Hello! I have one more question regarding confirmation names. I know that a person to be confirmed chooses the name of a saint. However, does that person replace their existing/birth name with that saint's name for the rest of their life? Thank you.

-- Jessica (jess498@yahoo.com), January 14, 2004

Answers

No, it is never used again.

-- Hugh (hugh@inspired.com), January 15, 2004.

Hugh, what’s in a name you say? I don’t quite agree with you that the Confirmation name is never used again. While I acknowledge that one does not even have to select a Confirmation name at Confirmation, if selected carefully, the Confirmation name can serve a purpose in a person’s daily life. It can inspire the individual, albeit to a small degree, to becoming a better Christian and thus, advances him in holiness - the sole purpose to human life. A properly chosen Confirmation name can be one of many tools used to assist a Christian in attaining this lofty goal by frequently reminding the individual of the virtues that his namesake saint exemplified.

In Scripture we are told that God calls each of us by name. Names identity people in unique ways. Why pick a name if its never, ever, going to be used again? A Confirmation name marks a new beginning in a Christian’s life as well as serves as a reaffirmation of the promises made at Baptism. Jesus changed the names of those whom He loved for these same reasons. To Him, a new name served as a fresh reminder, not only to the individual but also to everyone else, that this individual had a new purpose in life, a new mission that transcended the concerns of this life, that he was now working for Jesus. Although the ceremonial gesture of renaming (adding a name) at Confirmation is not as important today as renaming someone was in Jesus’ time it still, nonetheless, can have an ongoing positive affect in a person’s life.

As Catholics, we know that saints can be powerful intercessors. At confirmation we should pick the name of a saint who will inspire us to becoming a better Christian. In essence, you are calling on that saint to assist you with your purpose in life. Although some do not choose an additional name at Confirmation this should not be interpreted that the individual has not placed any importance in selecting an additional name at Confirmation. In not choosing a new name, it could be the individual is reaffirming the name given to him at Baptism and thus, not selecting a name, is very meaningful.

Here is a great site for those who are considering names at Confirmation: http://wordbytes.org/saints/names.htm

In closing, to show just how powerful the intercession of the saints can be, I’d like to steal some humour from the site listed above:

“An overweight man struggling to mount his horse, prayed, “All you saints of heaven, help me!” Then he leaped up on the horse, propelling himself over the saddle and tumbling off on the opposite side. “All right,” he said, “only half of you help me this time!”

-- Ed (catholic4444@yahoo.ca), January 15, 2004.

I use my confirmation name in this forum. Regina means "Queen." I picked it then - and use it now - to honor Our Lady.

Has anyone here ever read "Growing Up Catholic"? It was written by a few folks who grew up in the Church (pre-Vatican II) and it takes an innocently humorous look at being Catholic in those days. Here's a piece from it about Confirmation and picking a name. Enjoy!

---- If the Name Fits

Confirmation is justifiably the favorite sacrament of many Catholics, entirely because they are allowed to select a new, additional name. If neither your first nor your middle name pleases you, this is your chance to start anew, so don't get bogged down by tradition.

Your Confirmation name must be a saint's name, so pull out Lives of The Saints and let your imagination soar! A wisely chosen Confirmation name gives you opportunities galore. Owning four initials can only help you secure invitiations the right dinner parities. In her caviar-and-vodka days, for example, Susan A. Miller takes to signing her name S. Anastasia Miller. With his highbrow Confirmation name, David Thomas Sebastian Rhodes sounds more like a shipping magnate than a just-confirmed paper boy.

A well-meaning adult may encourage you to take the name of your grandfather or favorite nun. DON'T BE TEMPTED! This is your once-in-a- lifetime chance to choose a new name without undergoing complicated legal proceedings, so don't blow it. Grandpa Herman and Sister Mathilda will understand.

Try on names the way you do hats. And, as with hats, try to determine if your Confirmation name will be fashionable, or at least wearable, in twenty years. Personal qualities often point to that perfect Confirmation name. Here are a few character traits and names that suit them:

Flamboyant: Yves, Veronica, Ingrid, Zita, Bibiana, Salome

Traditional: Joseph, Mary, John, Elizabeth

Brave: Daniel, Joan

Whimsical: Felicity, Elmo, Sylvester, Felix

Doubtful: Thomas

Serious: Scholastica, Ethelbert, Pythias, Bonaventure

Cool: Fabian

If you have gotten the calling, names like Chastity, Pius, Perpetua and Boniface are fine. Otherwise, make another selection. ----

-- Regina (Regina712REMOVE@lycos.com), January 15, 2004.

