Saints' Names for Girls

Feast Day	Name	Meaning	Saint & Patronage
	Abigail Abbie, Abby, Gail, Gale	the Father is happy	Abba is the Hebrew word for "Daddy" and is scripture's endearing term for God the Father. He is our Abba, our Daddy. Your patron is Daddy-God!
(Dec. 4)	Ada	happy	Saint Ada was the abbess of a convent in France and dedicated to keeping herself pure for Jesus. She is noted in France as patroness of religious women.
Dec. 24	Adele Adalie, Adela, Adelaide, Adelina, Adeline, Aline, Della	noble	Saint Adele’s first vocation was as a wife and mother. She served God by taking care of her family, praying, and doing works of mercy. When her husband died, she became a nun and founded a convent. As its first abbess, she ruled with great compassion and holiness.
Jan. 9	Adrienne Adria, Adriana	brave	Saint Adrian of Canterbury was a highly successful missionary in pagan England. He was also a great teacher of Bible study.
Feb. 5	Agatha Agathe, Agathy	good	While Saint Agatha was being tortured for her faith, God interrupted her agonies with an earthquake. She thanked Him for bringing an end to her pain and passed immediately into Heaven as a blessed martyr.
Jan. 21 Mar. 2	Agnes Ines, Inez, Neysa, Nina, Ninete, Rachel	pure	Saint Agnes of Rome was only a teenager when she had to decide between life and dying for Jesus. She had been ordered to sacrifice her virginity to pagan gods, and she sacrificed her life instead. She is the patron saint of engaged couples. Saint Agnes of Prague was very wealthy, and she freely used this gift to help the poor. She financed a hospital, a Franciscan friary and a Poor Clare convent. She never considered herself as above others, and even after she became abbess, she cooked for the sisters and mended the clothes of lepers.
June 20	Alba Albina, Bianca, Blanche	white	Saint Alban was converted by a priest whom he sheltered from persecutions and rescued by changing clothes with him. Patron saint of converts.

Nov. 15	Alberta Albertina	illustrious	Saint Albert the Great was a bishop who introduced Greek and Arabic science to medieval Europe, raising understanding of botany, biology, physics, and other studies of nature. A scientist himself, he wrote many books on these subjects.
Oct. 11	Alessandra Alex, Alexandra, Alexandrina, Alexis, Cassandra, Sandra	people helper	Saint Alexander Sauli became a bishop in a diocese where faith had died. Clergy and laity knew little about scripture and Church teachings. With the help of three friends, he inspired the people to new faith, corrected abuses, rebuilt broken down churches, and founded colleges and seminaries.
(June 15)	Alice Alicia, Alisa, Alison, Alix, Alyce, Elissa, Elsie, Ilsa	noble cheer	Saint Alice entered a Cistercian convent when seven years old. The community was inspired by her humility. However, she contracted leprosy and suffered greatly. Her greatest consolation came from receiving the Holy Eucharist, and she experienced visions and ecstacies.
(June 28)	Alma	loving	Saint Almus was a Cistercian monk in England who became an abbot of a monastary in Scotland.
(Feb. 6)	Amanda	worthy of love	Saint Amand was a great missionary and a father of monasticism in ancient Belgium. Before he was ordained, he went to live in a small monastery, but his father threatened to disinherit him unless he came home. Amand cheerfully replied, "Christ is my only inheritance."
Dec. 7	Ambrosia	immortal	Saint Ambrose of Milan was called "the honey-tongued doctor" because of his gift of preaching and his reputation as an expert on Church doctrine. Words were very important to him and he said, "Let no word escape your lips in vain or be uttered without depth of meaning."
(Dec. 24)	Amelia Emily, Emeline, Emilia, Emiliana, Emma	excelling	Saint Gregory the Great had three aunts who led prayerful religious lives in their father's house, Tarsilla, Saint Emiliana, and Gordiana. They encouraged each another to growth in holiness.

Feb. 20	Amy Amata, Aimee, Amata	loved	When she was young, Saint Amata of Assisi rejected God and rebelled against morality. Eventually her aunt, Saint Clare of Assisi, converted her and brought the girl into her religious order.
(Dec. 25)	Anastasia Stacey, Stasia	who will rise again	Saint Anastasia's father was a pagan nobleman, but her mother was Christian and secretly raised her in Christian beliefs and ways of holiness. Anastasia's husband was also pagan, and after he discovered she was a Christian, he stopped loving her and became a cruel tyrant, confining her to the house and treating her like a slave. Anastasia rejoiced that she could suffer for the love of Jesus Christ.
Nov. 30	Andrea	manly	Saint Andrew was the first Apostle. He enthusiastically led other people to God, starting with his brother, Saint Peter.
Jan. 27	Angela Angel, Angelica, Angelina, Angelique, Angelita	angel	During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Saint Angela Merici experienced a major devastation; she became blind. Yet she insisted on continuing the pilgrimage with devotion and enthusiasm. God eventually restored Angela’s sight.
July 26 Feb. 27	Ann Anne, Anita, Anna, Annabel, Annabella, Annette, Hannah, Nan, Nancy, Nanette	grace	Saint Ann was the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus. Saint Anne Line converted to Catholicism at a time when people were arrested for this. She fearlessly helped others survive the persecutions, and her home became a rallying point for Catholics. Fully aware of the possible cost to her life, she hid a priest and held Mass in her home, but was arrested and hanged for it.
June 13 Oct. 24	Antonia Antoinette, Antonina, Tanya, Toni, Tonia	priceless	Saint Anthony of Padua was always a ready helper in time of need. Living as a hermit, he left his cave only to attend Mass and sweep the nearby monastery. When he filled in for a scheduled speaker who failed to keep his commitment, his reputation as a great preacher spread widely. Patron saint for finding lost articles. Saint Anthony Claret was convinced that the Church should use the power of the printed word to evangelize the world.

Nov. 4	Arlene Arlette, Carol, Carey, Carla, Carole, Caroline, Carolyn, Charlene, Charlotte, Cheryl (fem. of Charles)	strong	Saint Charles Borromeo served as a bishop in a diocese that was plagued by superstitions and other faulty religious practices, but he resolved the problems by issuing wise rulings, instituting them with kindness, and setting an example through his own holy life. He learned from having a severe speech impediment that "we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily."
June 23	Audrey	noble maiden	Saint Audrey (also known as Etheldreda) used to enjoy showing off her wealth by wearing lavish jewelry. After her conversion, she lived an austere life, and when she developed an enormous and unsightly tumor on her neck, she gratefully accepted it as a penance for all the necklaces she had worn when she'd been so full of pride.
	Barbara	stranger	Saint Barbara's abusive kept her jealously locked up in a lonely tower which he built for her. In her solitude, she found God. She prayed a lot and studied the Christian faith, and she cleverly found a way to secretly receive instruction and Baptism from a priest.
(Sept. 1)	Beatrice Beatrix, Beatriz	happiness	Saint Beatrice da Silva Meneses was the daughter of a Count and the sister of Saint Amedeus. In Portugal, Beatrice is known as Brites. She entered religious life and founded the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Feb. 18	Bernadette Bernardine	bold as a bear	God sent the Blessed Mother to Saint Bernadette of Lourdes to show the world that He is real. Mary asked the girl to dig in the dry ground for a spring of healing water. Bernadette dug on faith and uncovered the spring.
July 12	Bernice Veronica, Vera	victory bringer	Saint Veronica served Jesus on His way to Calvary by wiping His beloved face with a towel on which His sacred image then appeared. She protected this treasure, and whenever people touched it, they were miraculously healed.

