Almost 1.8 million Romanians are celebrating their name day on Wednesday, when the Orthodox Church celebrated the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helena [Sf. Constantin si Elena - in Romanian] - almost 1.1 million women and approximately 675,000 men.
According to data provided by the General Directorate of Persons' Records, the most common male name is Constantin - 422,622, followed by Cosmin - 116,727, Costel - 74,184, Costică - 23,698, Costin - 22,235 and Costinel - 10,513.
At the same time, 830,439 women bear the name Elena; Ileana - 94,115; Lenuta - 60,048; Constanta - 39,350; Ilinca - 29,328; Constantina - 19,238.
Other names celebrated by Saints Constantine and Helena are:
* Constandina, Costica, Costina, Costinela, Ela, Eli, Ilenus, Ilenuta, Ilina, Leana, Leanca, Lena, Leni, Nuta, Nuti, Nutica, Tanta, Tanti, Tantica;
* Constandin, Constantiu, Costache, Costea, Costelus, Costi.
The Great Holy Emperors and Equal to the Apostles Constantine and his mother, Helena, commemorated in the Orthodox Christian calendar on May 21, are the first Christian emperors. For their great contribution to the spread and flourishing of Christianity, Constantine and his mother were canonized by the Orthodox Church among the saints and are considered "equal to the Apostles." AGERPRES