosing names for girls. I would like a beautiful name to emphasize her tenderness, grace and grace.
Women's names always have a certain sacred magical meaning. Their meaning is intended to bestow tenderness or strength, wisdom or patience, fertility or love. For example, the well-known female names - Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia (Wisdom) personify the main Christian virtues. Women's names also praised some of the character traits necessary for the future mistress - hard work, patience and dedication, humility and complaisance.
The Orthodox name is given at baptism But, be that as it may, it is worth choosing a name with all responsibility, thinking about its sound and compliance with the patronymic and surname. And also pay attention to the season in which the child was born.
It is well known that at different times of the year children are born (especially girls) with completely opposite characters. Women's names are designed not only to emphasize the individuality of the owner, but also to help in life.
Relationship between name and season
In winter, children are born hardy, in good health, firm and tough. They have a stern, unyielding character that helps them achieve their goals. But this character often hurts them in their personal lives. Firmness and intransigence interfere with trusting relationships with loved ones. Children born in winter usually do not tolerate interference in their affairs and do not listen to anyone's advice. They are confident, active, purposeful and go ahead towards their goal.
Choosing a name for a girl in winter Girls born in winter have a purely masculine character, which helps them achieve success in their careers and business, but interferes with their personal life. Therefore, a woman's name should be gentle, melodic, softening the harsh winter cold.
Spring is a capricious, changeable season. And girls in the spring are born capricious, selfish, disgusted, physically weak. They are conservative and have a hard time getting used to change. But if they consider themselves right, then nothing will convince them. They are very stubborn, proud, indecisive and cautious, love flattery and have a kind of narcissism. It is not easy for a girl born in spring to find a husband for herself because she is afraid of any changes in her lifestyle.
What name to choose for a girl in spring And at the same time, "spring" children know how to adapt to any life situation. Therefore, a woman's name must be firm and tough.
In summer, generous, cheerful and optimistic children are born. They are not petty, they are not greedy, and at the same time they are extremely hardworking and diligent. Summer children are emotional, hot-tempered, temperamental, impressionable. Among other things, they are the kindest and most fair natures.
What names are suitable for girls born in summer Girls born in summer are proud and courageous, persistent and determined. They will passionately love their husband and tenderly take care of the children. Therefore, neutral names are best suited to them, designed to slightly restrain their noble nature.
Autumn is a time of reflection. And children born in the fall have such character traits as wisdom, slowness, prudence and accuracy. Such a child will never act at random, he will carefully weigh the pros and cons, but will act diplomatically, without offending anyone. Loyalty and humility will help them find happiness in marriage.
How to name a girl in the fall Girls born in autumn are calm and thoughtful, balanced, and in any situation they are guided, first of all, by common sense. Names for these girls should be given names filled with sacred meaning.
That is, when choosing the name of girls, it is imperative to consider it by months in order to help in the arrangement of women's destiny.
Names for girls born in January
January is the harshest month of the year. A girl named by one of these names will spend her entire life in happiness and prosperity without any special problems and obstacles, will achieve her goals without investing too much work. She will make a good wife and mother, and all her life she will be happily married.
Icon Saint Tatiana KLAVDIA, AGLAYA, AGAFIA, IRAIDA, ANISIA, TATIANA, APPOLINARIA.
Names for girls born in February
Very often these women are not attractive. But they have a wonderful character: they are active, sociable, cheerful and hardworking. They are extremely fond of dressing up, changing their appearance, keeping up with fashion and spending a lot of money on it. They are not attracted to a calm and measured life, they need constant communication, fun and music. In most cases, these women get married several times, and usually the second marriage is successful.
Name Maria for a girl RIMMA, CAROLINA, CHRISTINA, CHRISTIANA, INNA, EMMA, MARIA, ANNA, PAUL.
Names for girls born in March
These girls and women are envious and extremely curious. They are rarely lucky in married life, but people with a high position in society who have achieved success marry them. In the family, the woman will play the main role.
Name Marianne - meaning REGINA, RUFINA, MARGARITA, ANTONINA, ULYANA, VASILISA, KIRA, VALERIA, NIKA, MARIANNA, DOMNA, AGAFYA.
Names for girls born in April
A woman living in love and for love. Very often she marries a jealous man, but can develop an excellent relationship with him. Sometimes in old age she changes for the worse: she becomes an evil-speaking gossip, embittered by the whole world around her.
Name Daria - meaning ALEXANDRINA, DARYA, PRASKOVYA, PELAGIA, SVETLANA, FEODOSIA, LYDIA, LYUDMILA, SUSANNA, SUZANNA, MATRENA.
Names for girls born in May
This woman will passionately adore her husband all her life. Although she has intelligence, beauty, and upbringing, she talks too much, and, moreover, out of place. She is often envied, therefore, she can harm, especially in matters of the heart.
The meaning of the name Elizabeth ELIZABETH, GLAFIRA, ZOYA, PELAGEE, EVDOCIA, EFROSINYA, MUSA, LUKERIA, GLIKERIA, FAINA, NAINA, YULIA, JULIANNA, TAMARA.
Names for girls born in June
She is an emotional woman surrounded by friends and fans. But because of his quick temper, he often conflicts with others and quickly breaks off relationships.
The meaning of the name Elena ELENA, FEODOSIA, FEODORA, CAROLINA, ADELAIS, IDA, ADA, AKULINA, FECLA, KALERIA, ALEVTINA.
Names for girls born in July
For this woman, love is a game. This is a passionate and temperamental nature, ardent and gentle at the same time. Men like her, and she herself likes to flirt. Bright and beautiful, she is in a whirlpool of relationships, love and fun.
The name Olga 0 is one of the most popular AGRIPPINA, IRINA, SARA, RUTH, OLGA, RIMMA, ELLA, JULIANNA, SOSIPATRA.
Names for girls born in August
This woman is generous and patient, impartial and self-possessed. A kind and sympathetic character attracts everyone around her. It is not easy for her to choose a husband for herself, because of the large number of fans. But if her first marriage falls apart, she will become incredulous and wary.
Name Ekaterina - meaning MAGDALINA, EKATERINA, MILENA, ZABAVA, CHRISTINA, PRASKOVIA, SERAFIMA, NONNA.
Names for girls born in September
A very optimistic and cheerful person. Even troubles and grief will not diminish her optimism. She is flirtatious and sociable, and over time becomes the most devoted mother.
Icon Hagia Sophia VASSA, ANFISA, ANITA, MARFA, RUFINA, LYUDMILA, VERA, HOPE, LOVE, SOPHIA.
Names for girls born in October
This is the woman with the happiest character and the happiest destiny. She will live happily married with a loving husband and children for a long life.
About the name Veronica EFROSINIA, CONCORDIA, SOSIPATRA, VERONICA, IRAIDA, PELAGEE, TAISIA, EULAMPIA, IONA.
Names for girls born in November
This woman will spend her whole life in quarrels with her husband because of her love for outfits and the company of strangers. A playful lifestyle is the norm for her.
Icon of Saint Claudia GLYCERIA, GLYCERIA, LUKERIA, CAPITOLINA, PRASKOVIA, ELENA, NELLI, CLAVDIA.
Names for girls born in December
This woman has an attractive appearance and an open noble character. He does not like to obey someone else's will and to be subordinate.
Singer named Barbara AUGUST, BARVARA, TATIANA, TATIANA, ANFISA, LARISA, MARINA, ZOYA, ZINOVEYA.
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When choosing a name for a newborn, it is important to know is it in the calendar, what names can be used for baptism. It is also very useful to figure out what your chosen name means (translated into Russian), look at the full list of diminutive (short) forms of the name, find out its place in p the rating of the popularity of names. This is exactly what the guide was created for."A Thousand Names" (look through an introductory copy). If you find this book useful, you will be able to hold it in your hands in 2-3 days! (more information). |
Birthday calendar. Women's names.Male names
January February March/ April - June / July - September / October - December
On this page you can choose a name for baptism (god or baptismal name).
Here are the most famous and "popular" saints.
Some saints have several days of remembrance in a year (2-3), which means there are several name days!
January. Names in alphabetical order:
Amelia, Amalia (see Emilia)
Anisya, Anisia, god name: Anisia
Apollinaria, god name: Apollinaria
Holy Venerable Apollinaria of Egypt, January 5/18
Notes: 1) St. Apollinaria possessed the gift of healing and miracles; carried out monastic service in a male form under the name Dorotheus, only after her death it turned out that she was a woman; 2) the name Apollinaria is sometimes chosen as godmother for the name Pauline
Apraxia (see Eupraxia)
Bogdana, Bozena (see Fedor)
Vasilisa, Vasilina, god name: Vasilissa
Holy Martyr Basilissa of Egypt, January 8/21
Dana (see Fedo ra)
D o mnika, Domni ka, Dominika, god name: Do mnika
Holy Venerable Domnika of Constantinople, January 8/21
Evgeniya, god name: Evgeniya
Eupraxia, Apraxia, God Name: Eupraxia
Saint Eupraxia (Euphrasia) Constantinople, Tavenian, Elder, January 12/25
Claudia, godfather name: Claudia
Leonia, Leonida, Leontina, god name: Leonilla
Holy Martyr Leonilla (Neonilla) of Langonian, January 16/29
Note: Leonill's name can also be advised as a god for the "non-calendar" name Eleanor (by "consonance")
Mary, godfather name: Mary
St. Mary of Radonezh (mother of St. Sergius of Radonezh), this saint has two days of remembrance a year: January 18/31, and September 28 / October 11 (respectively, two birthday days)
Melania, Melania, god name: Melania
Notes: 1) the Russian folk forms of the name, now out of use, were Malania and Malanya, 2) the names Melania and Melania should not be confused with the names of Milena and Milana, which have a different origin.
Nastasya (see Anastasia)
Nina, god name: Nina
Saint Nina Equal to the Apostles, Enlightener of Georgia, January 14/27
Ruslana, godfather orthodox name: absent
Note: There is no name for Ruslan in the Orthodox saints, the name Leonilla may well be a suitable name for baptism, since its meaning is "lion", "lioness" (Greek)
Holy Martyr Leonilla (Neonilla) Langonian, January 16/29 (optional)
Tatiana, godfather orthodox name: Tatiana
Holy Martyr Tatiana of Rome, January 12/25
Ulyana (see Juliana)
Fedora, Theodora (as well as Bogdana, Dana, Bozena, Dora), god name: Theodora
Saint Theodora of Caesarea, December 30 / January 12
- Saint Theodora of Constantinople (Constantinople), December 30 / January 12
Note: The name of Theodore does not belong to the popular ones, but it may well serve as a godfather for such passport names as Bogdana, Dana, Bozena (in the general meaning of the name). The name Dora can also be considered as a passport (as a truncation of the name of Theodore)
Emilia, Emma (and also Amelia, Amalia), godfather name: Emilia
Saint Emilia of Caesarea (mother of Basil the Great), January 1/14
Note: The names Amalia and Amelia have a different origin, from the ancient Germanic amal, amala - "hardworking", "diligent", "indefatigable", but due to the similarity of sound, it is good for them to use the god name Emilia
Holy Righteous Juliania Lazarevskaya, Murom, January 2/15
- Holy Martyr Juliana of Nicomedia, December 21 / January 3
Holy noble princess Juliana Vyazemskaya, martyr; this saint has two days of remembrance a year: December 21 / January 3, as well as June 2/15 (respectively, two birthday days)
January. Names by calendar day:
(new style dates)
3. Juliana + Julianna + Ulyana
4. Anastasia + Nastasya
6. Eugene; Claudia
10. Agafia + Agafia + Agatha
12. Anisya + Anisiya; Fedora + Theodora (as well as Bogdana, Dana, Bozena, Dora)
13. Melania + Melania
14. Emilia + Emma (and also Amelia, Amalia)
15. Juliana + Julianna + Ulyana
18. Apollinaria + Polina
21. Vasilisa + Vasilina; Do mnika + Domni ka + Dominika
25. Eupraxia + Apraxia; Tatiana
27. Nina
29. Leonia + Leonida + Leontina + Leonilla (as well as Eleanor, Ruslana)
31. Maria + Marya (as well as Marietta, Marietta)
February. Names in alphabetical order:
(the first date according to the church calendar, the second according to the new style)
Agafia, Agafia, Agatha, godfather name: Agafia
Holy Martyr Agathia of Sicily, Palermo, February 5/18
Agnia, Agnes, Inessa, godfather name: Agnia
Aksinya (see Xenia)
Anna, god name: Anna
Holy noble princess Anna of Novgorod (otherwise - Venerable Anna of Novgorod), February 10/23
- holy righteous Anna the Prophetess (daughter of Fanuil), February 3/16, and also August 28 / September 10
Athanasia, god name: Athanasia
Bogdana, Bozena (see Fedor)
Valentina, god name: Valentina
Holy Martyr Valentina of Caesarea (otherwise - Valentina Palestinian), February 10/23
Note: In recent years, the names of Vitalin and Vitaly have been registered more and more often. Obviously, these are analogs of the male name Vitaly, derived from the Latin vitalis (that is, "full of life", "alive", "giving life"). Valentina can become a good god name for Vitalina and Vitalia - both in general sense and in sound
Galina, god name: Galina
Holy Righteous Galina, February 10/23
Dana (see Fedo ra)
Dorothea, Dora, god name: Dorothea
Holy Martyr Dorothea of Caesarea (from Cappadocia), February 6/19
Eudoxia, godfather name: Eudoxia
Eusebius, god name: Eusebius
Saint Venerable Eusebia Milasskaya (after baptism she received the name Xenia), January 24 / February 6
Zoya, godfather name: Zoya
Holy Venerable Zoya of Bethlehem, February 13/26
Inessa (see Agnia)
Inna, god name: Inna
Holy Martyr Inna Novodunsky, Slav, January 20 / February 2, as well as June 20 / July 3
Note: the patron saint is the martyr Inna; in Russia the names Inna, Rimma and Pinna are considered feminine, but in the calendar they are contained in the section "Male names"
Holy Martyr Christina of Caesarea, February 6/19
Ksenia, Aksinya, Oksana, god name: Ksenia
Holy Reverend Xenia of Milasskaya, January 24 / February 6
- holy blessed Xenia of Petersburg, January 24 / February 6, as well as May 24 / June 6
Mary, godfather name: Mary
Holy Reverend Mary of Constantinople, January 26 / February 8
