As summer rolls on, name days continue to bring people together—sometimes with a quick phone call, other times with sweets, or simply by sharing a memory. This week’s calendar includes names you might hear at family tables or find in stories from Greek villages. Here’s who we’re celebrating, plus a community memory to remind us how these small customs can connect us, wherever we are.
Sunday, June 22
Names: Zina, Zena, Zenia, Zinas, Zenas, Zenos, Euseveia, Sevi, Eusevoula, Sevoula, Eusevios, Eusevis (Ζήνα, Ζένα, Ζένια, Ζηνάς, Ζένας, Ζένος, Ευσεβεία, Σέβη, Ευσεβούλα, Σεβούλα, Ευσέβιος, Ευσεβής)
Who’s honored: Saints Zenos and Zona the Martyrs, Saint Eusevios the Hieromartyr
Also: World Wide VW Beetle Day (Drive Your VW to Work Day)
Fun Fact: In Greece, the VW Beetle is affectionately called “σκαραβαίος” (skaravaíos), just like the scarab beetle. Even today, spotting a classic Beetle brings a smile and a bit of nostalgia—proof that some names travel farther than we imagine.
Monday, June 23
Names: Aristoklis, Aristokleas, Aristokleos, Agrippina, LouLou, Loula, Loulis (Αριστοκλής, Αριστοκλέας, Αριστόκλεος, Αγριππίνα, Λούλου, Λούλα, Λούλης)
Who’s honored: Saint Aristokleos the Presbyter of Tamasos, Saint Agrippina the Martyr
Tuesday, June 24
Names: Errikos, Eric (Ερρίκος, Έρικ)
Who’s honored: Birth of Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist, Synaxis of Zacharias and Elizabeth, Venerable Errikos of Auxerre
Note: June 24 is one of the most important feast days in the Orthodox calendar—marking the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Many villages and families, especially those named Giannis or Ioanna, observe their name day on January 7 (the main feast), but in a few regions June 24 is also recognized with customs, bonfires, and traditional songs.
Wednesday, June 25
Names: Livios, Livas, Livi, Eros, Erotas, Fevronia, Fevronia, Fevro, Febra, Fevroula (Λίβιος, Λίβας, Λιβύη, Έρως, Έρωτας, Φεβρωνία, Φευρωνία, Φεύρω, Φέβρα, Φεβρούλα)
Who’s honored: Venerable Livy, Saint Eros, Saint Fevronia the Duchess of Russia
Thursday, June 26
Names: Makarios, Makaris, Makaras, Makaria, Makaro, Makaritsa, Makaroula (Μακάριος, Μακάρης, Μακαράς, Μακαρία, Μακάρω, Μακαρίτσα, Μακαρούλα)
Who’s honored: Saint Makarios the Martyr
Also: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Regional Spotlight: While the Orthodox calendar honors more than one saint named Makarios, the name day is most commonly celebrated on January 19, in honor of Saint Makarios the Great. In Cyprus, January 19 also holds special meaning as a day to remember Archbishop Makarios III and his importance in the island’s modern history.
Friday, June 27
Names: Pieris, Pieros, Pierios, Pieris, Pieria, Piera, Samson (Πιερής, Πιέρος, Πιέριος, Πιέρης, Πιερίων, Πιερία, Πιέρα, Σαμψών)
Who’s honored: Saint Pierios the Presbyter and Martyr, Samson the Hospitable
Regional Spotlight: Samson is especially venerated in some island villages, where his feast day was once a time for charitable acts and helping neighbors in need.
Saturday, June 28
Names: Anargyros, Anargyri, Anargyroula, Germanos (Ανάργυρος, Ανάργυρη, Αναργυρούλα, Γερμανός)
Who’s honored: Discovery of the Relics of Saints Cyrus and John the Unmercenaries, Saint Germanos the Russian
Community Spotlight
This week’s story comes from Dina P., Upper Darby:
“In our family, name days are more important than birthdays. My grandmother kept a list and never missed a single one. Even when relatives moved away, she’d mail a card with a saint’s icon and a note about our village back in Greece. It was her way of keeping our family connected, no matter the distance.”
Share Your Name Day Story!
If you have a favorite name day recipe, tradition, or story, we’d love to share it with the community. Send your memory or photo to nameday@cosmosphilly.com—your experience might inspire someone else to celebrate.
Please note that some names are celebrated more than once in the Greek Orthodox calendar. Here, we highlight the date most widely observed, but your family might honor a different day. If you have a unique tradition, share it with us!
Χρόνια πολλά to everyone celebrating this week—here, in Greece, and wherever you call home!