People probably are given one first name, then a middle name, and a surname when they are born. You may have a nickname or a parent’s name, but it is the most likely family member. Russian naming conventions are ingrained in the language. They’re pretty controlled, and learning them is a must if you’re studying Russian or planning a trip to the country. A name, a form of their father’s name, and a surname are given to every Russian child.
Although Russian is one of the most challenging languages to learn, you don’t need to know the language to appreciate the depth and significance of their names. Russian names have a long and illustrious history. A conventional Russian name consists of three parts: a first name, a middle name or patronymic name, and a surname. A given name is given at birth or after a name change. A patronymic name is inherited from one’s father or a paternal relative. The majority of Russians are familiar with all three names. You may be expected to use their first and patronymic names when speaking to someone older than you or in a position of responsibility.
Russian names are derived from a variety of origins. They include Slavic names from the past, Christian names, and Russian names prevalent throughout the Soviet and post-Soviet eras. Like any other culture, Russian parents are likely to find nothing more stressful than attempting to develop the appropriate name for their child. There’s a lot at risk, from trying to find something classy without following the herd to picking something exceptional. Naming a child is particularly significant since it becomes a permanent part of their identity.
Choosing the appropriate name for your child is one of the most important aspects of having a baby. Parents understand that a child’s name becomes an essential part of their identity, and you only get one chance to get it right. As a result, parents may deliberate for months, trying on various names to determine which one best suits their infant. A parent’s responsibility to give their child a proper name does not end with the birth certificate. Giving your child a good name is a continuous process that will continue throughout their lives. Therefore, these names will be just as essential.
Here, We Present a List of Russian Names and the Meaning they Hold
- Adam
Adam is a Hebrew word that means “man.” It could be derived from Hebrew Adamu, which means “to make,” or from Akkadian Adamu, which means “to be red,” referring to the rosy tint of human skin. Adam was created from the ground by God. According to Genesis in the Old Testament, a wordplay in Hebrew means “earth.” He and Eve were the first humans, living peacefully in Eden until they ate the forbidden fruit from the good and evil tree knowledge. As a result, they were exiled from Eden to the territories to the east, where they gave birth to Cain, Abel, and Seth, the second generation. Adam has been a popular Christian name in England since the Middle Ages. It gained popularity following the Protestant Reformation.
Adam Smith, a Scottish economist, was a well-known bearer.
- Abakumov
It is a patronymic surname of Jewish origin.
The word means ‘black’ and is given to black-haired or dark-skinned people.
- Albert
Adalbert is a Germanic name that means “noble and bright” and is made up of the parts adal “noble” and beraht “bright.” This was a frequent name among medieval German aristocracy. It was brought to England by the Normans, who replaced the Old English cognate elberht. Though it had become rare in England by the 17th century, the German-born Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, re-popularized it in the 19th century. Two Belgian rulers in the twentieth century bore this name.
Albert Einstein, the German scientist who developed the theory of relativity, and Albert Camus, a French-Algerian writer and philosopher, are notable bearers.
- Anna
In the Greek and Latin Old Testaments, a variant of Channah is used. Hannah is used instead of Anna in Many later Old Testament translations, including English. A prophetess who recognized Jesus as the Messiah appears briefly in the New Testament. It was a popular name in the Byzantine Empire from the beginning. It became popular among Western Christians in the Middle Ages due to the reverence of Saint Anna, often known as Saint Anne in English, the name traditionally given to the Virgin Mary’s mother. Since the late Middle Ages, this Latin form has coexisted with Ann and Anne’s vernacular forms in England. Since the 1970s, Anna has been the most prevalent of these spellings in all English-speaking countries. However, the biblical form Hannah is now more popular than all three. Several Russian royals, including one empress of Russia in the 18th century, bore the name.
It’s also the main character’s name in Leo Tolstoy’s 1877 novel Anna Karenina, about a married aristocrat who embarks on a tragic love affair with Count Vronsky.
- Agrafena
The name Agrafena has its roots in the Russian and Greek languages. It translates to feet first. It is a unique name, and only a few girls carry it. If you are looking for variations, Agripina, Agrafina, Agrippina, and Fenya are some of them.
