In Georgia, one of the oldest Christian nations in the world (Christianity was declared the state religion in 337 AD by King Mirian III), the secular act of naming does not exist independently. Naamkaran is Baptism. Unlike in many Western countries where a "naming day" might be separate from a christening, in Georgia, the two are inseparable.
Georgia, as the second country to adopt Christianity as a state religion (c. 326 AD), intertwined naming with salvation. The tradition is heavily influenced by: Naamkaran Qartulad
Means "child." This is the most ancient suffix (e.g., Kakabadze is technically a western Georgian name, but let's focus on first names: Giorgi, Davit). Actually, for surnames: Gogolashvili (child of Gogola). But for first names, the tradition is different. In Georgia, one of the oldest Christian nations
: The formidable grandmother and antagonist. Georgia, as the second country to adopt Christianity
The infant is immersed into the Nasteli (blessed water) three times, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As the child emerges, the priest declares: "The servant of God, [Name], is baptized."
While the core of Naamkaran Qartulad is uniform, Georgia's diverse regions add flavor: