579 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.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Mila	Girl	Gracious; Dear
Adrian	Boy	Man from Hadria
Natalia	Girl	Born on Christmas
Alina	Girl	Noble; White; Bright
Alexandra	Girl	Defender or helper of the people
Vera	Girl	Faith
Myla	Girl	Soldier; Merciful
Mark	Boy	Mars; God of war; Male; Warlike; Hammer; Defender
Martin	Boy	The god of war; Mars; Dedicated to Mars; Warlike; Male
Lia	Girl	Weary; Relaxed

Nina	Girl	Little girl; God is gracious
Samara	Girl	Guardian; Protected by God
Lana	Girl	Small rock; Afloat
Kira	Girl	Throne; Lord; Young; Humiliator of the enemy; Sunbeam; Ray of light; Sparkling
Nadia	Girl	Hope; Moist; Tender; Delicate
Nikolai	Boy	Victory of the people
Renata	Girl	Born again; Rebirth; Brave lion
Anya	Girl	Grace; Favored by God
Zariyah	Girl	Blooming flower
Lara	Girl	Women of the Citadel; Famous; Shine; Protection

Alena	Girl	Torch; Corposant; Tower; Ray of light; Moon
Iyla	Girl	Moonlight; Tree
Alianna	Girl	Noble grace; Holy; Torch; Sun
Damir	Boy	Peace giver; Steel; Iron; Conscience
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
Ariadna	Girl	Most holy
Simeon	Boy	Obedient; Listening; Little hyena
Yuna	Girl	Gentleness; Friendliness
Kamilla	Girl	Perfection; Chamomile flower
Katerina	Girl	Pure; Clean; Clear; Each of the two
Sonia	Girl	Wisdom
Alisa	Girl	Noble; Kind; Nobility; Great happiness
Emil	Boy	Rival
Viktor	Boy	A form of Victor

Aanya	Girl	Compassion; God's favor; Inexhuastible; Gracious; Strength; Power
Kenya	Girl	Mountain of white; The one having stripes; Animal horn; Wise; Intelligent
Mikhail	Boy	Who is like God
Vladimir	Girl	Ruler of peace
Asia	Girl	East; Yahweh is gracious; Resurrection; Defending men
Liya	Girl	Weary; Cow; I am with God
Liza	Girl	My God is an oath
Mika	Girl	Beautiful fragrance
Nadine	Girl	Hope; Showerer of blessings
Yuliana	Girl	Youthful

Odessa	Girl	Ukrainian port city Odesa
Aviva	Girl	Spring; Springtime
Lidia	Girl	A person who is from Lydia
Yuri	Unisex	Lily; Light
Andrei	Boy	Courageous; Enduring; Manly; Masculine
Asiya	Girl	Resurrection; Distressed; Grieved; Pensive; East
Natalya	Girl	Christ's birthday child
Taya	Girl	Bandage
Avian	Boy	Bird-like; Lively
Lukah	Unisex	Bringer of light; Light giving

Maksim	Boy	The greatest
Tianna	Girl	Diminutive of Christiana; Follower of Jesus Christ
Klara	Girl	Clear; Bright; Famous
Tania	Girl	Ruler; Regent
Irina	Girl	Peaceful, serene, beautiful
Daria	Girl	To possess; One who keeps things well
Lenin	Boy	One who belongs to the river Lena
Dora	Girl	God's gift; Hand; Gift
Vanya	Girl	Gracious gift of God
Adryan	Boy	From Hadria

Natan	Boy	God has provided
Aleksandra	Girl	Defender of mankind
Alexei	Boy	Defender of mankind
Viktoria	Girl	Croatian form of Victoria; Victory
Mishka	Unisex	Gift of God
Maiya	Girl	Good mother; Circle; Increasingly; Illusion
Aleksandr	Boy	Defender of mankind
Raiya	Girl	Heaven
Nessa	Girl	Miracle; Holy; Pure
Polina	Girl	Little; Humble; Strength; Father lion

Boris	Boy	Snow leopard; Wolf
Sofiya	Girl	Wisdom
Izabela	Girl	My God is an oath
Olga	Girl	Holy; Blessed
Arina	Girl	Peace; From Hadria; Gold; Radiant one
Sima	Girl	A treasure
Eleonora	Girl	Shining bright light coming from above
Dmitri	Boy	Earth lover; Follower of Demeter
Kodiak	Boy	Island
Ruston	Boy	Rustic, strong, and rugged

Yulian	Unisex	Youthful and light-hearted
Bogdan	Boy	Given by God
Talya	Girl	Dew from god
Gala	Girl	Rooster; From Gaul; Calm weather
Mariya	Girl	Greatly loved; Sea of bitterness
Akim	Boy	God will establish; Raised by Yahweh
Arisha	Girl	Peaceful; Lion
Destini	Girl	Fate, destiny
Tanya	Girl	Fairy queen
Darya	Girl	Possessing goodness; Sea; Ocean

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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.

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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.