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In April, an array of names, both classic and unusual, are celebrated according to the Saints’ calendar. From Julie to Baptiste, including Hugues and Odette, explore the names that will make their mark this month and the meanings behind them.
Like every month, April highlights numerous names from the Saints’ calendar. This tradition, stemming from the Catholic Church, involves commemorating a religious figure each day who made a significant impact during their time. Depending on the dates, variations of the name and other associated names are also celebrated. For instance, April 7 honors Saint Baptiste, in tribute to the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, but Calliope, Goran, and Hégésippe are also celebrated. With 30 days, April undoubtedly includes a special day for someone you know. Here are the names celebrated this month and their symbolism.
April 1: Saint Hugues
On April 1, Saint Hugues is celebrated along with its variants Hugo, Hugolin, Ugo, Huguette, Ugoline. The name Hugues originates from the Germanic name Hug, which means “spirit” or “mind”. It refers to Saint Hugues, a bishop of Grenoble who helped in founding the Grande-Chartreuse. Other names celebrated on April 1 include Valéry, Valéri, Valeria, Valerio, and Ludovic.
April 2: Saint Alexandrine or Sandrine
April 2 marks the celebration of Saint Alexandrine and its derivatives Alessandrine, Alexandrina, Cendrine. The name Alexandrine is derived from the Greek words alexein and andros, meaning “to repel” and “manly” respectively. It refers to Saint Alexandrine the Blessed, who founded the convent of Foligno in the 16th century. Other names celebrated on April 2 include Muse and Eustase.
April 3: Saint Richard
On April 3, Saint Richard and its variants Dick, Ricard, Ricardo, Riccardo, Richarde, Richardine, Ricarda, Riccarda are celebrated. The name Richard is composed of the Germanic elements ric and hard, meaning “powerful” and “hard”. It refers to Saint Richard, a prominent scholar of the 12th century who studied at Oxford, Paris, and Bologna and became the chancellor of the University of Oxford. A renowned jurist, he defended the church’s independence from royal power in England.
Later promoted to bishop of Chichester, the capital of Sussex, he was then persecuted by Henry III for ten years. He was revered and dearly loved by his diocesans. Other names celebrated on April 3 include Sixte, Sixtina, Sixtine, Nicétas, Nikita.
April 4: Saint Isidore
April 4 is dedicated to Saint Isidore, or Isadora, Isidora for a girl. The name Isidore originates from the Greek name Isidôros, meaning “gift of Isis”. It refers to Saint Isidore of Seville, a bishop and church doctor who promoted the development of monasteries in Spain. Other names celebrated on April 4 include Alèthe, Aleth, Aliette, Platon.
April 5: Saint Irène
On April 5, Saint Irène and its variants Iréna, Iria, Irina are celebrated. The name Irène is derived from the Greek name Eirênê, meaning “peace”. It refers to Saint Irène, a Greek martyr who died with her sisters Chiona and Agapé in 304 during a persecution in Thessaloniki.
April 6: Saint Célestin or Marcellin
April 6 marks the celebration of Saint Célestin, or Célestine for a girl. This name was inspired by the Latin adjective caelestis, meaning “from heaven”. It refers to Saint Célestin, the only pope to have resigned from his duties. Other names celebrated on April 6 include Perrine, Pierrette.
April 7: Saint Baptiste
April 7 is dedicated to Saint Baptiste and its derivatives Baptistin, Baptistine, Battista, Giobatta. The name Baptiste is derived from the Greek “baptizein”, a verb meaning “to administer the Christian sacrament”. It refers to Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, who died in 1719. Other names celebrated on April 7 include Calliope, Goran, Hégésippe.
April 8: Saint Julie
On April 8, Saint Julie and its derivatives Giulia, Julia, July, Juline are celebrated. The name Julie is derived from Julius, the name of a prominent Roman family from antiquity, descendants of Aeneas, the legendary Prince of Troy. It refers to Saint Julie who founded an educational institution aiming to educate poor children in France and Belgium, The Sisters of Our Lady. Other names celebrated on April 8 include Constance, Consuela.
April 9: Saint Gauthier
April 9 is the day to celebrate Saint Gauthier. The name Gauthier is derived from the Germanic name Waldhari, composed of the verb waldan meaning “to govern” and the element -hari meaning “army”. It refers to Saint Gauthier, an abbot who founded the Benedictine abbey of Pontoise.
