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Feeling frazzled and frustrated that you just can’t find ‘that’ baby boy name even though you’ve been through every baby names list under the sun?
If you feel like you’re losing at the baby names game and are starting to doubt that you’ll ever find a baby boy name that you know is ‘the one’, please don’t despair; this feeling is completely and utterly normal.
Close your eyes, and try to see the search for boys names as a fun treasure hunt with a special prize at the end.
To give you a helping hand in finding your favorite names for boys, we’ve put together a fantastic list of some of the most popular Russian boys names. The biggest country in the world (it’s double the size of Australia!
), Russia is home to 120 ethnic groups speaking over a hundred languages. This wonderful mix of cultural influences can be seen in Russia’s rich array of inspiringly beautiful baby boy names.
In Russia, babies are generally given three names; a first name, a patronymic, and a surname. The patronymic, or middle name, is created by taking the father’s name and an ending; for baby boys, this is usually “ovich” or “evich”.
It’s popular for Russian baby boys and girls to be named after a Saint and have an annual “name day” celebration on the same date their namesake is honoured.
Popular Russian Boys Names
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Many popular names for boys in Russia have been popular for centuries. These names are often steeped in historical meaning.
- Abram – Абрам: The short form for the name Abraham. Pronounced AHB-Rahm, which means “father of many nations”. The name has a Hebrew origin.
- Aleksandr – Александр: also spelt Alexander or Alexandre means “defender of man”. Named after the great emperor of Russia, Alexander I, from 1801 – 1825.
- Denis – Денис: An ancient name from the Normans which means “From Dionysius”. It was coined out of the name of the Greek god Dionysius. A nice name indeed for your baby boy.
- Grisha – Гриша: Also spelled as Grischa or Gricha means “to be awake” or “watchful”. The names Gregorij or Gregory are usually shortened to Grisha. It is a very popular name among Russians and other Slavic countries.
- Iosif – Иосиф: This is the Russian form of the name Joseph which means “God will increase”. Iosif is a popular bible character known for his godly wisdom and faithfulness despite difficulties.
- Ivan – Иван: Means “God is gracious” and is usually used informally to refer to a Russian person or soldier. Ivan III was named after one of the greatest rulers in Russia’s history because of his success in conquering Tver and Novgorod republic.
- Kostya – Костя: This name is common in places like Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria, where it is often used as a moniker for the name Konstantin which means “constant and steadfast”.
- Matvey – Матвей: Also spelled Matvei, which means “God has rewarded”. There are quite a handful of notable Russians who bear this name, such as Matvei Petrov (gymnast), Matvei Safonov (footballer), Matvey Gusev (astronomer) and many more.
- Oleg – Олег: Means “holy” or “sacred.” Popular actor Oleg Yankovsky, entrepreneur Oleg Derivpaska and singer Oleg Menshikov are just a few examples of notable personalities who bear the name.
- Pasha – Паша: The name is usually given to a boy or girl born on Good Friday, and it means “small and humble”.
- Semyon – Семен: Meaning “God is heard” or “to listen”. It is the Russian form of the name Simon or Simeon.
- Vanya – Ваня: This is the Russian form of the Hebrew name John which means “God is gracious”. Sometimes spelled as Vanja, it is used as a diminutive form of the name Ivan.
Male Russian Names Of Saints
Russian names that come from the names of celebrated Saints are a popular choice for Russian baby boys. For decades, Alexander has been the most popular Russian boys name.
- Adrian – Адриан: Likely meaning “rich” or “one from Adria”, this name is the shortened form of Adrianus or Hadrianus and can also be spelled as Hadrian. The name belonged to a Russian monk and saint, Adrian of Ondrusov, who was revered as a miracle worker.
- Alexander – Александр: Usually spelled Aleksander or Aleksandr, which means “defender of man”. The name famously belongs to Saint Alexander, the patron saint of Bergamo, who was martyred for not renouncing his faith.
- Andrei – Андрей: Originating from the Greek name Andreas which means “manly”. It is the Russian and Romanian form of the name Andrew. One famous saint bearing this name is Andrei Rublev, the Russian Moscovite painter who is most recognized for his Old Testament painting, popularly called the Holy icon.
- Constantine – Константин: also spelled Konstantin, this classic Russian name is derived from the Latin word Constantinus which means “constant” or “steadfast”. It is a famous one, all thanks to Emperor Constantine.
