A son was born - heir, protector, father's hope and mother's support. Happy parents have to solve an important task: what to name the baby? Often this issue is resolved in advance. But sometimes there are disputes and even quarrels about this. Everyone understands that the name given to the child will remain with him for life. It is believed that it determines fate, so it is highly undesirable to call a person differently.
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Criterias of choice
What are parents usually guided by when choosing a name for a newborn?
- beautiful sound;
- this is the name of a relative (grandfather, dad, uncle);
- the name of a man significant for the family (say, a doctor who saved the lives of a mother and a newborn);
- Orthodox tradition (names for a boy by months and dates);
- favorite soccer player public figure, the hero of the film, the singer, the world famous person.
Before choosing a son's name adults need to consider several factors:
The baptism of Rus' contributed to the fact that children began to be named in honor of the saints who became famous for their deeds. Parents were convinced that through the name a spiritual connection would arise and Orthodox great martyr will become the patron of their baby, give him some of his amazing qualities.
Day Angel- the date with which the name of a person in the holy calendar corresponds. Sometimes it coincides with a birthday, sometimes it doesn't. The same name in church calendar may occur several times. Several Orthodox saints fall on the same day. One name can celebrate Angel Day several times a year. For example, Athanasius can be born both in January and in November.
How to choose the right name according to the holy calendar? Orthodox Church prescribes to call the boy a name corresponding to his birthday or baptism. If for some reason a number of names do not fit, you can look at the eighth or fortieth day from the date the baby was born.
Names by months: Orthodox calendar
It's about the undeserved forgotten names
, which today you can only read in historical or ecclesiastical literature describing the deeds of Orthodox saints. And here they are, forgotten, but still harmonious and beautiful, slowly float into our everyday life.
And although many parents still call their babies traditionally, there are more and more children with retro names.
There are many forgotten names in the calendar. Some are found in the middle names of older people. Even now you can hear: Nikanorovich, Antipovich, Prokofievich or Afanasyevich. But such as Vlas, Silouan or Thaddeus, have long gone out of use. And yet, many old names have the right to life.
January
There are among the many birthdays of January beautiful name Seraphim(from the Hebrew "fiery angel"). Angel Day - 15.01.
In Orthodoxy, these angels are closest to God. They are called upon to ignite in the hearts of people a spark of faith and love for the Almighty.
Seraphim are very active and cheerful people. Erudite, who are easily given new knowledge. But sometimes they are frivolous.
Sweet derivatives: Sima, Fima, Simulya.
Other rare January birthdays: Timothy, Evtikhy, Ignat, Nifont, Theogen, Leonty, Siluan, Prokl.
February
A boy born in February is well called Vladimir, Zakhar, Fedor. The familiar sound of these names will not bring inconvenience to the child in kindergarten or school.
Fans of antiquity can consider the following options: Arseny, Ippolit, Innokenty, Vsevolod.
More and more popular lately old name Mark. The prevalence is predicted to continue to increase.
Mark is Latin for "hammer". The Church connects him with the personality of the holy preacher, disciple of Peter and author of the Gospel.
Boy Mark- a noisy child, a prankster and an entertainer, and all because he is used to being the center of attention. In adulthood, he is very circumspect: “he won’t go uphill, it’s better to go around the mountain.” Able to negotiate and persuade.
Affectionately, Mark is called Marik or Markush.
February boys can still be called Fedor, Januarius, Lawrence, Makar, Clement, Seraphim, Pallady.
March
The first spring month is the time for the name day of Ilya, Mikhail, Leo, Vasily, Bogdan, Athanasius, Vladimir.
Pancratius of Tauromenia, a disciple of the Apostle Paul, died a martyr in the name of Orthodox ideas.
Pankraty has a strong character. He is quick-tempered and sharp, often conflicts, but is capable of sacrifice and disinterestedness in the name of an idea. He despises conservatism, often criticizes the existing order.
He is affectionately called Pankrasha, Panya.
Other (unused) names: Jeremiah, Isaiah, Pimen, Titus, Nil, Nicander.
April
With regards to the April name day, it is worth revealing the secret of the name Lazarus(from the Hebrew "God helped"). Celebrated April 7th.
The church associates this name with the personality of Lazar of Serbia, who died at the hands of infidels in 1389. The prince was known as an enlightener, bringing the ideas of Christianity to his people.
The most striking feature of Lazarus is pride. He is very proud and cautious. “Trust no one,” this man lives by this principle. He is capable of sacrificing allies in order to achieve a common goal. Lazarus are long-lived, and with age they do not lose their clarity of mind.
Affectionate nicknames: Dawn, Lazarka.
Other birthdays in April: Nikita, Yakov, Vladimir, Benjamin, Savva, Sevastyan, Gavrila.
May
May 5 marks the day of the angel Clement(from Latin "merciful").
In Orthodoxy, Clement of Ancyra is known, who for more than 20 years suffered torment for the faith of Christ, and at the end of his life was executed.
The name predetermines Clement such features as balance and calm disposition. The man is very kind, both people and animals are drawn to him. He leads a healthy lifestyle and often associates his activities with sports and coaching.
Other variations of the name: Klim, Klimushka, Klimusha.
Also in May, the day of the angel at Isaac, Vsevolod, Plato, Leonty, Filimon, Taras, Kasyan.
June
June guys can be named after Timothy, Hippolytus, Nikita, George, Luke.