- Holy Martyr Mary of Asia, February 6/19
Note: Possible passport forms of the name can also be Marya and Marietta (Marietta)
Martha, Martha, Martina, god name: Martha
Holy Martyr Martha of Asia, February 6/19
Oksana (see Xenia)
Pelageya, god name: Pelagia
Pauline, god name: Pavel
Holy Martyr Paul of Caesarea, February 10/23
Note: sometimes the name Apollinaria is taken as the godfather for Polina (see January)
Rimma, godfather name: Rimma
Holy Martyr Rimma Novodunsky, Slav, January 20 / February 2, also June 20 / July 3
Note: the patron saint is the martyr Rimma; in Russia the names Inna, Rimma and Pinna are considered feminine, but in the calendar they are contained in the section "Male names"
Svetlana, god name: Svetlana (Fotinia)
Saint Venerable Photinia (Svetlana) Palestinian (V century), February 13/26
Holy Righteous Theodora, Queen of Greece (restored the veneration of icons) (867 AD), February 11/24
Christina (see Christina)
Felicia, godfather name: Filizata
Feoktista, godfather name: Feoktista
February. Names by calendar day:
(new style dates)
2. Inna; Rimma
3. Agnia + Agnessa + Inessa
6. Eusebius; Ksenia + Aksinya + Oksana
7. Felicia
8.Maria + Marya (and also Marietta, Marietta)
12. Pelageya
13. Athanasius; Eudoxia; Feoktista
16. Anna
18. Agafia + Agafya + Agatha
19. Dorothea + Dora;Christina + Christina; Maria + Marya (as well as Marietta, Marietta); Martha + Martha + Martina
23. Anna; Valentina (as well as Vitalina, Vitaly); Galina; Pauline
24. Fedora + Theodora (as well as Bogdana, Dana, Bozena, Dora)
26. Zoya; Svetlana
March. Names in alphabetical order:
(the first date according to the church calendar, the second according to the new style)
Avdotya (see Evdokia)
Alena (see Elena)
Anastasia, Nastasya, god name: Anastasia
Saint Anastasia Patricia (Constantinople, Alexandria), March 10/23
Antonina, Antonia, Antonida, god name: Antonina
Holy Martyr Antonina of Nicea, March 1/14 and also June 13/26
Bogdana, Bozena (see Fedor)
Victoria (see Nika)
Galina, god name: Galina
Holy Martyr Galina of Corinth, March 10/23 and April 16/29
Dana (see Fedo ra)
Evdokia, Avdotya, god name: Evdokia
Holy Martyr Evdokia Iliopolis, March 1/14
Elena, Alena (as well as Elina, Nelly, Lina, Ilona), god name: Elena
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Helena of Constantinople, March 6/19 and also May 21 / June 3
Notes: 1) the god name Elena is also a good option (in consonance) for such passport names as Eleanor, Elvira, Ella, 2) sometimes the church name Neonilla / Leonilla is used as the godfather for Nelly's name (see January, Ruslan's name); Neonilla from Latin neon, Greek neos - "young, new").
Ilona (see Elena)
Iraida (see Raisa)
Kira, godfather name: Kira
Christina, Christina, god name: Christina
Holy Martyr Christina of Persia, March 13/26
Lina (see Elena)
Marianna, Maryana, god name: Mariamna
Nastasya (see Anastasia)
Nelly (see Elena)
Nika, Victoria, god name: Nika
Holy Martyr Nika of Corinth, March 10/23 and also April 16/29
Note: in Ancient Greece, Nike is the goddess of victory; among the Romans, Victoria corresponded to her.
Raisa, Iraida, god name: Raisa, Iraida
Holy Martyr Raisa of Alexandria, Antinople (the same saint is known under the name Iraida of Alexandria, Antinopolitan), respectively, in her honor, the girl can be called Raisa or Iraida, this saint has three days of memory - March 5/18; September 5/18; September 23 / October 6
Ulyana (see Juliana)
Fedora, Theodora, godfather name: Theodora
Note: The name of Theodore does not belong to the popular ones, but it may well serve as a godfather for such passport names as Bogdana, Dana, Bozena (in the general meaning of the name). The name Dora can also be considered as a passport (as a truncation of the name of Theodore)
Christina (see Christina)
Elina (see Elena)
Juliana, Julianne, Ulyana, godfather name: Juliana
Holy Martyr Juliana of Ptolemaid, March 4/17, and also August 17/30
March. Names by calendar day:
(new style dates)
2. Marianna + Maryana
13. Kira
14. Antonina + Antonia + Antonida; Evdokia + Avdotya
17. Juliana + Julianna + Ulyana
18. Raisa + Iraida
19. Elena + Alena (Elina, Nelly, Lina, Ilona, as well as Eleanor, Elvira, Ella)
23. Anastasia + Nastasya; Galina; Nika + Victoria; Fedor + Theodora (as well as Bogdan, Dana, Bozena Detailed information about each of the given names
you will find in the book by Evgeny Vasiliev "A Thousand Names"
The information in this birthday calendar is given in this format:
all possible passport forms of the name (for entry in the Birth Certificate) - cross name (for entry in the Baptism Certificate) - full name of the saint - saint's day of remembrance (the first date is indicated according to the church calendar, and the second date is according to our modern calendar); the day of remembrance of the saint - this is the day of the celebration of the name day; some saints have several days of remembrance during the year (2-3), which means there are several name days!
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Key words: Godfather name. Baptismal name. Name for baptism. January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December. Baptize a child, a girl. Christening. Church name. Name by consonance. The name is meaningful. Russian Orthodox Church. Russian saints. Belarusian saints. Calendar name. Non-calendar name. Canonical name. Non-canonical. Name according to the church calendar. Russian name. Christian name. For girl. Women's names. For a newborn. The naming of the name. Name Church calendar. In a new style. Old style. Months. Orthodox. Saints. Name according to the calendar. Names according to the calendar. Name day. Name day. When to celebrate. Birthday calendar. Day Angel. Memorial day of the saint. Popular, famous saints. Holy. Holy saints. Martyrs. Righteous women. The righteous. Reverends. The faithful. Blessed princess. Hieromartyr. |
Women's names according to the Holy Calendar
ALEXANDRA courageous (Greek) Martyr: March 20 (April 2), April 23 (May 6), May 18 (31), November 6 (19).
ANASTASIA resurrection (Greek). Martyr: April 15 (28), October 30 (November 12), December 22 (January 4). Reverend Martyr: October 29 / November 11. Reverend: March 10 (23).
ANNA Grace (Jewish). Prophetess: February 3 (16), August 28 (September 10), December 9 (22). Righteous: July 25 (August 7), September 9 (22), December 9 (22). Martyr: March 26 (April 8), July 5 (18), October 22 (November 4), November 20 (December 3). Reverend: June 13 (26), October 29 (November 11). Noble princess: February 10 (23), June 12 (25), October 2 (15).
ANTONINA acquiring in return (Greek). Martyr: March 1 (14), June 10 (23), June 13 (26).
ANFISA blooming (Greek). Martyr: August 27 (September 9), December 8 (21). Reverend: July 27 / August 9.
ARIADNE H strictly maintaining marital fidelity (Greek). Martyr: September 18 / October 1.