- Daniel – Даниэль: Means “the lord is my judge”. The name has a Hebrew origin and is popularly known as a bold, biblical figure who escaped the lion’s den. It is often shortened as Dan and will sure make a great name for your male child.
- Fyodor – Федор: also spelled Feodor, which means “powerful ruler of the people”. It is the Russian variation of the name Theodore. Great men and nobles have used this name, such as Fyodor I Ivanovich, who ruled as the Tsar of Russia from the year 1584 to 1598.
- Igor – Игорь: Means “warrior”. Highly suitable for children who have strong willpower. The old Norse Varangians introduced this name to ancient Russia, which is still widely used today. This would make for a nice historical name for your male child.
- Vladimir – Владимир: Widely used in all Slavic nations in various spellings and forms, it means “ruler of the world”. One saint bearing this name is Vladimir the Great, Grand Prince of Kiev and ruler of Kievan Rus’ and was venerated as Saint Vladimir for his role in the Christianization of Kievan Rus’ from Slavic paganism.
- Yegor – Егор: A Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian name that can be spelled in different ways, including Jegor, Egor, Yegor, Yehor or Jegors. It means “farmer”. Saint Yegor of Chekryak, formally called Georgy Kossov, is a saint that bears this name. The Russian Orthodox priest was glorified as a saint in 2000.
Non-Binary Russian Baby Names
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If you’re looking for a gender-neutral name for your baby boy, there is no shortage of popular unisex Russian names.
- Danila – Данила: This is a name given to males in Russia. It is the Russian variation of the name Daniel. It’s also a feminine name in Italian, as a feminine form of Daniel.
- Ira – Ира: Means “watchful”. This name, often found in the Torah and the Bible, is used in Russia as a diminutive form of Irina (from Eirene, the Greek goddess of peace).
- Jeramie – Джерами: The Russian form of the name Jeremiah which means “God will uplift”. Jeramie is a name that reflects a boy’s eternal hope for the future.
- Micha – Миха: Means “who is like the Lord?” or “who can reach God’s place?”. Spelling variations of this name include Micha, Micah, Mica, Michal, and of course, Michael.
- Nika – Ника: The name, which means “very good”, is a derivative form of the Persian word “Nik”, which means “Good”, “True”, and “Chosen”.
- Nikita – Никита: means “the winner”. The name is likely taken from Nike, the mythical Greek goddess of victory.
- Sasha – Саша: means “to defend”. The name is gender-neutral because it is a diminutive form of another gender-neutral name, Alexander or Alexandra.
- Shura – Шура: which means “defending men”. Another diminutive form of Alexander or Alexandra.
- Slava – Слава: Means “Glory”. This name is used as a diminutive form of such names as Vyacheslav, Stanislav, Rostislav, Miroslava, and Yaroslava.
- Tasha – Таша: Means “born on Christmas day”. This name is used as a shortened form of Natasha, the Russian variant of the English Natalie.
- Tonya – Тоня: means “praiseworthy” or “priceless”. Often used as a shortened form of the names Antonia and Antonina and as the feminine form of Antony.
- Valentin – Валентин: Means “strong”, “power” or “healthy”. Valentin is a male and comes from the Latin name Valentinus, which was first given to the martyr Saint Valentin. In parts of Germany and Spain, the name has also been used as a last name.
Baby Names For Boys From Russian Culture
Russia is famous for its incredible cultural heritage, so it’s no surprise that many of the popular Russian boys names come from acclaimed names in the arts.
- Agafonik – Агафоник: This name is rarely used these days. Agafonika is its feminine counterpart. The name is derived from the Greek word agathonikos, which in turn derives from the words agathos, which means “kind”, and nikē, meaning “victory.”
- Artyom – Артём: Means “follower” and is a name given to males in Russia and other Slavic nations.
- Demyan – Демьян: The Russian variation of the name Damian which means “tamer”. It has quite a number of variants, such as Daymon, Dayman, Daymian, Damyon, et cetera.
- Feliks – Феликс: Means “happy”. This is the preferred spelling of the given name Felix, used in Poland, the Baltic states, and Russia.
- Lev – Лев: Means “lion”. A subtle and graceful name for a young man, this is a wonderful name to choose for anyone looking for something so unique.
