The last days of July and the start of August find Greek families marking some of the most cherished name days of the summer. These moments—big or small—remind us how tradition and faith connect us across continents and generations.
Sunday, July 27
Names: Panteleimon, Panteleimonas, Pantelis, Panteleimonas, Pantelakis, Pantelos, Pantelitsa, Pantelina, Panteleousa (Παντελεήμων, Παντελεήμωνας, Παντελής, Παντελεήμονας, Παντελάκης, Παντέλος, Παντελίτσα, Παντελίνα, Παντελεούσα)
Who’s honored: Saint Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer
Note: Panteleimon and Pantelis are especially well-known among families with roots in Macedonia and Thessaly. Many churches hold special healing services on this day.
Monday, July 28
Names: Akakios, Kachi, Kaki; Auxentios, Auxentis, Auxentia, Auxentoula; Drosos, Drosida, Drosoula, Drosia, Drosso, Drosostalia, Drosostalida, Drosis; Timon, Timos, Timona, Timoni, Tima; Eirini, Rena, Rini, Riniο, Rinioula, Irina; Chryso- names (Ακάκιος, Κάχι, Κάκι, Αυξέντιος, Αυξέντης, Αυξεντία, Αυξεντούλα, Δρόσος, Δροσίδα, Δροσούλα, Δροσία, Δρόσω, Δροσοσταλία, Δροσοσταλίδα, Δροσίς, Τίμων, Τίμος, Τιμόνα, Τιμόνη, Τίμα, Ειρήνη, Ρένα, Ρήνα, Ρηνιώ, Ρηνούλα, Ειρήνα, Ειρήνγκω, Ρένια, Χρυσοβαλάντω, Χρυσοβαλάντου, Χρυσοβαλαντία, Βαλάντα, Βαλάντω, Χρυσοβαλάντης, Βαλάντης, Βαλάντος, Χρυσοβαλάντος)
Who’s honored: Saint Irene Chrysovalantou, Saint Akakios the Martyr, Saint Auxentios the Martyr, Saint Drosida, Apostle Timon
Also: World Hepatitis Day
Spotlight: Saint Irene Chrysovalantou is highly venerated by many Greek-American families, especially those with roots in Asia Minor.
Tuesday, July 29
Names: Theodotos, Theodotis, Theodoti; Kallinikos, Kalliniki (Θεόδοτος, Θεοδότης, Θεοδότη, Καλλίνικος, Καλλινίκης)
Who’s honored: Saint Theodoti the Martyr, Saint Kallinikos of Cilicia
Wednesday, July 30
Names: Andronikos, Androniki; Silouanos, Silouani, Silouana, Silouania; Kriskis; Epainetos, Epaineti (Ανδρόνικος, Ανδρονίκη, Σιλουανός, Σιλουανή, Σιλουάνα, Σιλουάνια, Κρήσκης, Επαινετός, Επαινετή)
Who’s honored: Apostles Silas, Silouanos, Epainetos, Kriskis, Andronikos
Thursday, July 31
Names: Eudokimos, Eudokimi; Iosif, Sifis, Iosifina, Zozefina, Jessica; Freiderikos, Freideriki (Ευδόκιμος, Ευδόκιμη, Ιωσήφ, Σήφης, Ιωσηφίνα, Ζοζεφίνα, Τζέσικα, Τζέσσικα, Φρειδερίκος, Φρειδερίκη)
Who’s honored: Venerable Eudokimos the Just; Joseph of Arimathea
Friday, August 1
Names: Elesa, Elessa; Eukleos, Eukleia, Euklea; Markelos; Solomon, Solomonas, Solonas, Solon; Kassandria (Ελέσα, Ελέσσα, Εύκλεος, Ευκλεή, Ευκλέα, Μάρκελος, Σολομονή, Κασσάνδρα)
Who’s honored: Procession of the Holy Cross; Martyr Elesa of Kythera; Nine Martyrs of Perge; Holy Maccabees and their mother Solomoni; Saint Kassandra
Regional Note: On Kythera, the feast of Saint Elesa is the highlight of the island’s summer calendar.
Saturday, August 2
Names: Ioustinianos (Ιουστινιανός)
Who’s honored: Venerable Justinian II the Emperor
Also: Roma Genocide Remembrance Day
Community Spotlight
This week’s story comes from Pantelis T., Wildwood:
“My father’s name is Pantelis, and every July 27th he would invite the whole family over—even neighbors! He’d always say, ‘The more people, the more blessings.’ It’s a name day tradition that never loses its meaning.”
Share Your Name Day Story!
Does your family have a summer name day tradition? Send a photo or memory to nameday@cosmosphilly.com—you could be our next spotlight!
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!
