Baby Names That Are Related to Joy

One of them is St Feliciatas or Felicity, whose Feast is today. Her name literally translates from the Latin as "happiness", an excellent hope for the child.

From Aleteia

By Dolors Massot

Parents expecting a baby might look for a name related to joy and happiness, since it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Babies’ names are often a reflection of what their parents expect from them or what they wish for them.

Naming a baby after one of the saints is a way of putting him or her under the saint's protection at the moment of baptism. Choosing a name isn’t an unimportant decision. Our name accompanies our whole life and is how we manifest our identity.

That is why it’s understandable that parents who are about to have a child might look for a name related to joy and happiness, since it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. This kind of holy joy always attracts other people's attention and draws them to God. This has been part of the seal of identity of the Church since the testimony of the first Christians.

Here we offer you several baby names – for both boys and girls – that have a connection with joy. 

1JOY

If you baptise your daughter with the name Joy, you can entrust her to the Virgin Mary under a specific title: Our Lady of Joy. Her devotion is widespread in many parts of the world. Her feast day is September 8.

2LETICIA

The name Leticia comes from the Latin laetitia, which means "joy." Some girls use the Italian spelling of this name, Letizia.

3HILARY

This child's name may be perceived as a woman’s name, but it was first made famous by a male saint of the 4th century, St. Hilary of Poitiers. Once a pagan, he converted to the faith along with his wife and son. It can also refer to St. Hilary, a pope of the 5th century. The etymology of "Hilary" (from the Greek adjective for “cheerful” or “merry”) refers to a happy and joyful attitude, which makes others happy as well. St. Hilary of Poitiers is celebrated on February 28.

4FELIX, FELICIAN, OR FELICIANA

St. Felician of Foligno is an Italian saint of the 2nd-3rd centuries. His feast day is January 24. His name is derived from the Latin word felix, which means happy or lucky.

5FELICITY

The name alludes to St. Felicity, a martyr of Rome, who died in the first century. Her feast day is 23 November. Her Latin name is Felicitas, which means “happiness” or “good fortune.” Felicity was a Roman widow, who, tradition says, was a rich and pious Christian. She devoted herself to charitable work and converted many to the Christian faith by her example. This aroused the wrath of pagan priests who lodged a complaint against her with Emperor Marcus Aurelius. These priests asserted the ire of the gods and demanded sacrifice from Felicitas. The Emperor acquiesced to their demand and Felicitas was brought before Publius, the Prefect of Rome. Taking Felicitas aside, he used various pleas and threats in an unsuccessful attempt to get her to worship the pagan gods. She was then martyred.