Cardinal Dolan Calls on Parents to Name Babies After Saints: ‘It’s a Custom Worth Recovering’

Cardinal Dolan Calls on Parents to Name Babies After Saints: ‘It’s a Custom Worth Recovering’

If you have children, do you name them after saints?

In a recent video, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York has called on Catholic parents to revive the Catholic tradition of naming their children after saints. He explains that many parents name their children after movie stars or soap opera characters, which he does not believe is “the best thing in the world.”

“There was a beautiful Catholic custom of always having a saint's name, either as the first or second name of our kids, where we kind of ask that saint's protection,” he advises.

He elaborates, saying, “When I have the joys of baptizing babies, fewer and fewer babies are given saints' names.”

Cardinal Dolan says that if the child he baptizes does not have a saint's name, he will “dedicate” that child to a particular saint. Or, he says, they can choose a saint once they are confirmed.

“But I think naming our children after the saints is a custom really worth recovering.”

Here is Cardinal Dolan's video below:

Here is the full text of Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s video:

“Here's one of my favorites, folks, when it comes to Catholic customs--well worth recovering," he begins.

"And let's try our best to see that our babies have saints’ names. I just read a poll that kind of made me bristle that most people today look to the names of movie stars or soap opera heroes for names for their babies. I don't know if that's the best thing in the world, do you?

“There was a beautiful Catholic custom of always having a saint's name, either as the first or second name of our kids, where we kind of ask that saint's protection. They become our patron saint. It's beautiful, but when I have the joys of baptizing babies, I see fewer and fewer babies that are given saints' names. I'll often kind of dedicate them to a particular saint, or sometimes later on, at the Sacrament of Confirmation, if the baptismal names are not those of saints, you can choose one then.

“But I think naming our children after the saints is a custom really worth recovering.”

Cardinal Dolan published the video to his Instagram and X accounts. He generated several reactions. Here’s what some users said:

“My parents told me that at least one name must be a Saint’s name. It’s a beautiful Catholic tradition. Kids want to know who they are named for - why not give them a Saint?!” X user Theresa Payton commented.

“Couldn’t agree more, Cardinal! I think there are a lot of Catholic customs and traditions worth and *necessary in recovering. We need to protect sacred tradition,” X user Grace Grill added.

“I have a worn booklet my Mother gave me when my husband and I were choosing names for our first child. I still have it, and it’s entitled, “Is It a Saint’s Name?” an Instagram user commented.

“My first name is Lauren, and my parents had no plan for a middle name,” another Instagram user said. When they arrived at the church for my Baptism in 1966, the priest refused to baptize me without a saint’s name. My mother’s middle name is Marie, so in that moment, I got the middle name Marie, and the baptism continued on.”

“Amen!” an X user said. “‘We need modern saints, Saints of the 21st century with a spirituality that is part of our time.’ - JPII.”

What do you think about Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s words of wisdom?