What is the most common russian name

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Government of Moscow (Civil registry office). (December 14, 2021). Most popular male baby names in Moscow, Russia from January to November 2021, by registrations [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 01, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090095/popular-male-newborn-first-names-moscow/

Government of Moscow (Civil registry office). "Most popular male baby names in Moscow, Russia from January to November 2021, by registrations." Chart. December 14, 2021. Statista. Accessed September 01, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090095/popular-male-newborn-first-names-moscow/

Government of Moscow (Civil registry office). (2021). Most popular male baby names in Moscow, Russia from January to November 2021, by registrations. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 01, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090095/popular-male-newborn-first-names-moscow/

Government of Moscow (Civil registry office). "Most Popular Male Baby Names in Moscow, Russia from January to November 2021, by Registrations." Statista, Statista Inc., 14 Dec 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090095/popular-male-newborn-first-names-moscow/

Government of Moscow (Civil registry office), Most popular male baby names in Moscow, Russia from January to November 2021, by registrations Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090095/popular-male-newborn-first-names-moscow/ (last visited September 01, 2022)

Russian might be one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn, but you don’t need to know how to speak the language to recognize the depth and meaning behind their names. Russian names are steeped in culture and history. 

A traditional Russian name is typically made up of a first name, a middle name or patronymic name, and a family name. A given name is one given at birth or in the event of a name change. A patronymic name is usually a name that comes from the father or a paternal relative. Most Russians have all three names. When speaking to a person who is older than you or in a position of authority, you might be required to use their first and patronymic names.

Russian names come from many sources. They include ancient Slavic names, Christian names, and names popularized in soviet and post soviet Russia. Some of the most popular Russian names you might recognize include Vladimir, Olga, and Sasha. Before you settle on a Russian name for your child, learn about the meaning behind the name and which famous person your child might be sharing names with. 

These are some of the most popular Russian baby names for girls, their origins, what they mean, and a couple of fun facts about them.

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Feet first
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fenya, Agrippina, Agrafina, Agripina
  • Famous Namesakes: Agrippina Vaganova, Russian ballerina 
  • Peak Popularity: Agrafena is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.

Fun Fact: Agrafena is the Russian variation of the Greek name, Agrippina which was the name of the mother of the famous King Nero. 

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Bright, beautiful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alena, Adelina, Albina, Alya
  • Famous Namesakes: Alina Jidkova, tennis player
  • Peak Popularity: In 2019 Alina peaked in popularity as the 156th most popular name in the United States.

Fun Fact: Alina is a variation of the classic name Helen. In Arabic it means noble. 

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Bright and shining light 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lena, Elena, Yelena
  • Famous Namesakes: Alyona Alyona, rapper; Alyona Minkovski, T.V. Correspondent 
  • Peak Popularity: Alyona is a classic and unique Russian name. Although Alyona has not been in the list of top 1,000 girls names, Elena was the 55th most popular girl's name of 2020.

Fun Fact: Alyona is a modern Russian variant of the Greek name Helen.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Resurrection
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anastasia, Nastasia, Nastasya, Nastya, Stasya
  • Famous Namesakes: Anastasia Bitsenko, Russian revolutionary
  • Peak Popularity: Its more popular spelling variation, Anastasia, was the most popular name for girls in Russia in 2008. In 2020, it was the 158th most popular name for girls in the United States.

Fun Fact: Anastasia Romanovna was the name of the wife of the Russian czar Ivan the Terrible.

  • Origin: Russian, Hebrew
  • Meaning: Grace, favor
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anuschka, Annushka, Anushka
  • Famous Namesakes: Anouska Hempel, film and T.V. actress
  • Peak Popularity: In 2009, 58 girls were given the name Anoushka in the United States. 

Fun Fact: Anoushka is a Russian variation of the more popular name Anna.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Grace
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anja, Ania
  • Famous Namesakes: Anya Monzikova, model and actress; Anya Chalotra, actress
  • Peak Popularity: Anya reached peak popularity in 2009 as the 362nd most popular girl's name in the United States. In 2020 it was ranked 656.

