Author Topic: Catholic Naming Question (Read 1491 times)

Dulcamara · « **on:** March 15, 2010, 06:08:56 PM »

What exactly does the Church teach about giving children Catholic names (eg, names that belong to saints or angels)? Is it obligatory? or just strongly recommended?

And what about names like Rosario (taken from the title of Our Lady of the Rosary, supposedly, rather than the object), Immacolata, Assunta (reference to the Assumption), Concetta (reference to the Immaculate Conception), Consolata (reference to the title of Mary, "Maria Consolata") and the like? True, names like these refer to Mary's life or titles, but... is that considered acceptable by the Church, since the names themselves, as single words, are not explicitly related?

Just doing a little bit of research here for my writing. :rolleyes:

Dulcamara · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2010, 04:01:41 PM »

:thinking:

Wow... I'm surprised that nobody can answer this one.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2010, 04:50:43 PM »

From what I understand, it's obligatory that at least one of the child's names (first or middle) be that of a saint. If that's not the case, the priest is instructed to add Joseph for boys and, if I recall, Mary for girls, to the name(s) during Baptism. I'm just going from memory here though.

I'm guessing that the "title" names you cited would be OK but am not sure.

Matthew · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2010, 05:09:00 PM »

Quote from: Dulcamara

And what about names like Rosario (taken from the title of Our Lady of the Rosary, supposedly, rather than the object), Immacolata, Assunta (reference to the Assumption), Concetta (reference to the Immaculate Conception), Consolata (reference to the title of Mary, "Maria Consolata") and the like? True, names like these refer to Mary's life or titles, but... is that considered acceptable by the Church, since the names themselves, as single words, are not explicitly related?

If you're naming your child "Dolores", it's really the same as naming her after Mary -- you're just naming her after Our Lady of Sorrows. Many of the names you mention are part of the culture of Mexico -- that is, when it was Catholic.

And yes they ARE explicitly related. When any Mexican man encountered a woman named "Assunta", he was reminded of the great mystery of the Assumption, and he knew that her mother chose to honor Our Lady in her glorious Assumption.
No Mexican is named "Assunta" for any other reason.

Actually, many Americans name their children (or USED to name their children) Joseph, John, Peter, Frank, etc... but they were either partially or totally ignorant of the saints behind the names. They chose the names because they were "normal" names.

You're confusing "Christian names" with "names perfectly matching a saint you can point to".

I'll admit, I'm fond of names that are mentioned in the Litany of Saints -- it makes Holy Saturday that much more special! Or names you can look up in Butler's Lives of the Saints.

I know that Stella = Stella Maris (a title of Our Lady), but Bridget = St. Bridget is much, much simpler!

Already I have to explain to Miriam why we don't say her name after prayers: "St. Dominic, Pray for us. St. Bridget, Pray for us. St. Matthew, Pray for us." We might have already said "Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us." but Miriam doesn't make the connection. For prayers before bed, we started saying "Our Mother Mary, Pray for us" and I tell her that Miriam is Mary.

I figure we can use the "exact saints names" first, and when we have our 51st child, we'll get into the derivative names

Matthew

Ladislaus · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2010, 05:17:02 PM »

Here's the relevant passage from the 1917 Code of Canon Law:

Quote

Can 761. Curent parochi ut ei qui baptizatur, christianum imponatur nomen; quod si id consequi non poterunt, nomini a parentibus imposito addant nomen alicuius Sancti et in libro baptizatorum utrumque nomen perscribant.

my translation:

"Pastors should see to it that a Christian name be imposed on the one who is being baptized; but if they will be unable to obtain this, they should add the name of some saint to the name given by the parents and record both names in the book of the baptized."

So the pastor should try to get the parents to give the child a Christian name. If they are unable to obtain this, then they should add the name of some saint to the child's given name and record that in the official baptismal records. So a child baptized solemnly in the Catholic Church will have a Christian name whether the parents like it or not. I'm guessing that Christian name would include any of the titles you cited above.

I'm pretty sure that the 1983 Code did away with this requirement.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2010, 05:18:45 PM »

So you have a Miriam also, Matthew?

We have a John David, Miriam Rose, Ann Therese, and Jude Laszlo--and a fifth on the way in October (God willing).

Dulcamara · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2010, 06:37:13 PM »

Thanks for the info... Cath Info! :rolleyes:

Ladislaus · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2010, 07:13:11 PM »

Thank you, MaterDominici ! We may be on our last child, since we're both getting up there in years (got married a bit late). God only knows though.

John David (8.5), Miriam Rose (7), Ann Therese (5), Jude Laszlo (2).

My wife doesn't like cousins to have the same names, and we have a niece Theresa, but I told her that if it's a girl born on October 3, she WILL be Therese. Or a boy October 4, he WILL be Francis. St. Therese and St. Francis are two of my favorite saints.

Will probably be Therese or Francis regardless though.

Hmmm. Matthew and I are both ex-seminarian computer programmers with boy, girl, girl (as our first three children), with the oldest girl named Miriam (who's about a year and a half younger than her older brother).

I was laid off recently by a bank located in Cleveland that was acquired by a bank from Pittsburgh (our entire department was eliminated). My last day will be on 3/30. Yet, even in this economy, God found me a new job (which I start 3/31) in what seems to be a much better place to work only ten minutes from Immaculate Heart of Mary chapel in Akron (SSPX-aligned independent priest Father Leo Carley, ordained pre Vatican II). So I'll be able to attend daily Mass. It's a lot less money, but this and my severance package from my prior employer will get me by for at least two years. I'd be surprised if we're not in a major world war by that time anyway.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2010, 10:32:17 PM »

We need more boys as there are more boy names that I like than girl names.

Both Therese and Francis fall in the "Saints I like with names I don't" category. That means they're good candidates for middle names. I've considered a variety of forms of Therese, but none of them made it to the "short list."

We don't have cousin issues here as the only cousins our children have right now (a) don't live anywhere close to us or communicate much with us and (b) aren't vying for the same pool of names.

I do, however, try and not use names of children born in our chapel within the last 12 months--especially from families that don't seem to be going anywhere. Of course, this isn't fool-proof. I might even break my own rule if someone "steals my name."

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2010, 10:51:29 PM »

I love the names pierre Luis, and jean Luis, and Luis Mary. French names are very beautiful!
But the most favourite one is Yusef, (the same as Joseph). I loved this name even as a child, I love it even more now!
BTW, is making a vow of a child name valid? For example you pray to a Saint for an intention and promise to name a child after him/her if your request is granted.
Those of you who are married can draw great advantages from this if it is really efficacious.