Baptism & names

[SaintRita]

We have returned to the church after being gone 7 years. We are currently planning the baptism of my youngest two.

They already have middle names on their birth certificates and I know traditionally middle names have been “saint” names.

Would it be strange to choose baptism names as well? Normally I wouldn’t, (I didn’t with my oldest) but I feel like I want to honor the event somehow. Obviously it wouldn’t be a “legal” name but still something special for them since their current names were named after people, not saints. I know they’ll get to choose another name at their confirmation…

 

[Phemie]

We have returned to the church after being gone 7 years. We are currently planning the baptism of my youngest two.

They already have middle names on their birth certificates and I know traditionally middle names have been “saint” names.

Would it be strange to choose baptism names as well? Normally I wouldn’t, (I didn’t with my oldest) but I feel like I want to honor the event somehow. Obviously it wouldn’t be a “legal” name but still something special for them since their current names were named after people, not saints. I know they’ll get to choose another name at their confirmation…

It’s best if you speak to your pastor about this. Some parishes will only use the names that appear on the birth certificate.

You should also be aware that some parishes/dioceses don’t do the ‘choose a Confirmation name’ thing since it’s not part of the Rite of Confirmation.

 

[SaintRita]

It’s best if you speak to your pastor about this. Some parishes will only use the names that appear on the birth certificate.

You should also be aware that some parishes/dioceses don’t do the ‘choose a Confirmation name’ thing since it’s not part of the Rite of Confirmation.

Our Diocese does do the confirmation name thing. I think my father will be performing the baptisms so I guess I’ll just double check with him. Where they don’t have saint names currently I was hoping to incorporate that somehow.

 

[RoseMary131]

Would it be strange to choose baptism names as well? Normally I wouldn’t, (I didn’t with my oldest) but I feel like I want to honor the event somehow. Obviously it wouldn’t be a “legal” name but still something special for them since their current names were named after people, not saints. I know they’ll get to choose another name at their confirmation…

Congratulations and welcome back to the Church.

You are honoring the event of the Sacrament of Baptism by bringing them to become “Children of God”. The biggest honor of the day is the Baptism.

So many names are really Saint names, even if they were named for someone you know - take a look and see if there is a saint by that name. One website lists 152 variations for the name Elizabeth.

During the baptism rite, the parents are asked, “What name do you give this child?” The words of the baptism are “Name, I baptize you…”

Do you think you will officially use the new name to call the child?

I have friends who baptized their infant with a name different than on the birth certificate because they had change what name they wanted for the child. They plan to have the child’s name legally changed as well.

Another way to honor a saint is to choose patron saints for your children - even if they do not have that name or were not Baptized with that name. You may wish to celebrate the feast day of your child’s patron saint - a saint who reflects something that reminds you of that child - maybe the saint that you like so much you want to use as their Baptismal name, or the saint on whose feast day your child was born or Baptized.

God bless you on this wonderful journey. God’s blessings on your beautiful children as they receive the Sacrament of Baptism. What an honor for their grandfather to bring them into the Church by Baptizing them.

 

[RoseMary131]

During the Baptismal Rite there is a Litany of Saints. You may include saints special to your family and special for your children. This is a way to honor a specific saint for your child and still Baptize your child under their given name.

The celebrant next invites all present to invoke the saints:

Holy Mary, Mother of God…All: Pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist…All: Pray for us.
Saint Joseph…All: Pray for us.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul…All: Pray for us.

The names of other saints may be added, especially the patrons of the child to be baptized, and of the church or locality. The litany concludes:
All holy men and women… All: Pray for us.

 

[SaintRita]

During the Baptismal Rite there is a Litany of Saints. You may include saints special to your family and special for your children. This is a way to honor a specific saint for your child and still Baptize your child under their given name.

The celebrant next invites all present to invoke the saints:

Holy Mary, Mother of God…All: Pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist…All: Pray for us.
Saint Joseph…All: Pray for us.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul…All: Pray for us.

The names of other saints may be added, especially the patrons of the child to be baptized, and of the church or locality. The litany concludes:
All holy men and women… All: Pray for us.

oh wow - I really like the Patron Saint idea and this would be great. I do not plan to legally change their names.

 

[CyrilSebastian]

I have learned that in some of the Catholic monarchies, when a prince is baptized, Marie/Maria is one of his middle names. Is this a Roman Catholic baptism rule or is it a tradition?