Fun Fact: Anya is derived from the name Anna. It also means power in Kurdish and is the Hungarian word for mother.

  • Origin: Arabic, Latin
  • Meaning: Wealth
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dinarah
  • Famous Namesakes: Dinara Safina, a Russian tennis player
  • Peak Popularity: Dinara is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.

Fun Fact: Dinara is derived from the word denarius, which means gold coin or treasure.

  • Origin: Czech, Latin, Polish
  • Meaning: From the Lord
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dominica, Domenica
  • Famous Namesakes: Dominika Cibulková, former professional tennis player
  • Peak Popularity: Dominika is most popularly used in Czech, Poland, and Russia. It has not been in the list of top 1,000 girls names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Dominika is the female equivalent of the popular name, Dominque which also means "From the Lord."

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Gift of God
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Doroteia, Doroteja, Dorothea
  • Famous Namesakes: Doroteya Toleva, actress
  • Peak Popularity: Doroteya is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.

Fun Fact: Dorothy used to be a less common variant of Dorothea. Between 1904 and 1940 it became one of the most popular girl's names in the United States.

  • Origin: Hebrew, Greek
  • Meaning: Life
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ava, Eve, Yeva
  • Famous Namesakes: Eva Herzigova, model; Eva Mendes, actress; Eva Longoria, actress
  • Peak Popularity: Eva is a popular name for girls. It peaked in 1900 when it was the 33rd most popular name for girls in the United States. 

Fun Fact: The name Eva is used in many languages as a variation to the name Eve.

  • Origin: Russian, Latin
  • Meaning: Shinning, crown
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Phaena, Faena
  • Famous Namesakes: Faina Melnyk, Olympic discus champion
  • Peak Popularity: Faina is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian 
  • Meaning: Divine gift 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Feo, Fyodora, Fedora
  • Famous Namesakes: Princess Feodora of Leiningen
  • Peak Popularity: Feodora is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.

Fun Fact: Feodora is derived from the Greek name Theodora which means God’s gift. 

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Calm, tranquil
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gala, Galya, Galochka
  • Famous Namesakes: Galina Starovoytova, Russian politician; Galina Voskoboeva, a Russian tennis player 
  • Peak Popularity: The name Galina is not popular in the United States.
  • Origin: Scandinavian, Russian
  • Meaning: Guarded by Ing (Norse god of peace and prosperity).
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Inge, Ingrid, Inger
  • Famous Namesakes: Inga Babakova, athlete
  • Peak Popularity: The peak of its popularity was in 1901 when 29 people in the United States were named Inga.

Fun Fact: The name Inga has appeared on the top 1000 list in the U.S. only 13 times between 1900 and 1914.

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Chaste, purity
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Inesa, Ines, Inaas, Inessa, Agnessa, Agniya
  • Famous Namesakes: Innessa, Russian singer and songwriter
  • Peak Popularity: Innessa is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States. 

Fun Fact: Inessa is also used in Spain and Germany. It is believed to be derived from a combination of the names Agnes and Ines.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Rough stream, coming from strong waters
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ina, Inne
  • Famous Namesakes: Inna, singer; Inna Churikova, Russian actress
  • Peak Popularity: Inna is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States. 

Fun Fact: Inna is the nickname of Elena Alexandra Apostoleanu, a Romanian singer and songwriter. 

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Peace, peaceful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Irisha, Ira, Arisha, Atina, Irena, Irene, Irin
  • Famous Namesakes: Irina Shayk, model
  • Peak Popularity: Irina is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States. 
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Pure, perfect
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Katiya, Katia, Ekaterina, Katyusha
  • Famous Namesakes: Katya Jones, dancer; Katya Zamolodchikova, drag queen
  • Peak Popularity: Katiya is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.

