Nearly 500,000 Romanians bear names linked to Saints Adrian and Natalia

Saints Adrian and Natalia are the spiritual patrons of 497,965 Romanians, according to data provided by Romania’s General Directorate for Personal Records.

Of the total number of people bearing names associated with the two saints, 312,580 are men, and 185,385 are women.

Among men, Adrian is by far the most common name, borne by 306,210 people, while 6,342 Romanians are named Adi. A further 18 bear the name Adiță.

Among women, Adriana is the most widespread name, with 130,936 bearers, while another 742 women are named Adi.

53,717 persons bear names inspired by Saint Natalia. Of these, Natalia is the most common, with 52,806 bearers, followed by Natașa, Nataly and Nati. The name Nati is also borne by 10 men.

Saints Adrian and Natalia The Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalia, commemorated each year on 26 August, confessed their faith in Christ during the persecutions under Emperor Galerius Maximianus (293–311) in Nicomedia.

Adrian, a pagan official, chose to join a group of 23 imprisoned Christians after learning from them about the reward God had prepared for those who suffered for their faith.

His wife, Natalia, was secretly a Christian. When she learnt of Adrian’s…