Christian names

Hebrew name of contested etymology; traditionally interpreted as "mountain of strength" or "exalted."

Brother of Moses; first high priest of Israel (Exodus 28).

Hebrew "breath" or "vapor."

Second son of Adam and Eve; offered the accepted sacrifice (Genesis 4).

Hebrew "my father is joy."

Wife of David after the death of her first husband Nabal (1 Samuel 25).

Hebrew "father of many" (Abraham); the earlier Abram is "exalted father."

Patriarch of Israel; God's covenant partner (Genesis 12-25).

Hebrew "man" or "earth," with the wordplay on adamah (ground) explicit in Genesis 2.

First man; first human in the Genesis creation narrative.

Latin "from Adria" (a town near the Adriatic Sea), Christianized in usage through Saint Adrian.

Saint Adrian of Nicomedia; fourth-century Roman officer and martyr.

Greek "pure" or "chaste" (hagne); often associated by folk etymology with Latin agnus, "lamb."

Roman virgin martyr, c. 304 AD.

Latin "of Alba" (the white city) or possibly from albus, "white."

Saint Alban; first British martyr (third or fourth century).

Greek "immortal" (ambrotos).

Saint Ambrose of Milan; bishop and Doctor of the Church (c. 340-397).

Hebrew "borne" or "carried"; traditionally interpreted as "burden-bearer."

Eighth-century BC prophet to the northern kingdom; book of Amos.

Greek "resurrection" (anastasis).

Saint Anastasia of Sirmium; fourth-century martyr.

Greek "manly" or "courageous" (from aner, andros, "man").

Apostle; brother of Peter; first-called disciple in John 1:40.

Hebrew "grace" or "favor" (from Hannah, taken through Greek Anna into Latin and the European languages).

The prophetess at the Temple who recognized the infant Jesus (Luke 2:36-38); also the traditional name for the mother of Mary in Christian tradition.

Old Germanic "divine helmet" or "God-protected."

Saint Anselm of Canterbury; Doctor of the Church (1033-1109).

Latin family name of contested etymology; possibly from Etruscan roots.

Multiple major saints: Anthony of Egypt (the Great); Anthony of Padua.

Greek; the name is a shortened form of names like Apollonios (related to the god Apollo), Christianized in use.

Eloquent Jewish preacher from Alexandria who became a Christian missionary (Acts 18:24-28; 1 Corinthians 1-3).

Latin "eagle."

Jewish-Christian tent-maker who taught Apollos and worked with Paul (Acts 18; Romans 16:3-5).

Hebrew "happy" or "blessed."

Eighth son of Jacob; the tribe of Asher (Genesis 30:13).

Greek "immortal" (athanatos).

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria; Doctor of the Church (c. 296-373).

Latin "venerable" or "great" (from augustus).

Saint Augustine of Hippo; Doctor of the Church (354-430).

Greek "foreign" or "barbarian" (the Greek word for non-Greek-speakers).

Saint Barbara; legendary virgin martyr (third or fourth century).

Aramaic "son of encouragement" or "son of consolation" (Acts 4:36).

Companion of Paul on the first missionary journey; sent to Antioch by the Jerusalem church (Acts 4:36; 11-15).

Aramaic "son of Tolmai" (a patronymic rather than a given name).

Apostle; traditionally identified with Nathanael of John 1:45-51.

Greek "kingly" or "royal" (basileus, "king").

Saint Basil the Great; fourth-century Cappadocian Father (c. 330-379).

Latin "blessed" (benedictus, from bene + dictus, "well-spoken").

Saint Benedict of Nursia; founder of Western monasticism (c. 480-547).

Hebrew "son of the right hand," sometimes interpreted as "son of the south."

Youngest son of Jacob; the tribe of Benjamin (Genesis 35:18).

Germanic "bear-strong" (bern + hard).

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux; Doctor of the Church (1090-1153).

Hebrew of contested etymology; traditionally interpreted as "in him is strength."

Husband of Ruth; great-grandfather of David (Ruth 2-4).

Latin "good fortune" (bona + ventura).

Saint Bonaventure; Franciscan Doctor of the Church (c. 1217-1274).

Hebrew "dog" (often interpreted positively as "faithful") or possibly "whole-hearted."

One of the twelve spies sent by Moses; the faithful spy alongside Joshua (Numbers 13-14).

Spanish "Carmel" (referring to Our Lady of Mount Carmel) or Latin "song" (carmen); the Christian use is principally Marian.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel; the Carmelite Marian devotion.