Orthodox venerate Hilarion the Great, famous for establishing monasteries in the Palestinian desert.
Illarion's temper is light. He is modest and unpretentious, too impressionable when it comes to other people's troubles, although he always keeps his own. There may be a bit of stubbornness and ambition in the character.
Affectionate nicknames: Larik, Laryusha, Laryushka.
July
Methodius, Vasily, Nikolai, Julian, Gennady, Gabriel, Semyon, Martin, Philip - this is how you can call the boys who were born in July.
July 3rd name day Gleb(word Scandinavian origin meaning "beloved of the gods").
In Orthodoxy, the name is associated with the personality of Prince Gleb (brothers Boris and Gleb, who were martyred).
The man named Gleb has a strong character. He is confident and focused. Differs in lack of vanity, reliability and economy. Gleb can be stubborn and slow, and lack a sense of humor.
Variants of the name: Glebushka, Glebka.
August
Those boys who were born in August can be called Tikhon, Ivan, Kuzma, Efim, Trofim, Nikolai, Makar, Rodion, Moses, Prokhor, Pakhom, Seraphim, Semyon.
The prophet Elisha, as the Orthodox Church teaches, carried the word to the Israelites about the true God all his life.
The person bearing this name is smart and energetic. And although he has a very finely developed intuition, he is a good analyst. Elisha is also charming, noble, capable of strong, lofty feelings. He is sometimes selfish and ambitious.
Name options: Leseyka, Yelesya, Eliseyka, Lesya.
September
The first autumn month, among others, has such birthdays: Fedor, Victor, Karl, Joseph, Samuel, Isaac, Ignat.
The church honors Euthymius of Thessalonica, who at an early age renounced worldly life, devoted all his deeds to strengthening the ideas of Christianity.
The boy who received this name growing creative personality. He is a dreamer, emotional and artistic. The man Yefim loves to cook and appreciates his family and home very much, he is often suspicious and jealous.
Affectionate nicknames: Fima, Efimka, Efimchik, Efima.
October
October babies can be called Benjamin, Valentine, Matvey, Konstantin, Herman, Hypatius, Dionysius, Joseph.
Name a baby born on October 10 Aristarchus. The name comes from Greek and translates as "leader of the best."
The Orthodox venerate the Great Martyr Aristarchus - a like-minded person. He was a bishop, died in Rome, remaining true to Christian postulates.
Aristarchus - a man of courage and direct, intolerant of slyness, a good leader. For friends, he will throw himself into fire and water, knows how to defend his opinion, can be an active participant and organizer of all kinds of rallies, marches and strikes. He reacts sharply to injustice, is ready to eradicate evil.
Aristarchus is affectionately called Stasha, Aristya, and briefly - Rice.
November
This gloomy autumn month, as it were, compensates for the ugliness of everyday life for its sons, rewarding them with bright, “sunny” character traits. Children of November are easily carried away dreamers, very kind, sympathetic and amorous.
It is with such a gentle and easy character that November bestows Stepan. Moreover, the day of the angel is celebrated on November 10 and 12. Stepan is translated from Greek as "wreath".
Usually small steps- playful and noisy children. Very inquisitive, they are prone to injury. At school - fidgets and jokers, funny copy others. Adult Stepans are skillful manipulators. They can easily impose their opinion, lead, sincere and generous in love and friendship.
You can affectionately call Stepushka, Stepanchik, Stepasha, Stepa.
December
In December, the name days of Varlaam, Proclus, Filaret, Paramon, Athanasius, Gennady, Nil, Galaktion, Cyril, Thaddeus are celebrated.
The Great Martyr Plato, a Christian preacher, refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, for which he was tortured and beheaded.
Little Plato is interested among adults. He is very inquisitive and developed beyond his years, and absorbs knowledge like a sponge.
Adult Plato does not like to work on orders, he is very independent. He is a workaholic, but often argues with his superiors, so he rarely reaches heights in his career. Sometimes it can be manipulated if only the "carrot" method is used. Plato is a kind, generous and hospitable host.
“What do you call a yacht…”
The last sheet of the calendar is turned over. Many names flashed before my eyes - beautiful, ancient, time-tested. And it doesn’t matter at all whether it’s sunny May outside the window or rainy November. No bad weather and no bad names. What matters is how a person perceives everything.
What does a name mean for a child:
- a way of self-identification (to the question: “Who are you?” the child will most likely answer: “I am Dima”;
- connection with family and homeland;
- identification in society;
- affects character.
And if dad and mom have already chosen an unusual name for their son, everything must be done so that the child, and in the future an adult man, does not hesitate to pronounce it. Tell about famous namesakes, tell about the wonderful qualities that are inherent in the name, emphasize its uniqueness. And may your child be happy!
Greetings, dear readers! There is an opinion: as you name a child, such will be his life. Today there is a tradition to give children rare foreign or old Russian names. Kindergartens and schools are filled with Seraphim, Ostap, Vladislav, etc. By the way, children are generally calm about such “fictions” of the parents of their comrades, because to meet rare name in a children's company is no longer a "rarity". I suggest you consider the names for boys, rare and beautiful, which will help you correctly name your heir.
- Before choosing a name for a boy, pay attention to its meaning. It happens that the option seems acceptable, sonorous, but its meaning does not prepare the child for the most better fate or it is not at all clear what it hints at. For example, Kondrat means "square". Would you like to name your baby that?