Barbarian foreign woman (Greek). Great Martyr: December 4 (17). Reverend Martyr:
VASSILISSA regal (Greek). Martyr: January 8 (21), March 10 (23), April 15 (28), April 16 (29), September 3 (16).
GALINA calmness, silence (Greek). Martyr: March 10 (23), April 16 (29).
EVE the foremother of all people on Forefather Week and before the Nativity of Christ.
Eudochia Goodwill (Greek). Noble princess: June 23 / July 6. Blessed: June 23 / July 6. Reverend Martyr: March 1 (14), August 4 (17). Reverend: May 17 (30), July 7 (20).
EUROSINIA joy (Greek) Martyr: November 6 (19). Reverend: February 15 (28), May 17 (30), May 23 (June 5), June 23 (July 6), June 25 (July 8), July 7 (20), September 25 (October 8).
HELENA torch (Greek). Equal to the Apostles: May 21 / June 3. Martyr: May 26 / June 8. Noble princess: July 11 (24). Righteous: October 30 (November 12).
ELISAVETA worshiping God (Jewish). Righteous: September 5 (18). Reverend Martyr: 1st Sunday after January 24 (February 6), July 5 (18). Martyr: October 22 (November 4). Reverend: April 24 / May 7.
ESTHER righteous. Forefather on the Week.
ZINAIDA divine (Greek). Martyr: October 11/24 ZINOVIA(Greek). Martyr: October 30 (November 12).
Zoya life (Greek). Martyr: May 2 (15), December 18 (31). Reverend: February 13 (26).
INNA Your patron is the martyr Inna (1st-11th centuries A.D.). Martyr:
JOHN the grace of God (Jewish). Righteous: June 27 / July 10. On the Week of Myrrh-Bearing Women.
IRINA peace (Greek). Martyr: April 16 (29), May 5 (18), September 18 (October 1). Righteous: May 13 (26).
JULIANIA(Ulyana). Martyr: March 4 (17), March 20 (April 2), June 22 (July 5), June 23 (July 6), August 17 (30), November 1 (14), December 4 (17), December 21 (January 3) ). Righteous: January 2 (15), June 2 (15), July 6 (19), September 28 (October 11), December 21 (January 3).
CLAUDIA. Martyr: March 20 (April 2), May 18 (31), November 6 (19), December 24 (January 6).
KSENIA foreigner, wanderer (Greek). Reverend: January 24 / February 6. Blessed: January 24 / February 6.
MARGARITA(Marina) marine (Latin). Martyr: July 17 (30). MARIAM Sister of Moses. On the week of the forefather and before the Nativity of Christ.
MARINA sea (Latin). Martyr: July 17 (30). Reverend: February 28 / March 13.
MARIA madam (Jewish). Equal to the Apostles: July 22 (August 4), Myrrh-Bearing Wives Week. Righteous: in the Week of Myrrh-Bearing Wives. Martyr: 6 (19) February, 7 (20) June, 9 (22) June, 12 (25) July, 9 (22) August. Blessed: October 29 / November 11. Reverend: January 18 (31), January 26 (February 8), February 12 (25), April 1 (14), June 23 (July 6), July 6 (19), September 28 (October 11); in the 5th week of Great Lent. Noble princess: June 23 / July 6.
NATALIA natural (Latin). Martyr: August 26 / September 8. NEONILLA martyr: October 28 (November 10). NINA. Equal to the Apostles: January 14 (27).
PARASKEVA Friday cooking (Greek). Martyr: March 20 (April 2), October 28 (November 10). Reverend Martyr: July 26 / August 8. Reverend: October 14 (27).
PELAGIA(Polina) marine (Greek). Martyr: May 4 (17), October 7 (20). Reverend: October 8 (21). Righteous: October 8 (21).
Rimma Martyr Rimma is your patron (IЧII centuries A.R. X.). Martyr: January 20 (February 2), June 20 (July 3).
SVETLANA(Fotina, Fotinia). Martyr: March 20 / April 2. Reverend: February 13 (26).
SOFIA wisdom (Greek). Reverend: 23 June (6 July). Martyr: September 17 (30), September 18 (October 1).
TAMARA palm tree (Georgian), from Tamar (Jewish). Righteous: May 1 (14). On the Week of Myrrh-Bearing Women.
TATIANA H organizer, founder (Greek). Martyr: January 12 (25).
CHRISTINA Christ. Martyr: February 6 (19), March 13 (26), May 18 (31), July 24 (August 6). Noble princess: June 23 / July 6.
Male names according to the Holy Calendar
January
1 - Ilya, Timofey;
2 - Daniel, Ignat, Ivan;
6 - Nikolay;
9 - Stefan, Fedor;
10 - Ignat;
11 - Ivan, Mark;
12 - Makar;
14 - Vasily;
15 - Seraphim;
16 - Gordey;
17 - Athanasius;
21 - Georgy, Grigory, Emelyan;
22- Philip;
23 - Makar, Pavel, Gregory;
24 - Michael;
25 - Peter, Savva;
26 - Elizar, Yakov;
28 - Gabriel, Ivan, Pavel, Prokhor;
29 - Maxim, Peter;
30 - Anton;
31 - Athanasius, Cyril.
February
1-Savva, Makar, Fedor;
3 - Valerian, Maxim, Eugene;
4 - Makar, Timofey;
5 - Gennady, Clement;
6 - Ivan, Gerasim.
7- Gregory, Moses, Felix;
8 - Arkady, Ivan;
10 -Ephraim, Isaac;
11 - Gerasim, Roman, Ignatius, Lawrence;
12 - Vasily, Gregory, Ivan, Ippolit, Peter;
13 - Ivan, Nikita;
14 - Peter, Tryphon;
16 - Nikolay, Roman, Semyon, Vlas;
17 - Yuri, Cyril, Nikolay;
18 - Makar;
19 - Julian;
21 - Fedor, Zakhar, Savva;
22 - Gennady, Pankrat, Nikifor, Innokenty;
23 - Prokhor;
24 - Vsevolod, Gabriel, Dmitry, Vlas;
25 - Alexey, Evgeniy, Anton;
26 - Semyon;
27 - Cyril, Mikhail, Fedor, Isaac.
March
1 - Daniel, Ilya, Paul;
6 - George, Timofey;
7 -Afanasy;
8 - Alexander;
10 - Taras, Sevastian;
13 - Vasily, Nikolay;
15 - Arseny, Bogdan;
17 - Vyacheslav, Vasily, Daniel, Gerasim;
18 - Andrian, David, Constantine, Fedor;
19 - Arkady;
20 - Vasily, Eugene, Ephraim;
21 - Athanasius, Lazarus;
22 - Valery;
23 - Victor, Leonid, Pavel;
25 - Semyon, Grigory; 26 - Nicephorus;
27 - Rostislav, Benedict;
28 - Alexander, Denis;
30 - Alexey, Makar, Lazar;
31 - Cyril, Trofim.
