Russian Girl Names
Updated Thu Sep 14 2023
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Russian girl names are a high-fashion choice right now — literally! There’s been an influx of top models from Russia in recent years, boasting not only beauty but also beguiling Russian names like Irina, Natalia, and Tatiana.
Although spelling and pronunciation can sometimes be a challenge, many Russian names for girls actually feel perfectly wearable in the West. Try Alisa or Anastasia, Katia or Katerina, Zoya or Zenovia.
Along with Natalia and Anastasia, other Russian girl names in the US Top 1000 include Angelina, Annika, Kira, Mila, Nadia, Nina, Sasha, and Vera. Popular girl names in Russia include Yelizaveta — the Russian variation of Elizabeth — Polina, Varvara, Ksenia, Alina, and Yulia.
It’s striking how many of the names in this list feature the "typical" Russian endings -ka, -sha and -ya. It's worth noting that these are actually diminutive (nickname) suffixes in Russian, meaning that names like Anya (from Anna) or Natasha (from Natalia) are not generally given as formal names in their own right in Russia itself.
Russians tend to have multiple nicknames based on their given names. An Aleksandra may be known as Aleks, Sasha, Sashenka, Shura, Alya, or Sanya, depending on the context.
Browse all of our beautiful Russian baby girl names here, plus notes on meaning and usage, ranked by current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Mila
Origin:
Slavic, RussianMeaning:
"gracious; dear"Description:
Mila is a popular name that took a 125 year nap, ranking in the Top 1000 in 1881 and then not ranking again until 2006, after actress Mila Kunis appeared on That 70s Show.
- Vera
Origin:
RussianMeaning:
"faith"Description:
Vera was the height of fashion in 1910, then was for a long time difficult to picture embroidered on a baby blanket. Now, though, it has come back into style along with other old-fashioned simple names such as Ada and Iris.
- Nina
Origin:
Short form of names that end in -ninaDescription:
Nina is as multiethnic as you can get: Nina is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, a Babylonian goddess of the oceans, and an Incan goddess of fire. Here and now, it's a stylish possibility that's been underused. "Weird Al" Yankovic chose this decidedly nonweird name for his daughter.
- Anastasia
Origin:
Greek, feminine variation of AnastasiosMeaning:
"resurrection"Description:
Anastasia is the feminine form on Anastasius, a Greek name derived from the word anastasis, meaning "resurrection." It was a common name among early Christians, who often gave it to daughters born around Christmas or Easter. There are handful of saints named Anastasia, including the patron saint of weavers.
- Natalia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"birthday [of the Lord]"Description:
Natalia was derived from the Latin word natalis, meaning "birthday." It refers to the birthday of Jesus Christ, and thus originated as a name for girls born on Christmas Day. Related forms include the French Natalie, Portuguese Natalina, and Russian diminutive Natasha.
- Anya
Origin:
Russian diminutive of AnnaMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anya is a Russian variation of Anna, which came from the Hebrew name Hannah. Anya is the form found most frequently in Russia, Poland, and other East European countries, while Anja is the spelling usually preferred in Germany Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and The Netherlands. In the Hungarian language, Anya also means mother.
- Odessa
Origin:
Ukrainian place-nameDescription:
Odessa, a Ukrainian port city, was given its name by Catherine the Great, who was inspired by Homer's Odyssey. It would make an original and intriguing choice.
- Kira
Origin:
Russian feminine variation of CyrusMeaning:
"throne"Description:
Though such cognates of Kira as Keira, Kyra, and Ciara are increasingly popular throughout Europe and in the U.S., this Cyrus relative has a different root. As with all the many variations of this appealing name, there is often confusion around spelling and pronunciation -- does the first syllable rhyme with ear or eye?
- Nadia
Origin:
Russian, ArabicMeaning:
"hope; tender, delicate"Description:
Nadia, an accessible Slavic favorite, has a strong run of popularity in the US in the early 2000s, partially thanks to the character on Lost called Nadia but actually named Noor, but it's since slumped down the rankings. An earlier inspiration was Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who won the 1976 Olympics.
