Is it mandatory for Roman Catholics to give the names of saints at baptism?

Answer 1

It's just Catholic, not Roman Catholic. Roman is an epithet first commonly used in England after the protestant revolt to describe the Catholic Church. It is never used by the official Catholic Church.

No, it is not mandatory for Catholics to give the names of saints at baptism, but it is recommended so that the baptised person will have a patron saint that they can call upon for help throughout life.

Answer 2

Roman Catholic AnswerThere is no obligation that the name given at Baptism should be that of a saint, but the old code of Canon Law required that it be a Christian name. The "Rituale Romanum" directs the priest to see that obscene, mythical and ridiculous names or those of false gods or heathen heroes be no given. Such a name as Achilles, common in Italy is made respectable by the martyr of that name. Fancy names are condemned by good sense and Christian tradition rather than by law. It is a common custom to receive the name of the saint on whose day one was born. from A Catholic Dictionary, Edited by Donald Attwater, 2nd Ed., Rev. 1957