Fun fact: Denzel Washington’s daughter is named Katia.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Pure, chaste
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carina, Karin
  • Famous Namesakes: Karin Knapp, retired tennis player; Karin Dreijer Andersson, singer, and songwriter
  • Peak Popularity: In 1996, 2867 babies were given the name Karina. This is the peak of its popularity in the United States.

Fun Fact: Karina was the 611th most popular baby girl's name in the U.S. in 2020.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Leader of the people
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kiran, Kaira, Keera, Kiera, Kyra
  • Famous Namesakes: Princess Kira of Prussia, Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia

Fun Fact: Kira is the feminine version of the masculine name Kir, in Russia. It could also mean "mistress" and "ruler."

  • Origin: Russian, German, Hungarian
  • Meaning: Clear, bright
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Clara, Clare
  • Famous Namesakes: Klara Soderberg, singer
  • Peak Popularity: Klara is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Praise be to God
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ksanochka, Ksann Ksanna, Ksena
  • Famous Namesakes: Ksana Sergienko, singer
  • Peak Popularity: Ksana is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian, Slavic
  • Meaning: Goddess of beauty 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vladislava, Vladimira
  • Famous Namesakes: Lada Kozlíková, road and track cyclist
  • Peak Popularity: Lada is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian, Greek, Latin
  • Meaning: Fortress, citadel, cheerful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Larissa, Lara, Larysa
  • Famous Namesakes: Larissa Loukianenko, former Belarusian gymnast
  • Peak Popularity: The alternative spelling of the name, Larissa, was given to 715 babies in the United States in 1994. This is the most the name has ever been used in the United States.

Fun Fact: The name Larisa is either derived from a nymph in Greek mythology or from the name of an ancient Greek city called Larisa, which meant citadel.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Love, beloved
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lyubov, Liubov, Lyubochka
  • Famous Namesakes: Lubov Orlova, Russian actress
  • Peak Popularity: The name Lubov isn’t popular in the United States. 
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Love of the people
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lyudmila, Ludmila
  • Famous Namesakes: Lyudmila Chernykh, astronomer
  • Peak Popularity: The name Luda isn’t popular in the United States. 

Fun Fact: The name Lyudmila was first used in Russia in the Age of Romanticism.

  • Origin: Hindu, Russian
  • Meaning: Bitter
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maria, Maanya, Manja
  • Famous Namesakes: Manya Shochat, politician
  • Peak Popularity: Manya is a unique name and can’t be found in the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.
  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: Pearl
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Greta, Margaret, Rita 
  • Famous Namesakes: Margarita Levieva, actress; Margarita Gasparyan, a Russian tennis player
  • Peak Popularity: Margarita was most popular in the United States in 1950. It fell off the top 1000 list in 2006.

Fun Fact: Margarita is also the Spanish word for the daisy.

  • Origin: Russian, Latin
  • Meaning: Of the sea
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maren, Maryna, Marine, Mari, Mina
  • Famous Namesakes: Marina Tsvetaeva, Russian poet, and writer; Princess Marina of Greece
  • Peak Popularity: Marina reached height popularity in the United States in the mid-1990s.

Fun Fact: Marina is the name of a character in Shakespeare’s play “Pericles, Prince of Tyre.”

  • Origin: Spanish, Hindu, Russian
  • Meaning: Dream
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maia, Maiyah, Mya, Miah
  • Famous Namesakes: Maya Angelou, poet; Maya Rudolph actress
  • Peak Popularity: Maya was most popular in the United States in the 2000s. In 2006, 5,047 babies were named Maya at peak popularity. It’s currently the 61st most popular name for girls.

Fun Fact: Maya is also the name of an indigenous group of people from Mexico and Central America.

  • Origin: Russian, Slavic
  • Meaning: Loved by the people, gracious, dear one
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ludmila, Mela, Milena, Milica
  • Famous Namesakes: Mila Kunis, actress
  • Peak Popularity: Mila has surged in popularity in the United States since 2011. In 2018, 8154 babies were given the name Mila at peak popularity.