- Another criterion is that it should be consonant with the patronymic. Imagine that your little one will grow up and take a leadership position. What will his subordinates call him? Initials should be pronounced easily, without tension. If the middle name is long and difficult to pronounce, choose a short, melodic name, for example, Ilya Igorevich. But Konstantin Igorevich will not sound very pleasant, but it is difficult to pronounce at all.
- Take care that children do not laugh at the baby when he goes to kindergarten or school. True, today many children with unusual names, and it is difficult for adults to imagine how a word can be changed. And yet be prepared to give the baby the most "harmless".
If the parents are believers, they can give the boy a name according to the Orthodox calendar. Every day in it is dedicated to certain saints, whose names are given to newborns.
Orthodox by months 2018
Church names are again held in high esteem today. In 2017, Seraphim, Savva, Fadei, Luke and other boys with outdated names were registered in the registry offices. For adherents Orthodox faith we offer names for boys, rare and beautiful, Orthodox by months of 2018:
- January. If your child was born this month, he has a strong and tough character. Such boys can be called Ignat (peaceful), Makar (happy), Adam (man), Emelyan (calm).
- February. February babies are tender and sensitive. At the same time, they are patient and hardworking. Boys can be called Nikanor (winner), Daniel ( God's judgment), Savva (elder), Cyril (master).
- March. People born this month have an optimistic disposition, a good sense of humor. They will suit such options as Eugene (noble), Alexander (defender), Timothy (one who honors God), Fedor (gift of God).
- April. April babies are dynamic and very much like the wind. They are constantly in need of change. Such children can be called George (farmer), Nikita (victorious), Maxim (great), Lazarus (help from God).
- May. May boys behave freely in the company, they are optimistic, they can take responsibility. They are called Makar (happy), Kuzma (arranging the world), Gleb (God's favorite), Denis (god of vitality).
- June. June boys enjoy authority among the elders, easily gain sympathy from the opposite sex. The following options are suitable for them: Elisha (saved by God), Mstislav (avenger), Severin (strict), Timothy (one who honors God).
- July. July guys are organized and confident, they make decisions quickly. The following options will suit them: Leonty (lion), Emelyan (affectionate), Herman (German), Kuzma (organizer).
- August. These boys are especially trusted and can be good companions. They are principled and rarely violate their principles. Name your son Davyd (beloved), Leonid (looks like a lion), Lawrence (crowned with laurels), Yermolai (broadcasting to the people).
- September . Boys born this month often become the "life of the company." They are trusting and not prone to conflict. For them, the names Samuel (the one whom God hears), Bogdan ( given by God), Theodosius (given by God), Zakhar (memory of God).
- October. These boys are reckless and never get bored, although they bring all their affairs to the end. Call them Konstantin (permanent), Vladislav (possessing fame), Andrei (male), Oleg (sacred).
- November. These people spend money easily and seem out of this world. They feel awkward in a strange company and make few friends in a lifetime. Such boys can be called Dmitry (fertile), Rodion (rosehip), Matvey (divine man), Grigory (peppy).
- December . December children seem indifferent, mysterious, but inside they are very emotional. Suitable Stepan (wreath), Plato (with broad shoulders), Gury (lion cub).
Russians and their meaning
Modern Russian variants of names came to us from antiquity or were adopted from other peoples. They are rare and very beautiful, so they may well serve as the basis for your choice:
- Augustine - summer;
- Alexey - defender;
- Anatoly - eastern;
- Antoine is a derivative of Anton;
- Arseny - courageous;
- Bronislav - defender;
- Velimir - the ruler of the world;
- Vitaly - vital;
- Damir - peace-loving;
- May is a warm heart;
- Florin - blooming.
Muslim modern
We offer several Muslim names, among which you can find a beautiful and unusual name:
- Murat - desired;
- Geray - worthy;
- Aydar - lunar;
- Arthur is powerful;
- Bashar is a man;
- Danil is a gift from God;
- Zafar is the winner;
- Ildar is the leader.
Tatar modern
Tatar names are often associated with events that determined the fate of an entire nation. All members of the Tatar family take part in the choice:
- Ahmad - the one who is praised;
- Timur - iron;
- Narbek - light;
- Irek - strong-willed;
- Eldar - ruler;
- Bakir - studying;
- Ainur - lunar;
- Irkin is generous.
Slavic
People are gradually returning to their history and are interested in the Slavic names that were popular with our ancestors. Their meanings are clear and easy to read:
- Dobrynya - kind;
- Ladomir - good world;
- Jaromir - an ardent world;
- Peaceful - loving peace;
- Milorad - rejoicing in the world;
- Bazhen - desired;
- Myron is peaceful.
Vintage
Ancient names may have different origins, but this does not negate their euphony:
- Arius - brave, from the kind of Aryans;
- Malachi is a messenger from God;
- Philemon - beloved;
- Svyatoslav - bright glory;
- Peter is a stone;
- Osip - multiplied;
- Naum - consolation;
- Love - beloved;
- Cyril is the lord.
Kazakh
In male Kazakh names, male virtues are emphasized:
- Aydar - strong;
- Rashit - brave;
- Samat - permanent;
- Kairat - active;
- Talip is a scientist;
- Ulan is brave.
Arabic
A strong name can change the fate of a child and give him energy, so the Arabs are very careful about his choice:
- Abdullah is God's servant;
- Akram - generous;
- Alim is a scientist;
- Aman - healthy;
- Wazir - Minister;
- Diliyar - sincere;
- Zafar is the winner;
- Iskander is the winner;
- Kamran - mighty;
- Musgud is happy.