Greek of contested etymology; possibly from katharos, "pure," or from a pre-Christian Greek name later interpreted as meaning "pure."

Two principal saints: Catherine of Alexandria (legendary fourth-century martyr); Catherine of Siena (1347-1380, Dominican mystic and Doctor of the Church).

Latin "blind" (caeca), from the Roman family name Caecilius.

Roman virgin martyr; patron of music (third century, by tradition).

English "Christian love" or "selfless love" (from Latin caritas, the highest of the theological virtues in 1 Corinthians 13).

The theological virtue; also the legendary Saint Charity (with Faith and Hope) honored as the daughters of Saint Sophia.

Greek/Latin "follower of Christ"; the descriptor Christianos (Acts 11:26) made a given name in later centuries.

The word for any disciple of Jesus, used as a given name from medieval Europe forward.

Latin "follower of Christ" (feminine form of Christianus).

Multiple saints; Saint Christina of Bolsena (third or fourth century).

French form of Christina; the same Latin/Christian root.

Multiple saints (see Christina).

Greek "Christ-bearer" (Christos + phoros).

Saint Christopher; legendary third-century martyr; the giant who carried the Christ Child across a river.

Latin "clear," "bright," or "famous."

Saint Clare of Assisi; founder of the Poor Clares (1194-1253).

Spanish "Conception," referring to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Latin "constancy" or "steadfastness."

Multiple saints; the name reflects the Christian virtue.

Latin "constant" (Constantinus, Christianized through Emperor Constantine).

Saint Constantine the Great; first Christian Roman Emperor (c. 272-337).

Latin family name of contested etymology; possibly from cornu, "horn."

Roman centurion baptized by Peter; first Gentile convert (Acts 10).

Cyril: Greek "lordly" (from kyrios, "lord"); Methodius: Greek "method" or "with the path."

Saints Cyril (827-869) and Methodius (815-885); brothers; Apostles to the Slavs.

Greek "to tame" or possibly Christianized through Saint Damian.

Saint Damian (with Saint Cosmas); fourth-century martyr-physicians.

Hebrew "God is my judge."

Prophet of the Babylonian exile; book of Daniel.

Hebrew "beloved."

King of Israel; psalmist; ancestor of Jesus (1-2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1-2).

Hebrew "bee."

Judge and prophetess of Israel (Judges 4-5).

Greek "of Demeter" (the Greek goddess of the harvest), Christianized in usage.

Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki; early-fourth-century Roman soldier and martyr.

Spanish "sorrows," from Our Lady of Sorrows.

Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa); the Catholic Marian devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

Latin "belonging to the Lord" (Dominicus, from Dominus, "Lord").

Saint Dominic de Guzmán; founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) (1170-1221).

Greek "gazelle" (the Aramaic Tabitha and the Greek Dorcas both mean the same).

Disciple in Joppa raised from the dead by Peter (Acts 9:36-42).

Greek "gift of God" (doron + theos), the same elements as Theodore but in reverse order.

Saint Dorothy of Caesarea; legendary fourth-century virgin martyr.

Old English "wealthy guardian" (ead + weard).

Saint Edward the Confessor; King of England (c. 1003-1066).

Hebrew "ascent" or "my God."

Priest at Shiloh who raised Samuel (1 Samuel 1-4).

Hebrew "my God is YHWH."

Prophet of Israel; confronted the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 17-19; 2 Kings 1-2).

Hebrew "my God is salvation."

Successor to Elijah (2 Kings 2-13).

Hebrew "my God is my oath" or "consecrated to God."

Wife of Zechariah; mother of John the Baptist; kinswoman of Mary (Luke 1).

Hebrew "dedicated."

Patriarch who "walked with God" (Genesis 5:24).

Hebrew "hairy."

Twin brother of Jacob; sold his birthright (Genesis 25-27).

Hebrew (or possibly Persian) of contested etymology; traditionally interpreted as "star" (from Persian) or related to the goddess Ishtar.

Queen of Persia who saved her people from destruction (book of Esther).

Hebrew "living" or "life-giver."

First woman; mother of Cain, Abel, and Seth (Genesis 2-4).

Hebrew "God strengthens."

Major prophet of the Babylonian exile; book of Ezekiel.

Hebrew "help."

Priest and scribe who led the return to Jerusalem (book of Ezra).

English "faith" or "trust" (from Latin fides), the first of the theological virtues.

