The 50 Most Popular Name Days to Celebrate in 2026

Some name days are quiet affairs. Others shut down entire countries.

When August 15 arrives in Greece, every Maria in the nation celebrates simultaneously. Streets fill with well-wishers. Pastry shops sell out. Phone networks get congested from congratulatory calls.

Here are the 50 most popular name days in 2026, ranked by the number of people who share the celebration. Look up any of these in our Name Day Calculator for the full profile.

The top 10 name days worldwide:

Maria and Mary on August 15 — the undisputed champion. The Assumption of Mary is a national holiday in Greece, Italy, Spain, France, and Poland. Maria and its variants rank among the most common names in human history.

John and Jean and Giovanni on June 24 — the night of June 23-24 is one of Europe's biggest celebrations. Bonfires light up Spanish beaches for San Juan. Greece celebrates with festivals.

Peter and Pierre on June 29 — shared with Paul, this double feast honors both apostles. In Rome, it is a city-wide celebration.

Joseph and Jose on March 19 — patron saint of workers and fathers. In Italy, San Giuseppe features elaborate street altars and zeppole pastries.

Anna and Anne on July 26 — the mother of the Virgin Mary. Celebrated especially in France and Quebec.

Michael and Michel on September 29 — Michaelmas once marked one of the four quarter days of the English calendar. The name held the number one spot in America for 44 consecutive years.

George and Giorgio on April 23 — the dragon-slaying patron saint of England. Celebrated across the English-speaking world and Eastern Europe.

Catherine and Katarina on November 25 — patron saint of philosophers. One of the most internationally recognized feminine names.

Nicholas and Nikolaos on December 6 — the saint behind Santa Claus. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas celebrations are bigger than Christmas.

Alexander and Alessandro on August 30 — one of the few ancient names still in the global top 20 after 2,300 years.

The next tier includes Andrew on November 30, Thomas on July 3, David on March 1, James on July 25, Sophia on September 17, Margaret on July 20, Stephen on December 26, Daniel on October 10, Barbara on December 4, Anthony on January 17, Mark on April 25, Benedict on March 21, Francis on October 4, Patrick on March 17, and Valentine on February 14.

Notable regional celebrations: Martin on November 11 is huge in Germany. Luke on October 18 dominates Southern Europe. Teresa on October 15 is major in Spain and Poland. Helena on May 21 is one of the biggest celebrations in Greece. Lucia on December 13 lights up all of Scandinavia with the St. Lucia festival.

Is your name on this list? Even if not, our Name Day Calculator covers thousands of names across 8 countries with AI-powered profiles for every name imaginable.

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