Fun Fact: Mila is the 20th most popular girl’s name in the United States today.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Who is like God?
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Misha
  • Famous Namesakes: Mischa Barton, actress
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Hope
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nadezhda, Nada, Nadja, Nadya, Nadina
  • Famous Namesakes: Nadya Suleman, American media personality 
  • Peak Popularity: Nadenka isn’t very popular in the United States and has made it into the top 1000 names list.

Fun Fact: Nadenka is the Russian variation of the popular name Nadia.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: the birthday of Christ 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Natalia, Nataliya, Natalie
  • Famous Namesakes: Natalia Vodianova, Russian model; Natalia Tena, actress
  • Peak Popularity: Natalya reached height popularity in the United States in 2009, 380 babies were named Natalya.

Fun Fact: The variations Natalie and Nathalie is now more commonly used than Natalya.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Winner, victor
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nikki, Nikitha, Nakita, Nickita
  • Famous Namesakes: Nikita Thukral, actress; Nikita Dragun, American internet personality
  • Peak Popularity: Nikita is one of the most popular names in Russia. It’s also fairly common in the United States. In 1986, 1034 babies were named Nikita.

Fun Fact: Nikita is the Russian variation of the name Nicole. Elton John has a song named Nikita, and it’s also the name of a popular T.V. series

  • Origin: Russian, Ukrainian
  • Meaning: Praise to God
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Oxana, Ksenia, Kseniya
  • Famous Namesakes: Oksana Akinshina, actress; Oxana Fedorova, Russian television presenter
  • Peak Popularity: The name Oksana has never been ranked in the top 1000 names in the United States.

Fun Fact: Oksana Baiul, a Ukrainian figure skating champion, made the name popular in the United States.

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Small, humble
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Paulina, Apollinariya, Palina
  • Famous Namesakes: Polina Gagarina, singer and songwriter 
  • Peak Popularity: The name Polina has never been ranked in the top 1000 names in the United States.

Fun Fact: Polina is a feminine variation of the masculine name Paul.

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Easygoing, rose
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Raissa, Risa
  • Famous Namesakes: Raisa Blokh, Russian poet; Raisa Gorbacheva, former first lady of the Soviet Union 
  • Peak Popularity: Raisa is a unique name that isn't found on the top 1000 list of girl’s names in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Wisdom 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Soniyah, Sonjah, Sonyah
  • Famous Namesakes: Sonya Jeyaseelan, a Canadian tennis player
  • Peak Popularity: At the peak of its popularity in 1967, 2980 babies were named Sonya in the United States.

Fun Fact: Sonya is a diminutive form of the name Sophia. It’s also the name of a character in Leo Tolstoy's novel “War and Peace.”

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Leader of men, defender of mankind
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sacha, Sascha, Sashenka
  • Famous Namesakes: Sasha Alexander, actress; Sasha Pieterse, singer, and songwriter
  • Peak Popularity: The use of the name Sasha in the United States, peaked for the first time in 1988 when 1886 babies were named Sasha. It peaked again in 2009, ranking 261.

Fun Fact: Sasha started as a nickname for the name Alexandra, but is now recognized as a name of its own.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Wise
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sofia, Sophie
  • Peak Popularity: Sonechka isn’t a popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Star, shining star
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lana, Sveta, Svitlana
  • Famous Namesakes: Svetlana Kuznetsova, tennis player; Svetlana Khodchenkova, actress
  • Peak Popularity: Svetlana isn’t a popular name in the United States.

Fun Fact: Svetlana Stalin, the dictator's daughter, helped popularize the name.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Clever, witty 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Taisia
  • Famous Namesakes: Taisia Povaliy, Ukrainian singer and actress
  • Peak Popularity: Taisia isn’t a popular name in the United States.