April
1 - Innokenty;
2 - Victor, Ivan, Sergey;
3 - Cyril, Yakov;
4 - Isaac, Vasily;
6 - Peter, Stefan, Zakhar, Yakov;
8 - Basil, Gabriel;
10 - Hilarion, Stephen;
11 - Cyril, Ivan, Mark;
13 - Innokenty;
16 - Nikita;
17 - George, Joseph;
20- Georgy, Daniel, Rodion;
22 - Vadim;
23 - Alexander, Maxim, Terenty, Fedor;
24 - Ivan, Yakov, Actin;
25 - Vasily, Isaac;
27 - Ivan, Anton, Martin;
28 - Trofim, Aristarchus;
29 - Leonid;
30 - Alexander, Semyon.
1 - Victor, Ivan, Kuzma;
2 - George, Nikifor, Ivan, Trifon;
3 - Alexander, Gabriel, Fedor;
5 - Vitaly, Vsevolod, Gabriel, Clement, Fedor;
b - Anatoly, Georgy;
7 - Savva, Alexei, Valentine;
9 - Vasily, Stefan;
10 - Semyon, Stefan;
11 - Vitaly, Kirill, Maxim;
12 - Ivan, Vasily, Bogdan;
13 - Yakov, Ignat, Nikita;
14 - Ignat, Makar;
15 - Athanasius, Boris, Gleb, David, Roman;
16 - Peter, Timothy;
17 - Nikifor, Isaac, Clement, Cyril, Nikita;
21 - Arseny, Ivan;
22 - Nikolay;
24 - Joseph, Cyril;
25 - Herman, Denis;
26 - Alexander, Makar, Efim, Georgy;
27 - Leonty;
28 -Dmitry, Pakhom;
29 - Ephraim, Fedor, Lawrence;
31 - Peter, Denis, Bogdan.
June
1 - Dmitry, Ivan, Sergey, Ignatius;
2 - Alexander, Alexey, Timofey;
3 - Konstantin, Mikhail, Fedor;
5 - Mikhail, Leonty;
6 - Nikita, Semyon;
8 - George, Makar;
9 - Iran, Nile;
10- Ignatius, Nikita;
11 - Ivan, Isaac;
14 - Denis, Valerian;
15 - Ivan, Nikifor;
16 - Dmitry;
18 - Igor, Leonid, Fedor, Konstantin;
19, - Vissarion, Hilarion;
20 - Bogdan;
21 - Vasily, Constantine, Fedor;
22 - Alexander, Cyril;
23 - Alexander, Vasily, Ivan, Timofey;
24 - Ephraim;
25 - Arseny, Peter, Stephen;
26 - Ivan, Savva;
27 - Elisha, George, Mstislav;
28 - Gregory, Modest;
29 - Tikhon.
July
1-Leonty;
3-Gleb, Gury;
4 - Julian, Terenty;
5 - Galaktion;
6 - Artem, German, Svyatoslav;
7 - Ivan, Yakov, Anton;
8 - David, Peter;
9 - David, Denis, Tikhon;
10 - George, Samson, Martin;
11 - Herman, Ivan, Sergey;
12 - Peter, Paul;
13 - Sofron, Peter;
14 - Demyan, Nikodim, Kuzma;
16 - Anatoly, Constantine, Philip, Vasily, Ivan;
17 - Andrey, Efim;
18 - Afanasy, Sergey;
21 - Procopius;
22 - Pankrat, Cyril, Fedor;
23 - Anton;
25 - Proclus, Ivan, Fedor, Mikhail, Arseny;
26 - Gabriel, Stephen;
27 - Stefan;
28-Vasily, Vladimir;
29 - Paul;
31 - Ivan, Emelyan.
August
1 - Roman, Seraphim;
2 - Afanasy, Ilya;
3 - Ivan, Semyon;
5 - Trofim;
6 - Boris, Gleb, Roman, David;
8 - Moses, Ermolai;
9 - Nikolay, German, Clement;
10 - Nikanor, Moses, Prokhor;
11 - Konstantin, Mikhail;
12 - Valentine, Ivan, German;
13- Evdokim;
14 - Elizar;
15 - Vasily, Stephen, Nicodemus;
16 - Anton, Isaac;
17 - Maximilian;
20 - Pimen;
21 - Grigory, Emelyan, Leonid;
22 - Anton, Julian;
23 - Lawrence, Roman;
24 - Vasily, Fedor;
25 - Alexander;
26 - Ippolit, Maxim, Tikhon;
27 - Arkady;
29 - Demid;
30 - Pavel, Miron;
31 - Hilarion, Emelyan, Denis, Frol, Laurus.
September
1 - Andrey, Timofey;
2 - Samuel;
4 - Athanasius;
6 - Arseny, Peter;
8 - Andrian;
10 - Sawa, Moses;
12 - Daniel, Alexander;
13- Gennady, Kupriyan;
14 - Semyon;
15 - Anton, Bogdan, Ivan;
17- Moses;
18 - Athanasius, Zakhar, Gleb, David;
19 - Makar, Mikhail, Arkhip, Kirill;
20 - Ivan, Makar;
22 - Joseph;
23 - Andrew, Peter, Pavel;
24 - Dmitry, German, Sergey;
25 - Semyon, Julian;
26 - Leonty, Valerian;
28 - Stefan, Nikita;
29 - Victor, Kupriyan.
October
2 - David, Trofim, Fedor, Igor, Konstantin;
3 - Mikhail, Oleg, Fedor;
4 - Daniel, Joseph, Dmitry;
5 - Peter, Makar;
6 - Innokenty, Ivan;
7 - Vladislav, Galaktion; 8- Herman, Sergey;
9 - Ephraim, Ivan, Tikhon;
10 - Aristarchus, Ignat, Mark;
11 - Vyacheslav, Khariton;
13- Gregory, Mikhail;
14 - Roman, Savva;
15 - Andrey, Anna, Kupriyan;
16 - Denis;
17 - Vladimir, Guriy;
18 - Alexey, Peter, Philip, Gregory, Matvey;
20 - Julian, Sergey, Trifon;
22 - Peter, Yakov;
23 - Andrey;
24 - Philip;
26 - Benjamin, Nikita;
27 - Nazar;
28 - Efim, Ivan;
30 - Andrey, Anton, Lazar, Kuzma, Demyan;
31 - Joseph.
November
3 - Jacob, Illarion;
4 - Alexander, Irakli;
5 - Yakov, Ignat;
8 - Dmitry;
9 - Mark, Nestor;
10 - Arseny, Dmitry, Terentiy, Stefan;
12- Artem, Zinovy, Mark;
13 - Nicodemus, Spiridon;
14 - Kuzma, Demyan;
16 - George, Joseph;
18 - Galaktion, Gregory;
19 - Herman, Pavel;
20 - Cyril, Lazar, Bogdan, Valery;
21 - Gabriel, Michael, Raphael; 23 - Rodion;
24 - Vikenty, Victor, Maxim, Fedor;
25 - Ivan, Neil;
26 - Ivan, Herman, Nikifor;
27 - Gregory, Philip;
28 - Dmitry, Guriy;
29 - Matvey;
30 - Gregory, Lazarus.