Turkish
Turkish names have Arabic, Turkic and Persian roots:
- Mustafa - the chosen one;
- Balaban is a daredevil;
- Ugar - lucky;
- Baskurt is a warrior;
- Kerem - magnanimous;
- Ahmet is nice.
Islamic
These are Muslim names, among which there are very beautiful in sound and meaning:
- Latif - open;
- Muslim - Muslim;
- Nazar - far-sighted;
- Ramil - magical;
- Rahman - merciful;
- Rifat - noble;
- Tair - flying.
German
Germanic names sometimes seem rough-sounding, but among them you can find really beautiful options that emphasize masculinity:
- Albert - noble brilliance;
- Armin - army;
- Arthur - from King Arthur;
- Benedict - blessed;
- Werther is a worthy warrior;
- Wolf - wolf;
- Gottfried - the world of God;
- Colman is a dove.
caucasian
Since he lives in the Caucasus a large number of nationalities, in the list of Caucasian names there are also borrowed from other languages:
- Rustam - brave;
- Azat - independent;
- Kydyr - powerful;
- Amir - ruler;
- Baisal - confident;
- Karim is generous.
Chechen
Since the Chechens are Muslims, many Turkic and Arabic ones can be found in the list of their names:
- Bulat - steel;
- Rahim - merciful;
- Murad - one who strives;
- Ikram - respectful;
- Zakiy - pure;
- Qays - impregnable;
- Pasha is the ruler.
American
Americans prefer biblical names or they call the boy after his father or grandfather, adding the prefix "younger":
- Quentin is the fifth;
- Earl - famous;
- Phil is a horse lover;
- Marlon is a warrior;
- Albee - sunny;
- Tom is a twin;
- Ben - living in the south.
English
Among the popular English names you can find those who came from the Arab world, French or Greek:
- Casey - vigilant;
- Louis is a warrior;
- Miki - similar to God;
- Bertie - bright;
- Matthew is a gift from God;
- James is a conqueror;
- Vic is victorious.
French
The French version of the name is usually very euphonious and not without masculinity:
- Adolf is a wolf;
- Armand - bold;
- Bernard - bear bass
- Valerie - the power of a foreigner;
- Gustave - meditating;
- Joseph - multiplying;
- Didier - desired;
- Jerome is a saint;
- Camille is on duty at the temple.
Yes, the list is impressive. I hope you were able to choose a name for your son in this variety of rare and beautiful names. And you can get acquainted with the list of female names.
If the article was useful to you, leave your comments. See you again!
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Most often, the day of memory of a saint is the day of his earthly death, i.e. the transition to eternity, meeting with God, to commune with Whom the ascetic aspired.
How to determine 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 memory of the saint named with you, the closest after the day of your birth. These will be your name days, and the saint whose memory is remembered on this day will be your heavenly patron. If he has other days of memory, then for you these dates will become “small name days”.
If we want to name the child strictly according to church tradition, then this will be the name of a 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 dozens of years after the transition of the saint to heavenly abodes.
The name received by a person at baptism not only remains unchanged throughout his life (the only exception is the case of becoming a monk), but is also preserved after death, passes with him into eternity. In prayers for the dead, he also remembers their names given in baptism.
Name day and Angel Day
Sometimes name days are called Angel Day. This name name recalls that in the old days, 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 whose name the person is named, and Angel Day is the day of baptism, when a person is assigned by God. Each baptized has his own Guardian Angel, but we do not know his name.
Honoring and emulating one's patron saint
ABOUT prayer help Saints, the monk wrote: “Saints, in the Holy Spirit they see our life and our deeds. They know our sorrows and hear our ardent 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 are exhausted from sorrows, how our souls have dried up, how despondency has bound them, and, without ceasing, they intercede for us before God.
The veneration of the saint consists not only in praying to him, but also in imitation of his feat, his faith. “Let your life be by your name,” 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 can we at least follow his example in some way? For this you need:
- First, to know about his life and exploits. Without this, we cannot sincerely love our saint.
- Secondly, you need to turn to them with prayer more often, know the troparion to him and always remember that we have a protector and helper in heaven.
- Thirdly, of course, we should always think about how we could follow the example of our saint in this or that case.
By the nature of Christian exploits, saints are traditionally divided into faces (ranks): prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, confessors, reverend, righteous, holy fools, faithful, etc. (see).
The person who bears the name confessor or martyr, it is quite possible to fearlessly confess their faith, to act like a Christian always and in everything, without looking back at dangers or inconveniences, in everything to please, first of all, God, and not people, regardless of ridicule, threats and even oppression.
Those who are named after saints may try to imitate them, denouncing errors and vices, spreading the light of Orthodoxy, helping their neighbors find the way to salvation both by word and by their own example.
Reverend(i.e. monks) can be imitated in detachment, independence from worldly pleasures, keeping the purity of thoughts, feelings and actions.
Imitate holy fool- means, first of all, to humble yourself, to cultivate selflessness in yourself, not to be carried away by the acquisition of earthly riches. The continuation should be the education of will and patience, the ability to endure the difficulties of life, the struggle with pride and vanity. You also need the habit of meekly enduring all insults, but at the same time not being shy about exposing obvious vices, telling the truth to everyone who needs admonition.
