August brings the heart of summer—a time when many Greek-American families are on vacation, at the shore, or gathered with friends. Still, name days fill calendars with familiar wishes and time-honored traditions. Here’s who’s being celebrated this week.
Sunday, August 3
Names: Olympios; Salome, Saloma (Ολύμπιος, Σαλώμη, Σαλώμα)
Who’s honored: Saint Olympios the Martyr; Saint Salome the Myrrhbearer
Regional Note: In some Greek villages, Salome is honored with special hymns at the local church.
Monday, August 4
Names: Maximilianos; Xakoustos, Exakousto, Exakoustodian, Exakoustos, Xakousti (Μαξιμιλιανός, Ξακουστός, Εξακουστοδιανός, Εξακουστωδιανός, Εξακουστός, Ξακουστή)
Who’s honored: The Seven Youths of Ephesus
Tuesday, August 5
Names: Nonna, Nona (Νόννα, Νόνα)
Who’s honored: Saint Nonna, mother of Gregory the Theologian
Wednesday, August 6
Names: Sotirios, Sotiris, Sotos, Sotis, Sotiria, Sotiro, Sotia; Evmorfia, Morfoula (Σωτήριος, Σωτήρης, Σώτος, Σώτης, Σωτηρία, Σωτήρω, Σωτία, Ευμορφία, Μορφούλα)
Who’s honored: Feast of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) of Christ; Saint Sotirios
Thursday, August 7
Names: Asterios, Asteris, Astrinos, Asterinos, Astrini, Asteria, Astroula, Asterini; Nikanor, Nikanoras (Αστέριος, Αστέρης, Αστρινός, Αστερινός, Αστρινή, Αστέρω, Αστερία, Αστρούλα, Αστερινή, Νικάνωρ, Νικάνορας)
Who’s honored: Martyr Asterios the Wonderworker; Saint Nikanor the Wonderworker of Zavorda
Regional Note: In Western Macedonia, Saint Nikanor is commemorated with local festivals near the Monastery of Zavorda.
Friday, August 8
Names: Myron, Myronas, Myra, Mirka; Triantafyllos, Triantafyllis, Fyllis, Fyllios, Triantafyllenia, Triantafyllia, Fylli, Fyllia, Fyllitsa, Triantafyllenia, Roza (Μύρων, Μύρωνας, Μύρα, Μίρκα, Τριαντάφυλλος, Τριανταφύλλης, Φύλλης, Φύλλιος, Τριανταφυλλένιος, Τριανταφυλλιά, Φύλλη, Φύλλια, Φυλλιώ, Φυλλίτσα, Τριανταφυλλένια, Ρόζα)
Who’s honored: Saint Myron the Wonderworker, Bishop of Crete; New Martyr Triantafyllos of Zagora
Fun Fact: Triantafyllos means “rose”—a symbol of love and remembrance in Greek culture.
Saturday, August 9
Names: (No major name day)
Who’s honored: Apostle Matthias; Martyrs Alexis, Dimitrios, Iakovos, Ioannis, Leontios, Markianos, Petros, Fotios, Maria, Martha, Antonios of Alexandria
Also: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples