130 Popular and Meaningful Russian Names - Baby Chick
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130 Popular and Meaningful Russian Names

Do you or your partner have Russian roots you'd like to honor In your baby's name? Here's our list of popular Russian names for boys & girls.

Updated July 12, 2024
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One of the most exciting parts of pregnancy or adoption is choosing your baby’s name! Some parents choose to honor their family heritage with their baby’s name. Do you or your partner happen to have any Russian roots? You’re in the right place if you are considering a Russian name! There are many beautiful Russian girl names and Russian boy names with equally beautiful meanings to choose from.

Russian Girl Names

Mythology fan? You might consider Zena, Zenaida, or Zinaida, meaning “belonging to Zeus.”

Are you a travel or geography enthusiast? You might like Sitka, the name of the second-oldest city in Alaska, which means “people on the outside of Shee.”

Do you love nature and the outdoors? You might consider nature names like Inna, which means “rough stream, coming from strong waters;” Jalaina, Jalaine, Jalena, Jalayna, Jelena, or Jelina, which all mean “deer or stag;” Lenuschka or Lenyushka, which both mean “sunray;” Margarita, which means “pearl;” Marina, which means “of the sea;” Mischa, which means “bee or honey;” Svetlana, which means “star, shining star;” or Yalena or Yelena, which both mean “shining light.”

Maybe you want to choose a religious name for your daughter. You might like Anastasia, Anastasiya, Tasiya, or Tasya, which all mean “Resurrection;” Dominika, which means “from the Lord;” Doroteya, which means “gift of God;” Feodora, Fyedora, or Pheodora, which all mean “divine gift;” Ksana, Oksana, or Oksanna, which all mean “praise be to God;” Samara, which means “guardian or protected by God;” Vanka, which means “grace, favored by God;” or Yana, which means “God is gracious, a gift from God.”

Or you might consider Khristen, Khristin, Khristina, Khristine, Khristyana, Khristyna, Khrystina, Khrystyn, Khrystana, or Khrystyne, which mean “Christian, follower of Christ,” or Yelisabeta, Yelisabetta, Yelizabet, Yelizaveta, or Yelizavetha, which mean “consecrated to God, pledged to God, or God is my oath.”

Want something elegant for your little girl? Try Alena or Alena, which mean “bright, beautiful;” Alyona, which means “bright and shining light;” Anoushka, which means “grace, favor;” Anya, which means “grace;” Eva or Yeva, which both mean “life;” Katya, which means “pure, perfect;” Maya, which means “dream;” Mila, which means “loved by the people, gracious, dear one;” Tarnya, which means “queen or saint’s name;” Tiana, Tiahna, Tiane, Tiani, Tianna, Tianne, Tiona, Tionna, Tyana, or Tyanna, which all mean “princess;” Yula or Yulia, which both mean “youthful;” or Zoia, Zoya, or Zoyya, which mean “life.”

Or you might like Nada, Nadege, Nadenka, Nadia, Nadie, Nadija, Nadiya, Nadja, Nadya, Nady, Nadyenka, Nadzia, or Natka, which all mean “hope.”

Want a name befitting a warrior? You might consider Bronya, which means “armor, strength, protection;” Kira, which means “leader of the people;” Larisa, which means “fortress, citadel, cheerful;” Nikita, which means “winner, victor;” or Sacha, Sascha, Sasha, or Sasheen, which all mean “leader of men, defender of mankind.”

Expecting a baby girl in December? You might like Natalya, which means “the birthday of Christ,” or Tashi, which means “born on Christmas.”

Here are a few of the most popular Russian girl names in alphabetical order:

1. Agrefena

2. Alla

3. Alena or Alina

4. Alyona

5. Anastasia, Anastasiya, Tasiya, or Tasya

6. Anoushka

7. Anya

8. Boba

9. Bojana

10. Bronya

11. Dinara

12. Dominika

13. Eva or Yeva

14. Faina

15. Feodora, Fyedora, or Pheodora

16. Galina

17. Inga

18. Inna

19. Innessa

20. Irina

21. Jalaina, Jalaine, Jalena, Jalayna, Jelena, or Jelina

22. Karina

23. Katya or Yekaterina

24. Khristen, Khristin, Khristina, Khristine, Khristyana, Khristyna, Khrystina, Khrystyn, Khrystana, or Khrystyne

25. Kira

26. Klara

27. Ksana, Oksana, or Oksanna

28. Lada

29. Larisa

30. Lenya

31. Lenuschka or Lenyushka

32. Lubov

33. Luda

34. Manya

35. Margarita

36. Marina

37. Matrena, Matrina, Matriona, Matryna, or Motreina

38. Maya

39. Mila

40. Mischa

41. Nada, Nadege, Nadenka, Nadia, Nadie, Nadija, Nadiya, Nadja, Nadya, Nady, Nadyenka, Nadzia, or Natka

42. Natalya

43. Nikita

44. Olena, Olinia, or Olinija

45. Polina

46. Raisa

47. Samara

48. Sacha, Sascha, Sasha, or Sasheen

49. Sitka

50. Sonechka

51. Sonya

52. Svetlana

53. Tahna, Tahni, Tahnia, Tahnya, Taina, Tana, Tanja, Tanya, Tawnya, Tonnya, or Tonya

54. Tahsha, Tasha, Tashia, Tashina, Taska, Tassa, Tassie, or Toshiana

55. Taisiya

56. Tanazia

57. Tanee

58. Tanita

59. Tarnya

60. Tashi

61. Taitianna, Tatia, Tatiana, Tatianna, Tatiania, Tatijana, Tatiyana, Tatjana, Tatyana, Tatyanah, or Tetyana

62. Taya

63. Tiana, Tiahna, Tiane, Tiani, Tianna, Tianne, Tiona, Tionna, Tyana, or Tyanna

64. Tiandra

65. Ulyana

66. Vanka

67. Yalena or Yelena

68. Yana

69. Yelisabeta, Yelisabetta, Yelizabet, Yelizaveta, or Yelizavetha

70. Yula or Yulia

71. Yulka

72. Yuridiana

73. Zena, Zenaida, or Zinaida

74. Zoia, Zoya, or Zoyya

Russian Boy Names

Do you love nature? You might like Anatoli or Anatoly, which both mean “from the east rising sun, sunrise;” Dmitri, which means “Earth lover;” Leonid or Lyonechka, which both mean “lion-like, brave;” Lev, which means “heart, lion;” Luka, which means “light, bringer of light;” Ony, which means “eagle;” or Pyotr, which means “rock, stone.”

Maybe you want to choose a religious name for your son? You might consider Daniil, which means “God is my judge;” Dominik, which means “belonging to God;” Fedyenka, Feodor, Fyodor, or Fyodr, which mean “God’s gift, gift from God;” Iosef, Iosif, or Iosip, which mean “Jehovah increases;” Ivan, which means “God is gracious;” or Matvey, which means “gift of God, God’s gift.”

Or you might like Mikhail, which means “who is like God?;” Oleg, which means “holy, sacred;” or Semyon, which means “listening, God is heard;” Zakhar, which means “God has remembered;” or Yuri, Yurii, or Yury, which mean “the light of God.”

Want to give your son a powerful name worthy of a warrior? You might like Aleksandr, Aleksey, Alexei, Alyosha, or Olexei, meaning “man’s defender,” or Schura or Shoura, meaning “man’s defender.”

Or you might consider Arseny, which means “strong, virile;” Boris or Borislav, which means “fight, battle;” Eriks, which means “eternal ruler;” Igor, which means “warrior;” Kiril, which means “lord, master, ruler;” Nikolai, which means “victorious;” Rodion, which means “song of the hero;” Rurik, which means “famous ruler;” Vadim, which means “powerful ruler;” Valentin, which means “healthy, strong;” Viktor, which means “man of victory, conqueror;” or Vsevolod, which means “ruler of all.”

Here are a few of the most popular Russian baby boy names in alphabetical order:

1. Adrik

2. Afanasi

3. Aleksandr, Aleksey, Alexei, Alyosha, or Olexei

4. Arseny

5. Bogoljub

6. Boris or Borislav

7. Branimir

8. Czar

9. Daniilushka

10. Dainis

11. Daniil

12. Dima

13. Dmitri

14. Dominik

15. Eriks

16. Esenin

17. Fedyenka, Feodor, Fyodor, or Fyodr

18. Gavriil

19. Gennady

20. Grigory

21. Hedeon

22. Igor, Yegor, or Ygor

23. Ilia or Illya

24. Ioanis

25. Iosef, Iosif, or Iosip

26. Ivan

27. Kiril

28. Leonid or Lyonechka

29. Lev

30. Luka

31. Maksimilian

32. Marat

33. Matvey

34. Mikhail

35. Nikolai

36. Oleg

37. Ony

38. Pavel

39. Pyotr

40. Rodion

41. Rurik

42. Schura, Shoura, or Shura

43. Semyon

44. Slavik

45. Stanislav

46. Vadim

47. Valentin

48. Vasily

49. Veniamin

50. Viktor

51. Vladimir

52. Vsevolod

53. Vyacheslav

54. Yesenin

55. Yevgeny

56. Yuri, Yurii, or Yury

57. Zakhar

There are so many great Russian names to choose from! Which Russian names for girls or boys are your favorites? We hope you had some that made it on your list!

If you are still on the baby name hunt, check out our other baby name lists. Try elegant baby namesclassic baby namesstrong boy names, and flower names for girls for inspiration. Good luck picking out the right one for your baby-to-be!

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Lauren Flake is a wife, mom to two girls, watercolor artist, seventh-generation Texan, and early-onset Alzheimer's daughter. She is the author and co-illustrator of two award-winning children's books for grieving preschoolers, Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go? and Where Did My Sweet Grandpa Go?, and the editor of Love of Dixie magazine. She loves green tea, dark chocolate, and collecting all things turquoise.

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