Name Day on September 5, 2026: Who Celebrates Their Name Day and the Meanings of Names
On August 5, Ivan, Yukhim, Daryna, Khrystyna, Andriy, Vitaliy, Trofim, Fedir, and others may celebrate their name day. Among the rare names for this day are Apollinaris, Theophilus, Theoktist, Eusignius, Pontius, Amphir, Favius, and Nonna.
On August 5, people with male and female names associated with the saints commemorated on this day celebrate their name days. Among the most well-known names in the name day calendars are Ivan, Yukhim, Daryna, Khrystyna, Andriy, Vitaliy, Trofim, and Fedir.
The church calendar also includes rare names—Apollinarius, Theophilus, Theoktistus, Eusignius, Pontius, Anfir, Favius, and Nonna.
Male Names for August 5
Ivan—an ancient Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious” or “God has shown mercy.”
Yukhim—derived from the Greek name Euphemius. Meaning: “kind,” “eloquent,” “one who speaks well.”
Andriy — an ancient Greek name meaning “manly” or “brave.”
Vitaliy — derived from the Latin “Vitalis” and means “vital,” “full of life.”
Trokhym — an ancient Greek name associated with the meanings “provider” and “one who raises.”
Fedir is the Ukrainian form of the Greek name Theodor. It means “gift of God.”
Theophilus — an ancient Greek name meaning “one who loves God” or “beloved by God.”
Apollinaris is an ancient Greek name associated with Apollo. It is traditionally interpreted as “dedicated to Apollo.”
Theoktist is a Greek name that can be translated as “created by God” or “God’s creation.”
Eusignius is an ancient Greek name associated with the meaning “good sign” or “auspicious.”
Pontius is an ancient Roman name associated with the family name Pontius.
Anfir is a rare name of Greek origin. It is associated with the meanings “blooming” and “flower.”
Favius is an ancient Roman name derived from the family name Fabius.
In old calendars, August 5 also features the name Mykhailo and other names associated with the commemoration of saints according to the old calendar.
Mykhailo is an ancient Hebrew name meaning “Who is like God?”
Girls’ Names for August 5
Daryna — this name has several theories regarding its origin. It is associated with the Persian name Darius and means “ruler” or “she who possesses goodness.”
Christina — derived from the Greek word Christianos, meaning “Christian woman” or “follower of Christ.”
Nonna — an ancient name whose origin has not been definitively established. Among the possible meanings is “ninth”; it is also associated with the Latin name Nonna.
Eudokia — a Greek name meaning “good will” or “favor.”
Stella—a Latin name meaning “star.”
Popular name-day calendars for August 5 most often list Daryna, Khrystyna, and Maria, but Nonna is also included in the church listings for this day.
Maria is an ancient Hebrew name with several possible interpretations. Among them are “beloved,” “lady,” and “bitter.”
Church names for this day
On August 5, the church calendar commemorates the martyrs Trofim, Theophilus, and 13 other martyrs who suffered for the Christian faith during persecutions. Also on this day, the holy martyr Apollinaris, Bishop of Ravenna, is honored.
The righteous warrior Theodore Ushakov holds a special place in the calendar, as his commemoration also falls on this date. His name—Theodore—is the Greek form of the name Fedir and means “gift of God.”
For the Ukrainian church tradition, August 5 is also an important day as the eve of the Transfiguration of the Lord. On this day, the OCU holds a divine service on the eve of the great feast, which is celebrated on August 6 according to the new calendar.
Which Names Are the Rarest
Among the names associated with August 5, those that are rarely used in everyday life today stand out in particular. Apollinaris, Theoktist, Eusignius, Amphir, Favius, and Pontius sound unusual to modern Ukrainian ears, but they all have a long history and are connected to Christian tradition.
Nonna is also an uncommon female name. It is known thanks to Saint Nonna, the mother of Saint Gregory the Theologian.
Trokhym is much less common today than Ivan or Andriy, although this ancient name is of Greek origin and is associated with the concepts of upbringing and care.
Theophilus also remains rare, although its meaning—“one who loves God”—is directly linked to the Christian tradition.
How to Congratulate Someone on Their Name Day
On Name Day, you can wish the person celebrating good health, strength, peace, and the company of good people. Your greeting can be simple and heartfelt: “Happy Name Day! May your heavenly patron always protect you, help you overcome difficulties, and guide you toward positive changes.”
On August 5, you can congratulate Ivan, Yukhim, Daryna, Khrystyna, Andriy, Vitaliy, Trokhym, Fedir, Feofil, Apollinaris, Feoktist, Yevsigniy, Pontius, Amphir, Favius, and Nonna—depending on which calendar is used to determine their name day.