(May 15)	Bertha Berta, Bertilla	strong one	Saint Bertha owned extensive properties. She married a pagan, but when he was killed in battle, she devoted herself to raising her son Rupert in the Christian faith. She founded several hospices for the poor, and after a pilgrimage to Rome, they gave away their possessions and became hermits.
June 20	Bianca Alba, Blanche	white	Saint Alban was converted by a priest whom he sheltered from persecutions and rescued by changing clothes with him. Patron saint of converts.
(May 16)	Brenda	sword	Saint Brendan and a crew of other Irish monks voyaged across the Atlantic to America in a ship made of oxhides -- 400 years before the Vikings and almost 1000 years before Columbus!
July 23 Feb. 1	Bridget Brigid, Bride, Brigit, Brigitta, Brigette	strength	Saint Bridget of Sweden first served Jesus as a wife and mother, taking good care of her family, helping her Church, and getting involved in her community. After becoming a widow, she began to receive revelations about His passion and suffering. Just before Saint Brigid of Ireland was born, her Christian mother was sold to a Druid landowner. Even though she grew up oppressed as a slave, she found great joy in loving You. As the patron saint of babies
Sept. 29	Briel Gabriela, Gabriella, Gabrielle	God's strength	God had given us archangels to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth. Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News; he can help us hear God's voice and to teach us the truth.
July 14	Camille Camelia, Camilla	temple servant	Saint Camillus de Lellis repented from a wild-spent youth and gambling addiction to serve God, and although he was incurably diseased, he took care of others who were sick. He founded the Congregation of the Servants of the Sick, believing that the suffering people were living images of Jesus.
(Aug. 1)	Cara Charity	love	See Saint Charity.

(July 16)	Carmel Carmella, Carmelita	orchard	Mount Carmel is where Elijah proved that God is greater than pagans gods. Nearby in Nazareth, Our Lady lived in piety and contemplation. Later, the Carmelites became a religious order devoted to contemplative prayer under her protection, and when its general, Saint Simon Stock, prayed for her help, she appeared to him and showed him a scapular for his order to wear. She said: "It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant."
Nov. 4	Carol Arlene, Arlette, Carey, Carla, Carole, Caroline, Carolyn, Charlene, Charlotte, Cheryl (feminine for Charles)	strong	Saint Charles Borromeo served as a bishop in a diocese that was plagued by superstitions and other faulty religious practices, but he resolved the problems by issuing wise rulings, instituting them with kindness, and setting an example through his own holy life. He learned from having a severe speech impediment that "we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily."
Oct. 11	Cassandra Sandra, Alessandra, Alex, Alexandra, Alexis	people helper	Saint Alexander Sauli became a bishop in a diocese where faith had died. Clergy and laity knew little about scripture and Church teachings. With the help of three friends, he inspired the people to new faith, corrected abuses, rebuilt broken down churches, and founded colleges and seminaries.

Nov. 25 April 29 Mar. 24	Catherine Catalina, Caterina, Karen, Kate, Kateri, Katherine, Kathleen, Kathryn, Katrina, Kay, Kit, Kitty, Trina	pure	Jesus gave Saint Catherine Labouré a vision of the Blessed Mother revealing an image that was to be made into the Miraculous Medal. He commissioned her to spread its devotion. It included the prayer: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." He promised that those who wear it as a sign of devotion will receive the graces needed for holy living. Saint Catherine of Siena took her faith out into the world to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. She served as a spiritual guide to many, she affected politics, and she convinced the pope to return the Church’s leadership to Rome. By word and deed, she taught that Christians should influence the world with their spiritual values. Saint Catherine of Sweden, with her mother Saint Bridget, organized pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other places to stimulate people’s spiritual growth. In between pilgrimages, they spent their time in prayer and meditation, ministering to the poor and instructing them in religion.
Nov. 22	Cecilia Cecile, Cecily, Cicely,  Ceil, Shiela	dim sighted	Saint Cecilia’s parents wed her to a pagan nobleman. Eager to convert her new husband, she told him about the angel that always escorted her. He wanted to see the angel, too, so he asked for his soul to be purified by baptism. The next time Saint Cecilia prayed, her husband saw the angel place a crown on both of their heads.
Nov. 13	Cesca Frances, Francesca, Franchette, Francine	free	When Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was a child, she pretended she was a missionary to China as she sailed paper boats on a stream. Although God eventually sent her west to America instead of East to the Orient, her childhood games shaped her desire to serve Him.
(Aug. 18)	Chantale	song	Saint Jane Frances de Chantal's husband was killed in a hunting accident. She could not forgive the man who shot him, but she worked on it. At first she just greeted him on the street. Eventually, she invited him to her house. Finally, she forgave him so completely that she even became godmother to his child. This experience opened her heart to  God and she sought God in prayer and a deepening spiritual life. Her commitment impressed Saint Francis de Sales, the bishop who became her director and best friend.
	Charity Cara	love	According to legend, there was a Roman widow, Saint Wisdom (or Sofia), who had three daughters, Saint Faith, Saint Hope, and Saint Charity, and they all suffered for Jesus. Faith, age 12, miraculously survived being scourged and thrown into boiling pitch, and was finally beheaded; Hope, age 10, and Charity, age 9, were unharmed when tossed into a furnace, so they also were beheaded; their mother suffered while praying over the bodies of her children.
Nov. 4	Cheryl Charlotte, Charlene, (feminine for Charles)	strong	Saint Charles Borromeo served as a bishop in a diocese that was plagued by superstitions and other faulty religious practices, but he resolved the problems by issuing wise rulings, instituting them with kindness, and setting an example through his own holy life. He learned from having a severe speech impediment that "we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily."
	Christine Christian, Christiana, Kirsten, Kristin, Nina, Tina	anointed, belonging to Christ	Jesus Christ is your patron! With this name and a heart that is devoted to Christ, you have the whole body of Christ -- the Communion of Saints -- as your prayer partners.
Aug. 11 Aug. 17	Clare Claire, Clara, Clairette, Claretta, Clarice, Clarissa, Clarita	illustrious	Saint Clare lived a very mystical and spiritually powerful life. In her dying days, when she was unable to attend Mass, God brought the Mass to her by displaying it like a movie on her wall. Thus she is now the patron saint of television. Saint Clare of the Cross continually reflected upon Your Passion. So devoted was she to this that when she died, a cross was discovered emblazoned in the skin above her heart.
(June 6)	Claudia Claudette, Claudine	lame	Saint Claud was a holy priest who served as a Benedictine Abbot and later a bishop, though he preferred not to have such status. In the 12th century (400 years later), his body was discovered to be incorrupt. His burial place became a favorite place for pilgrimages, and miraculous cures occurred there.
Nov. 23	Clementine Clemence, Clementina	merciful	Saint Clement knew the Apostles personally before they were martyred. As pope, he challenged his people to follow their examples. He said, "We ought to put aside vain and useless concerns and should consider what is good, pleasing and acceptable in the sight of Him who made us."
Mar. 6	Colette Coleen, Colleen	people's victory	When Saint Colette was born, her parents were nearly sixty years old and she became an orphan at seventeen. She is the patron of all those who have experienced the death of one or more of their parents, especially the little children.
(Nov. 23)	Columbine Columbina, Columba, Columbia, Columbina	dove	Saint Columban moved from place to place preaching the Gospel, forming a community who accompanied him, and being a witness of humility and love through his own life. He often took time out to be alone with God in the forrest, and the animals obeyed his voice.
(Dec. 8)	Conception Concepcion, Concepta	honoring Mary's immaculate conception	From the moment of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s conception, Jesus gave her the benefit of His future death on the cross. He granted her the fullness of grace and a life free of the stain of original sin. He sanctified her womb so that she could carry His divine presence within her body.
(Mar. 11)	Constance Constanza, Consantia	firm	Saint Constantine was a king, and when his wife died, he ceded his throne to their son, then became a monk. He performed menial tasks at the monastery, while preparing for the priesthood. After he was ordained, he became a missionary.
Sept. 16	Cornelia Cora	horn	Saint Cornelius was pope during terrible persecutions, and he anguished over the sufferings of his people. Saint Cyprian was his friend and said to him, "Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love."
(Feb. 16)	Daniela Danielle, Danette	the Lord is judge	Saint Daniel and four companions were Egyptians who visited Christians condemned to do hard labor in the mines during persecutions, to comfort them. They were arrested for this, tortured and beheaded.
	Deborah Debra, Debora	bee	In the Old Testament book of Judges, Debbora was a prophetess and judge endowed by God with prophetic gifts. Full of wisdom, she guided the divided Israelites and delivered them from the oppression of the Chanaanites.
Dec. 24	Della Adele, Adalie, Adela, Adelaide, Adelina, Adeline, Aline	noble	Saint Adele’s first vocation was as a wife and mother. She served God by taking care of her family, praying, and doing works of mercy. When her husband died, she became a nun and founded a convent. As its first abbess, she ruled with great compassion and holiness.
(Oct. 9)	Denise	God of Nyassa	Saint Denis (also called Dionysius) was the first bishop of Paris and the Apostle of France.
(Sept. 15)	Dolores Dolor, Dolorita, Lola, Lolita	sorrows	The Blessed Mother’s passionate love for her Son Jesus caused her to suffer when she watched His enemies inflict their tortures upon Him and slowly kill Him. She offered up the piercing of her heart as if her life were an altar, sacrificing her beloved Son for the salvation of the world. Through it all, she did not feel sorry for herself nor did she complain, because she accepted her pain for our sakes, in passionate love for us.
Aug. 8 Mar. 10	Dominica Dominga, Dominique	I belong to the Lord	Saint Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Dominican Order, worked hard against heresies. When people refused to accept the truth, he grew discouraged, but the Blessed Mother appeared and asked him to pray the Rosary daily and to teach it to others. Through the Rosary, the heresies were conquered. Saint Dominic Savio was one of the children touched by Saint John Bosco’s ministry. An altar boy at age five, he started on the road to the priesthood at age twelve but died at fifteen. Yet, he accomplished much good in his short life because of his piety. His birthplace and childhood home are now retreat houses for youth.
(Apr. 17)	Donna Donata, Dona, Donatilla	God-given	Saint Donan (or Donnan) traveled far as a missionary. One day, Donan was celebrating Mass when intruders broke in to kill the monks. He convinced them to wait until they finished Mass, then he led his fellow monks to the refectory so "that the place where God had been worshipped in spiritual joy might not be polluted with their blood."
April 22 Nov. 9	Doris Dorothy, Dora, Doreen (femine of Theodore)	God's gift	Saint Theodore of Sykeon was a monk and a bishop who worked amazing miracles, including healings. He put an end to a plague of insects by praying, confidently putting the matter into God's hands. Saint Theodore Tyro was a young soldier in the Roman army when he converted to Christianity. Though he was ordered to fight enemies of the empire, he believed that the devil was the only true enemy. Soon, he was killed for being a Christian, thus winning the battle against the demons who wanted to keep him out of Heaven.

