Greek Name Day Calendar - Why Greeks Celebrate More than Birthdays
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- 4 days ago
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Introduction - Greek Name Day Calendar - The Complete List
In Greece, birthdays are often private occasions, but name days are community-wide celebrations. A name day marks the feast of the saint connected to your name, and for many Greeks it carries more weight than a birthday. This calendar outlines the name days month by month, showing why they remain central to Greek culture.
What Is a Greek Name Day?
A name day is tied to the Orthodox calendar of saints. If your name corresponds to a saint, your celebration falls on that saint’s feast day. Unlike birthdays, which are known only to close friends, name days are public knowledge. Everyone can greet you on your day, which makes them more communal than birthdays.
Jump to a Month
January Greek Name Days
January begins the year with some of the most widely celebrated name days in Greece. It opens with the feast of St. Basil, one of the most important saints in Orthodoxy, and continues with Theophany and the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist. Many other saints are commemorated throughout the month, making January a rich beginning to the name day calendar.
January 1 — Vasilis, Vasiliki
January 2 — Seraphim, Silvestros, Juliana
January 3 — Genovefa, Gordios
January 4 — Sosthenes
January 5 — Syglitiki, Theoni, Theopemptos
January 6 — Fotis, Fotini, Ourania, Theofanis, Theofania, Peristera
January 7 — Ioannis, Ioanna, Prodromos, Giannis, Gianna
January 8 — Agathon, Domnica, Vasilissa, Parthena, Kelsios
January 9 — Efstratios
January 10 — Gregory of Nyssa (Grigorios)
January 11 — Theodosios
January 12 — Tatiana, Mertios
January 13 — Ermilos, Hilarios
January 14 — Nina
January 15 — Paul of Thebes (Pavlos)
January 16 — Peusippos, Elasippos, Mesippos, Leonilos
January 17 — Antonis, Antonia
January 18 — Athanasios, Athanasia, Cyril
January 19 — Makarios, Theodoula, Efrosyni, Efrasia
January 20 — Efthymios, Thyrsos, Fabianos, Agnes, Lemonia
January 21 — Maximos, Neofytos, Eugenios, Patroklos
January 22 — Anastasios
January 23 — Agathangelos, Dionysios
January 24 — Xenia, Filon
January 25 — Grigorios (the Theologian), Margarita, Xenofon
January 26 — Timotheos
January 27 — Chrysis, Palladios
January 28 — Varsamis
January 29 — Ignatios
January 30 — Three Hierarchs: Vasilis, Grigorios, Ioannis
January 31 — Kyros, Efthymia
February Greek Name Days
February is filled with name days that honor both great martyrs and revered church fathers. The month begins with St. Tryphon, includes the Presentation of Christ in the Temple on February 2, and features beloved saints like Haralambos and Photios.
February 1 — Tryfon
February 2 — Panagiotis, Panagiota, Despina (Ypapanti, Presentation of Christ in the Temple)
February 3 — Simeon, Anna
February 4 — Isidoros
February 5 — Agathi
February 6 — Photios
February 7 — Parthenios
February 8 — Theodoros, Theodora
February 9 — Nicephoros
February 10 — Haralambos, Charisios, Haris
February 11 — Vlassios
February 12 — Meletios
February 13 — Martinianos
February 14 — Valentinos
February 15 — Onisimos
February 16 — Pamphilos, Flavianos
February 17 — Theodoros (Tyron), Mariamni
February 18 — Leo, Agapitos
February 19 — Philothei
February 20 — Leo, Vissarion
February 21 — Eustathios
February 22 — Anthousa
February 23 — Polykarpos
February 24 — Ioannis (First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist)
February 25 — Reginos
February 26 — Photini, Foteini
February 27 — Asklepios
February 28 — Kyra, Mariana
February 29 (Leap Year only) — Kassianos
March Greek Name Days
March carries a strong Lenten character, with name days tied to both preparation and major feasts. The month includes the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, St. Alexios the Man of God, and culminates with the Annunciation of the Theotokos on March 25, one of the most important name days in Greece.
March 1 — Eudokia
March 2 — Hesychius
March 3 — Kleonikos, Evlogios, Theodoulos
March 4 — Gerasimos
March 5 — Konon
March 6 — Hesychios
March 7 — Euphemia
March 8 — Theophylaktos
March 9 — Saranta (Forty Martyrs)
March 10 — Kodratos, Anastasios
March 11 — Sofronios
March 12 — Theophanes
March 13 — Christina, Pouplios
March 14 — Benediktos
March 15 — Aristoboulos
March 16 — Christodoulos
March 17 — Alexios
March 18 — Cyril, Ananias
March 19 — Chrysanthos, Daria
March 20 — Myron, Photios
March 21 — Thomas, James
March 22 — Drosida
March 23 — Nikon
March 24 — Artemon
March 25 — Maria, Evangelos, Evangelia, Panagiotis, Panagiota, Despina (Annunciation of the Theotokos)
March 26 — Larissa
March 27 — Matrona
March 28 — Hilarion
March 29 — Markos, Aristea
March 30 — Ioannis (of the Ladder)
March 31 — Hypatios
April Greek Name Days
April brings some of the most beloved name days in Greece. The month includes St. George on April 23, celebrated by countless Giorgos and Georgias, and often tied closely to Pascha. It also features St. Mark the Evangelist and many other saints.
