Greek name days remain one of the most familiar rhythms of Greek life, connecting families, parishes, calendars, and saints’ feasts across generations.
This week’s name days run from Sunday, April 26, through Saturday, May 2, 2026, and include names associated with the Myrrhbearers, Saint Glaphyra, Saint Jason and Saint Sosipater, Saint Argyri, Saint Donatus, the Prophet Jeremiah, and the translation of the relics of Saint Athanasios.
For Greeks, name days often carry a meaning that goes beyond a simple calendar note. They are tied to baptismal names, family traditions, patron saints, and the small but lasting ways Greek identity continues at home, in church, and in community life.
Sunday, April 26
The Orthodox Church commemorates the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers and Saint Glaphyra.
Those celebrating include:
Glafyros, Glafyra, Glafyroula, Myrofora
(Γλαφυρός, Γλαφύρα, Γλαφυρούλα, Μυροφόρα)
Monday, April 27
The Church commemorates Hieromartyr Symeon, Bishop of Jerusalem.
No commonly listed Greek name day names are included for this date in the provided calendar.
Tuesday, April 28
The Church commemorates the Nine Holy Martyrs of Cyzicus.
Those celebrating include:
Magnos, Magnis, Magna
(Μάγνος, Μαγνής, Μάγνα)
Wednesday, April 29
The Church commemorates Saints Jason and Sosipater the Apostles, and Saint Kerkyra.
Those celebrating include:
Iason, Iasonas, Sosipatros, Sopatros, Sopatra, Sopatria, Patra, Patroula, Patritsa, Kerkyra
(Ιάσων, Ιάσονας, Σωσίπατρος, Σώπατρος, Σωπάτρα, Σωπατρία, Πάτρα, Πατρούλα, Πατρίτσα, Κέρκυρα, Κερκύρα)
Thursday, April 30
The Church commemorates the translation of the holy relics of Saint Argyri, Saint Donatus, and Saint James the Apostle.
Those celebrating include:
Argyri, Argyroula, Roula, Argyro, Asimakis, Asimina, Asimenia, Menia, Mina, Malamati, Mala, Malamatenia, Matina, Donatos, Donata, Ntonata, Donatella, Dona, Iakovos, Iakovina, Zakelina, Giakoumis
(Αργυρή, Αργυρούλα, Ρούλα, Αργυρώ, Ασημάκης, Ασημίνα, Ασημένια, Μένια, Μίνα, Μαλαματή, Μάλα, Μαλαματένια, Ματίνα, Δονάτος, Δονάτα, Ντονάτα, Ντονατέλα, Ντόνα, Ιάκωβος, Ιακωβίνα, Ζακελίνα, Γιακουμής)
Friday, May 1
The Church commemorates the Prophet Jeremiah, Saint Panaretos, Saint Isidora, Saint Tamara, and Saint Philosophos.
Those celebrating include:
Ieremias, Panaretos, Panareti, Isidora, Dora, Tamara, Filosofos, Sofos, Filosofia, Filosofi
(Ιερεμίας, Πανάρετος, Παναρέτη, Ισιδώρα, Δώρα, Τάμαρα, Ταμάρα, Φιλόσοφος, Σοφός, Φιλοσοφία, Φιλοσοφή)
Saturday, May 2
The Church commemorates the translation of the holy relics of Saint Athanasios, Saint Hesperos the Martyr, and Saint Matrona of Russia.
Those celebrating include:
Athanasios, Thanasis, Nasos, Sakis, Thanos, Thanasos, Soulis, Athanasia, Nasia, Nancy, Thanasoula, Soula, Nasa, Souli, Esperos, Espera, Esperia, Avgerinos, Avgeris, Avgitis, Avgeras, Avgerou, Matrona
(Αθανάσιος, Θανάσης, Νάσος, Σάκης, Θάνος, Θανάσος, Σούλης, Αθανασία, Νάσια, Νάνσυ, Θανασούλα, Σούλα, Νάσα, Σούλη, Έσπερος, Εσπέρα, Εσπερία, Αυγερινός, Αυγέρης, Αυγίτης, Αυγέρας, Αυγερού, Ματρώνα, Ματρόνα)
In Greece, a name day can still feel more immediate than a birthday. A phone call, a message, a coffee, or a simple «Χρόνια πολλά» keeps the custom alive. For families in the diaspora, it also keeps a small bridge open to the saints, names, and traditions that shaped earlier generations.
Χρόνια πολλά to everyone celebrating this week.