(Oct. 11)	Edith Eadie, Eda, Edythe	happiness	Saint Edith Stein was the youngest in a large Jewish family. After converting to Catholicism, she eventually joined the Carmelite Order and was sent to a convent in Holland. She lived a life of dedication, consecration, prayer, fasting, and penance until she was arrested by the Nazis. With her sister Rose, she was sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz where died in the gas chambers.
Oct. 12	Edwina Edna	prosperous friend	Saint Edwin was a pagan king who listened to a Christian preacher publicly explain the Gospel. He accepted salvation, renounced his worship of the gods, and commanded his high priest to destroy their altars and temples.
Aug. 18	Eleanor Helen, Helena, Eleanor, Leanore, Lenore, Lenora, Lee, Leora, Nell, Nellie, Nelly	light	The great emperor Constantine gave his mother, Saint Helena, the authority to promote Christianity by building churches throughout the empire and on the holy sites in Israel. She is the patron saint of difficult marriages and divorced people because her husband divorced her for someone with better political connections.
(June 15)	Elissa Alice, Alicia, Alisa, Alison, Alix, Alyce, Elsie, Ilsa	noble cheer	Saint Alice entered a Cistercian convent when seven years old. The community was inspired by her humility. However, she contracted leprosy and suffered greatly. Her greatest consolation came from receiving the Holy Eucharist, and she experienced visions and ecstacies.
Jan. 4 July 4 Nov. 17	Elizabeth	God has sworn	Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was a mother and an educator, and devoted her life to children. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal was married to a king, and her spiritual life was often interrupted by politics and family arguments. She regained her inner peace by spending time in prayer and doing works of charity. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary was a princess who married a prince. Concerned for the poor, she donated to them her portion of the prince’s income and then sold her luxurious possessions to give them more. After her husband died, she renounced worldly wealth, built a hospice for the weak and sickly, and invited the most wretched to dine with her.

(Dec. 24)	Emily Amelia, Emeline, Emilia, Emiliana, Emma	excelling	Saint Gregory the Great had three aunts who led prayerful religious lives in their father's house, Tarsilla, Saint Emiliana, and Gordiana. They encouraged each another to growth in holiness.
(May 18)	Erica Erika	ever-ruler	Saint Eric was a king of Sweden who codified Swedish law under Gospel principles. He used his power and authority to spread the Gospel through his kingdom.
(Dec. 24)	Erma Irmina, Irmine, Irma	strong	Saint Irmina was betrothed to a count, but a jealous suitor lured her fiancée to his death over a cliff. Irmina became a nun at a monastery and helped Saint Willibrord in his missionary work.
(Nov. 7)	Ernestine	serious	Saint Ernest was the abbot of a Benedictine Abbey in Germany. He went on the Crusades, preached in Arabia and Persia, and was captured by the Moors. He was tortured to death in Mecca.
	Esther Edissa, Stella, Estelle, Estella, Estrella, Esther	star	Saint Esther was an Old Testament Jewess who became, by marriage to Xerxes, Queen of Persia. She prevented the king from massacring all the Jews in the kingdom.
(June 2)	Eugenia Gina, Eugenie	well born	Saint Eugene I was a priest who had served in several different positions in the Church and became pope. He was widely known for his charity and holiness.
(Dec. 24)	Evelyn Eva, Eveline, Eve, Evita	life	Eve was the first woman, the wife of Adam. Adam called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living. She is the patron of tailors.
(Aug. 1)	Faith Fay, Fidelia	faith	According to legend, there was a Roman widow, Saint Wisdom (or Sofia), who had three daughters, Saint Faith, Saint Hope, and Saint Charity, and they all suffered for Jesus. Faith, age 12, miraculously survived being scourged and thrown into boiling pitch, and was finally beheaded; Hope, age 10, and Charity, age 9, were unharmed when tossed into a furnace, so they also were beheaded; their mother suffered while praying over the bodies of her children.