- Pyotr – Петр: The name Pyotr is primarily a male name of Russian origin that means “Rock”. It is more commonly used as the Russian variant of Peter.
- Rudlof – Рудлоф: This name dates back to the early days of Germanic legend. It is listed in the oldest surviving sources as meaning “fame of the wolf”. In times past, this was said to be a name borne by three kings of Burgundy and by many rulers of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire.
- Stanislav – Станислав: Can also be spelled Stanislaus, which means “becoming famous”. In the Slavic nations of Central and South-Eastern Europe, it is a very typical name that has also become common in several non-Slavic tongues, including French, German, and others, but it still retains its original Slavic roots.
- Taras – Тарас: Means “Poseidon’s son”. Taras is the name of a legendary Ukrainian, and a founder of the Greek colony of Taras, in Magna Graecia.
- Timur – Тимур: Means “iron man”. Timur translates to “the east” and is another name for the rising sun. Symbolizing hope in a changing world, it’s the perfect name for a child who is destined for greatness.
Names For Boys From Russian Sporting Heroes
Russia has a long history of sporting success, and many famous Russian names, male and female, can be seen celebrated in the country’s polls of the most popular names for boys.
Bogdan – Богдан: Can also be written as Bohdan, which means “God has rendered” or “born by God”. The name “Bogdan” is a personal name of Slavic origin (from Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian and Ukrainian).
Egor – Егор: This name has its source from Ivarr, which is a yew tree that can be used to make bows and arrows for archers. Therefore, the name can mean “yew, bow arrow” or “farmer”.
Evgeni – Евгений: The Russian version of Eugene is well-known as a name that means “of noble decent” or “well-born.” But if your baby boy is born well, this name is perfect for you!
Fedor – Федор: Also written as Fyodor or Feodor, which means “divine gift”. It is the Russian variation for the name Theodore.
Gavriil – Гавриил: Gavriil, which means “God Is My Strength”, is a perfect name for a strong and righteous man who believes that whatever he does is acceptable to God. It makes a strong statement of trust in God’s plan and provides him with the strength he needs to overcome conflict, challenges and adversities.
It is the Russian form of Gabriel.
Ilya – Илья: Ilya is the Russianized form of Eliyahu, the Hebrew name for Elijah, which means “Jehovah is my God”. While it’s traditionally used as an abbreviated form of the male Hebrew name, it can also be used as a completely neutral name in Russian.
Maksim – Максим: Maksim is a sophisticated and beautiful name that means “the great” in Russian. It’s the perfect choice for baby boys meant to be stars.
Ruslan – Руслан: The name Ruslan is fairly common in Russia, where it’s been used as a hero’s name for centuries. The meaning of this name is generally thought to be “lion man”, like the lions depicted on the famous gold coins of Vladimir III.
Russian Baby Boy Names With Meanings From Nature
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More than a fifth of the world’s forests are located in Russia, and the beauty of the landscape and nature features heavily in the meanings of some of the most popular Russian boys names.
Anatoly – Анатолий: Also written as Anatoliy and Anatoli, it means “sunrise”. It is derived from the Greek name Anatolius.
Dmitri – Дмитрий: also spelled Dmitriy or Dmitry, this classic Russian name means “follower of Demeter,” the ancient Greek goddess of the harvest often referred to as “mother earth.”
Ermolai – Ермолай: It means “people of Hermes”. It is an unusual name because it is a transliteration of the Greek name Hermolaos.
Kodiak – Кадьяк: A Russian name which means “an island”. Many often relate the name to the famous camera brand.
Kuzma – Кузьма: a Russian form of Cosmo. Kosmos, meaning “harmony” or “universe” in Greek, was early translated into Latin as “cosmos”.
In English, the term cosmology refers to the science of the universe. The name Kosmos derives from the Greek word κοσμος (kosmos), which conveys various meanings such as order, world, and realm; which is also the word for beauty and harmony.
Petya – Петя: A name popularly known among Russians which means “stone” or “rock”. Of Russian and Greek origin.
Rodion – Родион: Having its origin in Greece and Russia, it is indeed a unique name for your male child. It means “a song of the hero”. This name has both Russian and Greek origins.
Yermolai – Ермолай: It means “people of Hermes”. It can also be spelt Ermolai.
