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 | |
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