# Christian saints named for pagan gods **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059 "2025-07-18T19:57:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/1 "2025-07-18T19:57:10Z")
[John II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_II) was the first pope to choose a regnal name; he supposedly did this because his birth name, Mercurius, is derived from that of the Roman god [Mercury](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)). Oddly, this same problem does not seem to have bothered two of his predecessors, [Pope St. Dionysius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Dionysius) and [Pope St. Zephyrinus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Zephyrinus), whose given names refer to [the Greek gods of winemaking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus) and [the west wind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus), respectively. Are there any other pagan gods who lent their name, in some form, to at least one saint recognized by the Catholic or Orthodox churches? I can think of only two: - [Artemis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis) lent her name to [St. Artemius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemius) - [Demeter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter) lent her name to [St. Demetrius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demetrius_of_Thessaloniki) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/2 "2025-07-18T20:09:49Z")
Saint Brigid. > **[Brigid of Kildare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid_of_Kildare)** > > Saint Brigid of Kildare or Saint Brigid of Ireland (Irish: Naomh Bríd; Classical Irish: Brighid; Latin: Brigida; c. 451 – c. 525) is the patroness saint (or 'mother saint') of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. According to medieval Irish hagiographies, she was an abbess who founded the important abbey of Kildare (Cill Dara), as well as several other convents of nuns. There are few documented historical facts about her, and her hagiographies are mainl... _Some historians suggest that Brigid is a Christianisation of the Celtic goddess [Brigid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid)[_ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/3 "2025-07-18T20:35:09Z")
And even if she wasn’t just a relabeling of the goddess, she was certainly named after her. There’s also a [Saint Thorlak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thorlak), but I don’t know if his name derives from Thor. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/4 "2025-07-18T20:44:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And even if she wasn’t just a relabeling of the goddess, she was certainly named after her. Yep. I think there was a real Christian named Brigid, but the myth got mixed up in there too. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/5 "2025-07-18T20:58:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There’s also a [Saint Thorlak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thorlak), but I don’t know if his name derives from Thor. [Nordic Names](https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/%C3%9E%C3%B3rl%C3%A6ikR) claims it’s combination of _Þor_ (the god Thor) and _Leik_ (game, fighter). So I guess this one counts for the purposes of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/6 "2025-07-18T23:00:18Z")
There is a long tradition in early Christianity of borrowing from Roman “mystery cults” even though they ended up prosecuting the Mithralists. There are a lot of saints from pre-Nicene Christianity (and even after in non-mainline Christian churches, especially Oriental Orthodoxy) which are purportedly liberally borrowed from pagan traditions although the historiography of at least some of those claims is questionable. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/7 "2025-07-21T21:08:57Z")
There’s a Saint Apollo of Egypt > **[Abib and Apollo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abib_and_Apollo)** > > Abib and Apollo were two Christian ascetics from Akhmim, Egypt. They are mentioned in the Synaxarion, das ist der Heiligen-Kalendar der Koptischen Christen. Their feast day is celebrated on November 4. > Apollo (also called Apollonios) was born in the City of Akhmim. His father's name was Amani (Hamai) and his mother's name was Eyse (Isa). From his early years Apollo grew and developed in saintliness, studying the subjects of Divinity. He was prepared from his youth to his life in a monastery. Th... There’s also a Greek Orthodox St. Athena > **[Saint Athena - Greek Orthodox icon of Mount Athos](https://www.athonian.gr/orthodox-icons/saints-female-en/saint-athena-the-virgin-martyr-106/)** > > Greek Orthodox icon of Mount Athos of Saint Athena the Virgin Martyr. Lithography with real gold leaves in MDF. Authentic monastery handiwork of Athonite monks. and a Saint Iris > **[Saint Rais](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Rais)** > > Rais, also known as Iris, Iraida, Irais, Herais or Rhais, is a martyr venerated by the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches. > According to one account, she was the daughter of a Christian priest named Peter living in Alexandria, Roman Province of Egypt. At the age of twelve, she was sent to live in a women's monastery at Tamman. One day in 303 AD, during a time of widespread persecution of Christians during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, she went to a well to draw wat > T... ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/8 "2025-07-21T21:16:27Z")
There’s a Saint Festus and his companion Saint Januarius. “Festus” is a shortened form of “Hephaestus”, the Greek equivalent of Vulcan. Januarius is a month, but the name is derived from Janus, who was the patron god of doorways > **[Saint Januarius | Franciscan Media](https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-januarius/)** > > Little is known about the life of Januarius. Legend has it that he and his companions were thrown to the bears in the amphitheater of Pozzuoli, but the animals failed to attack them. They were then beheaded, and Januarius' blood ultimately brought to... ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/9 "2025-07-21T21:18:35Z")
