Selecting a Russian baby name for your bundle of joy can be challenging, considering the number of options available. But our list will help you find some of the most appealing Russian baby names with meanings. Russian names follow the order of given or first name, a patronymic name, and a surname. The first name is given soon after the birth of the child. The patronymic name, which is a suffix according to the gender, is derived from the father’s first name and applies to both genders but with different endings. For boys, the patronymic typically ends with -ovich ('son of'), -evich, or -yevich. For instance, if the father's name is Ivan, his son's patronymic would be Ivanovich. On the other hand, for girls, the patronymic would end in -ovna ('daughter of'), -evna, or -yevna. Here, if the father's name is Ivan, his daughter's patronymic would be Ivanovna (1). And just like other cultures, Russian surnames are family names handed down from generation to generation. Russian names were originally composed in the Cyrillic script. When transliterated into the Western alphabet, various methods were employed, which led to some discrepancies in the English spelling of Russian names (1). In Russia, each personal name typically boasts a wide array of nicknames, with numerous diminutives and suffixes (2). This results in a plethora of potential nicknames for a single name, resulting in dozens of possibilities. While most Russian baby names originated in Russia, some names are taken from the Greek language as well, especially names from the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Some parents even combine two names to create a unique name for their baby. However, Russian baby names showcase cultural pride and identity to the nation's rich past, making them a popular choice for parents seeking meaningful names for their children. Below is the list of these names.
Name | Gender | Meaning | |
---|---|---|---|
Dunya | Girl | Beautiful and smart human being | |
Dusa | Boy | A spirit; Creative beings | |
Duscha | Boy | A virgin woman; They exist in the soul | |
Edik | Boy | A healthy and wealthy guardian | |
Edmon | Boy | A guardian; they are having a protective nature | |
Efim | Boy | One who is well famed | |
Efrem | Boy | The one who is productive | |
Egor | Boy | Warrior | |
Ekaterina | Girl | One who is innocent and pure | |
Elizaveta | Girl | A devoted individual; Present everywhere | |
Ellya | Unisex | God is my salvation | |
Emiliya | Girl | To work hard | |
Erlan | Unisex | Son of noble heritage | |
Esfir | Girl | An ancient goddess | |
Eva | Girl | Life; The living one | |
Evgen | Boy | One who was born good | |
Evgeni | Boy | He who was born good | |
Evgenia | Girl | She who is born as a good person | |
Evgeniy | Boy | He who was born as a good person | |
Evgeniya | Girl | Well-born | |
Evgeny | Boy | Noble; Well-born | |
Fayna | Girl | Light | |
Fedir | Boy | Gift from above | |
Fedor | Boy | A divine Gift of God | |
Fedora | Girl | She is a divine, heavenly gift | |
Feliks | Boy | A lucky and successful man | |
Fenya | Girl | Foreign woman; Woman from another region | |
Feodor | Boy | A heavenly gift | |
Feodora | Girl | She who is a gift of heaven | |
Feya | Unisex | Fairy; Enchanted | |
Fima | Unisex | Good speech; Well spoken | |
Franka | Girl | Free woman | |
Fyodor | Boy | Skills from the most holy high God | |
Gala | Girl | The person who is brave; Happy and peaceful | |
Galina | Girl | Calm; Serenity | |
Ganya | Girl | Garden of the lord | |
Garald | Boy | The commander who rules the troops with a spear | |
Garold | Boy | A ruler who controls the army with a spear | |
Gasha | Girl | One who is very kind to others and possessing best qualities | |
Gedeon | Boy | Slayer or killer | |
Geni | Boy | Noble birth | |
Gennadi | Boy | Variant of Gennadiy; Noble; Generous | |
Gennadius | Boy | The person who is decent and a well wisher | |
Gennady | Boy | One who cares for others | |
Georgi | Boy | Bulgarian accent of George; Farmer | |
Georgy | Boy | Variant of Gerogiy; Farmer; Earth worker | |
Gleb | Boy | Believer, thoughtful, sincere | |
Go | Unisex | Movement, energy, progress | |
Gorky | Unisex | The bitter one | |
Gosha | Unisex | Farmer; Earth worker | |
Gregori | Boy | Lover of companionship and peace | |
Gresha | Unisex | Watchful; Alert | |
Grigor | Boy | Fast and alert person | |
Grigori | Boy | Fast and alert person; A person can watch everything very clearly and can act upon instantly | |
