100+ Best Catholic Names With Meanings

Georgia Stone
Feb 16, 2024 By Georgia Stone
Originally Published on Nov 05, 2020
Little cute baby boy, playing with toys at home
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Age: 0-99
Read time: 12.2 Min



Catholic names are a beautiful choice for your new baby.

The most significant translation of the Catholic Bible (which is also known as the Christian Bible) is the Douay-Rheims Bible, which is also described as 'deuterocanonical'. With beautiful biblical meanings, these special names for girls and boys are truly wonderful.

This list contains over 100 Catholic names with meanings and origins to help you find the best name for your child. For more inspiration, take a look at these saint names for girls and these saint names for boys too.
 

Catholic Girl Names Of Saints

Here are some Catholic names for girls that are mostly associated with saints or martyrs.

1. Aquilina (Spanish origin) meaning “eagle”. At the age of twelve, she taught about Christ and his teachings to bring people into the faith.

2. Bibiana (Greek origin) meaning “alive”. The Basilica of St. Bibiana was consecrated by Pope Simplicius.

3. Camilla (Etruscan origin) meaning “youths serving as acolytes”. St. Camilla was an Italian princess who later joined the order of Saint Clare.

4. Dymphna (Irish Origin) meaning “eligible”. St Dymphna lived in the seventh century. Her canonisation was commissioned by the Bishop of Cambrai.

5. Eulalia (Greek origin) meaning “well spoken”. St. Eulalia was a thirteen-year-old child who lived in Barcelona.

6. Flavia (Latin origin) meaning “blonde”. St. Flavia was the granddaughter of Emperor Vespasian.

7. Gemma (Latin origin) meaning “gemstone”. St. Gemma was known in the church as "daughter of the passion" due to her lifestyle inspired by the passion of Jesus Christ.

8. Honorata (Latin origin) meaning “woman of honor”. St. Honorata was a nun of St. Epiphanius of Pavia.

9. Ita (Polish origin) meaning “thirst”. There is a Roman Catholic Church in Chicago named after St. Ita.

10. Justa (French origin) meaning of the French baby name is “righteous”. St. Justa finds a very venerable place in the Hispanic liturgy.

11. Kiara (Irish origin) meaning “dark haired”. St. Kiara is a seventh century Irish saint.

12. Lelia (Greek origin) meaning “well spoken”. St. Lelia’s grandfather Prince Cairthenn was baptized by St. Patrick.

13. Marina (Latin origin) meaning “of the sea”. She is popularly known as Saint Marina of Aguas Santas or Marina of Ourense.

14. Michelina (French origin) meaning “God like”. St. Michelina was introduced into the Catholic faith by her friend blessed Soriana.

15. Natalia (Latin origin) meaning “Christmas day”. St. Natalia was a convert to Christianity. Her and her husband's heads were chopped off by the king Abd ar-Rahman II of Cordoba for practicing Christianity.

16. Olive (English origin) meaning “peaceful one”. St. Olivia is the patron saint of Palermo in Sicily.

17. Phoebe (Greek origin) meaning “bright”. St. Phoebe finds mention by Apostle Paul in the New Testament.

18. Rosalia (Latin origin) meaning “rose”. St. Rosalina is the patron saint of Palermo in Italy.

19. Sabina (Latin origin) meaning “woman of the Sabine tribe”. St. Sabina was the daughter of Herold Metallarius and wife of a Roman senator. She was introduced to Jesus Christ by her slave St. Serapia.

20. Salome (Hebrew origin) meaning “peace”. Mark names St. Salome as one of the women who discovered the empty tomb of Christ.

21. Susanna (Hebrew origin) meaning “Shoshannah”. It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Shoshannah. She is the daughter of St. Gabinus of Rome. Her feast day is on 11 August.

22. Tatiana (Russian origin) meaning “princess”. St. Tatiana was a deaconess in Rome when Emperor Alexander Severus ruled.