April 1 — Mary of Egypt
April 2 — Titus the Wonderworker
April 3 — Nikitas
April 4 — Platon, Zosimos
April 5 — Irini, Claudios, Theodoros, Victor, Victorinos
April 6 — Eutychius
April 7 — Calliopios
April 8 — Rufinos, Agathopodos
April 9 — Eupsychios
April 10 — Gregory V of Constantinople
April 11 — Antipas
April 12 — Viktor
April 13 — Artemon, Martin
April 14 — Ardalion
April 15 — Leonidas, Crescens, Pausis
April 16 — Agapios, Leonidas
April 17 — Simeon, Adrianos, Agapetos
April 18 — Ioannis
April 19 — Paphnoutios
April 20 — Zacharias
April 21 — Alexandros
April 22 — Leonides
April 23 — Giorgos, Georgia (St. George)
April 24 — Elizabeth
April 25 — Markos, Markella (St. Mark the Evangelist)
April 26 — Glafkos, Basil, Leonidas
April 27 — Simeon
April 28 — Jason, Sosipatros, Kerkyra
April 29 — Jason, Kerkyra
April 30 — Jakovos
May Greek Name Days
May is a month rich with name days tied to both apostles and emperors. The feast of Saints Constantine and Helen on May 21 is one of the most celebrated of the year, with countless Greeks named Konstantinos or Eleni honoring their day.
May 1 — Jeremias
May 2 — Athanasios the Great, Hesperos
May 3 — Timotheos, Xeni
May 4 — Pelagia, Monica
May 5 — Eirini
May 6 — Job
May 7 — Acacius
May 8 — Ioannis (Theologian)
May 9 — Christoforos
May 10 — Simon
May 11 — Armodios, Methodios
May 12 — Epiphanios, Germanos
May 13 — Glykeria
May 14 — Isidore
May 15 — Pachomios, Achilios
May 16 — Theodore, Brendan
May 17 — Andronikos, Solon
May 18 — Irene (Eirini)
May 19 — Patrikios
May 20 — Thalelaios, Asklipios
May 21 — Konstantinos, Eleni
May 22 — Vasiliskos
May 23 — Michael of Synada, Salome
May 24 — Symeon
May 25 — Madalena, Therapon
May 26 — Alexander, Glykeria
May 27 — Alypios, John the Russian
May 28 — Helikonis
May 29 — Theodosia
May 30 — Isaakios
May 31 — Hermias
June Greek Name Days
June is full of name days tied to apostles and early martyrs. Highlights include the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24 and the feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, both of which are major celebrations in the Greek Orthodox calendar.
June 1 — Ioustinos
June 2 — Nikephoros
June 3 — Lucillian, Paula, Patroklos
June 4 — Socrates, Sophia
June 5 — Dorotheos, Markian
June 6 — Hilarion
June 7 — Theodotos
June 8 — Kalliope
June 9 — Cyrillos, Anastasios
June 10 — Alexander
June 11 — Varnavas, Bartholomeos
June 12 — Onoufrios, Antonios
June 13 — Akylas, Triphyllios
June 14 — Methodios, Elisha
June 15 — Amos
June 16 — Tychon
June 17 — Isavros, Manuel, Sabelios, Kandeos
June 18 — Leontios, Aitherios, Paula
June 19 — Thallasios
June 20 — Methodios, Kallistos
June 21 — Julianos, Terentios
June 22 — Efstathios, Zeno, Zenas
June 23 — Agripina
June 24 — Ioannis (Nativity of St. John the Baptist)
June 25 — Fevronia
June 26 — Makarios
June 27 — Samson
June 28 — Anastasios, Alexios
June 29 — Petros, Pavlos
June 30 — Apostolos, Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
July Greek Name Days
July is filled with beloved saints and widely celebrated name days, especially for St. Kyriaki, St. Marina, St. Elias (Prophet Elijah), and St. Paraskevi. These dates are major observances across Greece, often marked with village festivals and church services.
