The number of names in Saints has significantly increased over the past half century, so finding a correspondence to the Orthodox name given at birth, or picking one that is similar in meaning or harmony, will not be difficult. For lack of such, the final decision will be made by the parents of the baby or the person himself upon reaching a conscious age. Of course, coordinating it with the priest.
Those times when Orthodoxy insisted on giving the baby a name at birth according to the holy calendar (the calendar of Orthodox names) have sunk into oblivion. If at the birth of a girl on this day only male names were offered on the calendar, then the name was selected from the days closest to the date of birth. Today, everything is much simpler, but when performing the rite of baptism, the baby is supposed to choose a name from those that are in the holy calendar. Parents who are far from true faith in God, having a vague idea about the origins of the baptismal rite, sometimes only complicate the tradition by starting the search for another “secret” name that supposedly no one should know.
Does baptism really appear when baptized
In fact, do not philosophize, but call the baby your favorite mom and dad's name. One of the most respected figures of the 20th century church, Protopresbyter Alexander Shmeman explains this with surprising simplicity. He claims that from ancient times any name was considered a saint, requiring respect and reverence from childhood. To bring purity and sanctity of self through life is the most important mission of man. The tradition of designating a baby with the already “realized” name of a certain Saint arose much later and is not a canon.
Therefore, it is not necessary after civil registration of the name in the registry office to select a child for another Holy name, the day of veneration of which is close to the date of birth or baptism. Some parents believe that if there is no “link” to a certain date, then their child will be left without a patron. There is a difference between the concepts of a guardian angel without a name and flesh, granted to everyone at baptism, and a Holy patron who has the same name with the person who has received the baptismal rite. Moreover, there can be several Saints with the same name, and each person has the right to choose the one who is closer to him mentally for the conversion. On the day of the memory of his Saint, birthday parties are celebrated, which often do not coincide with the date of his birthday. Whatever the name of the child, at baptism he will still receive a guardian angel, called to accompany and protect him throughout life.
In the Bible there is a warning of Jesus that this name must be kept all life in the form in which it is given. It is a verbal formula. The Orthodox church calendar is replete with names of Greek, Hebrew, Latin and Slavic origin, therefore, it is often not difficult to find a consonant name for a given person in the world. Ivan - John, Denis - Dionysius, Egor and Yuri will become George. But this does not mean that the person received a middle name. This is just an analogue of a secular name.
