Every first Sunday of March is Namesake Day, paving the way for International Celebrate Your Name Week. Can you believe that approximately five former presidents of the United States share the same first and last names? On Namesake Day, individuals are encouraged to investigate their surname and given name origins, as well as the meanings of their names. While your name or surname is shared with many others, there is always a reason why your parents chose it for you. Because of this, Namesake Day was created to encourage people to investigate the origins of their names and determine whether or not they can meet its expectations.
The background of Namesake Day
The history of the ‘namesake’ is a history of names, which explains why so many of us today share the same name. However, we cannot pinpoint the origin of naming. However, we do know it existed since the beginning of human history. Since the beginning of recorded history, the majority of names have always been descriptive; that is, they have been literal translations of objects, animals, or phrases. In the Bible, Sarah gave her son the name Isaac, which means “one who laughs” or “one who rejoices.”
Also, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, which signifies “struggle with God” or “fighter of God.” Early names were also composed of multiple elements, such as the Frankish names Fredegund (peacebattle) and Childeric (battlepowerful). As the pool of descriptive names grew in each culture, people stopped creating new names and naming their children after existing ones. However, as time passed and ancient languages became extinct, these names lost their meanings, leaving only the word itself.
Traditions of naming children after saints and martyrs of the church began with the church’s ascent to prominence. These include biblical Jewish names such as John, James, Joseph, and Mary, as well as ancient Romans who converted to Christianity, such as Mark, Nicholas, Martin, Paul, and Catherine. As cultures converted to Christianity, they began to abandon their original name pools and adopt Christian names.
Additionally, indigenous saints and martyrs were added to this pool. Consequently, many ancient names have survived to the present day. Edward, an Anglo-Saxon name that is still used today because it was the name of a famous saint, is one example. This tradition of naming ourselves after saints, martyrs, or famous people is still prevalent today, and few new names are created. Although some names no longer have a literal meaning, they still carry a significance that reflects our parents’ hopes and dreams.
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NAMESAKE DAY ACTIVITIES
Explore the origin of your name
The answer can be found with your parents. Ask your parents where they got the idea for your name. If it’s a living person, make contact with them; you never know what you might learn. If it’s a place or a book, visit it or read it to see if it fits with your personality.
Meet up with your namesake.
We do not mean a specific date. A date can consist of nothing more than hanging out and having fun. Contact the friend who shares your name and see if the two of you can have lunch at the new restaurant in your area, watch a movie, play a game, or simply hang out.
Post about your festivities on social media.
If you observe Namesake Day with seriousness, you can encourage others to do the same. Share the significance of the day and how you plan to observe it with your friends and followers on any platform where you have a sizeable following.
5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NAMES
There are approximately 4,746 Americans with identical surnames and last names, such as Thomas Thomas and Alexander Alexander.
Individuals seeking Icelandic names must select from a list of 1,712 male and 1,853 female names.
There are approximately 729,862 Smiths in the United Kingdom.
There are approximately 1,307 Americans with names such as B. Ware, B. Quick, O. Heck, and C. Below.
After a nine-year legal battle, a British woman won the right to name her son Christophpher instead of the more common Christopher or Christoffer.
NAMESAKE DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | March 6 | Sunday |
| 2023 | March 5 | Sunday |
| 2024 | March 3 | Sunday |
| 2025 | March 2 | Sunday |
| 2026 | March 1 | Sunday |