Mar. 7	Felicity Felicia, Felice, Felicita	happy	Saint Felicity is the of expectant moms, young mothers, women wanting to become pregnant, and children who die prematurely.
Oct. 5	Flora Florence	flowering	Saint Flora of Beaulieu did not like her cloistered life in the convent. She felt tempted to return home to her family, but she stayed in the order and eventually You rewarded her with the gifts of visions and prophecies.
Nov. 13	Frances Cesca, Fanny, Francesca, Franchette, Francine, Francoise, Frannie	free	When Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was a child, she pretended she was a missionary to China as she sailed paper boats on a stream. Although God eventually sent her west to America instead of East to the Orient, her childhood games shaped her desire to serve Him.
Sept. 29	Gabriela Gabriella, Gabrielle, Briel	God's strength	God had given us archangels to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth. Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News; he can help us hear God's voice and to teach us the truth.
	Gail Abigail, Abbie, Abby, Gale	the Father is happy	Abba is the Hebrew word for "Daddy" and is scripture's endearing term for God the Father. He is our Abba, our Daddy. Your patron is Daddy-God!
(April 11)	Gemma	jewel	Saint Gemma Galgani developed a love for prayer at a very early age. Throughout her life, God favored her with mystical experiences, special graces and the stigmata. She was oftened ridiculed because many did not understand these gifts. Gemma accepted this suffering as a reparation, remembering that Jesus had been misunderstood and ridiculed.
Jan. 3	Genevieve Ginette, Yolanda, Blanche	white wave	Saint Genevieve was a small child when she decided to devote her life to God. She allowed nothing to interfere. She had an enthusiastic and single-minded heart for Christ.
April 23	Georgia Georgette, Georgianna, Georgana	farmer	Saint George was nicknamed the "Victory Bringer" because he relied on God's power to defeat evil wherever he went. Starting as a soldier in the army, he converted and became a soldier for Christ. Laying down the world’s armor by giving his wealth to the poor, he forever after carried the shield of faith and won many victories for those who sought God's help.
Oct. 3	Geraldine Geralda, Geralyn	spear ruler	Saint Gerard of Brogne joined a monastery in order to find a quiet, peaceful place to spend his time in prayer, although he willingly left his solitude to help others become stronger in their faith. He believed that if people realized the joy that came from praying, they would pray more often.
(June 15)	Germaine	kin	Saint Germaine Cousin was a severely abused and neglected child. She turned to God, who taught her how to forgive her family and grow in holiness. She entrusted the sheep she tended to God's care while she went to daily Mass, and they were never attacked by wolves. One day when the rains flooded the river, a villager saw the water part so she could get to Mass. She died from her mistreatments at age 22; forty years later her body was exhumed and found incorrupted.
Nov. 16	Gertrude Gerda, Trudy	spear strength	Saint Gertrude was a very gifted student and loved every subject except religion. When she studied philosophy, it began to twist her mind and lead her away from the Faith, so Jesus visited her in a vision and called her back. From then on she studied Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers.
(June 2)	Gina Eugenia, Eugenie	well born	Saint Eugene I was a priest who had served in several different positions in the Church and became pope. He was widely known for his charity and holiness.
	Gloria	glory	Gloria is the song of the angels, as they praise the God of Glory. We remember their song of joy at the birth of Jesus.
(Nov. 16)	Grace	grace	Grace is a supernatural gift of God to intellectual creatures (humans, angels) for their eternal salvation. Saint Gratia worked a trade of the sea until, at age thirty, he happened into a church and was deeply moved by a sermon from an Augustinian friar. He joined that order and as a lay-brother. A mysterious light was seen above his cell, and his intercessions resulted in miracles.

July 20 Jan. 19	Gretchen Greta, Margaret, Madge, Maggie, Maisie, Marge, Margery, Margo, Margot, Marina, Margarita, Marguerite, Marjorie, Pearl, Pegeen, Peggy	pearl	Saint Margaret of Antioch’s father was a pagan priest. Her escape from his false beliefs was depicted in a story of being swallowed by a dragon representing paganism, and then escaping from its belly as if being born anew. Because of this tale, she has become the patron saint of pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. Saint Marguerite Bourgeous gave away her inheritance to family members and departed for Canada, where she founded the Congregation of Notre Dame. She helped people survive when food was scarce, opened a vocational school, and taught young people how to run a home and farm.
July 13	Harriet Henrietta, Henriette, Hally, Harietta, Harriette	home ruler	Saint Henry II was one of the best rulers of the Christian Roman Empire. He reformed the Church, assisted the growth of new monasteries, and oversaw the building of many beautiful churches. Because he believed that the Creed was essential to understanding our faith, he convinced the Pope to institute its use every Sunday and major feast day.
Aug. 18	Helen Helena, Eleanor, Leanore, Lenore, Lenora, Lee, Leora, Nell, Nellie, Nelly	light	The great emperor Constantine gave his mother, Saint Helena, the authority to promote Christianity by building churches throughout the empire and on the holy sites in Israel. She is the patron saint of difficult marriages and divorced people because her husband divorced her for someone with better political connections.
(Nov. 17)	Hilda Hildegarde	battle maiden	Saint Hilda lived the wealthy life of nobility until age 33 when she decided to join the monastery where her sister was a nun. Eventually, she became abbess of a double monastery. She was well known for her spiritual wisdom, and her monasteries excelled in their learning and nuns.

(Aug. 1)	Hope	hope	According to legend, there was a Roman widow, Saint Wisdom (or Sofia), who had three daughters, Saint Faith, Saint Hope, and Saint Charity, and they all suffered for Jesus. Faith, age 12, miraculously survived being scourged and thrown into boiling pitch, and was finally beheaded; Hope, age 10, and Charity, age 9, were unharmed when tossed into a furnace, so they also were beheaded; their mother suffered while praying over the bodies of her children.
(Sept. 4)	Ida	happy	Saint Ida grew up in Charlemagne's court and was married to Lord Egbert by arrangement of the emperor. Her son became a monk. She was widowed very young, so she is the patron of widows and brides. She founded a church and a nunnery.
July 31 Oct. 17	Ignatia	fiery	Saint Ignatius of Loyola was wounded in battle and had to spend months in recovery. He wanted to pass the time reading adventure books about knights, but all he could find were biographies on the saints. Reading these, he felt challenged to do what the saints had done. Saint Ignatius of Antioch was taken to Rome under military guard after he was condemned to die in the Roman amphitheater. On the way, he wrote inspiring letters to Christian communities. Nothing would stop him from carrying out his ministry of preaching the Gospel.
(Dec. 8)	Immaculata	spotless	From the moment of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s immaculate conception, Jesus gave her the benefit of His future death on the cross. He granted her the fullness of grace and a life free of the stain of original sin. He sanctified her womb so that she could carry His divine presence within her body.
(April 3)	Irene Irena, Renata, Renee	peace	Saint Irene was caught with texts of the Scriptures when this was punishable by death. When she refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, she was sent to a house of prostitution. There, when she was unmolested after being exposed naked and chained, she was put to death.
(Dec. 24)	Irma Irmina, Irmine, Erma	strong	Saint Irmina was betrothed to a count, but a jealous suitor lured her fiancée to his death over a cliff. Irmina became a nun at a monastery and helped Saint Willibrord in his missionary work.

