New Name at Confirmation?

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Akanke

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I have heard before that when a person is received by the Church they are given a new name that is their “Catholic name.” Is there any truth to this statement?

If not, disregard the rest of this post, and thank you for your time.

If so, from where does this tradition originate? What is its purpose? Who chooses the name? How is the name chosen?
 
Many people do take a new name at Confirmation, but this is not required. The confirmand chooses his or her own Confirmation name, usually in honor of some Saint whose virtues he or she wishes to imitate. The Confirmation name is usually used as an additional second name and does not replace the baptismal name for social or legal purposes unless the confirmand chooses to do this.
 
This tradition comes from the Bible. Abram became Abraham, Simon became Peter, Saul became Paul.

It’s an outward sign that you are a new creation in Christ, that you are commissioned as a Soldier of the Lord to fight the good fight.

My mother is a convert. She took a new name for baptism and a new name for confirmation, so now her entire name is six names long with her maiden name! Of course, her legal name remains the same.
 
🙂 I was so excited when I got confirmed! When I was looking for a Saint to imitate, I’d research on tons of saints, but St. Therese of Lisieux kept getting to me. I love the name as well. So pretty! I’d love to be called Therese. 😃 Never thought of taking it on.
 
When I was confirmed I took the name Thaddeus. For some reason I thought that it was a really cool sounding name and it was a Saints name. It wasn’t until recently that I fianlly realized that the it was the name given to Judas (not Iscariot) and explained that it was used to differentiate between the two Apostles whose name was the same. St Judas Thaddeus is often seen carrying an ax or sitting at a desk writing, and is said to have a likeness in appearance to Jesus Christ. I am not saying that I resemble Jesus in any way, but I have always had a preferance for axes and I love to study and read. Recently I have been doing a lot of writing. Just saying that the name we choose for confirmation, may be choosing us as well, as long as we do so for Jesus.
Bernie
 
First of all, to the Original Poster, welcome “almost” home!
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bmeister15:
When I was confirmed I took the name Thaddeus. For some reason I thought that it was a really cool sounding name and it was a Saints name. It wasn’t until recently that I fianlly realized that the it was the name given to Judas (not Iscariot) and explained that it was used to differentiate between the two Apostles whose name was the same. St Judas Thaddeus is often seen carrying an ax or sitting at a desk writing, and is said to have a likeness in appearance to Jesus Christ.
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Just for clairification, St. Judas Thaddeus: aka St. Jude the Apostle, patron of hopeless cases, and patron of Police Officers.
More Info
This is how I remember seeing images of St. Jude from when I went to St. Jude the Apostle Church & School…
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/stj03017.jpg
 
When I came into the Church I took the name of Padre Pio. It was through his help I found my way to the Church.:dancing:
 
Can you choose a patron Saint without taking their name? I’m just beginning to learn about the Saints, but so far I’m somewhat drawn to St. Hildegard of Bingen (yes I know she’s not gone through the entire bit to be a Saint, but that most still refer to her as such - speaking of which, does that make her an acceptable Saint to choose?) Anyway, she was the first Saint I ever learned anything about - in Music History class - actually she’s probably one of the few names I remember from that early in the history of music, because I thought she was a very interesting person. So now that I’m looking at becoming Catholic, she still seems like a good option for me - but I hate to say it, but Hildegard isn’t the most beautiful of names…
 
A few points…

Choosing a new name for Confirmation is not done in all parishes. Some parishes encourage the candidate to use the same name as their baptismal name. (If one is baptized and confirmed at the same time this would certainly be the case.)

The confirmation name, does not become part of the legal name of the candidate unless civil steps are taken. It’s not clear to me that the Church keeps records of the name.

The name, if chosen, is usually the name of a saint that the candidate admires and wants to emulate but I believe it could be some other kind of name like “Charity” which has Christian meaning.

I personally do not know anyone that actually uses the name they chose at the time of their confirmation although most people I know can tell you what that name was and why they chose it.
 