Regina, I have that book too -- love it!

My confirmation name is "Francesca," for St. Francis of Assisi. But I almost never use it, except when praying to St. Francis as my patron, or when someone says, "Hey, what's your confirmation name?"

-- AVC (littleflower1976@yahoo.com), January 15, 2004.

Hi, AVC.

I had all three parts of "Growing Up Catholic." There's some truly funny stuff in them.

Francesca is a beautiful name!

-- Regina (Regina712REMOVE@lycos.com), January 15, 2004.

Hugh, what’s in a name you say?

eh? when did I say that?

-- Hugh (hugh@inspired.com), January 16, 2004.

Hugh, I guess you've never heard of "literary license"! (LOL!)

-- Ed (catholic4444@yahoo.ca), January 16, 2004.

i need to do a confirmation packet, and i need to find information on my confirmation name (giovanna) like i need to find info on the saint Giovanna and i dont know where i can find this information can you help me?

-- jess (n1puppies@yahoo.com), January 18, 2004.

Jess

I found about 20 St. Giovanna's here. Find the right one and there is a link to a bio for each one.

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintg.htm

Dano

-- Dan Garon (boethius61@yahoo.com), January 19, 2004.

I'm in CC now but I think I am going to choose Bakhita. I didn't know about this name thing! It's wonderful. I am becoming a Maronite Catholic and sometimes information gets lost in translation I guess.

-- Robyn Cain (adaire@aros.net), January 20, 2004.

No it dosen't, you still keep you real name. You're confirmation name is like you're middle name.

-- Kay Lewczuk (lionbabbas@msn.com), January 22, 2004.

I will be confirmed in April and will be using St Pantaleon.

I looked at many different saints and their biographies. I have many of the non-miraculous events in my life in common with him. I am very pleased with the richness of the Catholic faith. The lives of the Saints as well as noncanonized priests are very inspiring to me as a non-catholic.

-- David F (dqf@cox.net), January 22, 2004.

hey, i have a question. I am recieving my confirmation on April 19, 2004. i don't know what name to pick!!!!!!!!!!!! i was wondering if maybe you could help me? one of my best friends is choosing veronica. other people are choosing names such as: st. nicholas, st. rose of lima, and st. carmen. my mom gave me a few ideas like st. jon of ark, st. teresa, and things like that. (excuse my spelling)

-- Lisette Ivelisse Acevedo (lilbabygrrl1@aol.com), February 08, 2004.

hey, i have a question. I am recieving my confirmation on April 19, 2004. i don't know what name to pick!!!!!!!!!!!! i was wondering if maybe you could help me? one of my best friends is choosing veronica. other people are choosing names such as: st. nicholas, st. rose of lima, and st. carmen. my mom gave me a few ideas like st. jon of ark, st. teresa, and things like that. (excuse my spelling) i love animals, singing, acting, playing basketball, being a good friend, drawing painting, and creating things! (that might give you a better idea of which saint i should be named after) thanks 4 your help!!!! :-)

-- Lisette Ivelisse Acevedo (lilbabygrrl1@aol.com), February 08, 2004.

Lisette, you could consider the name "Catherine," in honor of St. Catherine of Bologna, who was a "painter and manuscript illustrator."

-- (Confirmation@Name.Anthony), February 09, 2004.

If you haven't got a great to devotion to a particular saint, it is probably better to use your Christian name.

Hugh

-- Hugh (huhg@inspired.com), February 10, 2004.

Hi, I'm preparing for confirmation and I want to chose Michael as my name. Being an angel, Michael is un-gendered, but how will this go down with my priest? I haven't figured out how to present this to him yet...

-- Victoria (val@onetel.net.uk), February 24, 2004.

Hi Vivctoria,

Chances are if you just say you want Michael and don't say anything else he probably won't even notice. I doubt it will even be a problem. If it is just tell him what you just said to us. That will probably be enough.

On the other hand, there is a feminine version of Michael, Michelle. Have you thought of using that?

I suspect this will not be a big deal either way.

Dano

-- Dan Garon (boethius61@yahoo.com), February 24, 2004.

It is not necessary that you choose a name of your own gender. It's not as common now but boys who had a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother would sometimes take Marian confirmation names. This is allowable.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), February 24, 2004.