April 10: Saint Fulbert
On April 10, Saint Fulbert is celebrated. The Germanic name Saint Fulbert means “brilliant people”. It refers to Saint Fulbert, bishop of Chartres, who died in 1028. Other names celebrated on April 10 include Grégoire, Grégori, Grégorio, Gregory, Grégoria, and Grégorie, Terence, Terrance, and Terry.
April 11: Saint Stanislas
April 11 marks the celebration of Saint Stanislas and its derivatives Stan and Stanley. The name Stanislas is derived from the Polish name Stanislaw. The terms stan and slav, which make up the ancient name Stanislaw, mean “to stand” and “glory”. It refers to Saint Stanislas, the bishop of Krakow who was murdered by the king of Poland whom he had just admonished. Other names celebrated on April 11 include Gemma, Paolenan.
April 12: Saint Jules
On April 12, Saint Jules or Jiliann for a girl is celebrated. The name Jules comes from Julius, the name of an important Roman family. Julius also derives from jovilios, “descendant of Jupiter”. It refers to Pope Jules I. He was born in Rome in the late 3rd century. His election took place in 337. He dedicated himself to fighting the heretical Arianism. Thanks to his commitment, Rome gained its primacy over other Churches. Other names celebrated on April 12 include Zénon.
April 13: Saint Ida
April 13 is dedicated to Saint Ida and its variants Ide, Ita, Itta, Ilda, Idaline, Ilona, Ilia. Ida is the diminutive of several Germanic names. These names are formed from the element id- which means “work”. It refers to Saint Ida, the founder of many abbeys in the 11th century.
April 14: Saint Maxime
On April 14, Saint Maxime, Maxim, Maximien, Maximo, Massimo, Maximus, Maxima, Massima are celebrated. The name Maxime comes from the Latin maximus meaning “the greatest”. It refers to Saint Maxime, who died in 260, betrothed to Saint Cecilia, whom he had converted on their wedding day. Other names celebrated on April 14 include Valerian, Tiburce.
April 15: Saint Paterne
April 15 marks the celebration of Saint Paterne and its derivatives Padern, Paer, Patern, Pedern, Pern. It refers to Saint Paterne, bishop of Avranches, who died in 565. Other names celebrated on April 15 include Anastasia, Anastasie, Stacey, Stessy, Caesar, Cesare, Cesarine, Basilisse, Basilissa, Vassilissa.
April 16: Saint Bernadette-Benoît-Joseph
On April 16, Saint Bernadette is celebrated. The name Bernadette is formed from the Germanic term ber- which means “bear”. It refers to Saint Bernadette who claimed to have seen the Virgin at Lourdes in 1858 while she was collecting wood. This place subsequently became a major pilgrimage site for Catholics. Other names celebrated on April 16 include Druon, Benoît-Joseph.
April 17: Saint Kateri
While Easter is celebrated on April 17, it is also the day for Saint Kateri. The name Kateri comes from the Greek katharos meaning “pure”. It refers to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint, who died in 1680. Other names celebrated on April 17 include Anicet, Anicette, Marie-Anne, Maïana, Mariana, Marianna, Marianne.
April 18: Saint Parfait
On this Easter Monday, Saint Parfait is celebrated. This unisex name comes from the Latin perfectus meaning “perfect”. It refers to Saint Parfait of Cordoue, a priest and martyr who died in Cordoue in 850. Other names celebrated on April 18 include Ursmer, Ursmar.
April 19: Saint Emma
April 19 is dedicated to Saint Emma, and its variants Ema or Ima. The name Emma can be the diminutive of Emmanuelle. In Hebrew, immanu-el means “God is with us”. If we consider its Germanic origin, Emma then means “home”. It refers to Saint Emma, a Christian who dedicated her life and fortune to the poor. Other names celebrated on April 19 include Timon, Timeo.
April 20: Saint Odette
On April 20, Saint Odette and its variants Oda, Ode, Odélia, Odélie, Odeline, Odelin, and Odet are celebrated. Odette is derived from the name Oda. This name comes from the German “odo”, which means “wealth”, “prosperity”. It refers to the Blessed Odette. This noblewoman lived in the 12th century in Belgium. Refusing to marry, she cut off her nose to alter her beauty and entered a convent where she died at less than 25 years old. Other names celebrated on April 20 include Théotime.
April 21: Saint Anselme
April 21 is the day for Saint Anselme, and its derivatives Ancel, Ancelin, Anceline, Selma. This unisex Germanic name means “helmet, protection”. It refers to Saint Anselme of Canterbury, abbot of the Abbey of Bec in Normandy, then archbishop of Canterbury and church doctor in the 12th century.
