Baptismal Names

Q: Is it necessary to select a saint's name when baptizing a baby? If so, how is it determined what constitutes a saint's name? Is it only those names found in the Bible—Old and New Testaments—or some official listing of saints?

I was always told by my mother that my name was Shirley Helen. The Helen had to be there if I was to be christened in the Church. Now at age 77 I am being told my mother was wrong: It is strictly a personal choice of the parents and the so-called saint's name must only be biblical.

A: I suppose we can say you and your mother are (were) both right.

The pre-Vatican II Handbook of Moral Theology, by Dominic M. Prummer, O.P., citing Canon #761 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law, says the name given in Baptism should be a Christian name. "If the parish priest cannot induce the parents to do so, he should add the name of some saint to that suggested by the parents and enter both in the baptismal register."

Older priests may well remember books on a sacristy shelf asking "Is It a Saint's Name?" or lists of male and female saints.

The present (1983) Code, Canon #855, legislates that parents, godparents and pastor are to see to it that the name given is not foreign to Christian sensibilities.

So the law does not demand a saint's name. Rather, it forbids a name offensive to Christians. That sensibility might change from place to place.