583 Stunning Russian Baby Names With Meanings

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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
Mischa	Girl	Who is like God
Mischka	Girl	God's beloved and closest angel
Misha	Unisex	Who is like God
Mishay	Girl	The one who carries God's message
Mishaye	Girl	One who carries the important message of God
Mishka	Unisex	Gift of God
Mitre	Boy	Earth
Mitya	Girl	The god of Earth; Mother of Earth
Monja	Girl	One who wished for a virgin mother
Myla	Girl	Soldier; Merciful

Myren	Girl	Innovative, independent, and analytical
Nada	Girl	The one who is pleasing or valuable or useful
Nadege	Girl	Full of hope
Nadejda	Girl	Belief in the honesty and reliability of others
Nadette	Girl	Brave as a bear
Nadezhda	Girl	A general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled
Nadia	Girl	Hope; Moist; Tender; Delicate
Nadiahope	Girl	Promising hope
Nadie	Girl	Prompted by wisdom or judgement
Nadine	Girl	Hope; Showerer of blessings

Nadja	Girl	Hope
Nadya	Girl	The specific instance of feeling hopeful
Nastasha	Unisex	Graceful; Strong; Determined
Nastashia	Girl	Variant of Anastasia; Resurrection
Nastasia	Girl	A martyr saint; Also the name of the daughter of Russian king Czar
Nastassia	Unisex	Resurrection or Rebirth
Nastasya	Girl	Martyred saint who was resurrected
Nastenka	Girl	Form of Natasha; Resurrection
Nastia	Girl	Resurrection
Nastya	Girl	An act of resurrection

Nata	Girl	Eloquent speaker
Natalia	Girl	Born on Christmas
Nataliya	Girl	God-blessed woman
Nataly	Girl	Christmas day; Birth of the lord
Natalya	Girl	Christ's birthday child
Natalyah	Girl	Born on Christmas day
Natan	Boy	God has provided
Natascha	Girl	Born on Christmas day
Natasha	Girl	Christmas day
Natasia	Girl	Canadian version of Anastasia; Resurrection

Natesha	Girl	Birthday celebration
Naum	Boy	Comforter
Neia	Unisex	Full of hope
Nelya	Girl	Tender, gracious, delicate
Nessa	Girl	Miracle; Holy; Pure
Nicholi	Boy	Victory of the people
Nickolai	Boy	Victory of the people
Nika	Unisex	People's victory
Nikel	Unisex	Victory of the people
Nikita	Unisex	Victorious; Unconquered

Nikol	Unisex	Victorious; People's victory
Nikolai	Boy	Victory of the people
Nikolaj	Boy	The victor among all
Nina	Girl	Little girl; God is gracious
Norvina	Unisex	To work
Novaya	Unisex	New
Odessa	Girl	Ukrainian port city Odesa
Okb	Boy	A confident; Reticent and comfortable human being
Oksana	Girl	Hospitality
Oleg	Boy	Filled with internal brightness; Filled with inner nimble

Olena	Girl	Divided moment; Riven second
Olenka	Girl	Securely placed; Fastened; Set
Olesya	Unisex	Pristine beauty
Olga	Girl	Holy; Blessed
Olya	Girl	Sacred place; Sacred spirit
Olyssia	Girl	One who protects mankind
Onya	Unisex	Honorable
Orel	Boy	Precious and bright like gold
Orina	Girl	Greyish brown
Orlyn	Unisex	Eagle; Light

Oxana	Girl	A stranger who bestows hospitality
Panas	Boy	Immortal
Panya	Girl	One who is crowned in victory
Pasha	Girl	Of Easter; To pass over; Born on Easter
Pavel	Boy	Small; Humble
Pavla	Girl	One who understands and is a little being
Pavlina	Girl	Variation of name Paulina; a little one
Pavlo	Boy	A natty and intellectual person
Petia	Girl	From Petya; A female variant of Peter; Stone
Platon	Boy	A broad-shouldered person

Polina	Girl	Little; Humble
Praskovya	Girl	Preparation; A variant spelling is Praskovia
Pushka	Boy	A gun or a cannon; One who is a barrel of a rifled gun; helpful
Pushkin	Boy	An artilleryman; One good with the cannon and the gun
Puskin	Boy	The cannon
Pyotr	Boy	Rock; Stone
Radomir	Boy	One who is peaceful
Rahil	Boy	One who departs on a journey
Raisa	Girl	Rose; Ewe
Raiya	Girl	Heaven

Ramil	Boy	Lover; Attractive; Charming
Rashel	Girl	Ewe
Rashelle	Girl	Ewe; A variant of Rachel
Rasputin	Boy	A mystic
Rayia	Girl	A woman who is like heaven
Rayna	Girl	Counsel; Queen
Rena	Girl	Born again
Renat	Boy	Reborn
Revekka	Girl	Cattle Stall; To Tie; Variation of the name Rebecca
Rhodie	Unisex	Vibrant, unique, and spirited

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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)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

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

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