December
1 - Plato, Roman;
2 - Andrian;
3 - Anatoly, Gregory, Proclus;
5 - Valerian, Mikhail, Peter, Procopius, Yaropolk;
6 - Alexander, Alexey, Grigory, Makar;
8 - Peter, Clement;
9 - Georgy, Innokenty, Yakov;
10 - Vsevolod, Yakov, Gabriel, Roman;
11 - Fedor, Stefan;
13 - Andrey; Naum;
15 - Ivan, Andrei, Afanasy, Stefan;
16 - Savva;
18 - Savva, Gury;
19 - Nikolay;
20 - Anton, Ivan, Pavel, Nil;
21 - Cyril;
22 - Sofron;
23 - Ivan, Stefan;
24 - Daniel;
25 - Alexander, Spiridon;
26 - Arkady, Arseny, Eugene, Orest;
28 - Stephen, Tryphon.
(I did it for myself, I found a more complete list, who will come in handy - I will be glad)
Note - pay attention to the word "martyr" next to the names. I think this is important.
(I compared the names of women I know - those names who are with "martyr" - they often have a difficult fate. In my case, everyone.
The tradition of christening a child in honor of a saint comes from time immemorial - in Russia it appeared after the adoption of Orthodoxy. It was believed that a person who bears the name of a saint has a close relationship with him and even adopts part of his good qualities and strength. Moreover, parents, giving a child a name in honor of a powerful saint, count on the fact that this saint will protect him from the dark forces of evil throughout his entire life, and will be his guardian angel. The name in honor of this or that canonized saint was chosen by the parents or a priest according to the Holy Calendar, or the Months - a list of names of canonized saints, compiled by months and dates. In the Saints, or in the Orthodox Church calendar, each date is a church holiday, or the day of remembrance of a saint. Almost every day of the year is the day of remembrance of at least one saint, and in some cases there may be up to several dozen of them on the same date. Several dates correspond to the same name in the Orthodox church calendar - these days the person named after the saint celebrates his name day.
Names according to the holy calendar in the church calendar
The church calendar is an inexhaustible source of names even for modern parents, who are not always true believers and Christians observing all traditions. The fact is that the list of names of saints currently includes more than 1000 names of various origins. Among them there are names of Slavic and Greek origin, Latin and Hebrew names. Many names from the Saints are currently an anachronism, but in recent years there has been a tendency to call the child a rare, little-used name. In the event that parents want to choose a rare and unusual name for a child, the Saints are an excellent source of inspiration.
How to choose the right name for a child according to the Holy Calendar?
According to the rules, parents choose a name for a child according to the Holy Calendar, based on the date of his birth. Most often, they look at exactly which saints are commemorated on the child's birthday, however, let's say the choice of a name among the names of the saints whose memory is celebrated on the eighth day from the birth of the child. This tradition is connected with the fact that in antiquity it was on the eighth day that a holiday of naming a child was held. If there are no suitable names that fall on the child's birthday, as well as on the eighth day from his birthday, then let us choose a name from those that fall on the fortieth day from the child's birthday. This tradition is connected with the fact that it was on the fortieth day that the child was brought to the temple for baptism. As an exception, a child can be named after a saint especially revered in the family.
In the Holy Calendar, there are significantly more male names than female names. Therefore, girls can be named in honor of a saint man, if there is a used analogue of a male name in a female version: so, if the date of birth of a girl falls on the memory of Saint Eugene (Victor, Alexander, Anastasia, Apollinaria), then it is permissible to call her Eugenia (Victoria, Alexandra, Anastasia, Polina) in honor of the saint-man, choosing him as the patron saint for the child.
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Most often, the day of remembrance of a saint is the day of his earthly death, i.e. transition into eternity, meeting with God, to whom the ascetic was striving to join.
How to determine the day of the name day
In the church calendar, there are several days of commemoration of the same saint, and many saints also bear the same name. Therefore, it is necessary to find in the church calendar the day of remembrance of the saint you are named after, the closest after your birthday. This will be your name day, and the saint, whose memory is remembered on this day, will be your heavenly patron. If he has other days of remembrance, then these dates will become "small name days" for you.
If we want to give a name to a child strictly according to church tradition, then it will be the name of the saint, whose memory is celebrated on the 8th day after the birth of the child. Cm.
When determining the name day, the date of the canonization of the saint does not matter, because it only fixes a fait accompli. In addition, as a rule, it takes place tens of years after the transition of the saint to the heavenly abodes.
The name received by a person at baptism not only remains unchanged throughout his life (the only exception is the case of accepting monasticism), but also remains after death, passes with him into eternity. In prayers for the departed, he also remembers their names given in baptism.
Birthday and Angel Day
Name days are sometimes referred to as Angel Day. This name day recalls that in the old days the heavenly patrons were sometimes called the Angels of their earthly namesakes; it is incorrect, however, to confuse saints with angels. Name day is the day of remembrance of the saint, after whom the person is named, and the Day of the Angel is the day of baptism, when a person is appointed by God. Each baptized person has his own Guardian Angel, but his name is unknown to us.
Honoring and imitating your patron saint
The monk wrote about the prayerful help of the saints: “The saints, in the Holy Spirit see our life and our deeds. They know our sorrows and hear our fervent prayers ... The Saints do not forget us and pray for us ... They also see the suffering of people on earth. The Lord gave them such great grace that they embrace the whole world with love. They see and know how we faint from sorrow, how our souls have dried up, how despondency has fettered them, and, without ceasing, they intercede for us before God. "
Veneration of the saint consists not only in prayer to him, but also in imitation of his feat, his faith. “By name and your life, let it be,” said the monk. After all, the saint whose name a person bears is not just his patron and prayer book, he is also a role model.
But how can we imitate our saint, how at least in some way follow his example? For this you need:
- First, to know about his life and exploits. Without this, we cannot truly love our saint.
- Secondly, we need to more often turn to them with prayer, know the troparion to him and always remember that we have a protector and helper in heaven.
- Thirdly, of course, we must always think about how we could follow the example of our saint in this or that case.
According to the nature of Christian exploits, the saints are traditionally divided into faces (categories): prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, confessors, reverends, righteous, holy fools, faithful, etc. (see).
The person bearing the name confessor or martyr, may well fearlessly profess his faith, act like a Christian always and in everything, without looking back at the dangers or inconveniences, in everything, please, first of all, God, and not people, regardless of ridicule, threats and even oppression.
Those named after saints, can try to imitate them, exposing errors and vices, spreading the light of Orthodoxy, helping others to find the way to salvation both by word and by example.
Reverend(i.e. monks) can be imitated in detachment, independence from worldly pleasures, keeping the purity of thoughts, feelings and actions.
Imitate the holy fool- means, first of all, to humble ourselves, to cultivate selflessness in oneself, not to get carried away with the acquisition of earthly riches. The continuation should be the education of will and patience, the ability to endure the hardships of life, the fight against pride and vanity. You also need the habit of meekly enduring all grievances, but at the same time not being ashamed to expose obvious vices, to tell the truth to everyone who needs to be disciplined.
Names after Angels
Also, a person can be named after (Michael, Gabriel, etc.). People named after the archangels celebrate the name day on November 21 (November 8 OST), on the day of the Celebration of the Cathedral of the Archangel of God Michael and other disembodied Heavenly Forces.
If the name is not in the calendar
If the name by which you were named is not in the calendar, then at baptism, the name that is closest in sound is chosen. For example, Dina - Evdokia, Lilia - Leah, Angelica - Angelina, Jeanne - John, Milana - Militsa. According to tradition, Alice receives the name Alexandra in baptism, in honor of St. passion-bearer Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova, who before the adoption of Orthodoxy was named Alice. Some names in the church tradition have a different sound, for example, Svetlana is Fotinia (from the Greek photos - light), and Victoria is Nika, both names in Latin and Greek mean "victory".