Fun Fact: Thaïs of Alexandria is thought to have inspired the birth of the name.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Youthful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Uliana, Yuliana, Yulianna, 
  • Famous Namesakes: Uliana of Tver, daughter of Prince Alexander of Tver; Uliana Donskova, Russian gymnast
  • Peak Popularity: Ulyana isn’t a popular name in the United States. 
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Grace, favored by God
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ivanka, Vanya
  • Famous Namesakes: Ivanka Trump, American businesswoman 
  • Peak Popularity: Vanka isn’t a popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Pure, innocent
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ekaterina, Katenka, Katya, Katerina, Katyusha
  • Famous Namesakes: Yekaterina Lobaznyuk, former Olympic gymnast
  • Peak Popularity: The name Yekaterina isn’t popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Yekaterina is the Russian version of the popular name Katherine. Ekaterina is also the name of a Russian television show.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Consecrated to God, pledged to God
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elizaveta
  • Famous Namesakes: Yelizaveta Kozhevnikova, Olympic skier; Yelizaveta Lavrovskaya, Russian mezzo-soprano
  • Peak Popularity: The name Yelizaveta isn’t popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Yelizaveta is the Russian version of the popular name Elizabeth.

  • Origin: Russian, Hebrew
  • Meaning: God is gracious, a gift from God
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jana
  • Famous Namesakes: Yana Kudryavtseva, former Russian gymnast
  • Peak Popularity: The name Yana isn’t popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Yana is also the name of a river in Russia.

  • Origin: Russian, Latin
  • Meaning: Youthful, young 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yuliya, Julia, Juliya
  • Famous Namesakes: Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukrainian politician; Yulia Efimova, Russian swimmer
  • Peak Popularity: Yulia is not a popular name in the United States.

Here are a few of the most popular Russian baby names for boys, their origins, what they mean, and a couple of fun facts about them.

  • Origin: Russian, Latin
  • Meaning: Dark
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Adrion, Adrien
  • Peak Popularity: Adrik isn’t a very popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian, Ukrainian
  • Meaning: Man’s defender, defending men 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Oleksander, Oleksandr, Aleks, Alex
  • Famous Namesakes: Aleksandr Pushkin, Russian poet; Aleksandr Karelin, Olympic athlete; Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, novelist
  • Peak Popularity: In the United States, the name Aleksandr has never ranked in the top 1000.

Fun Fact: Aleksandr is the Russian equivalent for the English name Alexander.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Defender
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alexey, Aleksey, Alexej, Aleksei
  • Famous Namesakes: Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia; Alexei Emelin, professional ice hockey player 
  • Peak Popularity: Alexei isn’t a very popular name in the United States.

Fun Fact: The name Alexei has been popularized as Alexis in the United States.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Defender of man 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aleksey, Aleksis
  • Famous Namesakes: Alyosha Popovich, a folk hero in Russian folklore; Alyosha Andonov, Bulgarian football coach
  • Peak Popularity: The name Alyosha isn’t popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Alyosha the pot is the name of a short story written by Leo Tolstoy.

  • Origin: Russian 
  • Meaning: From the east rising sun, sunrise
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anatoli, Anatole
  • Famous Namesakes: Anatoli Aslamov, Russian football coach; Anatoly Karpov, Russian chess grandmaster
  • Peak Popularity: The name Anatoly isn’t popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Anatoli Knyazev is a fictional character appearing in DC comics.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Strong, virile
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Arseniy, Arsenii
  • Famous Namesakes: Arseny Avraamov, Russian composer; Arseny Tarkovsky, Soviet poet and translator 
  • Peak Popularity: Arseny isn’t a very popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Fight, fighter
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Borys, Barys
  • Famous Namesakes: Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Boris Kodjoe, actor 
  • Peak Popularity: The popularity of the name has peaked and dipped several times since the 19th century. It reached the peak of its popularity in the United States in 1962.

Fun Fact: The name was popularized in Russia due to Saint Boris, who was a martyred Russian prince.

  • Origin: Russian, Hebrew
  • Meaning: God is my judge
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Danila
  • Famous Namesakes: Daniil Kvyat, Russian racing driver; Daniil Medvedev, a Russian tennis player
  • Peak Popularity: Daniil is not a common name in the United States.