23. Ursula (Latin origin) meaning “bear”. St. Ursula died on 21 October 383 in Cologne.

24. Valeria (Scandinavian origin) meaning “strong” in many European languages. St. Valeria was among the first converts in Milan, Italy.

25. Verena (Greek origin) meaning “the winner”. St. Verena belongs to the Theban Legion. She is buried in Bad Zurzach in Switzerland.

Portrait of cute little baby lying on bed

 

Catholic Saint Names For Boys

Here are some good biblical names for boys with great inner meanings.

26. Aidan (Celtic origin) meaning “bringer of fire”. St. Aidan converted Anglo-Saxons into the Catholic faith in Northumbria.

27. Amias (Latin origin) meaning “loved one”. Pope Pius XI beatified St. John Amias in 1929.

28. Anselm (German origin) meaning “helmet”. St. Anselm of Canterbury was a Benedictine priest from Italy. He is also known as Anselm of Bec and Anselm of Aosta.

29. Artemas (Greek origin) meaning “whole”. St. Artemas is a biblical personality who was the bishop of Lystra.

30. Barnabas (Greek origin) meaning “consolation”. St. Barnabas was a companion of Paul the Apostle.

31. Benno (German origin) meaning “bear”. St. Benno served as the bishop of Meissen and was canonized in 1523.

32. Brice (English origin) meaning “speckled”. St. Brice was the bishop of Tours in the fourth century.

33. Cloud (American origin) meaning “nebula”. St. Cloud was the son of Chlodomer and the grandson of Clovis I. He built a church in Nivigentum in France.

34. Cosmas (Greek origin) meaning “decency”. St. Cosmas was a doctor in Aegean of Syria and a martyr in the cause of the Church.

35. Diego (Spanish origin) meaning “James”. St. Juan Diego’s was a Mexican whose real name was Cuauhtlatoatzin. His feast day falls on 9 December.

36. Dunstan (Middle English origin) meaning “brown stone”. Bishop Dunstan is remembered for defeating the devil. He served as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop of London, and the Abbot of Glastonbury.

37. Emile (Latin origin) meaning “rival”. St. Emile lived in the third century. He was martyred in Carthage.

38. Erasmus (Greek origin) meaning “beloved”. St. Erasmus of Formia is the patron saint of abdominal pain and sailors.

39. Finnian (Irish origin) meaning “white”. St. Finnian of Clonard founded Clonard Abbey in the Meath county of Ireland.

40. Florian (Romanian origin) meaning “blond”. St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters, chimney sweepers, and soap makers.

41. Giles (English origin) meaning “young goat”. St. Giles lived in Septimania and Provence near Athens. His tomb is a place of pilgrimage.

42. Guy (Germanic origin) meaning “Guido”. Popularly known as "the poor man of Anderlecht".

43. Hugh (French origin) meaning “Hugo”. St. Hugh was the son of Drogo of Champagne. He was also known as St. Hugh of Rouen and Hugh of Champagne.

44. Isidore (Greek origin) meaning “gift of the Goddess Isis”. St. Isidore of Seville served as the Archbishop of Seville for thirty years.

45. Israel (Biblical origin) meaning “triumphant with God”. St. Israel of Limoges took care of plague victims in 994 AD. He served as the Canon regular of Dorat.

46. Ives (English origin) meaning “land of heroes”. St. Ives is the patron saint of abandoned children and lawyers.

47. Joachim (Hebrew origin) meaning “raised by Yahweh”. St. Joachim is the grandfather of Jesus Christ on his mother’s side. His wife St. Anne shares the feast day of 26 July with St. Joachim.

48. Juniper (Latin origin) meaning “evergreen”. St. Juniper was a follower of St. Francis of Assisi. He was inducted into the Order of Friars by St. Francis.

