No, it’s not absolutely required. But there’s a good chance your priest will talk with you about it.
The practice varies by parish and diocese. Some priests assign Orthodox names to every convert. Others keep your existing name if it’s already a saint’s name. Still others leave it entirely up to you. There’s no single rule that applies everywhere in the Antiochian Archdiocese, which means this is one of those things you’ll work out with your priest during catechism.
Why Orthodox names matter
When you’re received into the Church through baptism or chrismation, you’re being born into a new life. That’s not just poetic language. We believe something real happens. And throughout Christian history, a new birth has often meant a new name.
Your Orthodox name connects you to a specific saint who becomes your patron. This isn’t like picking a favorite historical figure. It’s about having someone in heaven who prays for you, whose life you study, whose feast day you celebrate. When the priest commemorates you at the Divine Liturgy, he’ll use your Christian name. When you go to confession, same thing. Your patron saint becomes part of your daily prayer life.
Think of it this way: you’re joining a family that stretches back two thousand years and includes both the living and the dead. Your patron saint is like a spiritual godparent, someone who’s already made it home and can help you get there too.
What if you’re already named after a saint?
Then you’re probably set. If your name is John or Mary or Nicholas or Catherine, you’ve got a saint’s name already. Your priest might just keep it. Some priests will ask which St. John you want as your patron since there are dozens. John the Baptist? John the Theologian? John Chrysostom? You get to choose, or your priest might suggest one whose life particularly speaks to your situation.
Sometimes it gets trickier. Let’s say you’re named Ashley or Brandon or Tiffany. Those aren’t traditional Christian names, so your priest might suggest an Orthodox name that’s similar in sound or meaning. Or you might pick a saint whose story moved you during your catechism. I know a man named Derek who took the name Demetrios. I know a Jennifer who kept Jennifer but chose St. Genevieve as her patron since the names share roots.
The practical side
Most converts who take a new Orthodox name don’t legally change anything. Your driver’s license still says what it says. Your coworkers still call you what they’ve always called you. But in church, at the chalice, in the prayers, you’re known by your Christian name. Some people start using their Orthodox name everywhere. Others keep it just for church life. Both are fine.
Your priest will probably ask you to think about this a few months before your chrismation. He might give you a book of saints to read through. He might suggest a few names based on what he’s learned about you during catechism. Or he might ask if there’s a saint you’ve already grown attached to. Fr. Thomas Hopko used to say that sometimes the saint picks you rather than the other way around.
A word for the anxious
If you’re coming from a Baptist or non-denominational background here in Southeast Texas, this whole thing might feel strange. Your family already thinks you’ve joined something weird, and now you’re telling them you’re called Seraphim? I get it. But remember that taking a Christian name isn’t about rejecting your past or your family. It’s about claiming your future. And honestly, your grandmother will probably keep calling you what she’s always called you anyway.
Talk to your priest early. Tell him your concerns. If you’re worried about family reactions, say so. If you love your current name and want to keep it, say that too. This isn’t a test you can fail. It’s a conversation about how you’ll be known in the Church, and your priest has had this conversation dozens of times before. He’ll help you figure it out.