Feb. 26	Isabel		Saint Isabel of France was the daughter of a king, but this did not make her haughty. Since early childhood, she had an extraordinary desire for piety, modesty, and other virtues. She persisted in remaining solely dedicated to God, despite the opinions and advice of others.
Feb. 4 Mar. 29	Jane Janet, Janice, Jean, Jeanette, Jeanine, Jeanne, Jessica, JoAnn, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, June (fem. of John)	God has mercy	Saint Jane of Valois was born with deformities and she suffered from illnesses throughout her life. Yet she refused to give into discouragement, and at a very young age she became devoted to the Blessed Mother. Later, she helped found a religious order whose chief rule was to imitate the virtues of Mary as revealed in the Bible. Saint Jeanne Marie de Maille is the patron for abuse victims.
(Oct. 12)	Jennifer (fem. of Wilfrid)	firm peace	Saint Wilfrid worked hard as a bishop and founded many monasteries of the Benedictine Order. During the time he was forced into exile, he evangelized the heathen around him. Through his ministry, he had limitless courage and remained firm in his convictions despite problems with civil and ecclesiastical authorities.
Feb. 4	Jessica (fem. of John)	God has mercy	See Saint Jane above.
Feb. 12	Jill Julia, Juliana, Julie, Juliet, Juliette	downy	Saint Julian spent his life caring for the poor as a sacrifice for inadvertently killing his parents. He is the patron saint of circus workers, innkeepers, travelers, and murderers.
Mar. 19 Sept. 18	Josephine Josefa, Josepha, Josette, Josianne	increase	God chose Saint Joseph to care for Mary and Jesus because his holiness and love for Him was great, his compassion for others was outstanding, and his desire to protect and provide for his family was honorable. Saint Joseph of Cupertino endured much rejection—his mother disapproved of him and the religious orders he tried to join refused him—but rather than succumbing to self-pity, he turned to God for acceptance. He became a priest who worked miracles and conversed intimately with Christ in ecstasies.

(June 29)	Judith Judy	praised	Saint Judith was sent by the king to find her neice, who had become an anchorite (a woman who lives in seclusion for religious purposes), living in a cell attached to a monastery. When Judith found her, she decided to join her and devote her own life to God.
Feb. 12	Julia Juliana, Julie, Juliet, Juliette, Jill	downy	Saint Julian spent his life caring for the poor as a sacrifice for inadvertently killing his parents. He is the patron saint of circus workers, innkeepers, travelers, and murderers.
June 1	Justina Justa, Justine	just	Saint Justin Martyr struggled with his intellect in order to find God. He had studied various philosophies, filling his mind with many ideas that were contrary to Christianity, and this made it difficult for him to accept the Faith. But once converted, he wrote strong defenses of Christian beliefs.
Nov. 25 April 29 Mar. 24	Karen Katherine Kate, Kateri, Kathleen, Kathryn, Katrina, Kay, Kit, Kitty, Trina	pure	Jesus gave Saint Catherine Labouré a vision of the Blessed Mother revealing an image that was to be made into the Miraculous Medal. He commissioned her to spread its devotion. It included the prayer: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." He promised that those who wear it as a sign of devotion will receive the graces needed for holy living. Saint Catherine of Siena took her faith out into the world to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. She served as a spiritual guide to many, she affected politics, and she convinced the pope to return the Church’s leadership to Rome. By word and deed, she taught that Christians should influence the world with their spiritual values. Saint Catherine of Sweden, with her mother Saint Bridget, organized pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other places to stimulate people’s spiritual growth. In between pilgrimages, they spent their time in prayer and meditation, ministering to the poor and instructing them in religion.

Aug. 10	Laura Lorraine, Loretta, Laurette, Laureen, Laraine, Lara, Laraine (feminine of Lawrence)	laurel	Saint Lawrence protected the Church’s money from the Roman Empire by giving it to the poor. When the greedy prefect of Rome demanded the Church’s treasures, Lawrence presented to him the poor and the sick, announcing, "This is the Church's treasure!" When he was martyred, he was roasted on fire. Keeping God's joy and good humor to the end, he told his torturers: "Turn me over, I'm done on this side!"
Aug. 18	Lenore Eleanor, Helen, Helena, Eleanor, Leanore, Lenora, Lee, Leora, Nell, Nellie, Nelly	light	The great emperor Constantine gave his mother, Saint Helena, the authority to promote Christianity by building churches throughout the empire and on the holy sites in Israel. She is the patron saint of difficult marriages and divorced people because her husband divorced her for someone with better political connections.
Nov. 10	Leona Lee, Leonie, Leonita	lion	Saint Leo the Great was pope during fearsome times. Heathen armies were attacking the faithful in many places and Christians were spreading errors about the Faith. Yet, he led the Church wisely and courageously, refusing to fear any threat, any difficulty, or any army.
(July 27)	Lilian Lila, Lily, Lillian	lily	Saint Lillian was laywoman in an area controlled by the Moors. At first, she hid her Christianity so that her Muslim neighbors would not find out. But stories of fearless Christians being persecuted shamed her into living her faith openly. She was happy to be martyred with her husband.
(Sept. 15)	Lola Lolita, Dolores Dolor, Dolorita	sorrows	The Blessed Mother’s passionate love for her Son Jesus caused her to suffer when she watched His enemies inflict their tortures upon Him and slowly kill Him. She offered up the piercing of her heart as if her life were an altar, sacrificing her beloved Son for the salvation of the world. Through it all, she did not feel sorry for herself nor did she complain, because she accepted her pain for our sakes, in passionate love for us.
Mar. 15	Louise	famous warrior	Saint Louise de Marillac devoted her life to helping Saint Vincent de Paul serve the needs of the poor. She often taught: "Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, as you would honor Christ Himself."
Dec. 13	Lucy Lucette, Luce, Lucia, Lucie, Lucien, Lucienne, Lucille, Lucina, Lucinda, Luz (fem. of Luke)	light	Saint Lucy vowed to marry only Jesus and revealed this secret after her mother arranged a wedding to a nobleman. When he found out, he had her arrested and tried as a Christian. The judge sent her to a house of prostitution to desecrate her virginity, but God kept her purity intact. God also gave her the grace to joyfully endure her tortures until she died.
(Aug. 3)	Lydia	purple seller	Saint Lydia was the Apostle Paul's first convert at Philippi. She was baptized with her household, and Saint Paul stayed at her home.
(July 22)	Madeline Marlene Magdalene, Madeline, Maddalena, Magda	person from Magdala	Saint Mary Magdalene is called "the Penitent" because she was a notorious sinner, and Jesus delivered her from seven demons. She was one of His closest friends. Filled with sorrow over her sin, she anointed Christ by washing his feet with expensive perfume and drying them with her hair. She was present at the foot of Our Lords' cross, and she was the first to see the resurrected Jesus at His empty tomb. She is the patron of contemplatives, hairdressers, penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumers, reformed prostitutes, and sexual temptation.
(Dec. 25)	Manuela (from Emmanuel)	God with us	Jesus Christ is your patron! Having a name associated with the joy of Christmas is a reminder that you are called to bring Christ to all those around you.
April 25 (Jan. 31)	Marcia Marsha, Marcella, Marcelina, Marcelle (fem. of Mark)	of Mars	Saint Mark the Evangelist was one of those who ran away in fear when Jesus was arrested, but after the resurrection of Jesus and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, he became a writer of the Faith, and he helped Saints Paul, Barnabas, and Peter build the new Church. Saint Marcella was widowed after nine months of marriage and refused to marry the Roman consul. She formed a small community of noble ladies who lived a life of austerity and asceticism. She gave her wealth to the poor. She corresponded with Saint Jerome for his help in understanding spiritual matters.