49. Kilian (Irish origin) meaning “little church”. St. Kilian is the Apostle and Bishop of Franconia in Bavaria.

50. Leander (Greek origin) meaning “lion man”. St. Leander converted the Visigothic kings Reccared and Hermenegild into Christianity.

51. Lloyd (Welsh origin) meaning “grey haired”. Saint John Lloyd was a Welsh priest who was executed in 1679 at Cardiff.

52. Lucian (Latin origin) meaning “light”. St. Lucian of Beauvais was the first bishop of Beauvais.

53. Malachy (Irish origin) meaning “my messenger”. St. Malachy was the Archbishop of Armagh. He has performed numerous miracles.

54. Milo (English origin) meaning “soldier”. St. Milo of Trier was the Archbishop of Trier. He was the great-grandson of St. Sigarda.

55. Mungo (Gaelic origin) meaning “dear one”. St. Mungo’s original name was Kentigern. He founded Glasgow and is the patron saint of the city.

56. Otto (German origin) meaning “prosperity”. St. Otto was instrumental in converting Pomerania to the Catholic faith. He was the Bishop of Bamberg.

57. Owen (Welsh origin) meaning “of noble birth”. St. Nicholas Owen was tortured to death in the Tower of London. Pope Paul VI canonized him in 1970.

58. Peregrine (Latin origin) meaning “from abroad”. St. Peregrine Laziosi is the patron saint of people afflicted with AIDS and cancer.

59. Quentin (French origin) meaning “the fifth”. St. Quentin of Amiens was the son of a senator and was killed in Gaul.

60. Remi (French origin) meaning “remedy”. St. Remi baptized Clovis I, who was the king of the Franks. This led to the Frankish population embracing Christianity.

61. Roch (French origin) meaning “rest”. St. Roch performed many miracles during the plague.

62. Rupert (High Germanic origin) meaning “bright fame”. St. Rupert of Salzberg was the Abbot of St. Peter’s. He is the patron saint of Salzburg in Austria.

63. Sylvester (Latin origin) meaning “wild”. Pope Sylvester I was the 33rd pope. His feast is on 2 January. Among the names for boys and girls, this is a much sought after name.

64. Urban (Latin origin) meaning “from the city”. St. Urban of Langres is the patron saint of people in the wine industry.

65. Vergilius (Roman origin) meaning “flourishing”. St. Vergilius of Salzburg was an Irishman who settled in France. He was the Abbot of Aghaboe. His love for the gospels was well known.

66. Wolfgang (German origin) meaning “the journey of the wolf”. St. Wolfgang was chosen by numerous churches as their patron saint. This is a good baby boy name.

67. Yves (Celtic origin) meaning “yew”. St. Yves of Brittany never drank wine. He was canonized by Pope Clement VI.

68. Zachary (Persian origin) meaning “God remembers”. Pope Zachary built the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.

69. Zeno (Greek origin) meaning “host”. St. Zeno is a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He hailed from Mauretania in Africa.

Adorable toddler dressed in black on pumpkin background

Names Attributed To Mother Mary

It is very common in the Catholic faith to add ‘Mary’ to girl names in love and reverence to the mother of Jesus. What is the name of the Catholic Bible which contains more names for Mother Mary?

The Catholic Church uses many bibles approved by the Vatican, the Vulgate is most appropriate to consider as the Catholic Bible with the most names for Mary to choose from.

70. Dolorosa (Spanish origin) meaning “aches”. It is believed that Mary suffered seven types of sorrows due to her son.

71. Holy (Old English origin) meaning “holly”. The root of the name is from the old English words of 'holen' and 'holegn', both meaning "holly".

72. Madonna (Old Italian origin) meaning “woman”. From 1844 onwards, it was used to denote the Virgin Mary.

73. Madone (Friulian origin) meaning “mother in law”. This name was adopted by Americans to be used instead of Madonna.

74. Mary (Greek origin) meaning “marine”. The English Catholic name Mary is derived from the Latin name Maria which the Romans adopted from Greek. This name can mean "beloved", "bitter", or "marine".

