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
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

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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

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