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Areligious name is a type ofgiven name bestowed for religious purposes, and which is generally used in such contexts.[citation needed]
Inbaptism,Catholics are given aChristian name,[1] which should not be "foreign to Christian sentiment"[2] and is often the name of asaint.[3] In East Asia, inAfrica and elsewhere, the baptismal name is distinct from the traditional-style given name.
Traditionally, Orthodox and Catholic Christians celebrate theirname day (i.e., the feast day of their patron saint), in addition to theirbirthday.
In some countries, it is common to adopt aconfirmation name, always the name of asaint, in addition to the baptismal name. The saint whose name is taken is henceforth considered to be apatron saint.
In general, religious names are used among the persons of theconsecrated life. In mostreligious institutes, a new member is traditionally either given areligious name or chooses one. This could be either the name of abeatified or a venerable of the church, an honorific title of the Virgin Mary, or even a virtue or something similar. Apart from that, it is possible to keep the baptismal name as a religious name, too. The name is taken usually either uponinvestiture or on the occasion of taking thefirst vows, in some communities prior to the entry of a newpostulant.
Anewly electedpope traditionally takes on a new name, called hisregnal name orpapal name.
In theLutheran Churches, those who receive the sacrament ofbaptism are given aChristian name.[4]
In theEastern Orthodox Church andEastern Catholicism, converts often take a new name at the time of their reception into the church. When deciding on a name for their child, Orthodox parents will often name the child after asaint whosefeast day falls on either the day of the child's birth or the day of its baptism.[citation needed]
Orthodox and Eastern catholicmonks andnuns are often given a new monastic name at the time of theirinvestiture.[citation needed]
InMandaeism, a baptismal (zodiacal) ormasbuta name, also known asmalwasha, is aname given by apriest, as opposed to alegal name.[5]: 81 Mandaeans havematronymic Mandaean names which are used in Mandaean rituals.[5] Amalwasha is linked with the mother's name and time of birth in order to protect the individual from their zodiac sign which is considered ominous.[5]: 81
AllBuddhist denominations also practice this, with newly ordainedSangha members given new Buddhist names by their master or preceptors. Lay Buddhists (Upāsaka and Upāsikā) are also given Buddhist names during theirTisarana ceremony.
