552 Russian Baby Names From The World's Largest Country

Add a tinge of elegance and faith with the rich tonal quality of Russky names.

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Last Updated on Jul 24, 2024

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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.

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Mila	Girl	Gracious; Dear
Natalia	Girl	Born on Christmas
Eva	Girl	Life; The living one
Alina	Girl	Beautiful; Bright
Vera	Girl	Faith
Myla	Girl	Soldier; Merciful
Damien	Boy	Master; To tame; Divine power
Lia	Girl	Weary; Relaxed
Nina	Girl	Little girl; God is gracious
Aniyah	Girl	God is gracious

Samara	Girl	Guardian; Protected by God
Kira	Girl	Throne; Lord; Young
Kate	Girl	Pure; Clear
Nadia	Girl	Hope; Moist; Tender; Delicate
Nikolai	Boy	Victory of the people
Anya	Girl	Grace; Favored by God
Angelica	Girl	Messenger of God; Angelic
Zariyah	Girl	Blooming flower
Julie	Girl	Youthful; Downy-bearded; Soft hair; Beautiful; Vivacious
Iyla	Girl	Moonlight; Tree

Lara	Girl	Protection; Water fairy
Marina	Girl	Belonging to the sea
Rayna	Girl	Counsel; Queen
Alena	Girl	Torch; Corposant; Tower; Moon
Annika	Girl	Beautiful; Grace; Favor
Damir	Boy	Peace given
Natasha	Girl	Christmas day
Nataly	Girl	Christmas day; Birth of the lord
Zoya	Girl	Life
Dimitri	Boy	Earth lover; Follower of Demeter

Tatiana	Girl	Queen of the fairies
Lilia	Girl	Lily; Purity
Lev	Boy	Lion; Heart
Simeon	Boy	Obedient; Listening; Little hyena
Yuna	Girl	Gentleness; Friendliness
Sonia	Girl	Wisdom
Alisa	Girl	Noble kind
Alya	Girl	Sky; Heaven
Yuri	Unisex	Lily; Light
Viktor	Boy	A form of Victor

Kenya	Girl	Mountain of white; The one having stripes
Arman	Boy	Desire; Hope; Warrior
Mikhail	Boy	Who is like God
Liya	Girl	I am with God
Mika	Girl	Beautiful fragrance
Nadine	Girl	Hope; Showerer of blessings
Yuliana	Girl	Youthful
Vladimir	Girl	Ruler of peace
Odessa	Girl	Ukrainian port city Odesa
Lidia	Girl	A person who is from Lydia

Irina	Girl	Peaceful, serene, beautiful
Natalya	Girl	Christ's birthday child
Taya	Girl	Bandage
Maksim	Boy	A man who is greater than others
Tianna	Girl	Diminutive of Christiana; Follower of Jesus Christ
Tania	Girl	Ruler; Regent
Lukah	Unisex	Bringer of light; Light giving
Lenin	Boy	One who belongs to the river Lena
Vanya	Girl	Gracious gift of God
Natan	Boy	God has provided

Ania	Girl	Graceful young girl; Favor; Merciful
Viktoria	Girl	Croatian form of Victoria; Victory
Maiya	Girl	Rice valley
Raiya	Girl	Heaven
Nessa	Girl	Miracle; Holy; Pure
Polina	Girl	Little; Humble
Rina	Girl	Greens from the village; Melted or dissolved
Sofiya	Girl	Wisdom
Izabela	Girl	My God is an oath
Olga	Girl	Holy; Blessed

Armen	Boy	Soldier
Arina	Girl	Peace
Ruston	Boy	Rustic, strong, and rugged
Sima	Girl	A treasure
Dmitri	Boy	Earth lover; Devotee of Demeter
Kodiak	Boy	Island
Mishka	Unisex	Gift of God
Bogdan	Boy	Given by God; A Godsent person
Talya	Girl	Dew from god
Kamir	Unisex	Perfect

Anja	Girl	Grace
Yulian	Unisex	Youthful and light-hearted
Gala	Girl	The person who is brave; Happy and peaceful
Akim	Boy	God will establish; The Lord exalts
Tanya	Girl	Fairy queen
Darya	Girl	One who is good
Zarya	Girl	Sunrise; Dawn
Nadya	Girl	The specific instance of feeling hopeful
Taniya	Girl	Russian pet form of Tatiana; Fairy princess
Tyanna	Girl	Disciple or devotee of Jesus Christ

Pavel	Boy	Small; Humble
Calina	Girl	A beautiful young woman
Taina	Girl	Morning star
Lilya	Girl	Pure; Lily flower
Bela	Girl	Time; One who lives inside the heart
Vlad	Boy	Rule
Jelena	Girl	Sunray; Bright
Jeremie	Boy	Same as Jeremy
Konstantin	Boy	Constant
Ruslan	Boy	One who is like a Lion

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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)

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.

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.