The theological virtue; also the legendary Saint Faith (with Hope and Charity) honored as the daughters of Saint Sophia.

Latin "fortunate" or "lucky."

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska; Polish nun who received the Divine Mercy revelations (1905-1938).

Latin "happiness" or "good fortune"; the Christian theological virtue.

Saint Felicity (with Perpetua); martyrs at Carthage (203 AD).

Latin "happy" or "blessed."

Multiple saints carry the name; the most prominent is Saint Felix of Nola (third-fourth century).

Latin "Frenchman" (Franciscus); given as a nickname to Saint Francis by his merchant father because of his French commercial ties.

Multiple major saints: Francis of Assisi; Francis Xavier; Pope Francis.

Latin/Gaulish of contested etymology; possibly Germanic roots meaning "tribe-woman."

Saint Genevieve; patroness of Paris (c. 422-500).

Greek "farmer" or "earth-worker" (georgos).

Saint George; Roman soldier and martyr (c. 280-303).

Germanic "spear of strength."

Saint Gertrude the Great; thirteenth-century mystic of Helfta (1256-1302).

Hebrew "feller" or "hewer."

Judge of Israel; defeated the Midianites with three hundred men (Judges 6-8).

English "grace" (from Latin gratia, the Christian theological term for God's unmerited favor).

The principal Christian theological concept; not a saint's name as such, but used in countless Christian families.

Greek "watchful" (from gregoreo).

Multiple major saints: Gregory the Theologian (Gregory of Nazianzus); Gregory of Nyssa; Gregory Palamas; Gregory the Great (Gregory I, Pope).

Spanish, the name of the Marian apparition site at Tepeyac in Mexico, 1531.

Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Hebrew "grace" or "favor."

Mother of Samuel; her prayer in 1 Samuel 2 is a model for the Magnificat (1 Samuel 1-2).

Greek of contested etymology; possibly "torch" or "shining one."

Saint Helena; mother of Constantine; traditional finder of the True Cross (c. 246-330).

Hebrew "the Lord strengthens."

Righteous king of Judah; reformed worship (2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32).

Latin "honor" or "esteem"; the Christian virtue of honoring God and others.

The Christian virtue; multiple saints (e.g., Saint Honoratus of Arles).

English "hope" (from Old English hopa, used to translate Latin spes, the Christian theological virtue).

The theological virtue; also the legendary Saint Hope (with Faith and Charity) honored as the daughters of Saint Sophia.

Hebrew "salvation."

Eighth-century prophet to the northern kingdom; book of Hosea.

Latin "fiery" (from ignis, "fire"); the early Christian Ignatius of Antioch took the name with this meaning.

Multiple major saints: Ignatius of Antioch (second-century bishop and martyr); Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuits).

Latin "innocent" or "harmless."

Multiple popes; thirteen popes have taken the name (Innocent I through Innocent XIII).

Greek "peace" (eirene).

Saint Irene of Thessaloniki; fourth-century martyr.

Hebrew "he laughs" (Sarah's laughter at the promise of a son, Genesis 18:12).

Son of Abraham and Sarah; the bound son of the Akedah (Genesis 22).

Hebrew "the Lord is salvation."

Major prophet of the eighth century BC; book of Isaiah.

Hebrew "supplanter" (from the heel-grabbing at birth, Genesis 25:26) or "may God protect."

Patriarch; renamed Israel after wrestling at the Jabbok (Genesis 32).

Hebrew "supplanter" (from Yaakov; see Jacob entry).

Apostle; son of Zebedee and brother of John the Apostle (Mark 1:19-20; Matthew 4:21-22).

Hebrew of contested etymology; traditionally interpreted as "the Lord exalts" or "the Lord throws."

Major prophet of the late seventh and early sixth centuries BC; book of Jeremiah.

Greek "holy name" (hieros + onyma).

Saint Jerome; translator of the Vulgate; Doctor of the Church (c. 347-420).

Hebrew "the Lord saves" (the same name as Joshua; Iesous in Greek).

Jesus Christ, the Lord; the Holy Name itself.

Hebrew "the Lord is gracious" (the feminine form of John, via French Jeanne).

Saint Joan of Arc; French national saint (1412-1431).

Hebrew "the Lord is gracious" (the feminine form of John).

Disciple who followed Jesus; witness of the resurrection (Luke 8:3; 24:10).

Hebrew "the Lord is God."

Minor prophet; book of Joel, quoted by Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21).