July 20 Jan. 19	Margaret Greta, Gretchen, Madge, Maggie, Maisie, Marge, Margery, Margo, Margot, Marina, Margarita, Marguerite, Marjorie, Pearl, Pegeen, Peggy, Rita	pearl	Saint Margaret of Antioch’s father was a pagan priest. Her escape from his false beliefs was depicted in a story of being swallowed by a dragon representing paganism, and then escaping from its belly as if being born anew. Because of this tale, she has become the patron saint of pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. Saint Marguerite Bourgeous gave away her inheritance to family members and departed for Canada, where she founded the Congregation of Notre Dame. She helped people survive when food was scarce, opened a vocational school, and taught young people how to run a home and farm.
(July 29)	Martha Marta, Marthe	lady	Jesus was a close friend of Saint Martha and He enjoyed often stayed at her home in Bethany, a small village two miles from Jerusalem, where she lived with her sister, Mary, and brother, Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Martha greatly valued her gift of hospitality. She is the patron of cooks, dieticians, homemakers, hotel-keepers, laundry workers, servants, single laywomen, and travellers.
Nov. 3 Nov. 11	Martina Martine	warlike	Saint Martin de Porres studied medicine to cure the sufferings of people. By entering the Dominican order and growing in holiness, he discovered that God often would heal people miraculously through his prayers. Saint Martin of Tours was raised by pagan parents, but after joining the Roman army he began to study the Christian faith. When his desire to imitate You compelled him to help a beggar, You came to him in a vision and called him to receive baptism and enter religious life. Eventually he became a bishop and banished pagan worship from his diocese.

Jan. 1 July 6	Mary Maria, Mara, Mae, Maime, Marian, Marianne, Maribel, Marie, Marietta, Mariette, Marilyn, Maureen, May, Mirell, Miriam, Moira, Molly, Polly	rebellion	The obvious Saint for this name is the Blessed Mother. Saint Maria Goretti was a young girl when a farmhand tried to rape her. As she warned him that he was sinning, he stabbed her repeatedly. Before she died, she forgave him. Later, while in jail for his crime, the perpetrator had a vision in which Maria led him to conversion. She is the patron of teen girls, rape victims, and chastity.
Mar. 14	Matilda Maude, Maud, Tilda, Tillie	battle maiden	Though Saint Matilda married a king, she did not lord it over others. She often visited the sick and imprisoned. Her husband learned much from her holiness, taking greater interest in the needs of his people and using his power to ease their suffering.
Sept. 22	Maura	dark	Saint Maurice was a Christian officer in charge of a legion of converts in an anti-Christian army. He had a very challenging and significant responsibility to help his men remain strong in the Faith despite persecutions. When he and his men refused to sacrifice to the gods, they were martyred.
(Dec. 31)	Melanie Melinda, Melania	dark- skinned	Saint Melania was born to wealthy Christians. When two of her children died soon after childbirth, her husband agreed to a life of abstinence and religious dedication. With her father's inheritence, she supported monasteries in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine, and she aided churches and monasteries in Europe. When she made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with her mother and husband, they settled at Jerusalem. Melania became a friend of Saint Jerome.
	Melissa Mildred, Millie, Milly	mild strength	See Saint Mildred below.

	Mercedes Merced, Mercy	mercy	Jesus told Blessed Faustina Kowalska in a vision, "I am Love and Mercy itself." Mercy is love that seeks to forgive, console, assist, and care for others in time of need. Mercy is an act of love done without regard to the consequences to oneself, without expecting affirmation, or anything else in return; it is done for love itself.
May 8	Michelle Michaela, Micaela (fem. of Michael)	who is like God?	Saint Michael the Archangel led the army of angels that defeated Satan and the demons when they rebelled against God. Because his name means "Who is like God," Pope Saint Gregory the Great said, "Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by his superior power."
	Mildred Melissa, Millie, Milly	mild strength	Saint Mildred was an abbess with a reputation for great holiness and generosity and compassion for the poor and rejected. She chose this life over marrying into nobility and wealth. Her detachment from this world's comforts strengthened her firm commitment to Jesus and His poor.
Aug. 31	Mona Ramona, Raimunda (feminine of Raymond)	protector	Saint Raymond Nonnatus spent his inheritance paying the ransom for Christians who had been enslaved and even traded himself to set others free. Because he miraculously survived his birth as his mother died, he is a patron saint for pregnancies.
Aug. 27	Monica Monique	counselor	Saint Monica was the mother of Saint Augustine, and for many years prayed and cried and did penances for her son. As a result, he became a Doctor of the Church and one of her greatest theologians. She is the patron of alcoholics and children who disappoint their parents.
(Aug. 1)	Nadine Nadia	hope	According to legend, there was a Roman widow, Saint Wisdom (or Sofia), who had three daughters, Saint Faith, Saint Hope, and Saint Charity, and they all suffered for Jesus. Faith, age 12, miraculously survived being scourged and thrown into boiling pitch, and was finally beheaded; Hope, age 10, and Charity, age 9, were unharmed when tossed into a furnace, so they also were beheaded; their mother suffered while praying over the bodies of her children.

July 26 Feb. 27	Nancy Nan, Nanette, Ann, Anne, Anita, Anna, Annabel, Annabella, Annette, Hannah	grace	Saint Ann was the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus. Saint Anne Line converted to Catholicism at a time when people were arrested for this. She fearlessly helped others survive the persecutions, and her home became a rallying point for Catholics. Fully aware of the possible cost to her life, she hid a priest and held Mass in her home, but was arrested and hanged for it.
(July 27)	Natalie Natalia, Natasha	birth	Saint Natalie married Saint Aurelius, the son of a Moor and a Spanish woman who was secretly raised a Christian by his aunt during the Moorish persecution of Christians. His wife was a half Moorish woman, Sabigotho, who changed her name to Natalie when he converted her to Christianity. They were both beheaded for practicing their faith.
Aug. 18	Nell Nellie, Nelly, Eleanor, Helen, Helena, Eleanor, Leanore, Lenore, Lenora, Lee, Leora	light	The great emperor Constantine gave his mother, Saint Helena, the authority to promote Christianity by building churches throughout the empire and on the holy sites in Israel. She is the patron saint of difficult marriages and divorced people because her husband divorced her for someone with better political connections.
Dec. 6	Nicole Nicola, Nicolette (fem. of Nicholas)	people's victory	Saint Nicholas was an archbishop who dearly loved to help the poor, especially young children. He worked to protect the innocent and minister to those who were wronged. Eventually, the stories of his kindness evolved into the legend of Santa Claus.

Jan. 21 Mar. 2	Nina Agnes, Ines, Inez, Neysa, Ninete, Rachel	pure	Saint Agnes of Rome was only a teenager when she had to decide between life and dying for Jesus. She had been ordered to sacrifice her virginity to pagan gods, and she sacrificed her life instead. She is the patron saint of engaged couples. Saint Agnes of Prague was very wealthy, and she freely used this gift to help the poor. She financed a hospital, a Franciscan friary and a Poor Clare convent. She never considered herself as above others, and even after she became abbess, she cooked for the sisters and mended the clothes of lepers.
	Nora Noreen, Norah, Norine, Honora	honored	Saint Honorius I, as pope reorganized the Spanish church and sent out missionaries. He preserved and restored churches in Rome and converted his house into a monastery.
(July 11)	Olga	holy	Saint Olga was married to a prince who was assassinated. A cruel and barbarous woman, she scalded her husband's murderers to death and murdered hundreds of their followers. Howerver, she became forgiving and loving when she converted to Christianity.
(Mar. 5)	Olivia Olive, Oliva	olive	Saint Oliva of Brescia was martyred in the persecutions of Hadrian in 138. Her relics are still in St. Afra's church in Brescia, Italy.
Mar. 17	Patricia Pat, Patty, Pattie	nobly born	Saint Patrick had been born in Scotland to Roman parents who were in charge of the British colonies. When he was about fourteen, he was kidnapped during a raid and taken to pagan Ireland to herd sheep. He learned the Druidic language and practices of the people, which later helped him to evangelize them when he returned as a bishop.
Jan. 25	Paula Paulette, Pauline	little	Saint Paul the Apostle was converted from persecuting the Christians by an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascas, after which he poured his passionate enthusiasm into spreading the Gospel. His powerful leadership was marked by boldness and unwavering conviction.