Names after angels
Also, a person can be named after (Michael, Gabriel, etc.). People named after the archangels celebrate their name day on November 21 (November 8 according to the old style), on the day of the Celebration of the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael of God and other incorporeal Heavenly Forces.
If the name is not in the calendar
If the name that you were called 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, Milan - Militsa. According to tradition, Alice receives the name Alexandra in baptism, in honor of St. Passion-bearer Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova, before the adoption of Orthodoxy, bore the name Alice. Some names in the church tradition have a different sound, for example, Svetlana is Photinia (from the Greek photos - light), and Victoria is Nika, both names in Latin and Greek mean "victory".
Only the names given in baptism are written in.
How to celebrate name day
Orthodox Christians visit the temple on their name days and, having prepared in advance, the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
The days of "small name days" are not so solemn for the birthday man, 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 the festive 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 post name days that occur on a weekday are transferred to the next Saturday or Sunday.
Cm. Natalya Sukhinina
What to give for a birthday
In celebration of the memory of the patron saint, the best gift would 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 a name, we must remember not only on 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 the saint:
Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (name), as I diligently resort to you, a quick helper 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 Virgin, 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 hard 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 birthdays
“We began to choose names not according to God. By God, this is how it should be. Choose a name according to the holy calendar: either on what day the child will be born, or on which 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 birthdays are in the hands of God.
saint
The history and symbolism of the celebration of name days
Like many others religious traditions, the celebration of name days in Soviet times was in oblivion, moreover, in the 20-30s of the twentieth century it was subjected to official persecution. 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: “as on ... name day we baked a loaf”. Meanwhile, name day is a special holiday that could be called a day of spiritual birth, since it is associated primarily with the sacrament of Baptism and with the names that our heavenly patrons of the same name bear.
The tradition of celebrating name days has been known in Rus' since the 17th century. Usually, on the eve of the holiday, the family of the birthday boy brewed beer, baked birthday cakes, 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, put candles and kissed the icon with the face of his heavenly patron. In the afternoon, birthday cakes were distributed to friends and relatives, and often the filling and size of the cake had a special meaning, determined by the nature of the relationship between the birthday man and his relatives. In the evening there was a festive dinner.
The tsar's name-days (Tezoname Day), which were considered a public holiday, were celebrated especially splendidly. On this day, the boyars and courtiers came to the royal court in order to bring gifts and take part in a festive feast, at which they sang for many years. Sometimes the king personally handed out pies. Huge birthday cakes were distributed 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 name days: the rite of baptism was recognized as counter-revolutionary, and they tried to replace it with “Oktyabrins” and “Stars”. A ritual was developed in detail, in which the newborn was congratulated in strict sequence by the Octobrist, the pioneer, the Komsomol member, the communist, “honorary parents”, sometimes the baby was symbolically enrolled in the trade union, and so on. The fight against "survivals" reached ridiculous extremes: for example, in the 1920s, censorship banned K. Chukovsky's "Fly-Tsokotukha" for "propaganda of name days."
Traditionally, name days are attributed to that day of memory of the named (named) saint, which follows immediately after the birthday, although there is also a tradition of celebrating name days on the day of memory of the most famous saint of the same name, for example, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Apostle Peter, St. Alexander Nevsky, etc. e. In the past, name days were considered a more important holiday than the day of “corporal” birth, in addition, in many cases these holidays practically coincided, because 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 joins, 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 saints whose memory was celebrated on the day of baptism. Later (especially in urban society) they abandoned 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 incarnations - to a personal name.
Perhaps to the ancient motto "Know thyself" one should add: "Know thy name." Of course, the name primarily serves to distinguish people. In the past, a name could be a social sign, indicating a place in society - now, perhaps, only monastic (monastic) names stand out sharply from the Russian nomenclature. But there is also a mystical meaning of the name, almost forgotten now.
In ancient times, people attached much more importance to the name than now. The name was considered a significant part of a person. The content of the name is related to inner meaning man, it seemed to be invested inside him. The name controlled fate (" good name — 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. The unity of the soul and the name seemed undoubted, moreover, it was sometimes believed that as many names as there are so many souls, therefore, in some tribes, before 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. Harm and trouble were expected from bad treatment with a name. In some tribes it was strictly forbidden to pronounce (taboos) the name of the leader. In others, it was customary to assign new names to the elders, giving them new strength. It was believed that the sick child was given strength by the name of the father, who was shouted into the ear or even called him by the name of the father (mother), believing that part vital energy parents will help to overcome the disease. If the child cried especially much, then the name was chosen incorrectly. For a long time, the tradition of naming “deceptive”, false names was preserved among different nationalities: the true name was not pronounced in the hope that death and evil spirits maybe they won't find the baby. There was another version of protective names - unattractive, ugly, frightening names (for example, Nekras, Nelyuba and even Dead), which averted adversity and misfortune.
IN Ancient Egypt personal name was carefully guarded. The Egyptians had a "small" name, known to all, and a "big" one, which was considered true: it was kept secret and was pronounced only during important ceremonies. The names of the pharaohs enjoyed special reverence - in the texts they were distinguished by a special cartouche. With great respect, the Egyptians treated the names of the dead - improper handling of them caused irreparable harm to otherworldly existence. The name and its bearer were one whole: characteristic Egyptian myth, according to which the god Ra hid his name, but the goddess Isis managed to find out by opening his chest - the name literally turned out to be inside the body!
