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
Community Spotlight
This week’s story comes from Sotiris D., Media:
“My grandfather was named Sotiris, and every August 6th he’d bring grapes from his garden to church for the blessing. He’d say, ‘These are the firstfruits of summer—may we have a sweet year ahead.’ It’s a custom we keep going.”
Share Your Name Day Story!
If your family’s name day is linked to a special summer ritual, let us know at nameday@cosmosphilly.com. Your memory could appear in an upcoming article!
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!