July 1 — Kozmas, Damianos
July 2 — Juvenalios, Juvenalia
July 3 — Hyacinthos
July 4 — Andreas of Crete
July 5 — Athanasios, Kyriaki
July 6 — Sisois
July 7 — Kyriaki
July 8 — Prokopios
July 9 — Anastasios, Pancratios
July 10 — Amvrosios, Amvrosia
July 11 — Olga
July 12 — Paisios, Veronica
July 13 — Seraphim, Eustathios
July 14 — Nikodemos, Aquila
July 15 — Kyriakos, Lollia
July 16 — Athenogenis
July 17 — Marina
July 18 — Emilianos
July 19 — Makrina
July 20 — Ilias (Prophet Elijah)
July 21 — Ezekiel, Venerios
July 22 — Maria Magdalini (Magdalene)
July 23 — Ezekiel, Phokas
July 24 — Christina
July 25 — Anna
July 26 — Paraskevi
July 27 — Panteleimon, Pantelis
July 28 — Chrysantos
July 29 — Callinicos
July 30 — Silouanos
July 31 — Evdokimos
August Greek Name Days
August is one of the most sacred months in the Orthodox calendar. It is centered on the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15, a day celebrated by countless Greeks named Maria, Panagiotis, Panagiota, and Despina. The month also honors St. Fanourios, whose feast inspires the baking of the traditional “Fanouropita” cake.
August 1 — Sarantis, Eleazar
August 2 — Salome, Elias
August 3 — Isaiah
August 4 — Seven Youths of Ephesus
August 5 — Nonna
August 6 — Sotirios, Sotiria (Transfiguration of Christ)
August 7 — Dometios
August 8 — Emilian
August 9 — Matthias, Herman
August 10 — Lawrence
August 11 — Euplus, Niphon
August 12 — Photios, Aniketos
August 13 — Tikhon
August 14 — Marcellus, Ursicius
August 15 — Maria, Panagiotis, Panagiota, Despina (Dormition of the Theotokos)
August 16 — Manouil, Stavros, Rigas
August 17 — Myron, Stratonikos
August 18 — Floros, Lavrentios, Leo
August 19 — Andrew the General
August 20 — Samuel
August 21 — Thathoulos
August 22 — Agathonikos, Anthousa
August 23 — Irini, Lykourgos
August 24 — Eftychios, Tationas
August 25 — Titos
August 26 — Adrianos, Natalia
August 27 — Fanourios
August 28 — Moses
August 29 — Ioannis (Beheading of St. John the Baptist)
August 30 — Alexander, Philemon
August 31 — Cyprian, Nonna
September Greek Name Days
September marks the beginning of the ecclesiastical year in the Orthodox Church. It includes the Nativity of the Theotokos, the Elevation of the Holy Cross, and the feast of St. Sophia with her three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Love, all of which are widely celebrated in Greece.
September 1 — Symeon the Stylite
September 2 — Mamas
September 3 — Anthimos
September 4 — Babylas
September 5 — Zacharias, Elizabeth
September 6 — Romilos
September 7 — Sozon
September 8 — Maria, Panagiota, Despina (Nativity of the Theotokos)
September 9 — Ioachim, Anna
September 10 — Menodora, Metrodora, Nymphodora
September 11 — Euphrosynos
September 12 — Autonomos
September 13 — Cornelios
September 14 — Stavros, Stavroula (Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 15 — Nikitas
September 16 — Loukianos
September 17 — Sophia, Elpida, Agapi, Pisti
September 18 — Ariadni
September 19 — Trophimos, Sabbatios, Dorymedon
September 20 — Efstathios, Efstathia, Theopistis
September 21 — Ioasaf
September 22 — Phocas
September 23 — Xenophon
September 24 — Thekla
September 25 — Efrosyni, Paphnoutios
September 26 — Ioannis (Theologian)
September 27 — Callistratos
September 28 — Chariton
September 29 — Kyriakos
September 30 — Gregory the Illuminator
October Greek Name Days
October is known especially for the feast of St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki on October 26, one of the most important name days in Greece. The month also honors St. Luke the Evangelist, St. Iakovos, and the Protection of the Theotokos on October 28, which coincides with Ohi Day in Greece.