April 22: Saint Alexandre
April 22 marks the celebration of Saint Alexandre and its variants Alejandro, Alessandro, Sandro, Alexander, Alister, Sacha, Alexandra, Alec, Alejandra, Alessandra, Sandra. The name Alexandre comes from the Greek “alexein”, “to repel”, and “andros”, “man”. Alexandre would therefore mean “to repel the enemy”. It refers to Saint Alexandre of Lyon, a doctor, martyr of Lyon in the 2nd century. Other names celebrated on April 22 include Sôter, Opportune, Léonide, Gaius.
April 23: Saint Georges
April 23 is dedicated to Saint Georges. and its variants George, Giorgio, Jordi, Jordy, Joris, Youri, Yury, Georgette, Georgia, Georgiana, Georgiane, Georgie, Georgina, Giorgia. The name Georges is derived from the Greek name Geôrgios which designates the “farmers” or “workers of the land”. It refers to Saint Georges, a martyr in Palestine at the beginning of the 4th century. Other names celebrated on April 23 include Fortunat, Fortuné, Adalbert.
April 24: Saint Fidèle
April 24 is the day to celebrate Saint Fidèle, Fidélia, or Fidel for a boy. The name Fidèle, comes from the Latin fidelis meaning “faithful”. It refers to Saint Fidèle of Sigmaringen, a lawyer in Colmar who gave his possessions to the poor, and became a Capuchin monk before being murdered in 1622, a victim of conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. Other names celebrated on April 24 include Egbert, Euphrasie, Mellitus, Amine, Aman.
April 25: Saint Marc
On April 25, Saint Marc and its derivatives Marco, Marcos, Marcus, Marcia, Marcie, and Marcy are celebrated. The name Marc may have two origins: one from the Latin Marcus to invoke the God Mars and one from the Greek martikos, “consecrated to Mars”. It refers to Saint Marc, one of the four evangelists and one of the first converts to Christianity, who died a martyr in Alexandria at the end of the 1st century. Marcus wrote The Gospel According to Marc, which is the second book of the New Testament.
Other names celebrated on April 25 include Clarence, Ermin, Héribald.
April 26: Saint Alida
April 26 is dedicated to Saint Alida, Alda, or Aldo for a boy. The name Alda comes from the Germanic word adal which means “noble”. It refers to Blessed Alda, a noblewoman from Siena in Tuscany, who died in 1309 after a life of charity. Other names celebrated on April 26 include Paschase, Riquier.
April 27: Saint Amédée – Zita
On April 27, Saint Amédée and Amedeus are celebrated. The name Amédée originates from the Latin name Amadeus. The terms ama and deus forming the ancient name Amadeus mean “to love” and “God” respectively. It refers to Saint Amédée, Duke of Savoy and Piedmont, who founded many monasteries and hospitals in the 15th century. Other names celebrated on April 27 include Zita, Zéra, Zérane, Zite.
April 28: Saint Valérie
April 28 marks the celebration of Saint Valérie, and its variants Valéry, Valère, Valeria, Valériane, Valeriana. The name Valérie comes from the Latin name Valeria, the female equivalent of Valerius, the name of a Roman family. This ancient name could also be derived from the Latin word valere, “to be strong”. It refers to Saint Valérie, a Christian who founded a church in Milan.
Her husband, Saint Vital of Ravenna, was thrown into a well and suffocated under a pile of stones and sand for proclaiming his faith. Shortly after, Valérie was beaten and tortured before succumbing to her injuries. Other names celebrated on April 28 include Chanel, Pierre-Marie, Louis-Marie.
April 29: Saint Catherine
On April 29, Saint Catherine and its derivatives Catarina, Cateline, Caterina, Cathie, Cathy, Katarina, Kate, Katel, Katell, Katelle, Katerina, Katia, Katrine, Katy are celebrated. The ancient name Aikaterinê is inspired by the Greek adjective kathara which means “pure”. It refers to Saint Catherine, beheaded after being converted to Christianity by a hermit.
The bride of Christ, as she is nicknamed, became the patron saint of young girls. Other names celebrated on April 29 include Sienne, Siena, Syéna, Ava, Avelaine, Aveline, Aviva.
April 30: Saint Robert
On April 30, Saint Robert and its variants Robin, Bob, Bobby, Roberto, Rupert, Roberta, Roberte, Robertine are celebrated. The name Robert comes from the Germanic words hrod and berht which mean “glory” and “bright”. It refers to Saint Robert, a hermit who founded the abbeys of Molesne and then Citeaux and participated in the founding of the Cistercian order in the 11th century. Other names celebrated on April 30 include Eutrope, Aphrodise.
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