Male name
When is James’ name day?
Ιάκωβος · Iakovos
Main name day
Saint James, son of Zebedee
Saint James, the Brother of the Lord
The Greek name Ιάκωβος (Iakovos) is celebrated on 30 April and on 23 October.
Also celebrated
Dates in the coming years
This is a movable feast: it depends on the date of Orthodox Easter and changes every year.
- 2026Thursday 30 April 2026Saint James, son of Zebedee
- 2026Friday 23 October 2026Saint James, the Brother of the Lord
- 2027Friday 30 April 2027Saint James, son of Zebedee
- 2027Saturday 23 October 2027Saint James, the Brother of the Lord
- 2028Sunday 30 April 2028Saint James, son of Zebedee
- 2028Monday 23 October 2028Saint James, the Brother of the Lord
The saints behind the name day
- Saint James the Apostle, son of Zebedee1st centuryOne of the Twelve Apostles, brother of John the Theologian.James was the son of Zebedee and Salome and the elder brother of John the Evangelist. A fisherman in Galilee, he left his trade to follow Jesus.Read more
- Saint James, the Brother of the Lord1st centuryFirst bishop of Jerusalem; the Divine Liturgy of Saint James is attributed to him.According to tradition, James was a son of Joseph from an earlier marriage, which is why he is called "Adelphotheos" (brother of God). He became the first bishop of Jerusalem and led the earliest Christian community there with justice and steadfastness in the faith. The oldest Divine Liturgy of the Church is attributed to him, as is the Catholic Epistle in the New Testament that bears his name, which urges believers to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only".Read more
- Saint Joseph the Betrothed1st centuryThe betrothed of the Theotokos who, according to the Gospels, protected the Holy Family.Read more
- The Prophet-King DavidThe king and prophet of Israel to whom the Psalms are attributed.Read more
Variants and other forms
- Other Greek forms and diminutives
- Γιάκουμος
- In Latin letters
- Iakovos, Jakovos
- English equivalents
- James, Jacob
- In Greek
- Ιάκωβος