Yuri – Юрий: Yuri is a classic, modern choice for Russian Baby Boy Names. The name means “farmer” in Russian and is often chosen by parents across Russia.
Russian Baby Boys Names With Beautiful Meanings
If you want a Russian name for your baby boy that has a truly lovely meaning, then these names for boys will warm your heart.
Alyosha – Алеша: A Russian male name which means “defender”. The name carries the idea of one who is always willing to help people.
Artem – Артем: Artem is a name of Greek origin derived from Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting. Its variant forms include Artyom and Artiom.
Avrelian – Аврелиа́н: There are several theories about the origin of the first name Avrelian. It may have originated as a Latinization of “Aurelius”, derived from the Latin word aureolus, which means “golden.”
Faddey – Фадди: This is a popular Christian name which means “gift of God”.
Feofan – Феофан: Also a popular Christian name which means “Manifestation of God”.
Kazimir – Казимир: A Russian variation of Casimir which means “keeper and destroyer of peace.”
Kliment – Климент: Means “gentle” or “merciful”. It is the Slavic variation of the popular Latin name Clement.
Kolya – Коля: The name is a Slavic baby boy name. In Slavic, the meaning of the name is “Victory Of The People”. The name Kolya is mainly used in Russian, German, Polish and Ukrainian.
Lyosha – Лёша: Lyosha is a sweet and playful name for boys, but also means “defending men” in Russian. Some parents can combine it with other names to make unique baby names.
Since it serves as a nickname, parents may consider using it as a middle name. However, it’s not very popular yet, so don’t expect many people to use it as a first name.
Svyatopolk – Святополк: One of the most loved baby names which mean “blessed people”.
Volya – Воля: A free and independent person. Volya, a Russian male name, means “free will”. Definitely, a name to consider for a male baby boy.
Yaromir – Яромир: It is a popular masculine given name in Eastern European countries. It originates from Slavic languages and means “man of peace”. It has been used as a popular name for over 1,000 years, mostly in Russia and Poland.
Baby Boy Names From Russia With Strong Meanings
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Baby boy names that give the nod to strength and resilience are amongst the most popular Russian names for boys and feature heavily in the baby boy names charts.
Aviv – Авив: A name that means “the spring season” in Hebrew and can be given as a first name or surname. It is also used as a geographical (place) name, such as Tel Aviv, and these names are sometimes used interchangeably.
Boris – Борис: It is a powerful name of Slavic origin. It means “battle” or “fight”. A popular choice for parents looking to give their baby boy a traditional Russian name — and for a good reason.
Borya – Боря: A Russian diminutive of Boris, which means “battle” or “fight”.
Kir – Кир: Kir is a modern Russian form of the name Cyrus. Kir is derived from the Persian words “khuru” and “khur”, which mean sun and throne, respectively.
Kirill – Кирилл: Means “lord” or “master”. It is a clever name that easily reflects a baby’s personality. A classic and genuine choice which will always be fashionable.
Lukyan – Лукьян: This name is coined out of the Latin masculine name Lucian which means “light” or “bringer of light” in Slavic languages, and is used as both a given name and surname.
Mstislav – Мстислав: The given name literally means “the glory of vengeance”. It is a masculine name derived from “msti”, which means “vengeance”, and slav, which means “glory or fame.” It is also spelled Mścisław, and its feminine variation is written as Mstislava and Mścisława.
Nikolai – Николай: Nikolai is a great name for boys with a Slavic flair. Nikolai means “people of victory” and has long been the name of Russian leaders who fight to protect their homeland and lead it forward through difficult times.
Nikolai is an easy layback name that still stays true to its roots while still being modern enough to be on trend today.
Vadik – Вадик: A name of Russian origin which means “ruler.” The name is a variant of Vadim.
Vadim – Вадим: A baby boy’s name of Russian origin which means “to rule”, “powerful ruler”, or “ruler.”
Viktor – Виктор: Viktor is the Russian version of the name Victor which means ‘champion’ or ‘conqueror’. Viktor is a powerful and strong name for a strong person with willpower and determination to conquer. Viktor may be a good fit for your baby boy.
Vsevolod – Все́волод: Also spelled Wsewolod means “lord of everything” or “lord of everybody.” Its meaning is closely related to the name Vladimir. This would make for a great name for your baby boy.