October 1 — Ananias
October 2 — Kyriakos, Justina
October 3 — Dionysios the Areopagite
October 4 — Hierotheos
October 5 — Charitina
October 6 — Thomas the Apostle
October 7 — Sergios, Bacchus, Polychronios
October 8 — Pelagia
October 9 — Iakovos, Abraham
October 10 — Eulampios, Eulampia
October 11 — Philip the Deacon
October 12 — Andronikos, Athanasia
October 13 — Karpos, Florentios
October 14 — Nazarios, Gervasios, Protasios, Paraskevi (new martyr)
October 15 — Lucian
October 16 — Longinos
October 17 — Oseas, Andreas of Crete
October 18 — Loukas (St. Luke the Evangelist)
October 19 — Ioel, Varos
October 20 — Artemios
October 21 — Hilarion
October 22 — Aberkios
October 23 — Iakovos (St. James)
October 24 — Areti
October 25 — Chrysaphios, Tabitha
October 26 — Dimitrios, Dimitra
October 27 — Nestor
October 28 — Skepi (Protection of the Theotokos)
October 29 — Anastasia the Roman
October 30 — Zenobios, Zenobia, Cleopas
October 31 — Stachys, Apellos, Amplias, Urbanos, Aristovoulos
November Greek Name Days
November is one of the busiest months for name days in Greece. It honors the Archangels Michael and Gabriel on November 8, St. Nectarios on November 9, and St. Catherine on November 25, all of which are major feast days with wide celebrations across the country and diaspora.
November 1 — Kosmas, Damianos, David
November 2 — Akindynos, Pegasios, Aphthonios, Elpidoforos, Anempodistos
November 3 — Paulos, Martinos
November 4 — Ioannikios
November 5 — Galaktion, Epistimi
November 6 — Leonardos
November 7 — Lazaros (of Galesion)
November 8 — Michail, Gabriel, Angelos, Angeliki (Synaxis of the Archangels)
November 9 — Nektarios, Symeon the Metaphrast
November 10 — Olympias
November 11 — Menas, Victor, Vikentios
November 12 — Nil, Margaritos
November 13 — Ioannis Chrysostomos
November 14 — Philippos
November 15 — Gurias, Samonas, Habib
November 16 — Matthaios (St. Matthew the Apostle)
November 17 — Gregory the Wonderworker
November 18 — Platon, Romanos
November 19 — Obadiah, Barlaam
November 20 — Proklos, Sozomenos
November 21 — Maria, Panagiota, Despina (Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple)
November 22 — Philemon, Cecilia
November 23 — Amphilochios, Ischyrion
November 24 — Clement, Peter of Alexandria
November 25 — Aikaterini (St. Catherine)
November 26 — Stylianos, Nikon
November 27 — James the Persian
November 28 — Stephanidis, Irenarchos
November 29 — Paramonos
November 30 — Andreas (St. Andrew the Apostle)
December Greek Name Days
December closes the year with some of the most cherished feast days in Greece. It includes St. Nicholas on December 6, St. Spyridon on December 12, St. Eleftherios on December 15, and Christmas Day itself, which is also celebrated as the name day for Christos and Christina.
December 1 — Nahum, Ananias, Philaretos
December 2 — Habakkuk, Myrope
December 3 — Glykeria
December 4 — Varvara, Seraphim, John of Damascus
December 5 — Savas, Diogenis
December 6 — Nikolaos (St. Nicholas)
December 7 — Ambrosios
December 8 — Patapios
December 9 — Anna, Ioakim (Conception of the Theotokos)
December 10 — Menas, Hermogenes, Eugraphos
December 11 — Daniel, Miron, Loukas
December 12 — Spyridon
December 13 — Eustratios, Auxentios, Eugenios, Mardarios, Orestes
December 14 — Thyrsos
December 15 — Eleftherios, Anthia
December 16 — Modestos
December 17 — Dionysios of Zakynthos
December 18 — Sebastianos
December 19 — Aglaia, Bonifacios
December 20 — Ignatios
December 21 — Iouliana
December 22 — Anastasia the Great Martyr
December 23 — Naoum
December 24 — Eugenia
December 25 — Christos, Christina (Nativity of Christ)
December 26 — Synaxis of the Theotokos
December 27 — Stefanos (St. Stephen the First Martyr)
December 28 — Theodoros the Graptós
December 29 — Severos
December 30 — Anysia
December 31 — Melania
How Do Greeks Celebrate Name Days?
Traditionally, name days were open houses, where friends and family could stop by unannounced to offer greetings and share sweets. Even today, people bring gifts, flowers, or pastries. In the modern era, celebrations can be more private, such as family dinners, but the tradition of calling or messaging loved ones remains strong.
Why Are Name Days More Important than Birthdays?
For Greeks, a name day ties you to your saint, your family heritage, and your wider community. Because the date is public, greetings pour in from people near and far. Unlike birthdays, which are private, name days connect you with something larger than yourself.
Modern Trends in Name Day Celebrations
In cities, many people choose smaller celebrations, but in villages and among diaspora families the old customs remain. Social media has made greetings easier, and name days are now acknowledged by hundreds of friends in a single day.
Conclusion
Name days remain one of the strongest traditions in Greek culture. They connect individuals to saints, family heritage, and community in a way that birthdays cannot. Across Greece and the diaspora, name days continue to bring people together with joy, food, and warm greetings.
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