August continues with name day celebrations rooted in both church tradition and family custom. Whether you’re gathering in person or sharing wishes from afar, these days remind us of the enduring bonds in Greek life.
Sunday, August 17
Names: Lefkothea, Lefkothei; Myron, Myronas, Myra, Mirka; Stratos, Straton, Stratis, Strata, Stratia, Stratina, Stratoula (Λευκοθέα, Λευκοθέη, Μύρων, Μύρωνας, Μύρα, Μίρκα, Στράτος, Στράτων, Στράτης, Στράτα, Στρατία, Στρατίνα, Στρατούλα)
Who’s honored: Saint Lefkios; Saint Myron the Martyr; Saint Straton
Note: Myron is a name found in many Greek families and is also linked to the “blessing of the myrrh” in Orthodox tradition.
Monday, August 18
Names: Arsenios, Arsenis, Arsenia, Arsina, Arsinoyi; Lavros, Lavris, Lairos, Lavra, Laioura; Flora, Flori, Floritsa, Floros, Floris (Αρσένιος, Αρσένης, Αρσενία, Αρσίνα, Αρσινόη, Λαύρος, Λαύρης, Λάουρος, Λαύρα, Λάουρα, Φλώρα, Φλωρή, Φλωρίτσα, Φλώρος, Φλώρης)
Who’s honored: Saint Arsenios the New of Paros; Martyrs Flora and Lavros
Tuesday, August 19
Names: No major name day
Who’s honored: Great Martyr Andrew the Commander; Venerable Theophanes of Naousa; Martyrs Timotheos, Agapios, Thekla, Eutychianos, Strategios, and Myron
Wednesday, August 20
Names: Heliodoros, Heliodora, Eleodora, Elda; Theocharis, Theocharoula, Charoula; Samuel, Samouilos, Samouelia, Samuelia, Samuela, Samantha; Orestis, Orestias, Orestia, Orestiada (Ηλιόδωρος, Ηλιοδώρα, Ελεοδώρα, Έλντα, Θεοχάρης, Θεοχαρούλα, Χαρούλα, Σαμουήλ, Σαμουήλος, Σαμουήλης, Σαμουήλος, Σαμουηλία, Σαμουήλα, Σαμουέλα, Σαμάνθα, Ορέστης, Ορεστιάς, Ορεστία, Ορεστιάδα)
Who’s honored: Venerable Thirty-Seven Martyrs of Bizye; Venerable Theocharis of Neapolis; Prophet Samuel; Saints Reginos and Orestis of Cyprus
Also: World Mosquito Day
Thursday, August 21
Names: No major name day
Who’s honored: Apostle Thaddeus; Martyrs Vassa and her children; Saint Alexander of Iconium
Friday, August 22
Names: Agathonikos; Theoprepios, Theoprepis, Theoprepia, Theoprepi (Αγαθόνικος, Θεοπρέπιος, Θεοπρεπής, Θεοπρεπία, Θεοπρεπή)
Who’s honored: Martyr Agathonikos and his companions; Martyr Theoprepios
Saturday, August 23
Names: No major name day
Who’s honored: Remembrance Day for the Abolition of the Slave Trade; Leavetaking (Apodosis) of the Dormition of the Theotokos; Hieromartyrs Irenaios, Bishop of Sirmium, and Irenaios, Bishop of Lyons; Synaxis of Panagia Malamateniotissa, Tinos
Community Spotlight
This week’s story comes from George K., Elkins Park:
“August was always the month when everyone in the family seemed to celebrate a name day—Panagiotis, Maria, even my cousin Stamatis. We’d have one big dinner outside, and the older folks would tell stories about summers back in the village. Even when we couldn’t all be together, there was always a phone call or a plate of something homemade left on a neighbor’s doorstep. That’s how the tradition carries on.”
Share Your Name Day Story!
If you have a favorite name day custom, a family photo, or a regional recipe, send it to nameday@cosmosphilly.com. We’d love to share your story with the community!
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!