- Alina
Alina is a sweet name with roots in the Russian language. It has a musical tone and holds the meaning of beautiful and bright. You can go with other variations of this name, too, including Alya, Albina, Adelina, and Alena. A famous personality with this name is Alina Jidkova, who is a tennis player.
- Alyona
A famous personality with this name is Alyona Alyona, a Ukrainian rapper. If you are looking for a cute Russian name for your little girl, Alyona is the one. It has a feminine vibe to it, and it sounds lyrical when you pronounce it. It comes with the meaning of bright and shining light.
- Anastasiya
If you are into names with an old-world charm, you can choose Anastasiya. It’s a gorgeous name used in novels and movies numerous times. Some other variations of this name are Stasya, Nastya, Nastasya, Nastasia, and Anastasia. It translates to resurrection.
- Boris
Bogoris is a Turkic name that could mean “short,” “wolf,” or “snow leopard.” King Boris wore it I of Bulgaria, who converted his country to Christianity in the 9th century and two subsequent Bulgarian monarchs. Saint Boris, a Russian prince, slain with his brother Gleb in the 11th century, popularised the name in the Slavic realm. It’s possible that his mother was Bulgarian. Another notable bearer was the 16th-century Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who was later the subject of Aleksandr Pushkin’s play of the same name.
- David
Dawid is derived from the Hebrew name Dawid, which means “beloved” or “uncle” in Hebrew. David was Israel’s second and greatest king, reigning in the 10th century BC. The Old Testament contains several accounts about him, notably his victory over Goliath, a huge Philistine. Jesus, according to the New Testament, was his descendant. Since the Middle Ages, this name has been used in the United Kingdom. It was prevalent in Wales, worn by two kings, and in Scotland, worn in honor of the 5th-century patron saint of Wales, also known as Dewi. It has remained one of the most famous names in the English-speaking world for the past century, never falling below the top 30 names for boys in the United States and reaching the top spot in England and Wales throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1970s and 1980s, it was the most popular boy’s name in Spain.
Empirical philosopher David Hume, explorer David Livingstone, musician David Bowie, and David Beckham are famous bearers. David Copperfield, the semi-autobiographical novel by Charles Dickens, is also named after him.
- Eva
Eve is spelled in a variety of ways in different languages. This form is used in the Latin New Testament translation, while Hava is used in the Latin Old Testament.
In Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the name is given to a character named Little Eva, whose real name is Evangeline. This is also a different spelling of the Russian era.
- Ivan
Ioannu is a modernized version of the old Slavic name Ioannu derived from the Greek Ioannes. Six Russian monarchs used this name, including the 15th-century Ivan III the Great and the 16th-century Ivan IV the Terrible, Russia’s first tsar.
Nine Bulgarian emperors also wore it. Ivan Turgenev, the Russian author who penned Fathers and Sons, and Ivan Pavlov, the Russian biologist who discovered the conditioned reflex, are two more noteworthy bearers.
- Julia
Julius is a feminine version of the Roman surname Julius. In the New Testament, a person with this name is mentioned briefly. Julia Augusta, also known as Livia Drusilla, Emperor Augustus’ wife, and Julia the Elder, Augustus’ daughter, and Tiberius’ wife, were influential ladies from this family. It was also worn by several early saints and martyrs, including Corsica’s patron saint. Shakespeare also utilized it in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. However, it is only during the 18th century that it has become popular as a given name in the English-speaking world.
Julia Roberts, an American actress, is a well-known modern carrier.
- Marina
From the Hebrew Mary, a Latinized version of Greek. Maria is the most prevalent spelling in several European languages and a secondary form in others, such as English. At the same time, Mary is the most common spelling. Maria is occasionally used as a masculine middle name in various countries, such as Germany, Poland, and Italy. This was the name of Portugal’s two ruling queens.
It was also worn by Maria Theresa of Habsburg, whose assumption of her father’s territories, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, sparked the War of the Austrian Succession.
- Mark
Marcus is a Latin form that is used in a variety of languages. Saint Mark wrote the second gospel of the New Testament. Though the author’s name is unknown, some traditions believe he is the same person as the John Mark mentioned in Acts. He is venerated as the patron saint of Venice, where he is said to be interred. Though used during the Middle Ages, Mark did not become widely used in English-speaking countries until the 19th century, combined with Marcus’s classical form. This was the name of a king of Cornwall in the Celtic legend of Tristan and Isolde. The American author Mark Twain, real name Samuel Clemens, who wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, wore it. He got his pen name from a call used by Mississippi River riverboat men to denote a depth of two fathoms. This is also how the first-century BC Roman triumvir Marcus Antonius is commonly spelled in English.
- Martin
Martinus is a Roman name derived from Martis, which is the genitive case of the name of the Roman God Mars. Saint Martin of Touraas, the patron saint of France, was a 4th-century bishop. According to folklore, he came to find a chilly beggar in the dead of winter, so he cut his cloak in half and handed it half to the beggar. During the Middle Ages, he was a famous saint, and his name has spread throughout the Christian world. Martin Luther, the theologian who started the Protestant Reformation, was a notable bearer. Five popes had the title, two of whom were more widely known as Marinus.
Martin Heidegger, the German philosopher, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Martin Scorsese, the American filmmaker, are more recent bearers.
- Robert
Hrodebert is derived from the Germanic roots hrod “fame” and beraht “bright,” and means “bright fame.” The Normans introduced this name to Britain, who supplanted the Old English counterpart Hreod Beorht. From the 13th until the 20th century, it was constantly among the most popular English names. Between 1924 and 1939, and again in 1953, it was the most common name for boys in the United States. Two early French rulers, two Dukes of Normandy, and three Scottish kings have all had this name, notably Robert the Bruce, who restored Scotland’s independence from England in the 14th century. The poets Robert Burns and Robert Frost, and Robert Browning are prominent literary bearers of this name.
Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Confederate army during the American Civil War, and American actors Robert Redford and Robert De Niro are among the other honorees and Robert. Downey Jr.
- Susanna
The Greek form of the Hebrew name Shoshannah is Sousanna. This was taken from the Hebrew term Shoshan, which means “lily” in modern Hebrew and also “rose,” possibly derived from the Egyptian “lotus.” This is the name of a lady wrongfully accused of adultery in the Apocrypha of the Old Testament. Daniel, the prophet, clears her name by duping her accusers, who are then punished as well. It also appears in the New Testament to be the name of a woman who serves as a minister to Jesus. It was infrequently used as an English name in honor of the Old Testament heroine during the Middle Ages.
It was not widely used until after the Protestant Reformation, commonly spelled Susan.
- Sokolov
Sokolov is one of Russia’s ten most frequent names, derived from Sokol’s Russian word, which means falcon. Falcons are a sign of bravery, and falconers were vital members of the Russian court in the Middle Ages. There have been many famous Sokolovs throughout history, from mathematicians to marathon runners.
Sokolov is one of the numerous surnames derived from bird names such as Vorobyev, which means sparrow, Orlov, which means eagle, or Sorokin, which means magpie, and some historians believe this has roots in an old Russian bird-based religion.
- Zakharov
The biblical name Zechariah, which means “God has remembered,” comes from the Old Testament book of Zechariah. From an early Coptic bishop to US actor Zachary Quinto, this minor prophet has offered first names for millennia. The surname Zacharov, not to be confused with Sacharov, which comes from the Russian word for sugar, belongs to a Russian noble family with ancient and present celebrity descendants.
Andreyan Zakharov, the architect of Saint Petersburg’s magnificent Admiralty structure, is one of them. Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, is one of today’s most well-known people.
- Kiselyov
Kissel is a sweet, jellied fruit-based drink or dessert made from sour berries such as redcurrants and cranberries, sugar, and edible starch, and is derived from the old Slavic term kissel, which means sour. The meal has a storied history, is traditionally served after Russian Orthodox funerals, and is associated with otherworldly fairy tales. Kissel was most likely given to children as a talismanic name to ward off evil spirits. It features a fancy coat of arms and dates back to at least the 15th century as a surname.
Dmitry Kiselyov, a Kremlin publicist, is one of the most well-known Kiselyovs today.