Fun Fact: Daniil is the Russian version of the name Daniel.

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Earth lover
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dmitry, Dimitri, Dmitry, Dmitrii, Dmitriy
  • Famous Namesakes: Dmitri Aliev, Russian figure skater; Dmitri Bulykin, Russian football player
  • Peak Popularity: In the United States, the use of the name Dmitri started to gain popularity in 1992, peaking in 2015, and dipping in 2017.

Fun Fact: Misha Collins, the American actor, was born Dmitri Tippens Krushnic.

  • Origin: Bulgarian, Russian, Latin
  • Meaning: Belonging to God
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dominic
  • Famous Namesakes: Dominic Jacobetti, politician
  • Peak Popularity: The name peaked in popularity in 2012.

Fun Fact: The name Dominik is given to English and Welsh boys three times more than American boys.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Eternal ruler
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Erik, Eric
  • Famous Namesakes: Erik Per Sullivan, actor; Erik Knudsen, actor
  • Peak Popularity: The name Eriks isn’t popular in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Gift from God
  • Peak Popularity: The name Fedyenka isn’t popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Fedyenka is the Russian form of the name Theodore.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: God’s gift
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fedor, Feodor
  • Famous Namesakes: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russian author; Fedor Bondarchuk, Russian film director
  • Peak Popularity: Fyodor is not common in the United States.

Fun Fact: Fedora is the feminine form of Fyodor.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Worships God, God is my strength 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gavril
  • Famous Namesakes: Gavril Ilizarov, Russian physician 
  • Peak Popularity: Gavriil isn’t a very popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Generous, noble
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gennadiy, Gennadi 
  • Famous Namesakes: Gennadi Karponosov, Russian Olympic ice dancer and coach; Gennady Padalka, Russian cosmonaut
  • Peak Popularity: Gennady has never ranked in the top 1000 in the United States.

Fun Fact: The female variation of the name is Gennadiya.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Watchful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Grigori, Grigorii
  • Famous Namesakes: Grigoriy Rasputin, Russian mystic; Grigory Laguta, motorcycle speedway rider
  • Peak Popularity: Grigory isn’t a popular name in the United States.

Fun Fact: Grigori Rasputin is a fictional supervillain in the comic book Hellboy.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Warrior
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ihor
  • Famous Namesakes: Igor Stravinsk, a Russian composer; Igor Sikorsky, the Russian-American designer of the first successful helicopter
  • Peak Popularity: Igor is not popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Igor is the Russian form of Yngvarr. It was brought by the Varangians to Russia in the 10th century and given to two grand princes of Kiev.

  • Origin: Russian, Hebrew
  • Meaning: Jehovah increases, God shall add
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Osip
  • Famous Namesakes: Iosif Rotariu, Romanian footballer
  • Peak Popularity: The name Iosif isn’t popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Iosif is the Russian form of the name Joseph, which means God shall add another son. 

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: God is gracious 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ioann, Ioan, 
  • Famous Namesakes: Ivan the terrible, first Tsar of Russia; Ivan Rakitić, football player
  • Peak Popularity: The use of the name Ivan was most popular in the United States in 2012 with 3,231 babies were given the name in that year, and it has remained popular since then.

Fun Fact: Six Russian rulers have borne the name Ivan in history.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Lord, master, ruler 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kirill, Kiryl, 
  • Famous Namesakes: Kirill Pokrovsky, Russian composer
  • Peak Popularity: Kiril is not popular in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Lion-like
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Leonidas
  • Famous Namesakes: Leonid Andreyev, Russian playwright; Leonid Brezhnev, former leader of the USSR
  • Peak Popularity: Leonid has never made the top 1000 list in the United States.

Fun Fact: In astronomy, Leonid is a shower of meteors that occurs around November 14th and appears to radiate from a point in the constellation Leo.