Hebrew "the Lord is gracious" (Yochanan); Chrysostom is a Greek epithet meaning "golden-mouthed."

Saint John Chrysostom; Archbishop of Constantinople; Doctor of the Church (c. 347-407).

Hebrew "the Lord is gracious" (Yochanan).

Apostle; Beloved Disciple; Evangelist; brother of James the Greater (Gospel of John; Revelation; 1-3 John).

Hebrew "the Lord is gracious" (Yochanan).

Forerunner of Christ; son of Zechariah and Elizabeth; baptized Jesus in the Jordan (Luke 1; Matthew 3; Mark 1; John 1).

Hebrew "dove."

Reluctant prophet sent to Nineveh; book of Jonah.

Hebrew "the Lord has given."

Son of King Saul; close friend of David (1 Samuel 18-20; 31).

Hebrew "may God add" (same name as the patriarch and the husband of Mary).

Disciple who buried Jesus; member of the Sanhedrin who did not consent to the condemnation (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:43-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42).

Hebrew "may God add" (same name as the patriarch Joseph).

Husband of Mary; foster father of Jesus (Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2).

Hebrew "may God add" or "he will add" (the name given to Rachel's firstborn, Genesis 30:24).

Eleventh son of Jacob; sold into Egypt; rose to second-in-command (Genesis 37-50).

Hebrew "the Lord saves."

Successor to Moses; led Israel into the Promised Land (book of Joshua).

English "joy" (the Christian theological term for the fruit of the Spirit; Galatians 5:22).

The Christian virtue and fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrew "praise."

Fourth son of Jacob; the tribe of Judah; ancestor of David and Jesus (Genesis 29:35; 49:8-12).

Hebrew "praise" (from Yehuda, the same name as the patriarch Judah).

Apostle (distinct from Judas Iscariot); author of the Letter of Jude.

Hebrew "God has helped" (a contracted form of Eleazar).

Brother of Martha and Mary of Bethany; raised from the dead by Jesus (John 11).

Hebrew of contested etymology; traditionally interpreted as "weary" or possibly "wild cow."

First wife of Jacob; mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah (Genesis 29-30).

Hebrew "joined" or "attached."

Third son of Jacob; the priestly tribe; also another name for Matthew the apostle (Mark 2:14).

French place name; the Marian apparition site in southern France, 1858.

Our Lady of Lourdes.

Greek "from Lucania" (a region of southern Italy), or possibly a shortened form of Latin Lucanus or Lucius.

Evangelist; physician; companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Gospel of Luke and Acts).

Greek "from Lydia" (a region of Asia Minor).

Seller of purple cloth; first European convert (Acts 16:14-15).

Greek "blessed" or "happy" (makarios; the same word used in the Beatitudes).

Multiple desert and monastic saints; principally Macarius the Great (c. 300-391).

Hebrew "my messenger."

Last of the twelve minor prophets; book of Malachi closes the Old Testament in the Christian canon.

Greek "pearl" (margaron).

Multiple major saints: Margaret of Scotland (eleventh-century queen); Margaret of Antioch (legendary virgin martyr); Margaret Mary Alacoque (Sacred Heart visionary).

Latin "of Mars" or "dedicated to Mars" (the Roman god), Christianized in usage.

Evangelist; companion of Peter and Paul; author of the second gospel (Acts 12:12; Colossians 4:10; 1 Peter 5:13).

Aramaic "lady" or "mistress."

Sister of Mary of Bethany and Lazarus; figure of active hospitality (Luke 10:38-42; John 11; John 12:1-3).

Hebrew of contested etymology, traditionally interpreted as "bitter," "beloved," or "rebellion."

The Theotokos; Mother of Jesus; Mother of God (Luke 1-2; Matthew 1-2; Acts 1; John 19).

Hebrew "Mary" plus "of Magdala" (a town on the Sea of Galilee).

Disciple from whom seven demons were cast (Luke 8:2); first witness of the resurrection (John 20:11-18).

Hebrew "gift of the Lord" (Mattithyahu).

Apostle and Evangelist; tax collector before his call (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14, where the same figure is called Levi).

Hebrew "gift of the Lord" (closely related to Matthew; from Mattityahu).

Replacement for Judas Iscariot among the Twelve (Acts 1:15-26).

Latin "greatest" (the superlative of magnus, expanded).

Saint Maximilian Kolbe; Polish Franciscan martyr of Auschwitz (1894-1941).

