Name Day on September 28, 2026: Who Celebrates Their Name Day and the Meanings of Names
On September 28, several dozen men and women with various names celebrate their name days. Among them are Vyacheslav, Valentin, Georgy, Ivan, Maria, Anna, Tatyana, and others. On this day, the Venerable Chariton the Confessor and the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra are also honored.
A name day is an opportunity to remember one’s heavenly patron and simply show a loved one a little attention. On September 28, people with both common and rarer names celebrate their name days.
Calendars list several different sets of names for this day. Among the male names are Vyacheslav, Valentin, Georgy, Ivan, Kirill, Makar, Mark, Nestor, Alexander, Ostap, Fyodor, as well as Andriy, Valery, Gerasim, Grigory, Dmitry, Ignatius, Joseph, Leonid, Maxim, Nikita, Nicholas, Peter, Stepan, and Jacob. Among the female names are Anna, Mary, Tatiana, Ulyana, Juliana, Eudokia, and Lyudmila.
Female Names
Hanna—a name of ancient Jewish origin, meaning “mercy” or “grace.”
Eudokia — comes from Ancient Greek and means “good reputation” or “favor.”
Lyudmila is a Slavic name that translates as “beloved by people” or “the one whom people love.”
Maria is an ancient Hebrew name. Its meaning is interpreted in various ways, including “beloved,” “desired,” or “lady.”
Tetyana—a name of ancient Greek origin associated with the meaning “organizer,” “she who sets the rules.”
Ulyana is a form of the name Julian, derived from the Latin family name Julius. It is often interpreted as “of Julius” or “belonging to the Julian family.”
Juliana is the feminine form of the name Julian, of Latin origin; it is associated with the family name Julius.
Male Names
Andriy — an ancient Greek name meaning “manly,” “brave.”
Valentin — of Latin origin, meaning “healthy” and “strong.”
Valery — derived from the Latin name Valerius, which is associated with the meanings “to be strong” and “healthy.”
Vyacheslav — an Old Slavic name meaning “great glory” or “the most glorious.”
Gerasim is an Ancient Greek name, which translates as “dignified” or “respected.”
Georgy — comes from Ancient Greek and means “farmer.”
Grigory is an ancient Greek name meaning “vigilant” or “one who does not sleep.”
Dmytro — a name of ancient Greek origin associated with the goddess Demeter; traditionally interpreted as “dedicated to Demeter.”
Ivan — an ancient Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious” or “God’s grace.”
Ignatius — derived from the Latin Ignatius. It is traditionally associated with the meaning “fiery.”
Joseph is an ancient Hebrew name meaning “God will add” or “God will multiply.”
Cyril is an ancient Greek name meaning “lord” or “master.”
Leonid — a Greek name associated with the meaning “lion-like” or “lion’s.”
Makar is an ancient Greek name meaning “blessed” or “happy.”
Maxim is of Latin origin and means “the greatest.”
Mark is a name of Latin origin. One of the traditional interpretations is “hammer”; it is also associated with the Roman family name Marcus.
Nikita is an Ancient Greek name meaning “victor.”
Mykola is a Greek name that translates as “victor of the peoples.”
Nestor is an Ancient Greek name. It is associated with the meanings “he who returns” and “traveler.”
Oleksandr is a Greek name meaning “defender of the people.”
Ostap is the Ukrainian form of the name Eustathius, which is of Greek origin. It is interpreted as “steadfast” or “enduring.”
Petro is an ancient Greek name meaning “stone” or “rock.”
Stepan is a Greek name meaning “wreath” or “crowned.”
Fedir is a name of Greek origin meaning “God’s gift” or “given by God.”
Yakov is an ancient Hebrew name. Its traditional meaning is associated with the phrase “he who holds onto the heel”; in a biblical context, this name has a distinct origin story.
What church holiday is celebrated on September 28?
According to the calendar of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, September 28 is the day of remembrance of the Venerable Chariton the Confessor, who lived around the 4th century. On this day, the Church also honors the Synod of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, who are buried in the Near Caves.
Chariton lived during a time of persecution of Christians. According to church tradition, he suffered for his faith but survived and continued to serve God. Later, the saint settled in a desert region, where he founded a monastic community and devoted his life to prayer and spiritual work. According to the church calendar, he is called a Confessor—that is, a person who openly professed the Christian faith and suffered for it, but was not killed for his faith. On this same day, many ascetics of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra are commemorated. Among them are the monastery’s founder, Anthony of the Caves; Prochorus; John; Juliana of Olshany; Basil and Theodore; Polycarp; Barlaam; Nikon; Damian; Agapitus; and other venerable figures.
How to Celebrate a Name Day
For believers, a name day is, above all, a spiritual day. If possible, one can visit a church, pray, and honor the saint whose name the person bears. This day can also be spent in a peaceful atmosphere with family or loved ones.
At the same time, a name day doesn’t have to involve a big feast. The most important thing is to show attention to the person celebrating. A kind word, a small gift, a card, or even just a phone call can be a pleasant gesture of consideration.
How to Congratulate Someone on Their Name Day
You can wish the person celebrating their name day good health, peace, love, prosperity, and strength. It’s also appropriate to wish that their heavenly patron will protect them and help them through difficult times.
A greeting can be simple and sincere: “Happy Name Day! May your heavenly patron always watch over you, give you strength, and help you find the right path. I wish you health, peace, love, and many bright moments in life.” And for a loved one, you can keep it even simpler: “Happy Name Day! I wish you warmth, joy, good health, and people by your side whom you can always rely on.”
