Babies and saints names?

[AlieMarie728]

We are expecting our first child, a son, in July, and have pretty much settled on James Ryan, both are family names.

I heard somewhere that Catholic babies have to have a saint’s name as his or her middle name.

Does that apply when technically a saint’s name is going to be the child’s first name?

 

[1ke]

I heard somewhere that Catholic babies have to have a saint’s name as his or her middle name.

There is no such requirement.

 

[AlieMarie728]

There is no such requirement.

OK, I wasn’t sure there was, I had heard someone talking about it on Relevant Radio as though it was standard or required.

Thank you.

 

[4love2God]

AlieMarie728 wonders : "I heard somewhere that Catholic babies have to have a saint’s name as his or her middle name."

I think you may be referring to the time when a person is ready to take his First Communion.
At this time, the people are told that they can take on a NEW middle NAME, the name of a Saint.

I went through this procedure many years ago (and am not sure if this practice has survived until now).
This does NOT mean that I needed to re-do my Birth Certificate, just that I have my Catholic nick-name.

 

[tawny]

We are expecting our first child, a son, in July, and have pretty much settled on James Ryan, both are family names.

I heard somewhere that Catholic babies have to have a saint’s name as his or her middle name.

Does that apply when technically a saint’s name is going to be the child’s first name?

It is recommended, but not required.

 

[1ke]

OK, I wasn’t sure there was, I had heard someone talking about it on Relevant Radio as though it was standard or required.

Thank you.

It is certainly important that we give our children Christian names, at a minimum a name that is in no way contrary to the faith. But the Church imposes no requirement on the name nor whether it is a first name, middle name, etc.

Traditionally, children have a saint name as part of their name. But it is not required.

You can name your child whatever you want. And, James is a Saint.

 

[4love2God]

1ke claims :** “It is certainly important that we give our children Christian names”.**

WHAT ???

I completely disagree.

I think it is completely un-important that we give all babies (of Christian parents) a “Christian” name.
This is especially True in the minority community, where names are frequently coined.

 

[1ke]

1ke claims :** “It is certainly important that we give our children Christian names”.**

WHAT ???

I completely disagree.

I think it is completely un-important that we give all babies (of Christian parents) a “Christian” name.
This is especially True in the minority community, where names are frequently coined.

The Catechisim has an section entitled “The Christian Name” under the Second Commandment. Obviously, the Church thinks it is important, therefore we should not state it is “completely unimportant”.

 

[tee_eff_em]

The Catechisim has an section entitled “The Christian Name” under the Second Commandment. Obviously, the Church thinks it is important, therefore we should not state it is “completely unimportant”.

It is also enshrined in Canon Law

Can. 855 Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given.

tee

 

[vsedriver]

We are expecting our first child, a son, in July, and have pretty much settled on James Ryan, both are family names.

I heard somewhere that Catholic babies have to have a saint’s name as his or her middle name.

Does that apply when technically a saint’s name is going to be the child’s first name?

thank you for picking such a lovely and easy to spell name. I work for a company that produces books like year books, church books, clubs etc. some of the names that are being given children today are absolutely shocking. The poor kids will forever be having to spell out their first name to anyone filling out a form. And some of those unusal spellings also sound a bit different than intended.

So please be very, very careful or you too might end up with two kids named Yesmassa and Yesmam. I kid you not, these are actual children’s names.

 

[acadiANNA]

In my elementary school class, girls had a middle name of Ann, Marie, or Elizabeth and boys typically had a middle name of Joseph, John, Anthony. Sometimes these names were first names. My son had a middle name of Patrick-the first was a saint name, too. I think of St. Patrick as his patron saint and we honor him on the feast day. Also asked for his intercession when needed. I think James Ryan is a beautiful name. Blessings to you always.

 

[4love2God]

well, tee eff em agrees with me (and also does Canon Law) : "Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given."

So, naming your child “Satan” … or 'Demon" … or “Buddha” … or even “Muhammad” are probably considered “foreign to Christian sensibility”.
But all of those other names out there, are NOT foreign to Christian Sensibility.

Therefore, you don’t have to give a child a Christian name … simply a name that is not insensible.

 

[tee_eff_em]

well, tee eff em agrees with me (and also does Canon Law) : "Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given."

So, naming your child “Satan” … or 'Demon" … or “Buddha” … or even “Muhammad” are probably considered “foreign to Christian sensibility”.
But all of those other names out there, are NOT foreign to Christian Sensibility.

Therefore, you don’t have to give a child a Christian name … simply a name that is not insensible.

I disagree that we agree.
I certainly disagree with your statement that *it is completely un-important that we give all babies (of Christian parents) a “Christian” name. *Just because a practice is not an absolute requirement does not mean that it is un-important.

Names that are *foreign to Christian sensibility *include not only those antithetical to it (such as those of your example), but also those unknown or unfamiliar to it.

That being said, a case can be made for a novel name (perhaps, as your earlier post, as those from an ethnic minority tradition), and perhaps by bestowing such name, in a generation or two there may be a Christian saint bearing that name – How else does a name get to be *not foreign to Christian sensiblilty * after all?

But :twocents: such a case ought not be made lightly nor without consideration.

tee