  • Origin: Russian, Hebrew
  • Meaning: Heart, lion 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lyev, Lyov
  • Famous Namesakes: Lev Grossman, Russian author; Lev Landau, Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate; Lev Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist
  • Peak Popularity: Lev is not popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Lev was the real Russian name of author Leo Tolstoy.

  • Origin: Russian, Latin
  • Meaning: Light, bringer of light 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Luca, Lucas, Luke
  • Famous Namesakes: Luka Modrić, football player; Luka Milivojević, football player 
  • Peak Popularity: Luka started to gain popularity in 2004, and continues to rise. In 2020, 2,319 babies were given the name.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Lion, brave
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Leon, Leonidas, Lyon
  • Peak Popularity: Lyonechka is not ranked within the top 1000 names.

Fun Fact: Lyonechka is a form of the English name Leonard.

  • Origin: Russian, Polish
  • Meaning: Greatest 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maksimillian, Maksymilian
  • Famous Namesakes: Maximillian Schmeling, German boxer; 
  • Peak Popularity: The name Maksimilian isn’t popular in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Desired
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marrat, Maraht
  • Famous Namesakes: Marat Safin, Russian tennis player; Marat Tazhin, Kazakh politician
  • Peak Popularity: Marat isn’t a very popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Gift of God, God’s gift 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Matvei, Matfey
  • Famous Namesakes: Matvei Blanter, Russian composer; Matvey Gusev, Russian astronomer
  • Peak Popularity: Matvey isn’t a popular name in the United States.

Fun Fact: Matvey is a Russian form of Matthew.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Who is like God?
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Michail, Mihail
  • Famous Namesakes: Mikhail Lermontov, poet; Mikhail Gorbachev, former Soviet leader
  • Peak Popularity: Mikhail only ranked in the top 1000 the United States twice in 1988 and 1990.

Fun Fact: Mikhail is the Russian form of Michael.

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Victorious
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nikolay, Nikola
  • Famous Namesakes: Prince Nikolai of Denmark; Nikolai Valuev, Russian boxer
  • Peak Popularity: Nikolai started to gain popularity in 2007, and ranked 547 in the U.S. in 2020. 

Fun Fact: Nikolai is also the name of a city in Alaska.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Holy, sacred
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Helge, Oleh, Olezka
  • Famous Namesakes: Oleg Aleynik, Russian footballer, 
  • Peak Popularity: Oleg is a very popular name in Russia, but it’s not on the list of the top 1000 most popular baby names in the United States.

Fun Fact: The female equivalent of Oleg is Olga.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Eagle
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Oriel
  • Peak Popularity: Ony isn’t a popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian, Latin
  • Meaning: Small
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pavle, Paviel, Paval
  • Famous Namesakes: Pavel I of Russia, Emperor of Russia; Pavel Pavel, a Czech engineer
  • Peak Popularity: The name Pavel is not popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Pavel is the Russian variation of the name Paul.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Rock, stone
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Peter
  • Famous Namesakes: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Russian composer; Pyotr Kapitsa, scientist 
  • Peak Popularity: Pyotr isn’t a popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: Song of the hero 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Herodion, Rodya 
  • Famous Namesakes: Rodion Luka, Ukrainian yachtsman; Rodion Malinovsky, Soviet military commander
  • Peak Popularity: The name Rodion is well used in Russia, but isn’t popular in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian, Nordic, German
  • Meaning: Famous ruler 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ryurik, Rorik, 
  • Famous Namesakes: Rurik Gislason, football player; 
  • Peak Popularity: The name Rurik isn’t popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Rurik is also the name of a European dynasty, and one of Europe's oldest royal houses.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Listening, God is heard 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Simon, Semen
  • Famous Namesakes: Semyon Antonov, athlete 
  • Peak Popularity: Semyon is a popular name in Russia, but not very commonly used in the United States. It’s variation Simon was the 251st most popular name in 2020.
  • Origin: Russian, Slavic
  • Meaning: Glory
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: None
  • Famous Namesakes: Slavik Alkhasov, footballer 
  • Peak Popularity: Slavik is not popular in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian, Slavic 
  • Meaning: The one who achieves glory, glorious government  
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Slava, Stas
  • Famous Namesakes: Stanislav Aseyev, Ukrainian writer; Stanislav Govorukhin, Russian film director 
  • Peak Popularity: Stanislav is not popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: The feminine form of the name is Stanislava.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Powerful ruler
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vadimir, Vadym
  • Famous Namesakes: Vadim Bakatin, former Soviet politician; Vadim Evseev, Russian football coach
  • Peak Popularity: The name Vadim is not common in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Healthy, strong 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Valentinus, Vali, Valent, Val
  • Famous Namesakes: Val Kilmer, American actor; Valentin Serov, Russian painter
  • Peak Popularity: In 2007 the name Valentin was given to 404 boys. This is the highest ever record of the name in the United States.