Yevgeni – Евгений: It is coined from the name Eugene which is a mix of a Russian and an English name, but it means “to be of noble descent.” You can use it if you’re looking for a unique, Russian-sounding name or if the meaning behind the name strikes your fancy.
Common Russian Male Patronymic Names
In Russia, as in many Eastern Slavic countries, it is common for people to bear patronymic names. A patronymic name, simply called a patronym, is a personal name gotten from the name of a father or an ancestor.
In Russia, a person’s patronymic is a recognized element of their name that is used in all official papers as well as when speaking to friends and family informally and professionally.
These patronymic names from combining the surname with the suffix -ovich or -evich for boys and -ovna or -evna for girls. Here are a few patronymic names that are common among Russians:
Dementievich – Дементьевич: A surname of Russian origin which means “son of Dementi.” Other spelling variations of this name include Dyoma, Dyomka, Dementyushka and Demenya.
Ivanovich – Иванович: Also spelled Ivanovych, the name Ivanovich is most common in Russia and Ukraine that means “Son of Ivan”. This name is most commonly used in modern Slavic literature as the Russian equivalent of John Doe, written as Ivan Ivanovich.
Mikhailovich – Михайлович: Also written as Mikhaylovich, this patronymic name means ‘son of Mikhail’ or ‘son of Michael’. One famous person to have taken this name is Aleksey Mikhaylovich, famously known as Alexis of Russia.
Sergeyevich – Сергеевич: A very common name in Russia which means “son of Sergey.” One of Russia’s greatest poets and a proclaimed father of modern Russian literature, Alexander Pushkin bears this name.
Vissarionovich – Виссарионович: This means the “son of Vissarion”. Vissarion is the Russian variation of the Greek name Bessarion. The famous Soviet political leader Joseph Stalin also had this name.
Vladimirovich – Владимирович: This means the “descendant of Vladimir” or “Vladimir’s son.” The Russian president chosen in 2000 bears this name.
Ancient Russian Boys Names
Russia has strong roots deeply entrenched in ancient Slavic traditions. Hence, it’s unsurprising that some Russian names have their meanings and roots derived from various Slavic words.
While civilization has seen some Slavic names fade into oblivion and become mere lines on pages of history books, some of these names have retained their use in modern times. You can find a list of these names here:
Aburom (Абуро́м) is an old and rare Russian name. It may be a toponymic name derived from the name of Mount Abarim, where Moses died, according to some legends.
Agap (Ага́п) is an ancient name formerly spelled as Agapy. It is rooted in the Greek word Agapios, which means “Love.”
Agapit (Агапи́т) is a name that means “loved one.” It’s an old and uncommon Russian Christian male first name.
Albert (Альберт) is a masculine given name derived from Adalbert and Adelbert. It may be used as a surname, but more commonly as a male-given name. It means “bright”, “noble” and “famous”.
Avdey (Авде́й) was formerly spelled as Avdiy. Borrowed from Byzantine Christianity, it is a very uncommon name. This name will definitely make your baby boy stand out from everyone else.
Dobromil (Добромил) is also spelled “Dobromił” and is a masculine name of Slavic origin which means “love of goodness.”
Genrikh (Генрих): In Russian, this name is a masculine form of the given name “Henry”. The name can be seen as derived from the Germanic name Heinrich, a variant of the name Henry.
Lyubava (Любава), which means “to love”, is a beautiful name of Slavic origin.
Ninel (Нинель) is a boy name usually given to those that belong to Judaism religion. It is thought to be the name of a saint.
Peresvet (Пересвет) means “overexposure”. The name, which can also be written as Peresviet, refers to the 14th-century warrior monk Alexander Peresvet who has a statue in honor of his combat with the then Tatar champion Temir-murza. In recent times, however, this name has been used to refer to one of Russia’s laser weapons for air defense and anti-satellite warfare.
Radomir (Радомир) is a boy’s name of Russian origin which means “happy”. When he is older and has grown into his own personality and confidence, “Radomir” will be an important reminder to serve children with happy hearts and positive minds.
Vilen (Вилен) is derived from the word “Volodiměrŭ”, which means “to rule with greatness.” This name serves to remind your child to always reach for greatness.
Zhdan (Ждан) is a name of Slavic origin which means “long awaited.” The name can also be written as Zhdanov.
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