Spanish "mercies," referring to Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedes).

Our Lady of Mercy; the Mercedarian order founded in 1218 to ransom captives.

English "mercy" or "compassion" (from Latin misericordia).

The Christian virtue; a divine attribute named throughout scripture and Christian tradition.

Hebrew "who is like the Lord" (a shortened form of Michael).

Eighth-century BC prophet; book of Micah, including the prophecy of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

Hebrew of contested etymology; traditional interpretations include "bitter," "beloved," and "rebellion."

Sister of Moses and Aaron; led the women in song after the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20-21).

Latin of contested etymology; possibly from Greek monos, "alone," or possibly from a Berber root.

Saint Monica; mother of Augustine of Hippo (c. 331-387).

Hebrew of contested etymology, possibly with Egyptian roots; traditionally interpreted as "drawn out" (from the water).

Lawgiver; led Israel out of Egypt (Exodus through Deuteronomy).

Hebrew "pleasant" or "my delight."

Mother-in-law of Ruth; returned to Bethlehem from Moab (book of Ruth).

Hebrew "gift of God."

Apostle in the Gospel of John (John 1:45-51; 21:2); traditionally identified with Bartholomew.

Hebrew "the Lord comforts."

Cup-bearer to Artaxerxes who returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt its walls (book of Nehemiah).

Greek "victory of the people" (nike + laos).

Saint Nicholas of Myra; fourth-century bishop; the historical Saint Nicholas of Christmas tradition.

Hebrew "rest" or "comfort."

Patriarch through whom humanity was preserved through the Flood (Genesis 6-9).

Slavic from Old Norse "blessed" or "holy" (Helga).

Saint Olga of Kiev; tenth-century Russian princess, regent, and Christian convert.

Greek "useful" or "profitable."

Runaway slave whose return to Philemon Paul requested (Letter to Philemon).

English "patience" (from Latin patientia, the Christian virtue).

The Christian virtue.

Latin "nobleman" or "patrician" (from patricius).

Saint Patrick; fifth-century Apostle to Ireland (c. 387-461).

Latin "small" or "humble."

Apostle to the Gentiles; author of the principal epistles of the New Testament.

Greek "rock" (Petros; translating Aramaic Cephas).

Chief of the apostles; brother of Andrew; first bishop of Rome in Catholic tradition (Matthew 16:18; John 21:15-17).

Greek "lover of horses" (philos + hippos).

Apostle (John 1:43-46; 6:5-7; 14:8-9); also a deacon and evangelist in Acts 6-8.

Greek "bright" or "radiant."

Deaconess of the church at Cenchreae who brought the letter to the Romans (Romans 16:1-2).

Greek "of light" (from phos, "light").

Saint Photius the Great; Patriarch of Constantinople (c. 810-893).

Spanish "pillar," from Our Lady of the Pillar (Virgen del Pilar).

Our Lady of the Pillar; Marian devotion at Zaragoza, Spain.

Latin "ancient" or "venerable" (the diminutive of Prisca).

Jewish-Christian teacher with her husband Aquila; instructed Apollos (Acts 18:26).

English "prudence" (from Latin prudentia, one of the four cardinal virtues).

One of the four cardinal virtues (with justice, fortitude, and temperance) in Catholic moral tradition.

Hebrew "ewe."

Second wife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and Benjamin; died in childbirth (Genesis 29-35).

Hebrew of contested etymology; traditional interpretations include "to bind" or possibly "captivating."

Wife of Isaac; mother of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 24-27).

Hebrew "behold, a son" (Leah's exclamation at his birth, Genesis 29:32).

Firstborn son of Jacob; the tribe of Reuben (Genesis 29-30).

Latin shortened form of Margherita (Greek "pearl").

Saint Rita of Cascia; Augustinian widow and nun (1381-1457).

Spanish "rosary," referring to the Holy Rosary devotion.

The Holy Rosary; Our Lady of the Rosary.

Latin "rose" (the flower).

Saint Rose of Lima; first saint of the New World (1586-1617).

Hebrew of contested etymology; traditionally interpreted as "friend" or "companion."

Moabite ancestor of David and Jesus; book of Ruth.

Hebrew "peace" (from shalom).

Witness of the crucifixion and resurrection (Mark 15:40; 16:1).

Spanish/Latin "Savior" (a title of Christ used as a given name).

Used as a title of Christ; given as a name in Hispanic Catholic families.

Hebrew "sun" or "of the sun."