Fun Fact: Valentin is also a common surname in Spanish and German speaking-countries.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Royal, regal
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vasili, Vasily, Vassily
  • Famous Namesakes: Vasily Smyslov, chess grandmaster; Vasily Alekseyev, Soviet weightlifter
  • Peak Popularity: Vasily isn’t a very common name in the United States.

Fun Fact: Vasili is the name of a character in the popular Twilight books.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Son of the south
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Venyamin
  • Famous Namesakes: Veniamin (Kazansky), Archbishop of Petrograd; Veniamin Smekhov, Russian actor
  • Peak Popularity: Veniamin is not ranked in the top 1000 in the United States.

Fun Fact: Veniamin is the Russian version of the name Benjamin.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Man of victory, conqueror 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vik, Victor, Vitya
  • Famous Namesakes: Viktor Yanukovych, fourth President of Ukraine; Viktor Fischer, football player 
  • Peak Popularity: The name Viktor has never ranked in the top 1000 in the United States, but its alternative spelling, Victor, ranked 200 in 2020.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Renowned prince 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vlad, Vladilen, 
  • Famous Namesakes: Vladimir Putin, Russian president; Vladimir the Great, Grand Prince of Kiev
  • Peak Popularity: Vladimir is not popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: The earliest record of the name was Vladimir-Rasate who ruled Bulgaria from 831 to 836.

  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Ruler of all
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vsevolodovich, Vseva, Sevan
  • Famous Namesakes: Vsevolod Meyerhold, Russian theatre director; 
  • Peak Popularity: Vsevolod isn’t a very popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Has glory, fame
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Viatcheslav, Viacheslav, Slava 
  • Famous Namesakes: Vyacheslav Rybakov, Russian science fiction author; Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Russian actor; Vyacheslav Kozlov, former professional ice hockey player
  • Peak Popularity: Vyacheslav isn’t a very popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Warrior, farmer 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Egor, Jegor, Egori
  • Famous Namesakes: Yegor Baburin, Russian football player; Yegor Gaidar, Russian politician; Yegor Nikolayev, Russian athlete 
  • Peak Popularity: Yegor isn’t a very popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: Noble
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yevgenii, Yevgen, Evgeny, Evgeni
  • Famous Namesakes: Yevgeni Grishkovetz, Russian writer; Yevgeny Leonov, Russian actor
  • Peak Popularity: The name Yevgeny is not popular in the United States.

Fun Fact: Yevgeny is the Russian form of Eugene.

  • Origin: Russian, Greek
  • Meaning: The light of God
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yuri, Yegor, Yuriy, Yury
  • Famous Namesakes: Yuri Oganessian, Russian scientist
  • Peak Popularity: Yury isn’t a very popular name in the United States.
  • Origin: Russian
  • Meaning: God has remembered 
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zak 
  • Famous Namesakes: Zakhar Prilepin, Russian writer; Zakhar Arzamastsev, Russian ice hockey player 
  • Peak Popularity: Zakhar isn’t a very popular name in the United States.

Fun fact: Zakhar is the Russian form of the name Zechariah.