My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

What name do you give your child? That is the question that the priest or deacon asks the parents at the beginning of the liturgy for the baptism of children. 

That question seems simple enough. In fact, by the time the baptism takes place, the parents usually have already named the child and have had that name inscribed on the child’s birth certificate. So it is good for Catholic parents to consider the Christian perspective on naming a child before the child is born. It is not simply a question of naming the child after a relative or even some public figure, but of choosing a name that will inspire the child to lead a Christian life. 

Since a name gives a person a distinct identity by which he or she will be known throughout life, Christian tradition has long placed a high value on being named in a way that is consistent with one’s identity as a Christian. 

The 1917 Code of Canon Law had a very strict requirement as stated in Canon 761: “Pastors should take care that a Christian name is given to those whom they baptize; but if they are not able to bring this about, they will add to the name given by the parents the name of some Saint and record both names in the book of baptisms.” A “Christian name” would ordinarily be the name of a saint, but could also be the name of a virtue such as Faith, Hope, or Charity.

When the new Code of Canon Law was promulgated in 1983, the provision regarding the name to be given at baptism now states in canon 855, “Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given.” Thus, a Christian name in the sense of a saint’s name or the name of a virtue is not strictly required, but only one that is not alien or offensive to Christian sensibilities. 

What does it mean for a name to be “foreign to Christian sensibility”? There is no simple answer to that question, but there are some key factors that should be considered, such as whether the name is associated with a non-Christian religion or with a public figure such as a Hollywood entertainer or rock star known for sexually provocative performances. Other names may not be so obviously offensive, but still call into question whether they are “foreign to Christian sensibility” if they are obviously secular with no apparent connection to Christianity.

Recently I conferred the sacrament of confirmation on a group of 30 candidates, only five of whom had a baptismal name recognizable as a biblical name or the name of a saint or virtue. At least they all chose confirmation names that were saints’ names, but this consideration should also be given when choosing a baptismal name.

Even though not strictly required, Catholic parents should highly value the longstanding tradition and practice of naming children after a Christian saint or virtue. Since canon law also explicitly mentions the responsibility of pastors in this regard, pastors of souls should discuss the choice of name with parents during the baptismal preparation sessions prior to the birth of the child and the celebration of baptism. 

Names of saints and information about their lives are easy to find online at websites such as saintoftheday.org, catholic.org/saints/, mycatholic.life/saints/, and ewtn.com/catholicism/saints. 

After the parents answer the question about what name they give to their child, the celebrant then asks them, “What do you ask of God’s Church for (name of child)?” The prescribed answer is one word: “Baptism.” The celebrant then says to the parents, “In asking for baptism for your children, you are undertaking the responsibility of raising them in the faith, so that, keeping God’s commandments, they may love the Lord and their neighbor as Christ has taught us. Do you understand this responsibility?”

Indeed, raising children in the Catholic faith is a profound responsibility, one which is greatly assisted by the intercession of the saints and angels. As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints on Nov. 1, it would be good to pray for the spiritual assistance of the saints to intercede for us so that we may successfully reach the destination of our spiritual journey, namely, eternal life in God’s kingdom.

May God give us this grace. Amen.