583 Russian Baby Names With Meanings

Russian Baby Names With Meanings

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

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.

NameGenderMeaning
heart image Dunya heart image baby boy sign Girl Beautiful and smart human being
heart image Dusa heart image baby boy sign Boy A spirit; Creative beings
heart image Duscha heart image baby boy sign Boy A virgin woman; They exist in the soul
heart image Edik heart image baby boy sign Boy A healthy and wealthy guardian
heart image Edmon heart image baby boy sign Boy A guardian; they are having a protective nature
heart image Efim heart image baby boy sign Boy One who is well famed
heart image Efrem heart image baby boy sign Boy The one who is productive
heart image Egor heart image baby boy sign Boy Warrior
heart image Ekaterina heart image baby boy sign Girl One who is innocent and pure
heart image Elizaveta heart image baby boy sign Girl A devoted individual; Present everywhere
heart image Ellya heart image baby boy sign Unisex God is my salvation
heart image Emiliya heart image baby boy sign Girl To work hard
heart image Erlan heart image baby boy sign Unisex Son of noble heritage
heart image Esfir heart image baby boy sign Girl An ancient goddess
heart image Eva heart image baby boy sign Girl Life; The living one
heart image Evgen heart image baby boy sign Boy One who was born good
heart image Evgeni heart image baby boy sign Boy He who was born good
heart image Evgenia heart image baby boy sign Girl She who is born as a good person
heart image Evgeniy heart image baby boy sign Boy He who was born as a good person
heart image Evgeniya heart image baby boy sign Girl Well-born
heart image Evgeny heart image baby boy sign Boy Noble; Well-born
heart image Fayna heart image baby boy sign Girl Light
heart image Fedir heart image baby boy sign Boy Gift from above
heart image Fedor heart image baby boy sign Boy A divine Gift of God
heart image Fedora heart image baby boy sign Girl She is a divine, heavenly gift
heart image Feliks heart image baby boy sign Boy A lucky and successful man
heart image Fenya heart image baby boy sign Girl Foreign woman; Woman from another region
heart image Feodor heart image baby boy sign Boy A heavenly gift
heart image Feodora heart image baby boy sign Girl She who is a gift of heaven
heart image Feya heart image baby boy sign Unisex Fairy; Enchanted
heart image Fima heart image baby boy sign Unisex Good speech; Well spoken
heart image Franka heart image baby boy sign Girl Free woman
heart image Fyodor heart image baby boy sign Boy Skills from the most holy high God
heart image Gala heart image baby boy sign Girl The person who is brave; Happy and peaceful
heart image Galina heart image baby boy sign Girl Calm; Serenity
heart image Ganya heart image baby boy sign Girl Garden of the lord
heart image Garald heart image baby boy sign Boy The commander who rules the troops with a spear
heart image Garold heart image baby boy sign Boy A ruler who controls the army with a spear
heart image Gasha heart image baby boy sign Girl One who is very kind to others and possessing best qualities
heart image Gedeon heart image baby boy sign Boy Slayer or killer
heart image Geni heart image baby boy sign Boy Noble birth
heart image Gennadi heart image baby boy sign Boy Variant of Gennadiy; Noble; Generous
heart image Gennadius heart image baby boy sign Boy The person who is decent and a well wisher
heart image Gennady heart image baby boy sign Boy One who cares for others
heart image Georgi heart image baby boy sign Boy Bulgarian accent of George; Farmer
heart image Georgy heart image baby boy sign Boy Variant of Gerogiy; Farmer; Earth worker
heart image Gleb heart image baby boy sign Boy Believer, thoughtful, sincere
heart image Go heart image baby boy sign Unisex Movement, energy, progress
heart image Gorky heart image baby boy sign Unisex The bitter one
heart image Gosha heart image baby boy sign Unisex Farmer; Earth worker
heart image Gregori heart image baby boy sign Boy Lover of companionship and peace
heart image Gresha heart image baby boy sign Unisex Watchful; Alert
heart image Grigor heart image baby boy sign Boy Fast and alert person
heart image Grigori heart image baby boy sign Boy Fast and alert person; A person can watch everything very clearly and can act upon instantly
