Happy feast of the Annunciation! Today’s consultation is perfect for this beautiful feast because the baby’s big brother’s name is Gabriel! In fact, he has the so-handsome combo Gabriel Joseph! Mama Julia writes, “For the new baby — we found out we were pregnant a few days after the passing of a priest named Fr. Roman, who was something of an important person in my husband’s life, and I just had the random thought — oh, if it’s a boy, what if we named him Roman — after this priest, and also I found it to be a unique name with super cute nicknames: Romie, Romeo, Rome. I raised the idea with my ..read more

Years and years ago, which does not at all feel that long but turns out it was s e v e n years ago, I did a post focusing on a family who had brought their love of literature to the naming of their children, with absolutely fantastic results. The mom, Meghan, emailed me recently to give a family update! And she gave me permission to share it with all of you! They’ve since had two more babies and added two pets to their household, all with names right out of books — check these out: Children (the names of the first three are explained more fully in that previous post) Flannery Ellen (Flannery ..read more

I did a private consultation for Jayna and her husband’s second baby last spring, and I’m so happy to share the wonderful news that they welcomed a beautiful baby girl whom they named … Maristella Anh! I’m absolutely blown away by the beautiful combo that they chose! Anh is for Jayna’s mother-in-law and is such a lovely middle name for the gorgeous Marian name Maristella. Congratulations to Jayna and her hubby and big sister Eva Gertrude, and happy birthday Baby Maristella!! Maristella Anh Read all about how to get your own baby name consultation here. For help with Marian names, my book ..read more

I did a private almost-consultation for a mama due near Christmas — her baby came quicker than expected so I was only able to send her a few quick thoughts — but it turns out she and her hubby did an absolutely fine job on their own! I’m thrilled to share the amazing name they gave their little guy … Dominic Pax! What an amazing combo! I’ve always loved that Dominic means “of the Lord,” and with Pax meaning “peace,” this little guy has an incredibly meaningful name! It’s also perfect for a Christmastime babe — his mama writes, “Pax just seemed like a really appropriate name for the season!” In ..read more

Happy Monday, everyone! This week is winter break for both my elementary and high school kids, so if you are also on break, I hope this consultation is a fun diversion for you in the midst of the much-needed break from the stresses of school days and also the additional fun and mayhem that is always part of it, at least in my house! Today’s consultation is for a couple expecting their second baby, a sweet sister for big sister Avila. This family has the good fortune of Avila being a surname in their family tree! I love that so much! A funny thing to keep in mind is that the papa says, regardin ..read more

I was thrilled to only recently discover (because I’m so absent from social media these days) that Grace Patton had another baby this past fall — her tenth (fourth girl) on earth! She and her hubby gave her the simply gorgeous name … Esme Bernadette! Check out her sweet face in her birth post here (including the pronunciation of her name, in case you’re not sure), and see the whole beautiful family in their Christmas post here. I’m extra excited, too, because way back when, in 2015, when Sancta Nomina wasn’t even a year old, I posted a consultation for Grace’s fifth baby and actually mentioned ..read more

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, issued a beautiful statement that you might like to read. This is a lovely quote from it, which contains a quote from Dr. King himself: “As Rev. King taught us, we must confront the evils of racism and prejudice with the love of Christ: ‘Deeply etched in the fiber of our religious tradition is the conviction that men are made in the image of God . . . the heirs of a legacy of dignity and worth.'” Today’s consultation is for Lindsey and her husband as they prepar ..read more

Happy belated feast of the Epiphany! And today is a new-to-me feast day: Our Lady of Prompt Succor! I’m very familiar with Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Succor), and now OL of Prompt Succor — she’s such an immediate and everlasting help, that Mother of ours! Today’s consultation is a tender one as it’s for a mama who’s expecting a baby after losing her previous youngest to a tragic accident. I think you’ll be as moved and inspired by this family’s story as I am! (I also wanted to give a little heads-up to anyone who might not be up for an emotional story today, which I totally get — sometimes [e ..read more

Happy New Year!! Happy feast of Mary, the Mother of God!! Time for my annual recap! I’ve done one every year since I started the blog — I think they’re really fun to look back on: Year in review: 2022 (can’t keep Sancta Nomina down!) Year in review: 2021 (new blessings) Year in review: 2020 (better than expected) Year in review: 2019 (scrabbling back) Year in review: 2018 (the Year of Big News) Year in review: 2017 (blessed beyond measure) Year in review: 2016 (more of the wonderful same) Year in review: 2015 (confetti and champagne!) As for 2023, it was d ..read more

Happy four-days-before Christmas, everyone! Are you all familiar with the O Antiphons? As the U.S. Bishops explain, “The Roman Church has been singing the ‘O’ Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative ‘Come!’ embodies the longing o ..read more