From time immemorial, the change of the name corresponded to the change of the human essence. New names were given to teenagers at initiation, i.e., upon joining adult members of the community. In China, there are still children's "milk" names, which are abandoned with maturity. In ancient Greece, newly minted priests, renouncing old names, carved them on metal plates and drowned them in the sea. Echoes of these ideas can be seen in Christian tradition naming monastic names, when the one who has taken the tonsure leaves the world and his worldly name.
Many peoples taboo names pagan gods and spirits. It was especially dangerous to call evil spirits (“cursing”): in this way it was possible to call out “evil force”. The ancient Jews did not dare to call the Name of God: Yahweh (in Old Testament is the "unspeakable Name", the sacred tetragram, which can be translated as "I am who 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. Special Religious Gift Jewish people manifested itself in many names, which are called theophoric - they contain God's "ineffable Name": thus, through his personal name, a person contacted God.
Christianity, as the highest religious experience of mankind, takes personal names with all seriousness. The name of a person reflects the sacrament of a unique, precious personality, it implies personal communication with God. At the sacrament of Baptism Christian church taking into your bosom new soul, connects it through a personal name with the name of God. As he wrote about Sergei Bulgakov, “human naming and name-incarnation 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 the incarnate Name and Word.”
The purpose of Christians is holiness. 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 “realized” in life as a saint. wearer holy name always keeps in 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 Orthodox tradition it is not customary to give names in memory of the Virgin and Christ. Former name The Mother of God was distinguished even by a different accent - Mary, while other holy women had the name Maria (Marya). The rare monastic (schema) name Jesus was assigned in memory not of Jesus Christ, but of the righteous Joshua.
The Russian Christian name book has evolved over the centuries. The first extensive layer of Russian names arose in the pre-Christian era. The reasons for the emergence of a particular name could be very different: in addition to religious motives, the 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 had 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 hidden, known only to the confessor). When the Christian name book completely supplanted the pre-Christian "nickname" names, they did not leave us for good, moving into another class of names - in surnames (for example, Nekrasov, Zhdanov, Naydenov). Some pre-Christian names of canonized Russian saints subsequently became calendar ones (eg Yaroslav, Vyacheslav, Vladimir).
With the adoption of Christianity, Rus' was enriched with the names of all human civilization: with the Byzantine calendar, Greek, Jewish, Roman and other names came to us. Sometimes under the Christian name, images of more ancient religions and cultures were hidden. Over time, these names became Russified, so much so that the Hebrew names themselves became Russian - Ivan and Marya. At the same time, one should keep in mind the lofty thought of Fr. Pavel Florensky: "There are no Jewish, Greek, Latin, or Russian names - there are only universal names, the common property of mankind."
The post-revolutionary history of Russian names evolved dramatically: a mass campaign of "de-Christianization" of the name-word was carried out. The revolutionary obscurantism of some sections of society, combined with a tough state policy, was aimed at reorganizing, and therefore at renaming the world. Along with the renaming of the country, its cities and streets, people were renamed. “Red calendars” 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 name-creation, 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 the property 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 personal name also followed the line of borrowing from other cultures - Western European (for example, Albert, Victoria, Zhanna) and common Slavic Christian names (for example, Stanislav, Bronislava), names from Greek and Roman mythology and history (for example, 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 name-book, which now consists of only a few dozen names (the general property of "mass cultures" also played its role - the desire for averaging, standardization ).
Hieromonk Macarius (Markish):
From ancient times it has been customary to give a newly received member of the Church the name of a saint. Thus, a special, new connection arises between earth and Heaven, between a person living in this world and one of those who worthily passed his life path whose holiness the Church has witnessed and glorified with her conciliar mind. Therefore, every Orthodox must keep in mind the saint after whom 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 from 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 particular saint who wore given name, the baby will be named. This can be done using the detailed church calendar, which contains an alphabetical list of saints revered by our Church with the dates of the celebration of their memory. The choice is made taking into account the date of birth or baptism of the child, the circumstances of the life of the feat of the saints, family traditions, your personal likes.
In addition, many well-known saints have several days of remembrance during the year: it can be the day of death, the day of finding or transferring relics, the day of glorification - canonization. You have to choose which of these days will become a holiday (name day, name day) of your child. It is often referred to as Angel Day. Indeed, we ask the Lord to give the newly baptized his Guardian Angel; but this Angel must by no means 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 saints Western Europe who lived and glorified even before the fall of Rome from Orthodoxy (until 1054 the Roman Church was not torn off from Orthodoxy, and we also recognize the saints revered in it by that time as saints), whose names have gained popularity with us in recent decades (Victoria, Eduard and others), but are sometimes listed as "non-Orthodox". There are also reverse situations when the usual 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 on different languages(in Slavic - Svetlana and Zlata, in Greek - Photinia and Chris).
If necessary, the child can be given a baptismal name that is different from the one recorded on 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 Holy Mother of God, but only in honor of other saints who bore this name. You should also know that since 2000, our Church has been counting as saints many of our countrymen and fellow citizens - new martyrs and confessors
In Orthodox Christianity, there is a tradition according to which it is customary to name newborns in honor of a saint or saint, whose memory is celebrated on the day the baby was born. Alternatively, an Orthodox name for a boy can be chosen consonant with him if the parents named the baby with a name that is not mentioned in the calendar. In this case, the priest can help with the choice before baptism.
Traditions of Choice
Choosing a name for a child is a serious and responsible matter. In many families, this issue is resolved in their own way, there may be certain traditions.