heart image Grigorii heart image baby boy sign Boy Watchful; Alert
heart image Grisha heart image baby boy sign Boy Vigilant guardian
heart image Hakoda heart image baby boy sign Boy Gift of God
heart image Haleena heart image baby boy sign Girl Of the light
heart image Halene heart image baby boy sign Girl A dedicated woman
heart image Hedeon heart image baby boy sign Boy Destroyer
heart image Helin heart image baby boy sign Girl The light of the sun
heart image Helina heart image baby boy sign Girl Bright; Vivid; Intelligent
heart image Igor heart image baby boy sign Boy Warrior; Army
heart image Ilin heart image baby boy sign Unisex Masculine variant of Ilina
heart image Illyana heart image baby boy sign Girl Light, bright, gracious
heart image Ilya heart image baby boy sign Unisex God is my Lord
heart image Ilyena heart image baby boy sign Unisex Torch; Bright
heart image Inessa heart image baby boy sign Girl Purity and innocence
heart image Ira heart image baby boy sign Unisex Watchful
heart image Iraida heart image baby boy sign Boy Dawn; beautiful; strong
heart image Irena heart image baby boy sign Girl A variant of Irene; Peace
heart image Irina heart image baby boy sign Girl Peaceful, serene, beautiful
heart image Irini heart image baby boy sign Girl A variant of Irene; Peaceful
heart image Irya heart image baby boy sign Unisex Powerful; Energetic
heart image Ivan heart image baby boy sign Girl Yahweh is gracious
heart image Ivanna heart image baby boy sign Girl God is gracious
heart image Ivona heart image baby boy sign Girl Croatian form of Yvonne, Yew
heart image Iyla heart image baby boy sign Girl Moonlight; Tree
heart image Izabela heart image baby boy sign Girl My God is an oath
heart image Jalanea heart image baby boy sign Girl Shining light; Form of Jelena
heart image Jalena heart image baby boy sign Girl The bright one
heart image Jasha heart image baby boy sign Boy A supplanter
heart image Jekaterina heart image baby boy sign Girl A Goddess from the far off
heart image Jelena heart image baby boy sign Girl Sunray; Bright
heart image Jelina heart image baby boy sign Girl Nice looking or good looking woman
heart image Jelka heart image baby boy sign Girl Torch or moon
heart image Jeneuer heart image baby boy sign Girl Fair-complexioned lady
heart image Jenia heart image baby boy sign Unisex Noble; Well-born
heart image Jeniya heart image baby boy sign Unisex God is gracious
heart image Jeramie heart image baby boy sign Unisex God will uplift
heart image Jeramy heart image baby boy sign Unisex God will uplift
heart image Jeremie heart image baby boy sign Boy Same as Jeremy
heart image Jereni heart image baby boy sign Girl Undisturbed
heart image Julie heart image baby boy sign Girl Youthful; Downy-bearded; Soft hair; Beautiful; Vivacious
heart image Juliya heart image baby boy sign Girl Youthful, gracious, and elegant
heart image Kamir heart image baby boy sign Unisex Perfect
heart image Karev heart image baby boy sign Boy Noble ruler; Noble leader
heart image Karik heart image baby boy sign Boy Ever powerful ruler
heart image Karina heart image baby boy sign Boy Pure; Beloved
heart image Karine heart image baby boy sign Girl Beloved friend
Russian baby names offer a diverse range of options, reflecting the nation's vast geography and varied influences. With a perfect blend of tradition and modernism, Russian baby names possess a unique charm that resonate globally and serve as a reminder of the country's cultural heritage. Whether parents seek names to honor their native roots or simply admire the elegant sounds, Russian baby names provide a captivating array of choices that will continue to allure parents worldwide.

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.

ravishing russian names for boys and girls (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

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

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. A Guide to Names and Naming Practices
    https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf
  2. Russian Naming Convention
    https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/RussianNamingConvention
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