Christian names beginning with F

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

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

Faith is the English name for the first of the theological virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). The name has been in continuous use in English-speaking Protestant families since the Puritan period. The legendary saints Faith, Hope, and Charity (daughters of Saint Sophia / Wisdom) are honored in Orthodox tradition on September 17.

Meaning: Latin "fortunate" or "lucky."

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

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska is the Polish nun whose Diary of revelations from Christ became the foundation of the modern Catholic Divine Mercy devotion. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, she is the saint after whom Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) is now widely observed. The Catholic calendar commemorates her on October 5.

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

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

Saints Perpetua and Felicity are the early-third-century martyrs of Carthage, killed in the arena under Septimius Severus in 203. The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity is one of the earliest Christian texts written by a woman. The Catholic calendar commemorates them together on March 7.

Meaning: Latin "happy" or "blessed."

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

The name Felix (Latin "happy" or "blessed") has been carried by multiple saints across the centuries. The name has been in continuous Christian use, particularly in Spanish-, Italian-, and German-speaking Catholic families.

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

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

Multiple major saints carry the name Francis. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), founder of the Franciscan order, is one of the most-loved saints in all Christian tradition; the Catholic and Anglican calendars commemorate him on October 4. Francis Xavier (1506-1552), Jesuit missionary to Asia, is honored on December 3. Pope Francis (elected 2013) took his papal name in honor of Francis of Assisi, the first pope to do so.