[1][2][3][4][5] Derived from the Ancient Greek: καλόγερος, romanized: kalogeros, composed of Ancient Greek: καλός, romanized: kalos (Ancient Greek "fair"; Modern Greek "good") and Ancient Greek: γέρων, romanized: geron ("old man", "old") and literally means "nice old man", "one who has nice old age"";[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] the first element is reminiscent of such names as Calliope and Callimachus, while the second is reminiscent of the name Gerontius.
A second interpretation, not generally accepted, is that the second element is the Greek keros (grain), according to which the name would mean "good grain".
[7][dubious – discuss] Historically, in the ambit of Greek Orthodoxy, the term caloyer is used as a name for a monk or a hermit, in a manner that translates as "brother" or "monk",[1][3][5][6] a significance that is retained in Modern Greek.
The name is traditionally found in and is characteristic of Sicily, bestowed by the cultus of Saint Calogerus the Anchorite, a monk and hermit near Sciacca;[3][5][7] in the province of Agrigento, Calogero is the third-most widespread masculine name,[8] but it is well-attested in all the rest of the island.
The feast day is celebrated on June 18 in honour of Saint Calogerus, exorcist and hermit in Sicily.