- Lilia
Origin:
Spanish, Italian and RussianMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Lilia is pretty double L name that makes for sparkly, floral choice with plenty of international flair. More distinctive that Lily, less popular than Liliana, Lia, and Lilian, Lilia was a new entry to the US Top 1000 in 2023.
- Sasha
Origin:
Russian, diminutive of Greek AlexanderMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
Sasha, largely male in Russia--and also spelled Sascha and Sacha--is an energetic name that has really taken off for girls here, chosen by Jerry Seinfeld (using the alternate Sascha spelling) and other celebs. The Barack Obamas use it as the nickname for their younger daughter, whose proper name is Natasha. But in line with a trend toward softer-sounding boys' names like Asher and Joshua and thanks to Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen, Sasha also still has life as a boys' name too--it's popular in France for boys and girls almost equally.
- Annika
Origin:
Swedish diminutive of AnnaMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Annika is a surprise hit of recent years, inspired by golfer Sorenstam; for Trekkies, it was also the name of a 'Star Trek:Voyager' character. Some people's first memory of it might be as Pippi Longstocking's friend. A nice namesake for an ancestral Ann.
- Lara
Origin:
Russian, diminutive of Larissa or LarisaMeaning:
"citadel"Description:
This is an alternative to Laura or Lauren made romantic by Dr Zhivago, and badass by video-game heroine Lara Croft.
- Mika
Origin:
Japanese, Slovene, Hebrew, English, GreekMeaning:
"beautiful fragrance; who is like God?; follower of Demeter"Description:
Mika is a sparky and stylish Japanese girls' name that translates easily to English. Also used as a Slovene and Hebrew diminutive for Mihaela and Michaela, as an alternative spelling to the Biblical Micah, and as a Greek diminutive of Dimitra (via Mimika), it is a truly multi-cultural choice.
- Yuna
Origin:
Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese, DutchMeaning:
"superiority, gentleness, citrus fruit; lamb; willow, abundant, child, happy + to reach, to hold; jade + elegant, beautiful; June"Description:
An attractive, widely appealing, multicultural option, Yuna has its roots in Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese. KPOP singer Yuna may be attracting some attention to her name, as might influencer Yunabugs who shares her life with her eight dachshunds on Instagram. Also used in the game franchise Final Fantasy, it is a popular choice in France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
- Lia
Origin:
Diminutive of names ending in -lia or Italian, Portuguese and Greek variation of LeahMeaning:
"weary"Description:
Short, sweet, and clear, Lia is used throughout Europe, across America, and in some areas of Asia and Africa, making it a truly international and versatile choice.
- Tatiana
Origin:
Russian from Latin family nameDescription:
Tatiana was derived from Tatius, a Sabine-Latin family name of unknown origin. Titus Tatius was the name of an ancient king who ruled over the Sabines, an ancient Italic tribe who lived near Rome. The Romans used the name Tatius even after the Sabines died out and created the derivative forms Tatianus and Tatiana. The names were eventually disseminated throughout the Orthodox Christian world, including Russia.
- Angelica
Origin:
Italian, Polish, Russian diminutive of AngelaMeaning:
"angel or angelic"Description:
Angelica is by far the choicest form of the angelic names -- more delicate than Angelina, more feminine than Angel, more modern than Angela. But though Angelica is so lacy and poetic, it lags behind the bolder Angelina (probably for obvious reasons).
- Larissa
Origin:
English, German, and Portuguese variation of Larisa, Greek and RussianMeaning:
"citadel"Description:
Daintily pretty without being frilly, Larissa is familiar but more quietly used than its sound-alikes Melissa and Alyssa. Though this is the more common variation in the Western World, the original is actually Larisa.
- Angela
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"angel"Description:
Angela was a Top 10 name from 1965 to 1979, the fifth most popular name for three years, and staying in the double digits until the turn of the 21st century. Today, though, Angelina or Angelica would be more fashionable options.