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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Rina | Girl | Greens from the village; Melted or dissolved | |
Rodina | Unisex | Family or homeland | |
Rodion | Boy | A song of the hero warrior | |
Roksana | Girl | She who is bright as dawn | |
Rostislav | Boy | One whose glory grows | |
Roza | Girl | One whose beauty is compared to that of a rose | |
Rubal | Boy | Russian Currency | |
Rurik | Boy | A notable, legendary ruler | |
Ruslan | Boy | One who is like a Lion | |
Ruston | Boy | Rustic, strong, and rugged | |
Ruza | Girl | She who is a beautiful rose | |
Ruzha | Girl | Rose | |
Saasha | Girl | A defender of mankind | |
Sabiba | Girl | A sabine | |
Sakoiya | Girl | A female name of Russian origin | |
Samara | Girl | Guardian; Protected by God | |
Sambo | Unisex | God has heard | |
Samvel | Boy | From Ecclesiastic Greek Shmuel; Name of God, God has heard; More of religious connected to God; Heard of God, Asked of God | |
Sanya | Girl | A moment in time preserved | |
Sascha | Boy | Defender; Protector of mankind | |
Sasha | Unisex | Defender; Helper of mankind | |
Sashenka | Girl | She who defends | |
Sashya | Girl | A helper of mankind | |
Savina | Girl | A sabine | |
Savya | Boy | Lord Vishnu | |
Senya | Unisex | Bright as the sun; From Japan | |
Sergei | Boy | Protector | |
Sergey | Boy | A Russian saint name | |
Seryozha | Boy | Diminutive of Sergei | |
Sevastian | Unisex | Victorious, honorable, strong | |
Shanina | Girl | Graceful; Serene | |
Shasha | Boy | One who defends men | |
Shura | Boy | He who defends people | |
Sidor | Boy | One who is a gift of Goddess Isis | |
Sima | Girl | A treasure | |
Simeon | Boy | Obedient; Listening; Little hyena | |
Sitka | Girl | A woman who comes from Alaska | |
Slava | Boy | Glory | |
Slavik | Boy | One who finds glory in the army | |
Slavka | Girl | She who has achieved greatness | |
Snezhana | Girl | A snowy woman | |
Sochi | Unisex | Blessed; Joyful | |
Sofiya | Girl | Wisdom | |
Sofya | Girl | A wise woman | |
Songya | Girl | A person who is wise and has wisdom | |
Sonia | Girl | Wisdom | |
Stas | Boy | Becoming famous | |
Stasha | Boy | Resurrection, rebirth, or stand up | |
Stasia | Girl | A short form of Anastasia | |
Stassia | Girl | Resurrection | |
Stasya | Girl | Strength; Fame; Firmness | |
Stepan | Boy | One who is crowned with a crown | |
Stepka | Boy | He who is crowned with laurels | |
Stesha | Boy | A man who is crowned with a laurel | |
Sueta | Girl | She who brings light to the world | |
Sveta | Girl | One who shines with the divine light | |
Svetlana | Girl | Light; Blessed; Holy | |
Svyatopolk | Boy | Celebrating people | |
Syuzanna | Girl | She who is as graceful as a lily flower | |
Tahna | Boy | Abbreviation of Tatiana | |
Tahnee | Girl | Female ruler of an independent state | |
Taina | Girl | Morning star | |
Taisia | Girl | Feminine, Russian origin, brings joy | |
Taisiya | Girl | From the greek name thais; Witty courtesan | |
Talya | Girl | Dew from god | |
Tama | Girl | She is like a thunder | |
Tamryn | Boy | Palm tree | |
Tania | Girl | Ruler; Regent | |
Tanis | Unisex | Serpent lady | |
Tanita | Girl | She who is from the Tatius house | |
Taniya | Girl | Russian pet form of Tatiana; Fairy princess | |
Tanja | Girl | A fairy princess | |
Tanny | Boy | A familiar form of Tanner | |
Tanya | Girl | Fairy queen | |
Tasenka | Girl | Resurrection | |
Tasha | Unisex | Christ's birthday | |
Tasher | Boy | One who is born on christmas; energetic | |
Tashi | Girl | Great accompishment | |
Tashia | Girl | She who is born during Christmas | |
Tashina | Girl | A woman wearing a blanket | |
Taska | Girl | One who was born during Christmas | |
Tassa | Girl | Born during Christmas | |
Tassiana | Girl | Birthday | |
Tassie | Girl | A familiar form of Tasmin | |
Tassy | Girl | Born on Christmas | |
Tasya | Girl | She who will be reborn | |
Tati | Girl | Short form of the Russian name Tatiana | |
Tatia | Girl | Fairy queen | |
Tatiana | Girl | Queen of the fairies | |
Tatianna | Girl | Fairy princess | |
Tatiyana | Girl | Regal, elegant, unique | |
Tatjana | Girl | A variation of Russian Tatiana; From a Latin family name; Fairy queen | |
Tatyana | Girl | Haired | |
Tatyanah | Girl | A fairy princess | |
Tatyanna | Girl | Queen | |
Tawnya | Boy | A green field | |
Taya | Girl | Bandage | |
Tetyana | Girl | Variant of Tatiana; Queen of fairies | |
Theodosia | Girl | Giving to God | |
Tiahna | Girl | Abbrevation of Tatiana; Queen of fairies | |
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