Grigorii | Boy | Watchful; Alert | |
Grisha | Boy | Vigilant guardian | |
Hakoda | Boy | Gift of God | |
Haleena | Girl | Of the light | |
Halene | Girl | A dedicated woman | |
Hedeon | Boy | Destroyer | |
Helin | Girl | The light of the sun | |
Helina | Girl | Bright; Vivid; Intelligent | |
Igor | Boy | Warrior; Army | |
Ilin | Unisex | Masculine variant of Ilina | |
Illyana | Girl | Light, bright, gracious | |
Ilya | Unisex | God is my Lord | |
Ilyena | Unisex | Torch; Bright | |
Inessa | Girl | Purity and innocence | |
Ira | Unisex | Watchful | |
Iraida | Boy | Dawn; beautiful; strong | |
Irena | Girl | A variant of Irene; Peace | |
Irina | Girl | Peaceful, serene, beautiful | |
Irini | Girl | A variant of Irene; Peaceful | |
Irya | Unisex | Powerful; Energetic | |
Ivan | Girl | Yahweh is gracious | |
Ivanna | Girl | God is gracious | |
Ivona | Girl | Croatian form of Yvonne, Yew | |
Iyla | Girl | Moonlight; Tree | |
Izabela | Girl | My God is an oath | |
Jalanea | Girl | Shining light; Form of Jelena | |
Jalena | Girl | The bright one | |
Jasha | Boy | A supplanter | |
Jekaterina | Girl | A Goddess from the far off | |
Jelena | Girl | Sunray; Bright | |
Jelina | Girl | Nice looking or good looking woman | |
Jelka | Girl | Torch or moon | |
Jeneuer | Girl | Fair-complexioned lady | |
Jenia | Unisex | Noble; Well-born | |
Jeniya | Unisex | God is gracious | |
Jeramie | Unisex | God will uplift | |
Jeramy | Unisex | God will uplift | |
Jeremie | Boy | Same as Jeremy | |
Jereni | Girl | Undisturbed | |
Julie | Girl | Youthful; Downy-bearded; Soft hair; Beautiful; Vivacious | |
Juliya | Girl | Youthful, gracious, and elegant | |
Kamir | Unisex | Perfect | |
Karev | Boy | Noble ruler; Noble leader | |
Karik | Boy | Ever powerful ruler | |
Karina | Boy | Pure; Beloved | |
Karine | Girl | Beloved friend | |
Infographic: Awe-Inspiring Russian Baby Names With Meanings
Russia is a land of rich history and vibrant culture. It is no wonder the names from the country are distinctive and have an exotic touch to them. Many parents consider Russian names for their specialness and charm. Explore the infographic below, where we present the finest Russian baby names you may consider when naming your baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Russian male names mean warrior?
Examples of Russian names meaning ‘fighter’ or ‘warrior’ for boys include Arman (warrior), Igor (warrior, army), and Andrii (warrior, manly).
2. What Russian names mean star, moon, and angel?
Russian baby names that are inspired by celestial bodies such as moon or stars include Svetlana (meaning star), Yelena (meaning moon), Anzhelina (meaning angel), Luna (meaning moon), and Anzhela (meaning angel or messenger).
3. Is Yuri a Russian name?
Yes. Yuri is a Russian boy's name that means ‘farmer.’ It is also commonly used in the Belarusian and Ukrainian languages.
4. Are there any traditional naming conventions or customs for Russian names?
Yes. Naming conventions do exist in Russian culture. According to the conventions, Russian names are structured as [first name] [middle patronymic name] [SURNAME]. The middle patronymic name is created by adding the suffixes ‘vich’ or ‘ovich’ for boys and “avna” or “ovna” for girls, after the father’s name.
5. Are there any famous or notable people in Russia with unique or interesting names?
Famous Russian people with unique names include Vladimir Putin (the current president of Russia), Mikhail Gorbachev (the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union), and Alexander Ovechkin (captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League). The others include Pyotr Tchaikovsky (music composer of the Romantic period), Maya Plisetskaya (an international ballet sensation), and Yuri Gagarin (the first man to travel to outer space).
6. How have Russian names evolved over time and what influences have shaped them?
The changes in the Russian naming patterns can be dated back to the pre-Christian era. Russian names have changed over time due to the October Revolution and the adoption of Christianity, characterized by the elimination of differences between canonical, calendar, and non-calendar names, active borrowing, and active name construction.
References
- A Guide to Names and Naming Practices
https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf - Russian Naming Convention
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/RussianNamingConvention