In writing only the names given in baptism.
How to celebrate a name day
Orthodox Christians on their name days visit the temple and, having prepared in advance, and the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
The days of "small name days" are not so solemn for the birthday person, but it is advisable to visit the temple on this day.
After communion, you need to keep yourself from all fuss so as not to lose your holiday joy. In the evening, you can invite loved ones to a meal. It should be remembered that if the name day falls on a fast day, then the festive treat should be fast. In Great Lent, name days that happened on a weekday are postponed to the next Saturday or Sunday.
Cm. Natalia Sukhinina
What to give for a name day
In celebration of the memory of the patron saint, the best gift will be something that contributes to his spiritual growth: an icon, a vessel for, beautiful candles for prayer, books, audio and video discs of spiritual content.
Prayer to your saint
About the saint, in whose honor we receive the name, we must remember not only on the day of the name day. In the daily morning and evening there is a prayer to the saint, we can also turn to him at any time and in any need. The simplest prayer to a saint:
Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (name), as I zealously run to you, an ambulance and prayer book for my soul.
You also need to know your saint.
In addition to the icons of the Savior - the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Mother of God, it is desirable to have your own saint. It may happen that you bear some rare name, and the icon of your heavenly patron will be difficult to find. In this case, you can buy an icon of All Saints, which symbolically depicts all the saints glorified by the Orthodox Church.
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Patristic sayings about name days
“We began to choose names not in God's way. In God's way, that's how it should be. Choose a name according to the calendar: either on what day the child will be born, or on what day it is baptized, or in the interval and three days after baptism. Here the matter will be without any human considerations, but as God wills, for the birthdays are in the hands of God.
saint
History and symbols of the celebration of the name day
Like many other religious traditions, the celebration of name days in Soviet times was forgotten, moreover, in the 1920s and 1930s, it was officially persecuted. True, it turned out to be difficult to eradicate age-old folk habits: they still congratulate the birthday man on his birthday, and if the hero of the occasion is very young, they sing a song: "how on ... we baked a loaf on the name day." Meanwhile, the name day is a special holiday, which could be called the day of spiritual birth, since it is associated primarily with the sacrament of Baptism and with the names worn by our co-named heavenly patrons.
The tradition of celebrating name days has been known in Russia since the 17th century. Usually, on the eve of the holiday, the birthday boy's family brewed beer, baked birthday rolls, pies and loaves. On the day of the holiday itself, the birthday man with his family went to church for mass, ordered a prayer service for health, lit candles and applied to the icon with the face of his heavenly patron. In the afternoon, birthday pies were served to friends and relatives, and often the filling and size of the pie had a special meaning, determined by the nature of the relationship between the birthday man and his loved ones. In the evening, a festive dinner was held.
The tsar's name days (the day of the namesake), which were considered a public holiday, were especially magnificently celebrated. On this day, boyars and courtiers came to the royal court in order to present gifts and take part in a festive feast, at which they sang for many years. Sometimes the king personally handed out pies. Huge birthday rolls were spreading to the people. Later, other traditions appeared: military parades, fireworks, illuminations, shields with imperial monograms.
After the revolution, a serious and systematic ideological struggle began with the name day: the baptism rite was recognized as counter-revolutionary, and they tried to replace it with "Octobrins" and "stars". A ritual was developed in detail, in which the newborn was congratulated in a strict sequence by an Octobrist, pioneer, Komsomol member, communist, "honorable parents", sometimes the baby was symbolically enrolled in the trade union, and so on. The fight against "vestiges" reached anecdotal extremes: for example, in the 1920s, censorship banned K. Chukovsky's "Mukhu-Tsokotukha" for "propaganda of name days."
Traditionally, the name day is attributed to that day of remembrance of the saint of the same name (the same name), who immediately follows the birthday, although there is also a tradition of celebrating the name day on the day of memory of the most famous saint of the same name, for example, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Apostle Peter, St. Alexander Nevsky, etc. In the past, name days were considered a more important holiday than the day of “bodily” birth, in addition, in many cases these holidays practically coincided, since traditionally the child was baptized on the eighth day after birth: the eighth day is a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven , to which the baptized person participates, while the number seven is an ancient symbolic number denoting the created earthly world. Baptismal names were chosen according to the church calendar (saints). According to the old custom, the choice of name was limited to the names of the saints, whose memory was celebrated on the day of baptism. Later (especially in urban society) they moved away from this strict custom and began to choose names, guided by personal taste and other considerations - in honor of relatives, for example.
Name days turn us to one of our hypostases - to a personal name.
Perhaps the ancient motto "Know thyself" should be added: "Know thy name." Of course, the name primarily serves to distinguish people. In the past, a name could be a social sign, indicate a place in society - now, perhaps, only monastic (monastic) names stand out sharply from the Russian name-book. But there is also an almost forgotten now, mystical meaning of the name.
In ancient times, people attached much more importance to the name than they do now. The name was considered a significant part of a person. The content of the name correlated with the inner meaning of a person, it seemed to be embedded in him. The name ruled fate ("a good name is a good sign"). A well-chosen name became a source of strength and prosperity. Naming was considered a high act of creation, guessing the human essence, invoking grace.
In primitive society, the name was treated as a part of the body, like eyes, teeth, etc. to kill the enemy, it was supposed to find out his name in order to use it in his native tribe. Often the names were hidden in order not to give weapons to the enemy. Bad treatment of the name was expected to cause harm, trouble. In some tribes it was strictly forbidden to pronounce (taboo) the name of the leader. In others, the custom was practiced to give the elders new names, which gave them new strength. It was believed that a sick child was given strength by the name of the father, which was shouted in the ear or even called by the name of the father (mother), believing that part of the vital energy of the parents would help overcome the disease. If the child cried especially a lot, then the name was chosen incorrectly. Different nationalities have long preserved the tradition of naming "deceitful", false names: the true name was not pronounced in the hope that death and evil spirits, perhaps, would not find the baby. There was another variant of protective names - unattractive, ugly, frightening names (for example, Nekras, Nelyuba and even Dead), averting hardships and misfortunes.
In ancient Egypt, the personal name was carefully guarded. The Egyptians had a "small" name, known to everyone, and a "big" name, which was considered true: it was kept secret and was pronounced only during important ceremonies. The names of the pharaohs were especially respected - in the texts they were distinguished with a special cartouche. The Egyptians treated the names of the dead with great respect - mishandling them caused irreparable harm to the otherworldly being. The name and its bearer constituted one whole: the Egyptian myth, according to which the god Ra hid his name, is characteristic, but the goddess Isis managed to find out him, opening his chest - the name literally turned out to be inside the body!
Since ancient times, a change in name has been consistent with a change in human nature. New names were given to adolescents at initiation, that is, when joining adult members of the community. In China, there are still children's "milk" names, which are rejected with maturity. In ancient Greece, the newly minted priests, renouncing the old names, carved them on metal plates and drowned them in the sea. Echoes of these ideas can be seen in the Christian tradition of naming monastic names, when the one who has taken monastic vows leaves the world and his worldly name.
