The days before the Dormition of the Theotokos bring a wave of name day celebrations, summer church services, and family gatherings. For many Greek-American families, these traditions are woven into the heart of August, no matter where you spend your summer.
Sunday, August 10
Names: Hironia, Iro, Iron; Lavrentia, Lora, Lorraine, Laura, Lavrentina, Lavrentios, Lavrentis; Ippolytos, Ippolyti, Ippolyta, Poly (Ηρωνία, Ηρώ, Ήρων, Λαυρεντία, Λώρα, Λωραίνη, Λάουρα, Λαυρεντίνα, Λαυρέντιος, Λαυρέντης, Ιππόλυτος, Ιππολύτη, Ιππολύτα, Πόλυ)
Who’s honored: Saint Iron; Saints Lavrentios and Ippolytos, Martyrs
Monday, August 11
Names: Efplous, Efplos, Efplous (Εύπλους, Εύπλος, Εύπλοος)
Who’s honored: Martyr Efplous the Deacon
Tuesday, August 12
Names: No major name day
Who’s honored: Martyrs Photeinos and Aniketos
Also: International Youth Day
Wednesday, August 13
Names: No major name day
Who’s honored: Apodosis (Leavetaking) of the Feast of the Transfiguration; Martyr Koronatos
Also: International Lefthanders Day
Thursday, August 14
Names: Michaias (Micah), Michail, Michalis, Michael, Michaela, Michalina (Μιχαίας, Μιχαήλ, Μιχάλης, Μιχαέλα, Μιχαλίνα)
Who’s honored: Prophet Micah; Forefeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Note: Although the most widely celebrated day for Michael (Μιχαήλ) is November 8, those named after the Old Testament Prophet Micah (Μιχαίας) are commemorated on this day. In some Greek regions and families, it’s also customary to offer wishes to anyone named Michail or Michalis. August 14 is best known as a day of spiritual preparation for the Dormition—marked by vespers, decorating icons of the Virgin Mary, and preparing offerings for the feast on August 15. The main name day for Maria and Panagiota is one day later, but many families begin their celebrations on the eve with special prayers or traditions.
Friday, August 15
Names: Panagiotis, Panos, Panousos, Panagis, Panagos, Giotis, Takis, Panikos, Panagiota, Giota, Panagioula, Gioula, Panagoula, Penny, Nagia, Panchroula; Despoina, Despo, Ntepi, Pepi, Zepo; Maria, Marietta, Margetina, Maro, Mariori, Marika, Marigo, Marigoula, Maroula, Maritsa, Manio, Mary, Marinik, Myrella, Mania, Mara, Marios; Gethsimani, Iesimani; Theotokis, Theotokia; Mariantzela, Marinela; Eleousa, Lousi; Elona, Ellona, Elona; Iliostalakti; Katholiki; Krystallia, Krystallia, Krystallia, Krystallenia; Presveia, Presveia; Symela, Simela, Soumela (Παναγιώτης, Πάνος, Πανούσος, Παναγής, Πανάγος, Γιώτης, Τάκης, Πανίκος, Παναγιώτα, Γιώτα, Παναγιούλα, Γιούλα, Παναγούλα, Πένυ, Νάγια, Πανυχρούλα, Δέσποινα, Δέσπω, Ντέπη, Πέπη, Ζέπω, Μαρία, Μαργέτα, Μαριέττα, Μαργετίνα, Μάρω, Μαριωρή, Μαρίκα, Μαριγώ, Μαριγούλα, Μαρούλα, Μαρίτσα, Μανιώ, Μαίρη, Μαρινίκη, Μυρέλλα, Μάνια, Μάρα, Μάριος, Γεσθημανή, Ιεσθημανή, Θεοτόκης, Θεοτοκία, Μαριάντζελα, Μαρινέλα, Ελεούσα, Λούση, Ελώνα, Ελλώνα, Ελόνα, Ηλιοστάλακτη, Καθολική, Κρυστάλλω, Κρουστάλλω, Κρουστάλω, Κρυσταλία, Κρυσταλλία, Κρουσταλένια, Πρέσβεια, Πρεσβεία, Συμέλα, Σιμέλα, Σουμελά)
Who’s honored: Dormition of the Theotokos (Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου), one of the holiest feasts in the Orthodox calendar
Also: World Lighthouse Day
Note: Nearly every Greek-American family celebrates a Maria, Panagiotis, or Panagiota on August 15. In Pontic communities, “Soumela” holds a special place, and many visit or remember the Panagia Soumela Monastery in Greece or the U.S.
Saturday, August 16
Names: Alkiviadis, Alkis, Altos; Gerasimos, Makis, Mikes, Mikis, Gerasimoula; Diomedes; Serafim, Serafimia, Serafima, Serafina, Serafimi, Serafima, Serafimoula, Serafimitsa; Sarantis, Sarantos, Saranto, Sarantoula; Apostolos, Tolis, Apostolis, Lakis, Apostolia, Lia, Apostolina, Polina, Lina; Stamatis, Stamatis, Stamos, Stamoulis, Stamelos, Stamelis, Stamelas, Stamatia, Mata, Matoula, Matina, Stamatina, Stamata, Stamela, Stamoula, Stamati, Mato, Stamatella (Αλκιβιάδης, Άλκης, Άλτσος, Γεράσιμος, Μάκης, Μικές, Μίκης, Γερασιμούλα, Διομήδης, Σεραφείμ, Σεραφειμία, Σεραφείμα, Σεραφίνα, Σεραφειμή, Σεραφειμούλα, Σεραφειμίτσα, Σαράντης, Σαράντος, Σαράντω, Σαραντούλα, Απόστολος, Τόλης, Αποστόλης, Λάκης, Αποστολία, Λία, Αποστολίνα, Πολίνα, Λίνα, Σταμάτης, Σταμάτιος, Στάμος, Σταμούλης, Σταμέλος, Σταμέλης, Σταμελάς, Σταματία, Μάτα, Ματούλα, Ματίνα, Σταματίνα, Σταμάτα, Σταμέλα, Σταμούλα, Σταματή, Μάτω, Σταματέλλα)
Who’s honored: Saint Alkiviadis the Martyr, Saint Gerasimos the New Ascetic, Saint Diomedes the Martyr, Saints Serafim and Sarantis, Saint Apostolos the New, Saint Stamatis of Volos
Regional Note: Many of these names are celebrated in Northern Greece and on the Ionian Islands.
Community Spotlight
This week’s story comes from Maria P., Broomall:
“We have three Marias and two Panagis in our family. On August 15th, everyone comes together—there’s a big meal, and we always remember to call cousins in Greece. It’s more important to us than birthdays.”
Share Your Name Day Story!
If you mark a summer name day with a family gathering, a phone call, or a special recipe, share your memory at nameday@cosmosphilly.com. Your tradition helps our community stay close.
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!
