Russian names
Russian names carry grand, literary weight, Aleksandr, Anastasia, Dmitri, Yekaterina, often shortened at home into affectionate diminutives like Sasha or Katya that soften their formality into something warm. Many trace to Old Slavic roots or Byzantine saints, giving them centuries of resonance.
Alexander defender of mankind
Alina traditionally linked to noble, as a short form of Adelina; a popular modern pick across Eastern Europe
Anastasia resurrection
Andrei manly, brave
Anton the Russian form of Anthony, from the Roman name Antonius, of uncertain Etruscan origin
Arina peace
Artem unharmed, healthy (Russia's most popular boy name in recent years)
Boris fighter, warrior
Dmitri devoted to Demeter
Ekaterina pure (Russian form of Catherine)
Fyodor gift of God (novelist Dostoevsky's name)
Galina calm, serene
Gleb Russian form of the Old Norse Guðleifr, from guð, 'god', and leifr, 'heir' or 'inheritance'; borne by Saint Gleb of Kievan Rus
Igor from Old Norse Yngvarr, carried by the early Rurikid princes; a Russian classic
Ilya the Lord is my God (Russian form of Elijah)
Irina peace
Ivan God is gracious
Kirill lordly, masterful
Konstantin steadfast, constant
Ksenia hospitable, wanderer
Leonid lion-like
Lev lion (novelist Tolstoy's given name)
Ludmila beloved of the people
Marina of the sea
Masha bitter, beloved (diminutive of Maria)
Maxim greatest
Mikhail who is like God
Nadia hope (short form of Nadezhda)
Natalia born on Christmas day
Natasha born on Christmas day (diminutive of Natalia)
Nikita victorious (male in Russia, worn as unisex in the US)
Nikolai victory of the people
Nina short form of names ending in -nina, brought from Russian and Italian into wider Western use in the 19th century; deeper independent roots are uncertain
Oksana Ukrainian form of Xenia, traditionally linked to Greek xenia, hospitality; long popular across Ukraine and Russia
Oleg holy, blessed
Olga holy, blessed
Pavel small, humble
Polina small, humble
Roman from Rome, citizen of Rome
Rurik famous ruler (legendary founder of the first Russian dynasty)
Sasha defender of mankind (unisex diminutive of Alexandra)
Sergei attendant, servant
Sonya wisdom (diminutive of Sofia)
Svetlana star, light
Tatiana from the Roman clan name Tatius; a beloved Russian classic across generations
Timofei honoring God (Russian form of Timothy)
Varvara foreign woman (Russian form of Barbara)
Vasilisa royal, queenly (folk-tale heroine, Vasilisa the Beautiful)
Vasily royal, kingly
Vera faith
Viktor conqueror
Viktoria victory
Vladimir famous ruler
Yeva life (Russian form of Eve)
Yuri farmer (Russian form of George)
Zlata golden
Zoya life
Which of these fits YOUR family? →