Baptismal names for children born on May 4

Boys' names from this day

Girls' names from this day

From the eighth day, May 11

All the saints of May 4

• Fool-⁠for-⁠Christ MonicaNorth African Christian who prayed earnestly for the conversion of her son Augustine, died at Ostia in 387.
• Martyr FlorianChristian of Lauriacum in Noricum, killed for his faith around 304.
• Hieromartyr Erasmus of FormiaBishop and martyr around the year 303, patron of sailors.
• Saint Godehard of HildesheimBenedictine abbot and bishop of Hildesheim, a monastic reformer, who died in 1038.
• Martyr Pelagia of TarsusVirgin of Tarsus in Cilicia, martyred in the early fourth century, with a life preserved in legend.
• Hieromartyr Sylvanus of GazaBishop of Gaza who died a martyr in 311 at Caesarea in Palestine; commemorated on May 17.
• Hieromartyr Alvian of AneaBishop of Anea in Asia, martyred about 304 in the reign of Diocletian and Maximian.
• Holy Venerables Alfanov Brothers of NovgorodFive brothers of Novgorod, Nikita, Cyril, Nikephoros, Clement and Isaac, who took monastic vows around 1400.
• New Martyr Trendafil KerelovPriest of Batak killed by the Ottomans in 1876, venerated as a new martyr.
• Venerable Mavra of Mount CeahlăuA Romanian schemanun who lived as an ascetic on Mount Ceahlău in the 18th century, canonized in 2025.
• Holy New Martyrs New Martyrs of BatakOrthodox Christians of Batak, killed in 1876 during the April Uprising.
• NSVenerable Nikephoros the SolitaryAthonite monk and spiritual writer of the thirteenth century, author of a treatise on watchfulness in the Philokalia.
• ABSaint Aedh son of BrecA saint honored in the Irish tradition; very little is recorded.
• ANVenerable Alphan of NovgorodRussian venerable monk of the Novgorod region.
• ARVenerable Anthony du RocherA hermit of Gaul.
• ASMartyr Anthony of ScythopolisA martyr of Scythopolis, put to death for his faith in Christ.
• ASMartyr Aphrodisius of ScythopolisA martyr of Scythopolis in Palestine, put to death for his faith in Christ.
• ANSaint Athanasius the NewBishop of Christianopolis, honored in the Greek Church.
• BISaint Benedict of IserniaBishop honored as a saint at Isernia in Italy; the sources preserve few details about him.
• CAVenerable Clement AlfanovA venerable father of Novgorod, linked with Sokolnitsa, commemorated in the Russian calendar.
• CMSaint Cronan of MunsterA saint honored in the Irish tradition, associated with Munster; very little is recorded.
• CSaint CurcodomusA deacon and companion of Saint Peregrinus of Auxerre.
• CHieromartyr CyriacusA bishop or priest martyr honored in Western calendars; few details survive.
• CAVenerable Cyril AlfanovA venerable father of Novgorod, linked with Sokolnitsa, commemorated in the Russian calendar.
• EBNew Martyr Elijah of BatakA martyr of Batak, killed in 1876; canonized in 2011 by the Church of Bulgaria.
• EVenerable EneourA saint of Brittany, commemorated in the old calendars.
• HVenerable Hilarion
• HVenerable HilsindisA monastic saint remembered in Western calendars, died around 1028; few details survive.
• IAVenerable Isaakios AlfanovA venerable father of Novgorod, linked with Sokolnitsa, commemorated in the Russian calendar.
• JBNew Martyr John of BatakA martyr of Batak, killed in 1876; canonized in 2011 by the Church of Bulgaria.
• JVHieromartyr John VasilyevA hieromartyr of the Russian Church, who died in 1942.
• LSMartyr Leontius of ScythopolisMartyr of Scythopolis, who suffered for Christ.
• MSMartyr Macrobius of ScythopolisMartyr of Scythopolis, who suffered for Christ.
• MMartyr MildasA martyr commemorated with Saint Pelagia of Tarsus and those who suffered at Scythopolis.
• NBHieromartyr Neycho of BatakA priest of Batak, a hieromartyr honored together with the other martyrs of Batak.
• NTHieromartyr Nicholas TokhtuevCleric martyred for the faith of Christ.
• NAVenerable Nikephoros AlfanovVenerable monk of Novgorod, venerated in the Orthodox calendar.
• NMVenerable Nikephoros of MedikionVenerable monk of Medikion, venerated in the Orthodox calendar; died in 813.
• NAVenerable Nikita (Niphont) AlfanovVenerable monk of Novgorod, venerated in the Orthodox calendar.
• PMartyr PaulinusA martyr honored in Western calendars; few details survive.
• PSSaint Paulinus of SenigalliaA hierarch remembered in Western calendars, died around 826; few details survive.
• PBHieromartyr Peter of BatakA priest of Batak, killed in 1876; canonized in 2011 by the Church of Bulgaria.
• PHieromartyr PorphyriusA hieromartyr, slain for Christ around 250.
• Saint Sacerdos of LimogesBishop of Limoges in Gaul, reposed around 720.
• VVenerable Valerian
• VSMartyr Valerian of ScythopolisChristian of Scythopolis, martyred for the faith of Christ.
• Right-⁠Believing Æthelred of MerciaKing of Mercia from 675 to 704, son of Penda, later a monk at Bardney Abbey.
• Saint Hilary of ArlesBishop of Arles in southern Gaul from 429 to 449, venerated in both the East and the West.
• Saint Venerius of MilanArchbishop of Milan from 400 to 408, remembered on 6 May.
• Hieromartyr Basil MartyszPolish Orthodox priest, who died in 1945 at Teratyn.
• NAVenerable Nepotian of AltinumNephew of Bishop Heliodorus of Altinum, a former soldier who was baptized, left the army and lived in a hermitage; he died in 396.
• AMartyr AemilianusA martyr at Cirta, remembered in the ancient martyrologies of the Church.
• Saint Conleth of KildareFirst Bishop of Kildare and co-⁠worker of Saint Brigid, reposed around 519.
• TMartyr TertullaA martyr at Cirta, remembered in the ancient martyrologies of the Church.

Questions

I.What can I name a boy born on May 4?

From the saints of the day: Florian, Erasmus, Sylvanus, Nikephoros, Athanasius, Benedict, Clement, Cyriacus, Cyril, Elijah, Hilarion, John, Leontius, Nicholas, Nikita, Paulinus, Peter, Valerian, Hilary, Basil, Aemilianus. You may also choose a saint of the eighth day or any saint dear to the family.

II.What can I name a girl born on May 4?

From the women saints of the day: Monica, Pelagia. You may also choose one of the eighth day or any saint dear to the family.

III.Must the name be the saint of the birthday?

No. Tradition links it to the birthday or the eighth day, but many parents choose a saint who has helped the family.