People call it Easter Sunday because it is the Christian day that celebrates Jesus’ resurrection , and it is observed on Sunday , the day Christians believe he rose from the dead. The word “Easter” in English is also commonly linked to older naming traditions, while many Christians use names like Resurrection Sunday or Pascha instead.

Why “Sunday”

The “Sunday” part is straightforward: the Gospels say Jesus rose on the first day of the week , which is Sunday, and Christian tradition settled on celebrating the feast that day.

Why “Easter”

The name “Easter” is used mainly in English and a few related languages; in many other languages, the holiday is called something closer to Pascha , tied to Passover. Some sources also note an older English naming tradition associated with the spring season.

In simple terms

  • Easter = the Christian celebration of the resurrection.
  • Sunday = the day of the week tied to that resurrection.
  • Different names exist = Resurrection Sunday, Pascha, and Easter, depending on tradition and language.

If you want, I can also give you the short origin story of the word “Easter” in 2–3 sentences.