Eastern European Names

Naming your son Armen is like naming him Roman, or German -- it's the term that denotes a person of Armenian descent. Armen has been used as a first name for centuries and is an unusual yet approachable choice, especially if you want to honor your Armenian heritage.

Armen

A rare example of an a-ending boy's name that sounds masculine, Ilya has a large measure of creative Slavic charm. 
>p>Ilya Ilyich Oblomov is the central character in Goncharov's novel "Oblomov."  Unfortunately, he spends most of his life in his bathrobe and slippers.

Ilya

Boris is one of the old Russian names being revived by chic Europeans; it hasn't quite made a comeback yet in the U.S., but it does have potential.
 For a long time the name has been associated with Boris Karloff, famed for playing Frankenstein's monster; he was William Henry Pratt before taking on the more captivating stage name of Boris — and the Karloff fear factor may have kept some parents away. Now, it might be the association with ex-Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson that puts some people off.
 A Russian saint's name, Boris has other more benign and inspiring namesakes like German-born tennis champ Boris Becker and writer Boris Pasternak, author of Dr. Zhivago, as well as the early Tsar Boris Gudonov, son-in-law of Ivan the Terrible, the subject of the Moussorgsky opera.
 Boris Trigorin is a main character in the Chekhov play The Seagull.

Boris

Enticing modern nickname name possibility. 

Nika

This Slavic form of the Norse name Helga is a classic in many Slavic countries, including Russia and Poland, where it currently ranks within the Top 100 girl names. It has historically ranked among the most popular names in countries including Ukraine, Latvia, Spain, France, Serbia, Greece, the US, and many more. Olga is a common name even in Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden and Norway, despite Helga being a more traditional choice. Olha is the uniquely Ukrainian variation.
 
Olga was one of Chekhov's Three Sisters, as well as the name of the saint who was instrumental in spreading Christianity in Kyivan Rus', an historic state encompassing modern-day Belarus, Ukraine and parts of Russia.

Olga

Pavel may be widespread in the former Soviet Union, but it has a somewhat impoverished image here. 

Pavel

Yerik is a masculine name with Kazakh and Russian origins. In Kazakh culture, it derives from the word meaning 'freedom' or 'liberty,' making it a powerful name symbolizing independence and an unbounded spirit. In Russian contexts, it may be considered a diminutive form of names like Erich or Erik, which have Germanic roots meaning 'ever' or 'eternal' combined with 'ruler' or 'king.' Yerik has a strong, distinctive sound while remaining relatively short and easy to pronounce. Though not widely used in Western countries, the name has moderate popularity in Central Asian nations, particularly Kazakhstan and among Russian-speaking communities. Its unique character and positive connotations make it an increasingly appealing choice for parents seeking a name with cultural depth.

Yerik

Misha was a boys' name with a soft feminine sound and vowel ending until actress Mischa Barton turned it to the girls' side.  Now Misha, like Sasha, works as well in either spelling for girls and boys.  Misha might be a way to update Michelle or Micaela.

Misha

Alexei could well join the legion of Alex names popular in the US. There are countless opportunities to liven up Alexander, and Alexei (or Alexey) is one of the most straightforward and appealing.

Alexei

Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls.
 Ara was one of the many vowel-heavy two-syllable names popular at the end of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth--it went as high as Number 481 in 1884. It's also used as a nickname for Arabella.

A contemporary word name that's been popular for girls in recent years, Ember refers to the still-glowing parts of a fire once much of it has gone out. Connected with hope, rekindling, and light in the dark, it featured in the US Top 150 for girls in a recent year.
 
While it is considerably less popular for boys (given to around 40, compared to more than 2170 girls), it nevertheless has the charm of other unisex choices like Winter, Emerson, Harper, Everest, and Ever.

Ember

This version of the more familiar Paulina is occasionally used in the US, though some may see it as relating more to the word pole than to the classic Paul.

Polina

Aleksandra is the preferred spelling in many Eastern European languages and cultures, but for English-speakers it's ironically more confusing if also perfectly phonetically clear.

Aleksandra

Izabel is a distinctive feminine variation of Isabel, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning 'God is my oath.' This spelling variation gives the classic name a contemporary twist while maintaining its historical essence. With roots tracing back through European royal history, Izabel carries an air of elegance and nobility. The 'z' spelling creates a visual uniqueness that sets it apart from more common variants. While Isabel and Isabella rank among popular girls' names in many countries, Izabel remains relatively uncommon, offering familiarity without being overused. This version has particular connections to Polish and Eastern European naming traditions, though it appears cross-culturally. Parents often choose Izabel for its blend of classical heritage and modern distinctiveness.

Izabel

A sweet, simple name with roots in several cultures. In Lithuanian, Aras is a poetic bird name, while in Persian, Turkish, and Kurdish it is both a word meaning "equal", and the name of a river that flows through Turkey, Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan. Additionally, it relates to the German word Ara meaning "macaw".
 
One of the most popular boy names in Turkey, it also ranks in the Netherlands, England and Wales, Azerbaijan, and Germany.

Aras

Popular in Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Russia, and familiar in the UK too, Bogdan is a rugged and strong sounding choice with a similar meaning to US favorite Theodore. Made up of the Slavic elements bogŭ and danŭ, it means "gift from God".
 
The Serbian and Macedonian diminutive form, Boban (BOB-un), adds a gentler element to the name, while Bohdan is an international variant.

Bogdan

Asya has dual origins: it is both the Turkish word for Asia (the continent), and a short form of Anastasia in Russian and Bulgarian. Beyond that, it is a beautiful example of a "travelling light" name, in the style of Aria: short, elegant, and usable across different cultures.

Asya

Marcia is an ancient Roman name which derives from Mars, the god of war. It was used by Dante in the Inferno and later by Thomas Hardy and others.
 Marcia enjoyed a brief run of popularity in the mid-twentieth century--it was a Top 100 name from 1943 to 1955-- then was replaced by Marcy and Marci. Now all three are in limbo, replaced by the newer Marley or the more vintage Marcella. An alternate spelling of Marcia is Marsha. A strong association is with Marcia, Marcia, Marcia of The Brady Bunch.

Marcia

Worldly, artistic and attractive Slavic version of the name of the Greek god of fertility and farming.

Dmitri

The beguiling Darya is the name of a character in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. As a Russian name, it's a spelling variation of Daria, while in Iran, it's a girl's name that means "the sea".

Darya

Eastern European names span the vast cultures of Eastern Europe, from Latvian and Lithuanian to Romanian and Russian. Among the most popular baby names across Eastern Europe right now are Sofia, Anna, and Emilia for girls, Daniel, Ivan, and Marko for boys.

Eastern European girl names you may want to consider include Vera, Zora, and Anya. Among the best Eastern European boy names are Casimir, Lev, and Laszlo.

Many Eastern European names derive from the same sources as those more familiar in English, including mythology and the Bible. These include names such as Gavril and Yakov, along with Zinaida and Dmitri.

If you have Eastern European heritage or are curious about this part of the world, explore our full collection of names here,

 ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

Eastern European baby names for girls and boys, including Anastasia and Dimitri, with meanings, origin, and popularity. (Page 9)