583 Russian Baby Names With Meanings
Add a tinge of elegance and faith with the rich tonal quality of Russky names.
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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Abihail | Girl | The rejoice of my Yahweh | |
Abrasha | Boy | Yiddish form of Abraham, meaning Father of a multitudes | |
Aelita | Girl | Starlight seen for the last time | |
Agata | Girl | One who is good at heart and mind; Pure; Kind; Gentle; A nature lover | |
Aizel | Unisex | Unique; Strong | |
Akilina | Girl | Eaglelike; a person who is very powerful | |
Akim | Boy | God will establish; The Lord exalts | |
Aksana | Girl | God's gift | |
Alek | Boy | Defender of Men; A variant of name Alec and Alexander | |
Alekai | Unisex | Protector; Defender | |
Aleksandr | Boy | Defender of mankind | |
Aleksei | Boy | Defender of Men; Defender; A variant of name Alexander | |
Alena | Girl | Torch; Corposant; Tower; Moon | |
Aleona | Girl | Light or shining | |
Aleshka | Girl | Defender of mankind | |
Alesya | Unisex | Noble; Graceful; Beautiful | |
Alex | Boy | To defend; To protect | |
Alexei | Boy | Defender of men; Defender; A variant of name Alexander | |
Alina | Girl | Beautiful; Bright | |
Alisa | Girl | Noble kind | |
Alishka | Girl | Rational; Noble | |
Alla | Girl | Of a noble kind; Defender of men; A derivative of Alice | |
Alleya | Unisex | Exalted; Sublime | |
Alya | Girl | Sky; Heaven | |
Anastasia | Girl | Resurrection; Coming again | |
Anastasiy | Boy | Bulgarian form of Anastasius; To resurrect | |
Anastasiya | Girl | Resurrection | |
Anastassia | Girl | Estonian form of Anastasia; Resurrection | |
Anatoli | Girl | A beautiful and warm sunrise | |
Andrei | Boy | Courageous; Enduring | |
Andrej | Boy | Male; Manly; Brave; Virility; A variant of name Andreas | |
Andrian | Boy | Male; Manly; Brave; Virility; Man from Hadria; Dark One; A variant of name Adrian | |
Andros | Boy | A born warrior; Manly and brave | |
Angela | Girl | Messenger; Angel | |
Angelica | Girl | Messenger of God; Angelic | |
Angelina | Girl | Messenger of God; Angelic | |
Ania | Girl | Graceful young girl; Favor; Merciful | |
Aniska | Unisex | Unique; Mystical; Graceful | |
Aniyah | Girl | God is gracious | |
Aniyyah | Girl | A loving and concerning favor from God | |
Anja | Girl | Grace | |
Annik | Girl | God was gracious; God has shown favor; Pure; Chaste; Grace; It is a variation of Anna | |
Annika | Girl | Beautiful; Grace; Favor | |
Anoushka | Girl | Grace; A favour | |
Anouska | Girl | A weary and gracious one | |
Antanasia | Girl | One who will be reborn; Immortal | |
Antosha | Boy | Invaluable; Priceless; Inestimable | |
Anya | Girl | Grace; Favored by God | |
Arina | Girl | Peace | |
Arman | Boy | Desire; Hope; Warrior | |
Armen | Boy | Soldier | |
Artem | Boy | Shorter version of Artemas; Variant of Artemis | |
Asja | Girl | A form of Anastasia; Resurrection | |
Asya | Girl | Grace | |
Atasha | Girl | Llike fire; Reborn | |
Avdotya | Girl | One who is very difficult to resist; Relaxing | |
Avgust | Boy | Great | |
Avraam | Boy | Father of many | |
Avrora | Girl | Dawn or morning light | |
Balanchine | Boy | Russian born United States dancer and choreographer | |
Baranan | Boy | Ram | |
Bayusha | Girl | A place name in Moldova | |
Bela | Girl | Time; One who lives inside the heart | |
Benedikt | Boy | Happy; Blessed; A title for a beatified person | |
Biserka | Girl | Pearl | |
Bogdan | Boy | Given by God; A Godsent person | |
Bogdana | Girl | A woman who is god-given | |
Bohdanko | Boy | God's gift | |
Bojana | Girl | She who is a fighter in the battles | |
Borislava | Girl | Battle glory; Feminine form of Borislav | |
Bronya | Girl | A woman who gives protection | |
Bubley | Unisex | One who is from Babylon; A surname | |
Burian | Boy | Lives near the weeds | |
Calina | Girl | A beautiful young woman | |
Czar | Boy | A born emperor | |
Czarina | Girl | A born Empress | |
Damien | Boy | Master; To tame; Divine power | |
Damir | Boy | Peace given | |
Damyan | Boy | One who tames | |
Damyon | Boy | A legendary son and ruler | |
Daniell | Girl | God protects all | |
Daniil | Girl | God is a judge who rules | |
Danil | Boy | A Judge | |
Danila | Boy | God is a judge | |
Danya | Boy | A darling individual | |
Daria | Girl | To possess | |
Darya | Girl | One who is good | |
Dascha | Unisex | Gift of God | |
Dasha | Boy | Gift sent from God | |
Dema | Girl | Rain bearing; Earth mother | |
Demyan | Boy | A confident and super excited being | |
Destini | Girl | Fate, destiny | |
Dima | Boy | Strong fighter | |
Dimitre | Boy | An earth lover who loves adventure | |
Dimitri | Boy | Earth lover; Follower of Demeter | |
Dimitur | Boy | Variation of Demeter; Earth | |
Dimity | Boy | Of double thread; A type of cotton cloth | |
Dinara | Girl | A treasured individual; a sensitive person | |
Dmitri | Boy | Earth lover; Devotee of Demeter | |
Dmitriy | Boy | Earth lover; Greek goddess of harvest | |
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
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.