So, for example, the first-born are often called in honor of their grandfather or father. Some have their own family lists of "allowed" and "forbidden" names for any reason. Someone adheres to the church calendar.
When choosing a name, future parents should pay attention to:
It should be remembered that the child will carry his name all his life.. Therefore, you need to choose one that he will also be pleased to hear. To think about all the options, you should try to put yourself in the place of the child. It is important to pay attention to the pronunciation of the boy's name and his patronymic. They should sound harmonious and be easy to pronounce.
Orthodox names for boys
Recently, more and more people are turning to their origins. In Russia, more and more parents choose Orthodox names for boys.
In 2017, Alexander, Maxim, Mikhail, Ivan, Daniil, Dmitry, Matvey were popular. Most likely, their popularity will not decrease in 2018. All of them are found in the calendar of Orthodox names for boys.
The decision on how to name a son is taken by many fathers and mothers during pregnancy. Having learned the approximate date of birth, they can use the church calendar of names by date of birth and choose the appropriate one by date of birth.
Options for those born in winter
For "winter" boys, there are many options:
Spring and summer names
In spring and summer, the church celebrates the memory of many saints and saints. True, some of the names sound for modern people very unusual, so parents should think about whether to call their son like this:
Choice for autumn birthdays
Among the autumn names there are many popular and only gaining popularity:
- October 19 - Holy Apostle Thomas. He was one of the apostles of Christ, a craftsman. Name: Thomas, Tamas, Tom.
- October 31 - Holy Apostle Luke. He was one of the disciples of Christ, had the profession of a doctor, but also an artist. Name: Luke.
- November 8 - Holy Martyr Demetrius. He has been appointed patron of pastors. Name: Dimitri.
- November 21 - Saints Michael and Gabriel, the most important angels who announced the birth of Christ and John the Baptist. Name: Michael.
- December 13 - Saint Andrew. It was the brother of Peter, considered the protector of sailors and fishermen. Name: Andrey.
- December 19 - St. Nicholas. He performed miracles and children love to celebrate the day in his honor. Name: Nikolay.
Russians church names for boys for months, you can find out from a priest in any temple, and also consult with him to make the best decision. The church list will be much longer. Take, for example, the names for boys in November according to the holy calendar. It will consist of over 30 names, with at least one saint's name for each day. Both rare and more frequently encountered names will be presented.
The name is kind of business card person. “As you call a ship, so it will sail” - there is such a proverb. Psychologists believe that the name largely determines the fate and character of a person. In addition to this, Orthodox Christian it defines the heavenly patron. The parents of a boy, a future man, should think carefully about how to name their child, look at the holy calendar, where you can choose beautiful names according to the church calendar, read the lives of the saints.
Naming tradition
In Christianity, the naming occurs, as a rule, during baptism, but can also be carried out separately from it. According to the pious Russian tradition, the baby is called on the eighth day.
This is connected with the Jewish rite of circumcision, which took place at the same time. Baptism usually takes place on the 40th day. According to legend, it was at this age that the baby Christ was first brought to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Previously, in Russian villages, it was customary for a newborn boy or girl to be named by the priest himself, referring to the church calendar, and parents only found out about this at baptism. People who were baptized in adulthood and already called a non-Christian name received a second one. So, at baptism, Prince Vladimir was named Vasily, and his mother, Princess Olga, Elena.
After the adoption of Christianity in Rus', the people for a long time could not move away from pagan customs, and sometimes they took root in church life. In the West of our country, it has long been customary to give a child two names. One was secretly called at baptism, and the other was used in life. The first was known only to a select circle of people, this was done to protect against the evil eye.
Not everywhere Christians choose names according to the calendar for boys and girls. For example, in the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria, parents themselves decide how to name the child, not focusing on the church calendar. According to pious tradition, one of those names that come a month before and after the day of his birth is chosen in the church calendar. So, if a boy was born in November, then the names according to the calendar for him need to be looked from mid-October to mid-December. All Orthodox names for boys by month of birth are written in the church calendar, the Prologue and the Menaia.
Important! In the Russian Orthodox Church, it is not customary to call men Jesus (out of reverence for the Savior), Judas (remembering the act of a traitor) and Adam.
Many people ask why call the boy based on the list of Orthodox and according to the church calendar? Indeed, the naming by date of birth is not spelled out either in the Gospel, or in the Apostolic Epistles, or even in the decrees of Stoglav and Ecumenical Councils.
This is just a pious tradition adopted by Byzantium. All church names for men were once worn by saints, martyrs, or incorporeal heavenly powers.
By naming a boy after one of them, the parent gives him additional protection and a strong prayer book in heaven.
What to look for when choosing a name for a boy or girl?
- Translation. Its meaning is written in the church calendar. Often, what sounds beautiful has a very unflattering meaning. So, for example, the Old Testament righteous Rachel is translated from Hebrew as “sheep”.
- Life. The biography of the saint should play a dominant role and serve as a kind of guide for the bearer. Unfortunately, the destinies of some saints of God are irretrievably lost. Most complete collections the lives of the saints can be read in Dmitry of Rostov and in the Prologue.
- sound. Each language has its own characteristics. The words that a resident of Russia will pronounce with ease will be beyond the power of a Hindu or an African. Names for boys according to the church calendar are collected from different countries and languages. It is worth considering whether it will take root in our country and how easy it will be to pronounce.
