How to choose an Orthodox name for a girl

The Orthodox name for the girl is the name given to her and fixed during baptism in the church. All of them are registered in the Orthodox calendar, almost every day some saint died. The baby, named by the name of this saint, falls under his protection. True, the Orthodox calendar offers much more for men's names, the list of Orthodox names for girls is small, so often the boy's name turns into Alexander, Vasilin (Vasilisa), Victoria, Eugene, Jeanne (from John). It is believed that the church name must be different from the secular one and even be kept secret, it is mentioned in prayers for a person throughout life, they are also burdened with it when he leaves this world.

Choosing an Orthodox name for a girl

In ancient times the name of the child was chosen by the parents, but during the Synod period this right was transferred to the priest. Now the newly-born parents of the baby addressed him with a question, and he, in turn, read the list of the saints and called the girls and boys. How did the names get into the saints, how are they distributed according to the dates?

The fact is that every day corresponds to the name of that saint who died on this day, that is, left the world and passed into eternal life. On the same date there is a certain church holiday. On the one hand, to choose an Orthodox name for the girl according to the saints is simpler: he opened and read what is on that day or one or two days later. But on the other hand, these parents may not sound modern-sounding to modern parents, few people will want to call the girl Glyceria or Faekla, and they will worry for the child who will have to be called and presented in society all his life.

Looking for a name in the calendar

The calendar lists all the Orthodox names of girls. By months and dates, you can find what you need. There is a sufficient number of sources in which a transcript or even a brief history of the life of a saint is given. There are also collections of the most common names. Here are the most popular ones that are included in the saints, women: Anna (meets 30 times), Maria (29), Matrona (12), Anastasia and Elizabeth (11), Alexandra (10). The most numerous names in the month is November (271 names), and the least number of saints is mentioned in June (187 names).

A name for a girl in a worldly life

Often babies are baptized in the church already when he is given a name that is registered in the registry office. Then the priest can offer to name the child not by the date of birth or baptism, but by a name close to his own. So, for example, Alena and Alina get a church Elena or Olga on a passport, Xenia and Oksana get the name Aksinya, Elizabeth is called Elisaveta, Irina - Arin, Veronica - Faith and so on. This is done to make it easier for loved ones to remember the name of a child for mentioning it in their prayers. It is curious that in the old Russia was celebrated not the birthday of man, but the day of the Angel, or the name-day, the day that was listed by the saints. After all, the saint is the Guardian Angel of each of us, which is why the Orthodox name for the girl is chosen (as for the boy, however, too).