July 20 Jan. 19	Peggy Pearl, Pegeen, Margaret, Maggie, Marge, Margery, Margo, Margot, Marina, Margarita, Marguerite, Marjorie, Gretchen, Greta	pearl	Saint Margaret of Antioch’s father was a pagan priest. Her escape from his false beliefs was depicted in a story of being swallowed by a dragon representing paganism, and then escaping from its belly as if being born anew. Because of this tale, she has become the patron saint of pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. Saint Marguerite Bourgeous gave away her inheritance to family members and departed for Canada, where she founded the Congregation of Notre Dame. She helped people survive when food was scarce, opened a vocational school, and taught young people how to run a home and farm.
Jan. 1 July 6	Polly Molly (both nicknames for Mary)	rebellion	The obvious Saint for this name is the Blessed Mother. Saint Maria Goretti was a young girl when a farmhand tried to rape her. As she warned him that he was sinning, he stabbed her repeatedly. Before she died, she forgave him. Later, while in jail for his crime, the perpetrator had a vision in which Maria led him to conversion. She is the patron of teen girls, rape victims, and chastity.
(July 8)	Priscilla	ancient	Saint Priscilla (or Prisca) was the wife of Aquila, a Jewish tentmaker. Both were converted by the Apostle Paul when he went to Corinth. Saint Paul stayed in their home. They accompanied him to Ephesus and remained there. Paul also stayed at their house during his third missionary journey. They then returned to native Rome, where their house was used as a church.
Jan. 21 Mar. 2	Rachel Agnes, Ines, Inez, Neysa, Nina, Ninete	pure	Saint Agnes of Rome was only a teenager when she had to decide between life and dying for Jesus. She had been ordered to sacrifice her virginity to pagan gods, and she sacrificed her life instead. She is the patron saint of engaged couples. Saint Agnes of Prague was very wealthy, and she freely used this gift to help the poor. She financed a hospital, a Franciscan friary and a Poor Clare convent. She never considered herself as above others, and even after she became abbess, she cooked for the sisters and mended the clothes of lepers.
Sept. 29	Rafaela	God's healer	Saint Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. The angel of healing, he is the one who moved the waters of the healing sheep pool in Jerusalem. He is the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers.
Aug. 31	Ramona Mona, Raimunda (feminine of Raymond)	protector	Saint Raymond Nonnatus spent his inheritance paying the ransom for Christians who had been enslaved and even traded himself to set others free. Because he miraculously survived his birth as his mother died, he is a patron saint for pregnancies.
	Rebecca Becky	ensnarer	Saint Rebecca (or Rebekah) was the Old Testament wife of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Rebecca and Isaac's children were Esau and Jacob. Jacob became the father of the Israelites.
(April 3)	Renee Irene, Irena, Renata	peace	Saint Irene was caught with texts of the Scriptures when this was punishable by death. When she refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, she was sent to a house of prostitution. There, when she was unmolested after being exposed naked and chained, she was put to death.
May 22	Rita	pearl	Saint Rita of Cascia had a special devotion to the Passion, because she felt unspeakable awe at what Jesus did on the cross. She shared in His suffering beginning at age twelve when her parents married her to an abusive man, and so she has become a patron of impossible causes.
Sept. 17	Roberta	bright flame	Saint Robert Bellarmine is the patron saint of catechumens because he wrote two catechisms and devoted much of his time to teaching the Faith to children. He also wrote a revised version of the Bible.
Oct. 7	Rosaria	rosary	Praying the Rosary holds more power than we can imagine. It often saved Christian Europe from Muslim invaders. The Blessed Mother taught three children in Fatima that the Rosary obtains special graces for us, saves sinners from Hell, and protects us from evil spirits.

Aug. 23	Rose Rosa, Rosalie, Rosalinda, Rosalyn, Rosetta, Roseanne, Rosemarie, Rosemonde	rose	Saint Rose of Lima was a mystic and visionary who received invisible stigmata, and yet she often suffered from the feeling that God was distant. Despite how lonely this felt, she persisted in believing that He was indeed with her all the time, and she continually prayed to grow stronger in her ability to trust Him.
	Ruth	female friend	The Old Testament Book of Ruth tells the story of Saint Ruth, a young widow who followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Bethlehem, where Ruth met and married Boaz. Ruth gave birth to Obed, who became the grandfather of David, Israel's greatest king, from whose lineage Jesus was born.
Oct. 11	Sandra Alessandra, Alex, Alexandra, Alexandrina, Alexis, Cassandra	people helper	Saint Alexander Sauli became a bishop in a diocese where faith had died. Clergy and laity knew little about scripture and Church teachings. With the help of three friends, he inspired the people to new faith, corrected abuses, rebuilt broken down churches, and founded colleges and seminaries.
	Sarah Sally, Sara, Sarai, Shari	princess	Sarah was the wife of Abraham, the father of the Jewish religion. Her original name was Sarai until God renamed her when He made His covenant with them. She had been barren until a very old age, and when she was long past her biological time to have children, God gave her a son, Isaac.
April 21	Selma (fem. of Anselm)	divine helmet	Saint Anselm of Canterbury actively fought against slavery in England, even getting politically involved and obtaining legislation that made it illegal to sell human beings.
Mar. 12	Seraphina Serafina, Seraphia, Fina	burning	Saint Seraphina was the victim of disease and neglect, and suffered continuously. She is patron of the handicapped.
	Sharon	His plain or field	Sharon is the name given to various places in Israel known for their beauty. In the Song of Songs 2:1, God is metaphorically alluded to as a lover saying, "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys."

