The essay deals with the issue of baptismal practice in the rural society in the 19th century based on the quantitative analysis of 7229 entries from the parish register of births of the market town of Nový Rychnov and four surrounding villages from 1800-1899. Attention is paid to the interval between the birth and the christening of a child, and to the popularity of names. During the whole century, children were baptized usually in one week after birth, but the interval was slowly prolonging. The day of birth often influenced the name of the child, the custom to christen according to the calendar was still vital. The list of frequently given names reflected the persisting popularity of certain baroque saints, but also new fashionable trends and patriotic sentiment.