Many peoples taboo the names of pagan gods and spirits. It was especially dangerous to call evil spirits ("swear"): in this way it was possible to call on "unkind power." The ancient Jews did not dare to call the Name of God: Yahweh (in the Old Testament it is the “ineffable Name,” a sacred tetragram that can be translated as “I am that I am.” According to the Bible, the act of naming often becomes God's work: the Lord gave names to Abraham, Sarah , Isaac, Ishmael, Solomon, renamed Jacob to Israel.The special religious gift of the Jewish people manifested itself in a multitude of names, which are called theophoric - they contain God's "ineffable Name": so through his personal name a person was associated with God.
Christianity, as the highest religious experience of mankind, takes personal names very seriously. The name of a person reflects the mystery of a unique, precious person, it presupposes personal communication with God. During the sacrament of Baptism, the Christian Church, accepting a new soul into her bosom, connects it through her personal name with the name of God. As Fr. Sergiy Bulgakov, “human naming and naming exists in the image and likeness of the divine incarnation and naming ... every person is an incarnate word, a realized name, for the Lord Himself is an incarnate Name and Word”.
Holiness is considered the Christian destiny. Naming the baby with the name of a canonized saint, the Church tries to direct him on the true path: after all, this name has already been “realized” in life as a saint. He who bears the holy name always keeps within himself the uplifting image of his heavenly patron, "helper", "prayer book." On the other hand, the community of names unites Christians into one body of the Church, into one "chosen people."
Reverence for the names of the Savior and the Mother of God has long been expressed in the fact that in the Orthodox tradition it is not customary to give names in memory of the Mother of God and Christ. Previously, the name of the Mother of God was even distinguished by a different stress - Mary, while other holy wives had the name Mary (Mary). The rare monastic (schematic) name Jesus was assigned in memory not of Jesus Christ, but of the righteous Joshua.
The Russian Christian namebook has evolved over the centuries. The first extensive layer of Russian names arose in the pre-Christian era. The reasons for the emergence of this or that name could be very different: in addition to religious motives, circumstances of birth, appearance, character, etc. played a role. Later, after the Baptism of Rus, these names, sometimes difficult to distinguish from nicknames, coexisted with Christian calendar names ( up to the 17th century). Even priests sometimes bore nicknames. It happened that one person could have as many as three personal names: a "nickname" name and two baptismal names (one is explicit, the other is secret, known only to the confessor). When the Christian namebook completely supplanted the pre-Christian "nickname" names, they did not leave us for good, moving to another class of names - in the surname (for example, Nekrasov, Zhdanov, Naydenov). Some pre-Christian names of canonized Russian saints later became calendar names (for example, Yaroslav, Vyacheslav, Vladimir).
With the adoption of Christianity, Russia was enriched with the names of the entire human civilization: with the Byzantine calendar, Greek, Jewish, Roman and other names came to us. Sometimes images of more ancient religions and cultures were hidden under a Christian name. Over time, these names became Russified, so much so that the Hebrew names themselves became Russian - Ivan da Marya. At the same time, one should bear in mind the lofty thought of Fr. Pavel Florensky: "there are no names, neither Jewish, nor Greek, nor Latin, nor Russian - there are only names common to all mankind, the common heritage of mankind."
The post-revolutionary history of Russian names developed dramatically: a massive campaign of "de-Christianization" of the name-book was carried out. The revolutionary obscurantism of certain strata of society, combined with a tough state policy, was aimed at rebuilding, and hence at renaming the world. Together with the renaming of the country, its cities and streets, people were renamed. "Red saints" were compiled, new, "revolutionary" names were invented, many of which now sound just like curiosities (for example Malentro, i.e. Marx, Lenin, Trotsky; Dazdraperma, i.e. Long live May Day, etc. .). The process of revolutionary imyatonstvo, characteristic of ideological revolutions in general (it was known in France at the end of the 18th century, and in republican Spain, and in the countries of the former "socialist camp") did not last long in Soviet Russia, about a decade (20-30s ). Soon these names became part of history - here it is appropriate to recall another thought about. Pavel Florensky: "you can't think of names" in the sense that they are "the most stable fact of culture and the most important of its foundations."
The change in the Russian name also went along the line of borrowing from other cultures - Western European (e.g. Albert, Victoria, Jeanne) and common Slavic Christian names (e.g. Stanislav, Bronislav), names from Greek and Roman mythology and history (e.g. Aurelius, Aphrodite , Venus), etc. Over time, Russian society again returned to calendar names, but "de-Christianization" and a break in tradition led to an extraordinary impoverishment of the modern namebook, which now consists of only a few dozen names (the common property of "mass cultures" - the desire to average, standardize ).
Hieromonk Macarius (Markish):
Since ancient times, the custom has been established to give a newly admitted member of the Church the name of a saint. Thus, a special, new connection arises between the earth and Heaven, between a person living in this world, and one of those who have walked their life with dignity, whose holiness the Church has borne witness and glorified with her conciliar reason. Therefore, every Orthodox Christian must keep in memory the saint in whose honor he is named, know the basic facts of his life, and, if possible, remember at least some elements of the service in his honor.
But the same name, especially among the common ones (Peter, Nikolai, Maria, Elena), was worn by many saints of different times and peoples; therefore, we have to find out in honor of which saint, who bore this name, the baby will be named. This can be done using a detailed church calendar, which contains an alphabetical list of the saints venerated by our Church with the dates of their commemoration. The choice is made taking into account the date of birth or baptism of the child, the circumstances of the life of the saints, family traditions, your personal sympathies.
In addition, many famous saints have several days of remembrance during the year: this can be the day of death, the day of the acquisition or transfer of relics, the day of glorification - canonization. You have to choose which of these days will become a holiday (name day, name day) for your child. It is often called Angel's Day. In fact, we ask the Lord to give the newly baptized his Guardian Angel; but this Angel should never be confused with the saint after whom the child is named.
Sometimes, when giving a name, there are some difficulties. There are many Orthodox saints known in history, but not included in our calendars. Among them are the saints of Western Europe, who lived and glorified even before the fall of Rome from Orthodoxy (until 1054 the Roman Church was not torn away from Orthodoxy, and we also recognize the saints venerated in it by that time as saints), whose names we acquired from us popularity in recent decades (Victoria, Edward, etc.), but sometimes they are listed as “non-Orthodox”. There are also reverse situations when the familiar Slavic name does not belong to any of the Orthodox saints (for example, Stanislav). Finally, there are frequent formal misunderstandings associated with the spelling of the name (Elena - Alena, Ksenia - Oksana, John - Ivan) or its sound in different languages (in Slavic - Svetlana and Zlata, in Greek - Fotinia and Chris).
If necessary, the child can be given a name in baptism that is different from the one recorded in the birth certificate, choosing it, for example, by consonance (Stanislav - Stakhiy, Karolina - Kaleria, Elina - Elena). There is nothing flawed in this: among the Serbs, for example, almost everyone has one name in everyday life and another - in baptism. Note that in the Russian Church, unlike some other Orthodox Churches, the beloved name Mary is never given in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos, but only in honor of other saints who bore this name. You should also know that since 2000 our Church has ranked among the saints many of our fellow countrymen and fellow citizens - new martyrs and confessors of the 20th century - and calls on believers to name their children in their honor and memory.