Judge of Israel; consecrated as a Nazirite from birth (Judges 13-16).

Hebrew of contested etymology; traditional interpretation "heard by God" or "name of God."

Prophet; last judge of Israel; anointed Saul and David (1 Samuel 1-25).

Hebrew "princess."

Wife of Abraham; mother of Isaac (Genesis 11-23).

Hebrew "asked for" or "prayed for."

First king of Israel (1 Samuel 9-31); also the original name of the apostle Paul (Acts 7:58; 9:1).

Greek "venerable" or "from Sebaste" (a city in Asia Minor).

Saint Sebastian; Roman soldier and martyr (third century).

Hebrew "burning ones" (the order of angels in Isaiah 6:2).

Saint Seraphim of Sarov; Russian Orthodox monastic and mystic (1754-1833).

Latin family name of contested etymology; possibly from Etruscan roots.

Saint Sergius of Radonezh; fourteenth-century Russian monastic and founder of the Trinity Lavra (1314-1392).

Hebrew "appointed" or "placed."

Third son of Adam and Eve, born after Abel's death (Genesis 4:25-26).

Latin "of the forest" (from silva, "forest") or possibly an Aramaic origin meaning "the third."

Companion of Paul on the second missionary journey (Acts 15-18; 1 Peter 5:12).

Hebrew "heard" (from Leah's exclamation that the Lord had heard, Genesis 29:33).

Second son of Jacob and Leah; the tribe of Simeon.

Hebrew "heard."

The righteous man at the Temple who held the infant Jesus (Luke 2:25-35).

Spanish "solitude," from Our Lady of Solitude (the Mary of Holy Saturday, alone after Christ's death).

Our Lady of Solitude; the Marian devotion to Mary's solitude on Holy Saturday.

Hebrew "peace" (from shalom).

Third king of Israel; son of David and Bathsheba; builder of the temple (1 Kings 1-11).

Latin "star," from the Marian title Stella Maris ("Star of the Sea").

The Marian title Stella Maris; the Marian devotion as protector of sailors.

Greek "crown" (stephanos).

First Christian martyr; one of the seven deacons (Acts 6-7).

Hebrew "lily" (from shoshannah).

Disciple of Jesus (Luke 8:3); also the figure of the deuterocanonical Susanna of Daniel 13.

Greek of contested etymology; possibly "harvester" or possibly "summer."

Multiple major saints: Teresa of Avila (Spanish mystic and Doctor of the Church); Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa).

Greek "gift of God" (feminine form of Theodore).

Multiple Byzantine and Orthodox saints; principally Empress Theodora (sixth century) and the Empress Theodora who restored icons (ninth century).

Greek "gift of God" (theos + doron); etymologically related to Dorothy through the same Greek roots.

Multiple saints; principally Theodore the Studite (eighth-ninth century) in Orthodox tradition; multiple medieval Theodore saints in Catholic tradition.

Greek (same as Teresa).

Saint Therese of Lisieux; Doctor of the Church (1873-1897).

Aramaic "twin" (toma); the Greek New Testament also gives the Greek translation Didymos, "twin."

Apostle ("doubting Thomas"); also Thomas Aquinas, Thomas More, and other major saints.

Greek "honoring God" (feminine of Timothy).

The feminine form of Timothy; rarely used historically but in some modern Christian use.

Greek "honoring God" (timao + theos).

Companion of Paul; recipient of 1 and 2 Timothy; first bishop of Ephesus by tradition.

Latin of contested etymology; possibly "honored" or possibly from Etruscan roots.

Companion of Paul; recipient of the Letter to Titus; first bishop of Crete by tradition.

Hebrew "the Lord is good."

Son of Tobit in the deuterocanonical book of Tobit; traveled with the archangel Raphael.

Latin "truth" (veritas).

The Christian virtue of truth; the divine attribute.

Latin "conquering" (from vincens).

Saint Vincent de Paul; founder of the Vincentians (1581-1660).

Slavic "ruler of peace" or possibly "great in his power."

Saint Vladimir of Kiev; tenth-century Grand Prince of Kievan Rus (c. 958-1015).

Greek "hospitality" or "stranger" (xenos).

Saint Xenia of Saint Petersburg; eighteenth-century fool for Christ (c. 1719-1803).

Hebrew "the Lord remembers."

Father of John the Baptist; priest of the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5-25, 57-79).

Hebrew "the Lord remembers."

One of the twelve minor prophets; book of Zechariah.