Saint's name at baptism?

[HomeschoolDad]

I can’t imagine that anyone was more shocked than I was when the news came yesterday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex naming their baby boy “Archie Harrison”. I said "Archie? What the…???"

This brings to mind the idea of having a saint’s name. Evidently there was a Saint Archibald, from this link (in French):

Saint Archibald

And if you stretch it, “Harrison” could be considered a form of Henry, i.e., “Harry’s son”. So no problem there either.

But what of the modern trend of Catholics naming their children everything, anything, except a saint’s name? I know it’s not required anymore (IMHO, it should be), only that a name should not be contrary to Christian tradition.

It seems like we are seeing an endless slew of English-sounding, euphonic names, a vast sea of (usually androgynous) names such as Taylor, Tyler, Hayden, Braden, Hunter, Sailor, Skyler, and so on and so on. A decade or so ago, it was all about Celtic-sounding names, Caitlin, Connor, Meghan, all very nice names, and most if not all of them derived from saints’ names. No harm there. (For that matter, if one were to search the English martyrology, you might find some surnames that could serve as saints’ names. No harm there either.)

Why can’t we get back to saints’ names for our children?

 

[CelticWarlord]

I can’t imagine that anyone was more shocked than I was when the news came yesterday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex naming their baby boy “Archie Harrison”

I didn’t even know they were having a baby.

 

[Joe_5859]

Why can’t we get back to saints’ names for our children?

I don’t know about everyone else, but I do my part.

Honestly, I think many people nowadays base their naming decisions on what sounds good to them rather than considerations of tradition or namesakes. Or else they are more likely to name their child after a character in a work of fiction rather than a Catholic saint.

I don’t spend a whole lot of time being perturbed by it, though. We chose Catholic names for our children, but if someone else wants to name their child Katniss, they’re the ones that have to deal with it.

 

[po18guy]

Archie Bunker and Harrison Ford. Covers all bases, dontcha’ think?

 

[Joe_5859]

It’s actually kind of a masterful move. The name does sound rather British and dignified while at the same time being pretty unconventional. I’d be surprised if that wasn’t what they were going for.

 

[HopkinsReb]

I can’t imagine that anyone was more shocked than I was when the news came yesterday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex naming their baby boy “Archie Harrison”. I said " Archie? What the…???"

As an Ole Miss grad, I’m happy to see the royal family naming a child after good ol’ Archie.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

And if you stretch it, “Harrison” could be considered a form of Henry, i.e., “Harry’s son”. So no problem there either.

It’s not a stretch, that is what the origin of the name means and (according to media) why they chose it.

Evidently there was a Saint Archibald

Allegedly, Archie is a nod to Princess Diana’s side of the family: Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll.

I like family names (and a lot are saint’s names so you would be happy), and I prefer them to trendy names. I would loved to have a daughter named Apollonia.

 

[midori]

My first thought was the Nero Wolfe character… Hopefully he’ll grow up to look good in a fedora and a trenchcoat!


I thought she was supposed to be having twins?

 

[mrsdizzyd]

At least they spelled it “Archie” as opposed to R-Chee or some other kind of nonsense. “Unique” spellings are all the rage on social media and the baby naming sites. Every other name has a “Leigh” in it or random punctuation.

Craziest I’ve seen is Kate spelled as KVIII.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

At this point I can’t resist a very enjoyable site I stumbled upon years ago:

The Original Utah Baby Namer: Introduction

Please note that this is hosted by Mormons calling attention to their own unique naming conventions. So nobody is making fun of someone else’s religion or culture.

And, yes, there is a St Elvis:

Ailbe of Emly - Wikipedia

 

[Elf01]

I’m not aware of a Saint with my first name. There is one with my middle name though.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Unique” spellings are all the rage on social media and the baby naming sites. Every other name has a “Leigh” in it

A friend calls them “trendiegh” names.

Kate spelled as KVIII.

No. No no no no no.

Unless their name is Kate and they stylize for branding as an artist of some kind. Then it’s kinda cool.

 

[TheLittleLady]

But what of the modern trend of Catholics naming their children everything, anything, except a saint’s name? I know it’s not required anymore (IMHO, it should be), only that a name should not be contrary to Christian tradition.

The Canon is a bit more specific than that:

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

 

[mrsdizzyd]

HomeschoolDad:

But what of the modern trend of Catholics naming their children everything, anything, except a saint’s name? I know it’s not required anymore (IMHO, it should be), only that a name should not be contrary to Christian tradition.

The Canon is a bit more specific than that:

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

Why does that even mean? Why would that need to raise to the level of canon law?

 

[Irishmom2]

Well, some would argue that the Royal family is not Catholic so why would they consider a saint’s name anyway.

 

[7_Sorrows]

It’s actually kind of a masterful move. The name does sound rather British and dignified while at the same time being pretty unconventional. I’d be surprised if that wasn’t what they were going for.

I don’t know about dignified…

 

[rightness]

I always thought about Polycarp sounding like a Pokemon name, but it might make people wonder about the name and get introduced to this amazing Church Father and Bishop and into Catholicism.

 

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Why would the royal family use a saint name anyway? That is silly.

The name is not a great name but who cares. My neighbor picked a worse name and I know them in real life not on a tabloid.

The mother of the baby was raised protestant attended a private Catholic high school and went to a Methodist university. And since she is proud of her African american heritage she would more likely pick an ethnic name before a saint name of a religion she is forbidden to be.

But while like 7th in line for the throne… I don’t think a king archie is in our future, though that would be hilarious.

 

[CRV]

Do Catholic Children Have to be Given Saints Names? explains it well.

Why would that need to raise to the level of canon law?

Because Canon Law governs the Christian Community - see The Role of Canon Law in the Catholic Tradition and the Question of Church and State and also see the Catholic Encyclopedia on Canon Law " Canon law is the body of laws and regulations made by or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members."

 

[Angannas]

I’m just thinking of what the situation would be if there had been a rule from the beginning of the Church that only saints’ names could be used. There would only be probably less than 20 names available for Catholics now, only two or three of them female. No new names would become available because all new saints would share their name with an old saint