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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Karol | Boy | Strong; Manly | |
Karyna | Girl | A keel of the ship | |
Kate | Girl | Pure; Clear | |
Katenka | Girl | Torture; Pure | |
Katerina | Girl | Pure | |
Katia | Girl | Pure; Clear; Each of the two | |
Katina | Girl | Pure | |
Katiya | Girl | Perfect; Pure | |
Katja | Girl | Neat; Natural; Pure | |
Katrya | Girl | Pure; A pure and chaste woman | |
Katyana | Girl | Exotic and feminine | |
Kazimir | Boy | Destroyer of peace | |
Kenya | Girl | Mountain of white; The one having stripes | |
Kervyn | Boy | Ruler | |
Kesar | Boy | Small black one | |
Kesha | Girl | Hair | |
Khabib | Boy | Strong or powerful | |
Khristina | Girl | Christian woman; A follower of Christ; A variant form of Christina | |
Khrystyna | Girl | Follower of Christ | |
Kima | Girl | Butterfly | |
Kira | Girl | Throne; Lord; Young | |
Kiril | Boy | Noble | |
Kirill | Boy | Ruler | |
Kiska | Unisex | Pure | |
Klarika | Girl | Bright and famous | |
Kliment | Boy | One who is merciful and mild; A variant of Clement | |
Kodiak | Boy | Island | |
Kolya | Boy | People's victory | |
Konstantin | Boy | Constant | |
Kostya | Boy | Kostya means Stady | |
Krugan | Boy | Krugan means burial mound | |
Ksenia | Girl | Hospitality | |
Kseniya | Girl | The name means Stranger | |
Lada | Girl | Slavic Goddess of love; Maiden; Girl | |
Laika | Girl | Barker | |
Lara | Girl | Protection; Water fairy | |
Larisa | Girl | Citadel; Fortress; Joyful | |
Larissa | Girl | Citadel; Fortress | |
Latonya | Girl | Praiseworthy; Priceless one | |
Laurissa | Girl | Variation of the name Laurel; Laurel tree | |
Lavra | Girl | One crowned with a crown of laurel tree leaves | |
Leika | Unisex | Reward; Gift; Child of heaven | |
Lenaya | Unisex | Light or torch | |
Lenin | Boy | One who belongs to the river Lena | |
Lenya | Boy | Lion | |
Leonid | Boy | Latin variation of the name Leon | |
Lera | Girl | An allusion to the Virgin Mary | |
Lesya | Girl | Defender; Helper; Liberator of men | |
Lev | Boy | Lion; Heart | |
Levka | Girl | Lioness | |
Levushka | Boy | Lion | |
Lia | Girl | Weary; Relaxed | |
Lida | Girl | Loved by people; Grace | |
Lidia | Girl | A person who is from Lydia | |
Lidija | Girl | She who is from an ancient Kingdom of Lydia | |
Lidiya | Girl | One who comes from ancient Lydia | |
Liev | Boy | Heart; Lion | |
Lieve | Girl | A Woman with a heart as brave as a Lion's | |
Lilia | Girl | Lily; Purity | |
Liliya | Girl | Russian cognate of Lily; flower lily | |
Lilya | Girl | Pure; Lily flower | |
Liya | Girl | I am with God | |
Lizabeta | Girl | A woman who is consecrated to God | |
Luba | Girl | Slavic word for Love | |
Lubba | Girl | A feeling of deep love | |
Luda | Girl | Loved by the people | |
Ludis | Boy | Fame or war | |
Ludmilla | Girl | The one who loves people | |
Lukah | Unisex | Bringer of light; Light giving | |
Lydie | Girl | A Maiden from Lydia; Greece | |
Lyuba | Girl | The one who loves | |
Lyubov | Girl | Love | |
Lyudmila | Girl | A dear person who loves and feels deeply | |
Madelina | Girl | Of Magdala | |
Maiya | Girl | Rice valley | |
Makar | Boy | A person who is blessed with great happiness | |
Makara | Girl | A blessed person; Mostly used as a surname | |
Makari | Boy | Blessed | |
Maks | Boy | The greatest of men | |
Maksim | Boy | A man who is greater than others | |
Malishka | Unisex | Little one; Small girl | |
Manya | Girl | Star of the sea | |
Marfa | Girl | A mistress; A lady | |
Marina | Girl | Belonging to the sea | |
Marisha | Girl | A melancholic, bitter individual | |
Marushka | Girl | Bitter; Rebellious | |
Marya | Girl | Rebelliousness | |
Maryana | Girl | Pearl | |
Masha | Girl | Wished for child; Sea of bitterness | |
Matvei | Boy | Gift of God | |
Mavra | Boy | Moorish; Dark | |
Mavriki | Boy | Swarthy; Dark-skinned | |
Melana | Girl | Black; Dark | |
Melor | Boy | A member of the Communist party or a socialist who advocates communism | |
Micha | Unisex | Who is like God | |
Mika | Girl | Beautiful fragrance | |
Mikhail | Boy | Who is like God | |
Mila | Girl | Gracious; Dear | |
Milaslava | Girl | One who likes or wants to be glorified | |
Milaya | Unisex | Sweetheart; Darling | |
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