Oct. 28 May 24	Simone Simona, Mona (fem. of Simon)	obedient	Saint Simon was one of the 12 Apostles (not to be confused with Simon/Peter). He was zealous about preaching the Good News. Because of the great holiness of the prayer life of Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger, and because of his growing reputation as a healer and miracle worker, the place where he lived as a hermit became a site for many pilgrimages.
(Sept. 30)	Sophia Sonia, Sonya, Sophie, Sofia	wisdom	According to legend, there was a Roman widow, Saint Wisdom (or Sofia), who had three daughters, Saint Faith, Saint Hope, and Saint Charity, and they all suffered for Jesus. Faith, age 12, miraculously survived being scourged and thrown into boiling pitch, and was finally beheaded; Hope, age 10, and Charity, age 9, were unharmed when tossed into a furnace, so they also were beheaded; their mother suffered while praying over the bodies of her children.
(Dec. 25)	Stacey Anastasia, Stasia	who will rise again	Saint Anastasia's father was a pagan nobleman, but her mother was Christian and secretly raised her in Christian beliefs and ways of holiness. Anastasia's husband was also pagan, and after he discovered she was a Christian, he stopped loving her and became a cruel tyrant, confining her to the house and treating her like a slave. Anastasia rejoiced that she could suffer for the love of Jesus Christ.
	Stella Estelle, Estella, Estrella, Esther	star	Saint Esther was an Old Testament Jewess who became, by marriage to Xerxes, Queen of Persia. She prevented the king from massacring all the Jews in the kingdom.
Dec. 26 April 17	Stephanie Stefanie	crowned	Saint Stephen was one of the first deacons in the Church. His holiness was so evident that when he preached to his enemies, his face glowed brightly like an angel's. He became the first martyr. Saint Stephen Harding found great joy in imitating Jesus through a life of poverty, praying, fasting, and working hard. When the other monks got tired of such a difficult life, Stephen formed a new community, the Cistercians.
(Aug. 11)	Susanna Susan, Suzanne, Suzette	lily	Saint Susanna was the beautiful daughter of a priest in Rome. She refused to marry the emperor's son-in-law, and when the ruler sent two of her uncles, who were court officers, to make her change her mind, she converted them to Christianity. The emperor was so mad, he martyred them.
Nov. 5	Sylvia Sylva, Sylvette, Sylvie, Silvia	of the forest	Saint Sylvia was the mother of Saint Gregory the Great, who became a pope. She and her husband raised their children to live a sanctified life filled with acts of kindness toward others.
June 13 Oct. 24	Tanya Antonia, Antoinette, Antonina, Toni, Tonia	priceless	Saint Anthony of Padua was always a ready helper in time of need. Living as a hermit, he left his cave only to attend Mass and sweep the nearby monastery. When he filled in for a scheduled speaker who failed to keep his commitment, his reputation as a great preacher spread widely. Patron saint for finding lost articles. Saint Anthony Claret was convinced that the Church should use the power of the printed word to evangelize the world.
Oct. 15 Oct. 1	Teresa Theresa, Terese, Therese, Terry, Tracy	reaper	Saint Teresa of Avila realized with shock and sorrow that her love for Jesus was almost nil compared to His great love for her. She decided to devote herself to prayer and sacrifice, and in so doing, she became a mystical contemplative. She wrote that if we fully yield our lives, "I am convinced that He never ceases bestowing His graces until He has brought us to a very high state of prayer." Saint Theresa of Lisieux described her path to holiness as a journey of every-increasing intimacy with You through prayer. She said, "For me, prayer is a surge of the heart … a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."
April 22 Nov. 9	Theodora Dolly, Dora, Dorothy, Doris	God's gift	Saint Theodore of Sykeon was a monk and a bishop who worked amazing miracles, including healings. He put an end to a plague of insects by praying, confidently putting the matter into God's hands. Saint Theodore Tyro was a young soldier in the Roman army when he converted to Christianity. Though he was ordered to fight enemies of the empire, he believed that the devil was the only true enemy. Soon, he was killed for being a Christian, thus winning the battle against the demons who wanted to keep him out of Heaven.

July 3 Jan. 28	Thomasina Tomasa, Tomasina, Tomasine	twin	Saint Thomas the Apostle doubted Jesus' resurrection until he touched His wounds. After Pentecost, God called him to become a missionary in India, but he doubted again and said no. He changed his mind only after being taken into slavery by a merchant who happened to be going to India. Once he was cured of his doubt, God freed him and he began the work he had called him to do. He is the patron saint against doubt. Saint Thomas Aquinas’ family misunderstood his devotion to studying the Faith. Because of their disapproval, he had to join the Dominicans secretly. His family kidnapped him, intent on changing his mind, but his trust in God kept his hope alive. A year later, God freed him to rejoin the friars. He became a great theologian and Doctor of the Church.
Mar. 14	Tillie Tilda, Matilda, Maude, Maud	battle maiden	Though Saint Matilda married a king, she did not lord it over others. She often visited the sick and imprisoned. Her husband learned much from her holiness, taking greater interest in the needs of his people and using his power to ease their suffering.
Nov. 25 April 29 Mar. 24	Trina Katherine, Kathryn, Katrina, Kay, Kit, Kitty, Catherine	pure	Jesus gave Saint Catherine Labouré a vision of the Blessed Mother revealing an image that was to be made into the Miraculous Medal. He commissioned her to spread its devotion. It included the prayer: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." He promised that those who wear it as a sign of devotion will receive the graces needed for holy living. Saint Catherine of Siena took her faith out into the world to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. She served as a spiritual guide to many, she affected politics, and she convinced the pope to return the Church’s leadership to Rome. By word and deed, she taught that Christians should influence the world with their spiritual values. Saint Catherine of Sweden, with her mother Saint Bridget, organized pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other places to stimulate people’s spiritual growth. In between pilgrimages, they spent their time in prayer and meditation, ministering to the poor and instructing them in religion.

Nov. 16	Trudy Gertrude, Gerda	spear strength	Saint Gertrude was a very gifted student and loved every subject except religion. When she studied philosophy, it began to twist her mind and lead her away from the Faith, so Jesus visited her in a vision and called her back. From then on she studied Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers.
Oct. 21	Ursula	Little Bear	Saint Ursula loved children and became a teacher. She taught them about the Good News and instructed them in how to lead holy lives. She is the patron of Catholic education, students, and teachers.
Feb. 19	Valery Valerie, Valeria	valiant	Saint Valerius was a bishop who worked throughout southern France to evangelize the region and to increase monasticism.
July 12	Veronica Vera, Bernice	victory bringer	Saint Veronica served Jesus on His way to Calvary by wiping His beloved face with a towel on which His sacred image then appeared. She protected this treasure, and whenever people touched it, they were miraculously healed.
Sept. 27	Vincentia Vincenza	conquering	Saint Vincent de Paul developed a special concern for the poor after giving the Sacraments to a dying peasant. He cared for slaves, prostitutes, war victims, and the destitute.
	Virginia Ginny	virgin	The Blessed Virgin Mary is your patron. Her parents dedicated her to God when she was three. In the temple, she joined the girls who spent their days praying, reading Scripture, and serving the temple priests. Her holiness was very evident, and the high priest thought that God probably had great plans for her.
(Aug. 28)	Vivian	lively	Saint Vivian was a bishop who dedicated his life to relieving the sufferings of the local people after they were invaded by a heathen enemy.
April 6	Wilhelmina (fem. of Wilhelm, which is a form of William)	strong helmet	Saint William of Eskilsoe worked so hard on his spiritual growth that he developed a widespread reputation for holiness and austerity.
Jan. 3	Winifred (form of Genevieve)	white wave	Saint Genevieve was a small child when she decided to devote her life to God. She allowed nothing to interfere. She had an enthusiastic and single-minded heart for Christ.
(Jan. 13)	Yvette Yvonne	praised	Blessed Yvette has not been canonized, but she is considered a saint. After she was widowed at age eighteen with three children, she dedicated herself to caring for lepers out of love for God. She became a mystic, loved by the people for her prayers and miracles. She brought her father and one of her two remaining children back to the Faith.
April 27	Zita	little hope	Saint Zita was sold to a family as a domestic servant, and she stayed in that position for the rest of her life. Because of her Christian beliefs, she often gave away her food, and sometimes her master’s food, to those who were needier than herself. This caused problems with her employers.
(May 2)	Zoe	life	Saint Zoe and her husband Exsuperius (also called Hesperus) were Christian slaves who refused to eat food offered to the gods of their master when their son was born. The family was therefore martyred.