Name Day on September 9, 2026: Who Celebrates Their Name Day and the Meanings of Names
On September 9, 2026, Oleksandr, Volodymyr, Dmytro, Ivan, Mykhailo, Stepan, Sava, Anfisa, and others may celebrate their name day. Here’s a guide on who to congratulate on September 9, which male and female names fall on this date, and what they mean.
Alexander
The name has ancient Greek origins. It means “defender of the people” or “one who defends.”
Vladimir
A Slavic name traditionally associated with the words “power” and “great.” One interpretation is “great ruler.”
Dmytro
Derived from Ancient Greek. The name means “dedicated to Demeter,” the goddess of the earth and fertility.
Ivan
The name has ancient Hebrew origins. Its most common meaning is “God is gracious” or “God has shown mercy.”
Mykhailo
Derived from the Ancient Hebrew name Michael. The traditional meaning is “Who is like God?”
Stepan
Derived from the ancient Greek word “stephanos.” It means “wreath,” “crown,” or “diadem.”
Sava
The name has ancient Aramaic origins. It is translated as “elder” or “sage.”
Pimen
A rare male name of Greek origin. It means “shepherd” or “herdsman.” The name is associated with the image of a spiritual mentor.
Methodius
The name comes from Ancient Greek. It is associated with the word “methodos”—“path,” “method,” or “study.”
Nikon
An Ancient Greek name meaning “victor” or “one who conquers.”
Hoshea
A name of ancient Hebrew origin. Its meaning is associated with the words “salvation” and “help.” These names also appear in name day calendars for September 9, particularly in older and more comprehensive lists.
Girls’ Names for September 9
Anfisa
This is the main female name traditionally associated with September 9. It derives from the ancient Greek word “amphos,” meaning “flower.” Therefore, the name can be interpreted as “blooming” or “flower-like.”
Anna
Some modern calendars also list Anna for September 9. The name has ancient Hebrew origins and means “mercy,” “grace,” or “kindness.”
Margarita
In some name day calendars, Margarita is also listed for September 9. The name comes from the ancient Greek word “margarites,” meaning “pearl.”
Who to Congratulate on Their Name Day on September 9
If you have loved ones named Alexander, Vladimir, Dmitry, Ivan, Mikhail, Stepan, Sava, Pimen, Methodius, Nikon, Osia, Anfisa, Anna, or Margarita, you can congratulate them on their Name Day on September 9.
The most common lists of name days for September 9, 2026, include Vasyl, Hryhoriy, Dmytro, Zakhar, Yosyp, Mykyta, Oleksandr, Oleksiy, Opanas, Serhiy, and Fedir, while older calendars provide a different list—specifically Alexander, Vladimir, Dmitry, Ivan, Michael, Sava, Stepan, and Anfisa.
So, September 9 offers quite a few options for birthday greetings. It’s particularly interesting that alongside familiar names like Oleksandr, Ivan, or Dmytro, the calendars also include rare names such as Anfisa, Pimen, Sava, Nikon, and Osia.
A Brief Look at the Meanings of Names
Boys:
- Alexander — “defender of the people.”
- Volodymyr — “great ruler.”
- Dmitry — “dedicated to Demeter.”
- Ivan — “God is gracious.”
- Mykhailo — “Who is like God?”
- Stepan — “crown,” “diadem.”
- Sava — “elder,” “sage.”
- Pimen — “shepherd.”
- Methodius — “path,” “way.”
- Nikon — “victor.”
- Osia — “salvation,” “help.”
Girls:
- Anfisa — “flower,” “blooming.”
- Anna — “mercy,” “grace.”
- Margarita — “pearl.”
September 9 is also associated with the commemoration of St. Pimen the Great and other saints, which is why the names Pimen, Sava, and Anfisa are frequently found in calendars compiled according to the old tradition.