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The goal of this project is to assist researchers of Lithuanian genealogy in better understanding and recognizing given names used in the various languages found in Lithuanian Catholic Church parish records.
The given names you will encounter for Lithuanians have varied origins. Some are used in many other areas of the world and have equivalents in other languages, while others originated with ethnic Lithuanians and are rarely found in other cultures.
As in English, names can be spelled many ways; none should be considered incorrect. For simplicity, the most traditional spellings of each are listed in the typewritten column. As you examine the handwritten samples, remember that there were no spelling or grammar rules in Lithuania until the early 1900s. Prior to then, each time names were recorded by priests in the various languages, the names would be spelled however each individual chose. Differences are common within the same parish and even within the same birth year. Other than for English, all samples here are from actual church records; you likely will encounter additional variations as well. (English handwritten samples are produced using the Google font Homemade Apple, which is copyright-free.)
Keep in mind that non-English given names will differ depending on the grammatical case used. The examples below do not show all variations. Use the samples as a guide and expect different endings depending on the usage of the name in each record.
A link to a Behind the Name page for each name is included. Sometimes you will find less common user-submitted variations only in a separate search of that site.
Also included is a link to the main name page on Wikipedia, if such a page exists.
It is important to know that in the time before names in the United States became "permanent" (which was in the 1950s, at the time that the Social Security program began in the US), people could use whatever name they wanted and could change their names very easily. Simply because your ancestor was given a specific name at birth did not preclude them from changing that name to something similar or completely different. Of course, they could have used the English equivalent but that is not always the case. When researching your family, do not rule out names that your ancestor might have used just because it is not the name you expected. Examine all the other facts on as many records as you can locate and draw conclusions from the documentation in its entirety.
Use the English or Lithuanian lists below to quickly navigate to the section for each name or use your browser's search function on this page. Names having no English equivalents will only be found on the Lithuanian list.
English Alphabetical List of Given Names
Adam
Adolf
Albert
Andrew
Anthony
Bartholomew
Casimir
George
Jacob
Joseph
Lawrence
Martin
Michael
Paul
Peter
Simon
Thomas
Vincent
Lithuanian Alphabetical List of Given Names
Adomas
Adolfas
Albertas
Andrius
Antanas
Baltramiejus
Jokūbas
Jonas
Juozapas
Jurgis
Kazimieras
Laurynas
Martynas
Mykolas
Petras
Povilas
Simonas
Stanislovas
Tomas
Vincentas
References
Behind the Name
Given Names from Wikipedia
List of Male Given Names
Adam (English), Adomas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/adam
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_(given_name)
Adolph (English), Adolfas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/adolph
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf
Albert (English), Albertas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/albert
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_(given_name)
Andrew (English), Andrius (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/andrew
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew
Anthony (English), Antanas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/anthony
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony
Bartholomew (English), Baltramiejus (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/bartholomew
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_(name)
Casimir (English), Kazimieras (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/casimir
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir
George (English), Jurgis (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/george
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_(given_name)
Jacob (English), Jokūbas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/jacob
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_(name)
John (English), Jonas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/john
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_(given_name)
Joseph (English), Juozapas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/joseph
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph
Lawrence (English), Laurynas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/lawrence
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_(given_name)
Martin (English), Martynas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/martin
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_(name)
Michael (English), Mykolas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/michael
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(given_name)
Paul (English), Povilas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/paul
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_(given_name)
Peter (English), Petras (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/peter
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_(given_name)
Simon (English), Simonas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/simon-1
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_(given_name)
Stanislovas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/stanislav
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_(given_name)
Thomas (English), Tomas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/thomas
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_(name)
Vincent (English), Vincentas (Lithuanian)
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/vincent
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent