This week brings a blend of beloved and traditional Greek names, many of them tied to ancient stories, regional customs, and the liturgical calendar. Here is the full list of name days for the week ahead.
Sunday, November 16
Names: Ifigenia (Ιφιγένεια); Mathaios, Matthaios, Mathios, Matthoula, Mathoula (Ματθαίος, Μαθαίος, Μαθιός, Ματθούλα, Μαθούλα)
Who’s honored: The commemorations connected with Ifigenia and the traditional remembrance of Mathaios, a name linked to early disciples in Greek practice.
Monday, November 17
Names: Genadios (Γεννάδιος, Γενάδιος)
Who’s honored: Early bishops and monastic figures who carried the name Genadios across Byzantine and post-Byzantine history.
Tuesday, November 18
Names: Plato, Platonas, Platonia, Platona (Πλάτων, Πλάτωνας, Πλατωνία, Πλατώνα)
Who’s honored: The early Christian martyr remembered under the name Platon, which continued as a traditional name in the Orthodox world.
Thursday, November 20
Names: Denahis, Denahida (Δεναχίς, Δεναχίδα)
Who’s honored: A rare name preserved mainly in regional Greek calendars and local traditions.
Friday, November 21
Names:
- Despoina, Despinoula, Despo, Despoula, Despoinou, Despoino, Despoinio, Depy, Pepi, Zepo, Pipina (Δέσποινα, Δεσποινούλα, Δέσπω, Δεσπούλα, Δεσποίνου, Δεσποίνω, Δεσποινιώ, Ντέπη, Πέπη, Ζέπω, Πιπίνα)
- Maria, Marios, Maro, Mario, Mariori, Marika, Marigoula, Maroula, Maritsa, Marietta, Marousa, Marcia (Μαρία, Μάριος, Μάρω, Μαριώ, Μαριωρή, Μαρίκα, Μαριγώ, Μαριγούλα, Μαρούλα, Μαρίτσα, Μαριέττα, Μαρούσα, Μάρσια)
- Soultana, Soultanis, Souzy, Souzi, Soultanitsa, Tania (Σουλτάνα, Σουλτάνης, Σούζυ, Σούζη, Σουλτανίτσα, Τάνια)
- Virginia (Βιργινία)
Who’s honored: The Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple, a major celebration for these names across Greece and the diaspora.
Saturday, November 22
Names:
- Cecilia, Kikilia, Kekilia (Σεσίλια, Κεκίλια, Κικίλια)
- Philimon, Filemon, Filimon, Filimoni, Filimona, Flimona (Φιλήμων, Φιλήμονας, Φιλημονή, Φιλημόνα, Φλημόνα)
- Valerios, Valerianos, Valeriana, Valeria, Valeris, Valios, Valia (Βαλεριανός, Βαλεριάνα, Βαλέρια, Βαλέριος, Βαλέρης, Βάλιος, Βάλια)
- Who’s honored: Early Christian martyrs and confessors whose names continue through liturgical tradition and family custom.
Share Your Name Day Story
If you have memories from celebrating one of this week’s name days, or a photo of your church decorated for the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos, send it to nameday@cosmosphilly.com so we can share it with our readers.
Χρόνια πολλά to everyone celebrating in Greece, America, and around the world.