- Combination. In addition to euphony, attention should be paid to compatibility with patronymic and surname. I think many will agree that Isidor Ivanov or Cleopatra Korobova sounds somewhat comical and stupid.
Useful video: how to choose a name according to the church calendar
Names for boys
The boy is the future man who should become the head of the family, wise and strong. The name should correspond to these qualities, emphasize them. The character of the boy is also formed thanks to this. Names for men in Orthodox calendars three to four times more than women's, so parents have plenty to choose from. We offer forgotten Orthodox names for boys that sound beautiful and carry a noble meaning.
Vnifanty (Vonifanty) - translated from Greek "virtuous". The saint's memorial day on the first day of the calendar is January 1. Boys born in the first month of the year have a strong character, unshakable will and a sharp mind. Vnifantiy was a martyr who suffered severely for his faith in Christ.
Men turn to this saint for a prayer request for deliverance from drunkenness, debauchery and gluttony. Such boys are balanced and calm. They are straightforward, know their goal and go to it.
Vnifantiyas are characterized by strictness, even some cruelty towards enemies and offenders, but in the family circle they are caring and loving men. They are distinguished by accuracy, even some pedantry. The specialties of an architect, lawyer, lawyer, company manager are well suited to Vnifantiy.
Apellius (Apelles, Apell) - translated from Greek "included in the assembly." This is one of the seventy apostles, a disciple and associate of Jesus Christ. The day of his memory according to the church calendar is January 17. The boys and men of Apellia have an inimitable eloquence and the ability to find an approach to every person. The profession of a doctor, psychologist, priest is perfect for them. They are cheerful, a little windy and not touchy, calm, picky and unpretentious. As a rule, they quickly marry and remain faithful in marriage.
Saturninus means "sowing and reaping" in Roman. Memorial Day in the church calendar is January 5th. Saint Saturninus ardently confessed and steadfastly endured suffering for his faith in God. They turn to the martyr, asking for help in work and other undertakings, to get rid of laziness and parasitism. Saturnines are distinguished by industriousness and ardor. They are leaders who can organize a team. The boys and men of Saturnina are sociable, sociable, easily find a common language with everyone.
They have many good acquaintances, but men will only let the elite close to them. Family relationships Saturnines are not easy to form due to the emotionality and temper of men, but the chosen one can feel like behind a stone wall. The husband will drive away all enemies from his beloved and will never betray. Saturnines are suitable for creative specialties, as well as leadership positions.
Informative! Strong about help: what does it help from
Felix - translated from Latin "happy, serene." The memory of the saint is celebrated in February. Men who were born in the second month of the calendar are distinguished by courage and sociability.
They are natural leaders, but sometimes they cannot restrain their feelings. Saint Felix led a righteous life, was a bishop and suffered as a martyr for the Christian faith.
Legends were made about his miracles, to this day prayers and praise are offered to St. Felix for help in studies, work and other endeavors. Named so men are frivolous and positive. Felix men do not strive for wealth, a career or something worldly, pride is not inherent in them. These people are happy here and now. IN family life men are faithful and patient. Not remembering insults, they treat their chosen one with trepidation and tenderness.
Andrian (Andrian) - translated from ancient Greek "strong, mighty." According to the calendar, the memory of the saint is celebrated on April 17. Andrian was born into a family of pious parents and professed the Christian faith all his life.
He was famous for miracles and healings. Andrians are calm and phlegmatic. Not a single event can unsettle a man; he always maintains prudence and calmness. Andrians are absolutely honest and straightforward, in life sometimes this gets in the way. They responsibly choose their companion, get married, as a rule, late. Andrians will suit the profession of a doctor, judge, analyst and priest.
Nicander is Greek for "conqueror of men". The Orthodox Church celebrates his memory on July 24. The saint was a hermit and a disciple Reverend John Ladder. The man became famous for fasting, abstinence and prayer. There were legends about his humility, noble people came to get acquainted with him, but with everyone the saint was simple and modest, never accepted gifts.
Nikandras are power-hungry people who know how to organize work and lead people. Nikandram fit leadership positions, good specialists obtained in the field of programming and jurisprudence. Nikandras have a huge number of friends, they are positive, but reserved. They are quick-tempered, but quickly move away and do not hold grudges. Despite the seeming severity, these men are great romantics, and the family always comes first for them.
Important! Nikander was the name of one of the great kings of Sparta. The years of his reign saw the very first Ancient Greece Olympic Games.
Tavrion - translated from Greek "sitting on a bull." The memory of the saint is celebrated on November 20. Tavrion stood up for the girl whom the pagans were going to make a bloody sacrifice to their idols, for which he was martyred. Taurions have a sharp mind and a phenomenal memory. Somewhat lazy, but able to apply their knowledge in the right situation. They are freedom-loving, prefer to travel and learn new things. They are fond of painting and poetry. In love, they are fickle and windy, they start a family late.
Useful video: male names
Conclusion
Boy names, rare and beautiful, have fortunately regained their popularity. Many doubt whether it is worth naming a child so unusually. The answer is obvious - of course it is worth it! This gives a person status and uniqueness, cuts into memory and arouses interest.
Many writers and poets of our time take pseudonyms for themselves in order to stand out from the gray crowd. The owner of a rare old name unlikely to be confused with anyone. And most importantly, how delighted the heavenly intercessor will be with the appearance of a new child! By naming the boy so, the parents provide him with a ticket to a brighter future.
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