- Kuznetsov
Here is another one derived from a profession. Like Smith in English, Kuznetsov means “of a blacksmith.” Since even the most miniature village or town would have one engaged in the trade, this surname became widespread around Russia. Because the word doesn’t vary too much between dialects, Kuznetsov became one of the most popular surnames in Russia.
It adapted to conform to the local language in Ukraine and Belarus.
- Popov
Another one that comes from a carrier. Kuznetsov means “of a blacksmith,” similar to Smith in English. This surname expanded throughout Russia since even the tiniest village or town had someone involved in the trade. Kuznetsov became one of Russia’s most common surnames since the term doesn’t vary significantly in different dialects.
It was only in Ukraine and Belarus that it was modified to the local tongue.
- Turgenev
Ivanov was the most prevalent surname in Russia for centuries, especially peasants and farmers. It was formed from the patronymic Ivanov, which signifies Ivan’s descendant. It was not commonplace for peasant families to use their father’s first name as their surname.
Ivanov became a prominent surname as Ivan became a popular male name.
- Babin
This is a Russian metronymic or patronymic name that means’ son of an elderly woman.’
It’s also a nickname for a man who’s too picky.
- Ivanov
Ivanov was the most prevalent surname in Russia for centuries, especially peasants and farmers.
It was formed from the patronymic Ivanov, which signifies Ivan’s descendant. It was not commonplace for peasant families to use their father’s first name as their surname. Ivanov became a prominent surname as Ivan became a popular male name.
- Preobrazhensky
Preobrazhensky is another popular surname among clergymen, similar to Lebedev. Its origins can be traced back to the Christian feast day of the Transfiguration.
Because of its religious significance, many clergy members would drop their common name and assume a church moniker while entering a service.
- Oblonsky
This surname is from Obolon, Ukraine’s Poltava region. Although this word isn’t used anymore in Russian, it means “a wet field.”
The Oblonsky surname is now more widely diffused around the globe. However, its origins may be traced back to this one region in Ukraine.
- Chernyshevsky
Nikolay Chernyshevsky, a Russian philosopher and revolutionary, was the first to bear this surname.
Nikolay’s father was asked for a surname when he applied to seminary, but he didn’t have one at the time. So he drew one up based on Chernyshevo, where he was born.
- Chernoff
It’s a Jewish surname with a patronymic.
The word ‘black’ describes people with dark skin and black hair.
- Dobrow
This is a Ukrainian habitational surname that means ‘excellent’ and refers to persons from the Ukrainian hamlet of Dobro.
- Gorky
Gorky is a well-known name in Russia, thanks to Russian writer and thinker Maxim Gorky.
‘Extremely bitter’ is the meaning of the name.
- Kotov
This is another Russian surname taken from the name of an animal.
It means ‘cat.’ It is quite popularly used in the country.
- Lagunov
The meaning of this name is intriguing.
The words can be traced back to ‘water barrel,’ indicating an occupation surname.
- Medvedev
This is one of the many Russian surnames formed from animal names. ‘Bear’ is the meaning of this last name.
- Novikov
This is a secular Russian nickname that translates to “newcomer.” The surname Novik is derived from the term ‘Novik.’
- Putin
The President of Russia’s surname is a well-known surname that signifies “one who travels along the road.” Russia is where the surname is most common.
- Rogov
This is a Jewish-sounding Russian name. The term ‘Rog,’ which means ‘horn,’ was used to create this surname.
Conclusion
The names mentioned above have a variety of origins. Some surnames are inherited, while others are based on occupation. The Russian names are so lovely that they will make you feel connected to Russia’s rich and fascinating culture.
Hi, I am Claudia, I run TheQueenMomma’s content creation team, personally focusing on topics which add joy to people’s life. You would usually see me writing on topics like Jokes, Riddles, Truth & Dare as well as Baby Names etc.
In my professional career, I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s in sociology and specialize in media and crime. Once I finished my education, I began my career working as a journalist, reporting on various topics like crime, justice and family law. Even though I valued journalism, I came to the realization that I wanted to have a more immediate impact in people’s lives as well as bring joy to them.