Religious Name
Encyclopedia
A religious name is a type of given name
bestowed for a religious purpose, and which is generally used in religious contexts. Different types of religious names may be in use among the clergy
of a religion, as well in some cases among the laity
.
In some religious orders, a new member will often take a religious name after joining the order. This is often practiced in the Order of Saint Benedict
. Korean and Japanese Catholics have a long-cherished tradition of adopting a Western name as a "Baptismal name" in addition to their actual given name.
In some countries, it is common for members of the laity
to adopt a confirmation name, in addition to their baptismal name. A newly elected Pope
also takes on a new name, called his regnal name
.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church
converts often take a new name at the time of their reception into the church, either by baptism
or chrismation
. A person's religious name is always the name of a saint
, who then becomes that person's patron saint
. When deciding on a name for their child, Orthodox parents will often name the child after a saint
whose feast day falls on either the day of the child's birth or the day of its baptism. Traditionally, Orthodox Christians celebrate their "name day
" (i.e., the feast day of their patron saint), rather than their birthday. Orthodox monk
s and nun
s are often given a new monastic name at the time of their tonsure
(i.e., when they take their monastic vows). A monastic name is usually the name of a prophet
or a monastic saint. Sometimes, the monastic name will begin with the same initial as the individual's baptismal name.
Jews
who have non-Jewish legal names often have a patronymic
Hebrew name
which is used for religious purposes.
Members of ISKCON are given a "spiritual name" by their guru upon initiation. This name ends in "Dasa" for men and "Dasi" for women (meaning "servant"), and generally begins with the same letter as the devotee's given name.
Many Buddhist
sects also practice this, with newly ordained sangha
often given new names by their master. Lay Buddhists are also given Dharma name
s during their refuge ceremony
.
It is usual for a Discordian episkopos to adopt a faux-mystical and bizarre name for the duration of the episkoposity; such names are not immutable and are frequently adapted over time.
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
bestowed for a religious purpose, and which is generally used in religious contexts. Different types of religious names may be in use among the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
of a religion, as well in some cases among the laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
.
In some religious orders, a new member will often take a religious name after joining the order. This is often practiced in the Order of Saint Benedict
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
. Korean and Japanese Catholics have a long-cherished tradition of adopting a Western name as a "Baptismal name" in addition to their actual given name.
In some countries, it is common for members of the laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
to adopt a confirmation name, in addition to their baptismal name. A newly elected Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
also takes on a new name, called his regnal name
Regnal name
A regnal name, or reign name, is a formal name used by some monarchs and popes during their reigns. Since medieval times, monarchs have frequently chosen to use a name different from their own personal name when they inherit a throne....
.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
converts often take a new name at the time of their reception into the church, either by baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
or chrismation
Chrismation
Chrismation is the name given in Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, as well as in the Assyrian Church of the East, Anglican, and in Lutheran initiation rites, to the Sacrament or Sacred Mystery more commonly known in the West as confirmation, although Italian...
. A person's religious name is always the name of a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
, who then becomes that person's patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
. When deciding on a name for their child, Orthodox parents will often name the child after a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
whose feast day falls on either the day of the child's birth or the day of its baptism. Traditionally, Orthodox Christians celebrate their "name day
Name day
A name day is a tradition in many countries in Europe and Latin America that consists of celebrating the day of the year associated with one's given name....
" (i.e., the feast day of their patron saint), rather than their birthday. Orthodox monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s and nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s are often given a new monastic name at the time of their tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
(i.e., when they take their monastic vows). A monastic name is usually the name of a prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
or a monastic saint. Sometimes, the monastic name will begin with the same initial as the individual's baptismal name.
Jews
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
who have non-Jewish legal names often have a patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
Hebrew name
Hebrew name
Hebrew names are names that have a Hebrew language origin, classically from the Hebrew Bible. They are mostly used by people living in Jewish or Christian parts of the world, but some are also adapted to the Islamic world, particularly if a Hebrew name is mentioned in the Qur'an. When...
which is used for religious purposes.
Members of ISKCON are given a "spiritual name" by their guru upon initiation. This name ends in "Dasa" for men and "Dasi" for women (meaning "servant"), and generally begins with the same letter as the devotee's given name.
Many Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
sects also practice this, with newly ordained sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
often given new names by their master. Lay Buddhists are also given Dharma name
Dharma name
A Dharma name is a new name acquired during a Buddhist initiation ritual in Mahayana Buddhism and monk ordination in Theravada Buddhism. The name is traditionally given by a Buddhist monastic, but is also given to newly ordained monks, nuns and laity....
s during their refuge ceremony
Refuge (Buddhism)
Buddhists "take refuge" in, or to "go for refuge" to, the Three Jewels . This can be done formally in lay and monastic ordination ceremonies.The Three Jewels general signification is: * the Buddha;* the Dharma, the teachings;...
.
It is usual for a Discordian episkopos to adopt a faux-mystical and bizarre name for the duration of the episkoposity; such names are not immutable and are frequently adapted over time.
See also
- Name change on religious conversion
External links
- Name change on religious conversion, UK Deed PollDeed pollA deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...