Spotlight: Callixtus

sanctanomina Spotlight, , ,

I really wanted to post a name spotlight today, and could not for the life of me think of a name to spotlight! I have a running list of names I’d like to feature, but I can’t put my hand on it at the moment (and if any of you are waiting for one that I’ve promised, maybe shoot me an email to remind me! So sorry!). So I asked my oldest, who I had to pick up early from school because he wasn’t feeling well, what some of his favorite names are, and was surprised that Callixtus was in the mix! So that’s today’s name!

My son was like, “I’m not sure you’ve heard of this name,” and I was like, “Do you even know me, boy?!”, but beyond being a collector of Catholic names (although I admit I’ve been surprised a time or two by new-to-me names), I knew a friar/professor in college with the variant Callistus (his religious name), and I’ve actually given it some thought, mostly because of the nickname Cal, which I love (the friar went by Fr. Cal).

Behind the Name gives Callixtus as a variant of Callistus, “the spelling perhaps influenced by Latin calix ‘wine cup.'” Callistus is from the Greek Kallistos, meaning “most beautiful,” and the feminine name Callista is from the same. I just said to my son, “Callixtus is from the Greek for ‘most beautiful'” and he said, “Oh! I thought it came from ‘chalice.'” What a smartie! Our “chalice” comes from “calix,” so he really did know more about the name than I did!

There are a bunch of Sts. Callistus, including two Popes (Pope St. Callistus I and Pope St. Callistus II), and funny enough, when I searched CatholicSaints.info for Callixtus, only Pope St. Callistus I comes up — he’s got an interesting story. I kind of like the X spelling — X is a hot letter right now, and I really do like the connection to “chalice.” I also looked up Calix because I thought I’d remembered seeing that name on a child before, and it does seem to be mostly given as a short form of Callixtus, though a calyx is also the “chalice-shaped” part of a flower. I’m loving all these connections to the chalice! Callixtus is such a meaningful name!

What do you think of Callixtus (or Callistus)? Would you name a boy so, or have you? What nickname would you tend toward (Cal or Calix), or would you use a different one?

20 thoughts on “Spotlight: Callixtus”

  1. Catholic deacons have a special association with the chalice. They elevate it at Mass and are the ordinary ministers (as opposed to extraordinary) of the Precious Blood. The prayers at the ordination of a deacon also focus on “the cup of salvation”, if I remember correctly.

    I can see this being a good name for a deacon’s child. Though, I personally prefer to stay a little more mainstream.

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  2. HI! I love this!! I didn’t realize how much I loved this name until I read it! Alistair, Philomena, Callistus….they’re all so gorgeous!

    Do you think you could do a spotlight on Balthazar sometime?

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  7. I definitely thought it was planned because of his feast day! I would love to see a spotlight or thoughts on Stanley some day. Blessed Fr. Stanley Rother was just beatified here in Oklahoma. I feel very connected to him and his middle name is Francis which could be an honor name, but wonder about other options besides Stanley that might be out there. If I’m ever blessed with another boy, I’d love for Bl. Stanley to be one of his patrons!

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  9. […] Meghan asked for a spotlight on Stanley in light of the recent beatification of Bl. Stanley Rother, and Natalie had previously mentioned considering Stanley because of that same Blessed, and Annie said she *couldn’t wait* for this spotlight, and I heard Bl. Stanley mentioned quite a bit in the press for Bl. Solanus’ beatification this past weekend including in this article (in which my sister is also mentioned! Nbd), so! I think we need a Stanley spotlight! […]

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