75. Maven (Yiddish origin) meaning “brilliant”.

76. Nuestra Senora (Spanish origin) meaning “our lady”. This is a combination name which means "our lady", it is used to denote Mother Mary as a token of love.

77. Virgen (Mexican origin) meaning “person who played the character Mary”. It is a popular Spanish pet name used to call someone who played the role of Mother Mary in a representation.

Classic Catholic Baby Girl Names

Some names have been carried through centuries and remain cool and classic today, many of these are names of Catholic Saints.

78. Alodia (Latin origin) meaning “wealthy”.

79. Attracta (Irish origin) meaning “enchanting”. The feast day of St. Attracta is 11 August.

80. Cera (Irish origin) meaning “black haired”. There is more than one Catholic saint with this name.

81. Audrey (Anglo Saxon origin) meaning “noble”. St. Audrey lived in the sixth century.

82. Basilla (Mycenaean origin) meaning “royal”. St. Basilla embraced Christianity and refused to marry Pompeius.

83. Celine (Latin origin) meaning “heavenly”.

84. Christina (Greek origin) meaning “follower of Christ”. The Catholic saint Christina belonged to Russia.

85. Cleopatra (Greek origin) meaning “glory of the father”. The Orthodox Church has a saint called St. Cleopatra.

86. Clotilde (German origin) meaning “renowned battle”. The Frankish King Clovis’ wife St. Clotilde converted her husband into Christianity.

87. Corona (Greek origin) meaning “garland”. The feast day of the Catholic St. Corona falls on 14 May.

88. Ebba (Friulian origin) meaning “strong”. There are many saints with this popular old English name.

89. Leila (Semitic origin) meaning “night”. This name was traditionally given to girls born at night. St. Leila is a Catholic saint who is the patron saint of Limerick.

90. Priscilla (Latin origin) meaning “classical”. It was believed that the name gives longer life.

91. Thais (Friulian origin) meaning “who belongs to the Goddess Isis”. The Catholic St. Thais was a hermit from Egypt and lived in the fourth century.

Classic Catholic Baby Boy Names

Some of these great names belonged to Catholic Saints. Why not name your son after a Catholic Saint?

92. Abundius (Latin origin) meaning “plentiful”. St. Abundius lived in the fifth century and was the Bishop of Como in Italy.

93. Theodore (Greek origin) meaning “gift of God”. St. Theodore is a warrior saint.

94. Henry (Old Frankish origin) meaning “ruler”. The feast day of St. Henry falls on 13 July.

95. Pelagio (Greek origin) meaning “flight”. St. Pelagio led the fifth crusade and was a papal legate.

96. Apollo (Ancient Greek origin) meaning “destroyer”. St. Apollo was an Egyptian hermit who was the Abbot of Hermapol.

97. Blaise (French origin) meaning “stammering”. St. Blaise was a doctor who became the bishop of Sebastea.

98. Cyprian (Latin origin) meaning “a person from Cypress in Greece”. St. Cyprian was the Bishop of Carthage.

99. Damien (Greek origin) meaning “tamer”. Saint Damien De Veuster belonged to Belgium.

100. Nicodemus (Spanish origin) meaning “victory of the people”. The biblical name was adapted into Spanish from Greek. The gospel of John says that he was a member of the Sanhedrin and a Pharisee.

101. Savvas (Greek origin) meaning “Sabbath”. The Catholic baby name is derived from the Greek word for Sabbath. St. Savvas is a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

102. Jasper (English origin) meaning “treasurer”. Jasper is a Catholic name as it is the name of one of the Three Magi in the Christian bible.

Kidadl has lots of great baby names articles to inspire you. If you liked our suggestions for Catholic names for boys and girls  then why not take a look at these Christian names, or for something different take a look at these Irish girl names.

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Written by Georgia Stone

Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

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Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.

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