AmISearching?:
Can you choose a patron Saint without taking their name? … - but I hate to say it, but Hildegard isn’t the most beautiful of names…
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Aw, it’s not that bad… I’d say it’s better than a lot of names out there in popular usage. Are you saying that you’d be ashamed to “take” the name, or just uncomfortable? If you take the name, it only need be spoken of at the confirmation itself. Then you can hide it; you won’t need to use it when you sign a check, or even as a middle name (not initial) when filling out Social Security forms.
So, if the reasons behind choosing the name in the first place are good (as you indicate) then remember the reasons and pray to St. Hilde even while you don’t use it in everyday conversation.
I don’t bother telling people my Confirmation Name, and I don’t think my siblings or even my mom remember what it is, but I do. :cool:
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spldwfe:
Must it be a patron saint or can it just be a saint?
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I think all (canonized) saints are identified with some sort of patronage. I could be wrong, it’s happened before…
 
Yes, and if you also wanted to “use” it, you could use 1, 2, or all three as additions to your name. If you are being confirmed as part of a group by a bishop, your sponsor should be ready to let him know what the name is (only 1 please). I’m not sure about the tripple-play (Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion), or other individual settings, but ask your priest.
God Bless.
 
:yup: I thought so, I am most inspired by her as well as Catherine of Sweden and of course St. Philomena …I hold a deep love children…especially my two angels…
 
In our Eastern Churches (as well as the Communion of Eastern Orthodox Churches) Infants are given a name at baptism. Immediately after the child is baptized they are Chrismated (confirmed) and give Holy Communion.
The name given to the child must be the name of a Saint.
My daughter Ava Frances was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church some 18 months ago and little did I know that St. Frances was not a Saint in the Orthodox Church.
She was baptized as the Servant of God “Eva” (“Eve”)

I’ll know better next time (God willing) to choose a Saint that was “pre-schism”
 
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SMHW:
A few points…

Choosing a new name for Confirmation is not done in all parishes. Some parishes encourage the candidate to use the same name as their baptismal name. (If one is baptized and confirmed at the same time this would certainly be the case.)

The confirmation name, does not become part of the legal name of the candidate unless civil steps are taken. It’s not clear to me that the Church keeps records of the name.

The name, if chosen, is usually the name of a saint that the candidate admires and wants to emulate but I believe it could be some other kind of name like “Charity” which has Christian meaning.

I personally do not know anyone that actually uses the name they chose at the time of their confirmation although most people I know can tell you what that name was and why they chose it.
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Thanks - it was a matter that I was confused on (and it would just be confirmation in my case, because my baptism in another church is considered valid by the Catholic Church - and I like the idea because my name is not a saints name - though my middle name is an OT biblical name, does that count?) I figured there was no need for the name itself to be pretty - but I guess theres always that part of you that thinks about that kind of thing, even if you wouldn’t actually use the name… Anyway the whole thing is kind of confusing, and if it is dealt with in the Catholicism for Dummies book, then I haven’t reached that point yet…

thanks again!
 
I love the tradition of picking a Confirmation name. When I was going through RCIA last year it became a way of really meditating on those people who have most influenced me in my conversion (besides Jesus, of course!)

For me, Pope John Paul II was the primary instrument God used in my conversion, since his writings spoke to me so powerfully that, upon reading the first 20 pages of “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” (my first Catholic book ever), I simply knew that I was being called Home to the Catholic faith.

St. Augustine was another big one for me, since upon reading his “Confessions” I realized that we were truly kindred spirits whose life paths were shockingly parallel.

Hence, when I went up for Confirmation, I became John Paul Augustine, a name I’m going to treasure the rest of my life…

Blessings on your journey,
JP Augustine
 
[QU
OTE=spldwfe]Must it be a patron saint or can it just be a saint?

Patron used in this context is a saint you chose as your patron, that you intend to develop a special relationship with, who you will ask to pray for you etc. They are not patron saints in the sense of ‘The patron saint of teachers’ etc. St. Teresa of Avila is my patron saint but I don’t think that she is a specific patron of anything.
 
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