Lenin

Best associated with Vladimir Lenin, the Russian Revolutionist and the founder of the Soviet state, this surname-style name is used in Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and sometimes India. Also spelled as Lenín, around 50 babies have received the name each year in the US since the mid 2000s.

The Soviet leader was born Vladimir Ulyanov, but later changed his surname, probably adapting it from the name of the River Lena in Siberia. This might link it to Helena or Yelena, meaning "shining torch", though the river name is more likely from the original name given to it by the Indigenous Even-Evenk people, Elyu-En meaning "large river".

The name has been borne by Lenín Moreno, a the 46th President of Ecuador from 2017 until 2021.

Lenin is also given to girls.

Pronounced LEN-in.

As of October 2026, Lenin ranked #2911 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1828 in 2018.