There’s a “Blessed” Diana, who hasn’t yet made her way up to “saint” status > **[Diana degli Andalò](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_degli_Andal%C3%B2)** > > ...She \[Diana\] and the other two members of the community who were beatified with her personify the three essential graces of monastic life: Amata, deep humility, Cecilia, the prioress, wise and creative authority; Diana, the greatest grace of them all, perfect love. > Diana degli Andalò, OP (1201 – 10 June 1236), sometimes d'Andalo, was a Dominican nun who founded a convent for her order dedicated to Saint Agnes in Italy. > Diana d'Andalò was born into a powerful Roman family in Bologna, Italy in ... ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/10 "2025-07-21T21:20:42Z")
There’s an Orthodox Saint Ares: > **[Saints Elias, Probus and Ares the Martyrs](https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/12/saints-ares-probus-and-elias-martyrs.html)** The OP mentions Pope Dionysius, but it’s worth pointing out that “Dionysus” morphed into “Dennis”, and there are several Saints named “Dennis” and “Denis” and the like. And there’s a Saint Hermes > **[Saint Hermes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Hermes)** > > Saint Hermes, born in Greece, died in Rome as a martyr in 120, is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. His name appears in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum as well as entries in the Depositio Martyrum (354). There was a large basilica over his tomb that was built around 600 by Pope Pelagius I and restored by Pope Adrian I. The Catacomb of Sant'Ermete on the Salarian Way is named after him. > In the Roman Rite, his feast is on 28 August. Under that date,... We came close to getting a Saint Venus > [@](#): > > According to one version of her legend,[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Venera#cite_note-Preghiere-3) her parents were two noble Christians named Agatho (Agatone) and Hippolyte (Ippolita). When their daughter was born, the mother wanted to call her _Venera_ , but the father, not wanting to create associations with the goddess [Venus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_(mythology)), changed his daughter’s name to _Veneranda_ , a rough Latin translation of the Greek name Paraskevi (“Friday,” literally “Preparation”) > **[Saint Venera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Venera)** > > Saint Venera (Veneranda, Veneria, Venerina, Parasceve) is venerated as a Christian martyr of the 2nd century. Little is known of this saint. The date of her death is traditionally given as July 26, 143 AD. > In the Catalogo Sanctorum, composed by Petrus de Natalibus between 1369 and 1372, he cites in Chapter 61 the name of a virgin martyr named Veneranda. According to de Natalibus, Veneranda was born in Gaul in the 2nd century and martyred in Rome during the time of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-... ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/11 "2025-07-22T21:12:43Z")
Not a saint, and I don’t think Zoroastrians are considered “pagans” but there was Pope Hormisdas which derives from Ahura Mazda. Edit: just discovered there is a [Saint Hormizd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormizd_the_Martyr) and Saint [Rabban Hormizd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabban_Hormizd), who is recognized by the Chaldean (Roman Catholic) church and other non-Catholic ones. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/12 "2025-07-29T19:53:30Z")
[St. Abanoub](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abanoub), named for the jackal-headed god Anubis, martyred at age 12. Feast day coming right up, July 31! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/13 "2025-07-29T20:06:59Z")
Yes, kinda- _“His name is related to the Egyptian god [Anoubis](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anubis "Anubis").” is what wiki said._ Of course, in most of these cases, the saint isnt actually named for a pagane diety, just using a common name passed down which has roots in that name. But good spot on an obscure saint! ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/14 "2025-07-29T22:09:11Z")
@DrDeth’s nomination of St. Brigid got me thinking that there must be other saints who share names with gods of the Irish pantheon. A few minutes’ search dug up [St. Aengus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25C3%2593engus_of_Tallaght) and his namesake deity [Aengus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aengus). (Both names are alternatively spelled Óengus.) I bet if we systematically went through Wikipedia’s list of [Tuatha Dé Denann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Irish_mythology_%2528mythological%2529) we could find more examples. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/15 "2025-07-29T23:31:02Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > @DrDeth’s nomination of St. Brigid got me thinking that there must be other saints who share names with gods of the Irish pantheon. A few minutes’ search dug up [St. Aengus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25C3%2593engus_of_Tallaght) and his namesake deity [Aengus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aengus). (Both names are alternatively spelled Óengus.) Good find there! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/16 "2025-07-30T11:40:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Of course, in most of these cases, the saint isnt actually named for a pagane diety, just using a common name passed down which has roots in that name. Indeed, you see a lot of this outside the narrow realm of Christian saint names. The Jewish names “ESther” and “Mordechai” derive from the Mesopotamian gods “Ishtar” and “Marduk”. (In fact, ESther is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox church), but it’s not really as if they’re named directly after the gods – they have common names that were themselves derived from the names of the gods. I suspect they might be “worn-down” forms of names that were originally translations of “Gift of Ishtar” and “Gift of Marduk”, rather than taken directly from the god. Such names are extremely common across cultures – “Apollodorus”, for instance, or “Theodore” or “Godiva” (from “God Gifu”) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/17 "2025-07-30T18:09:11Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Indeed, you see a lot of this outside the narrow realm of Christian saint names. The Jewish names “ESther” and “Mordechai” derive from the Mesopotamian gods “Ishtar” and “Marduk”. (In fact, I did not know that. Good points. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-saints-named-for-pagan-gods/1021059/18 "2025-08-01T20:05:39Z")
[Isidore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isidore_of_Seville), gift of Isis.