User-created list
Names for girls Russians really use
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of 3
Svetlana
Russian
"star"
Popular Russian name, familiar here via author Svetlana Stalin, the dictator's daughter.
Vasilisa
Feminization of Vasili, Russian from Greek
"royal, kingly"
Vasilisa is the feminine form of Vasili, the Russian translation of Basil.
Nadezhda
Slavic
"hope"
Nadezhda is more familiar in the English-speaking world by its short forms, Nadia or Nadya. Well-used through the Slavic countries and Russia, Nadezhda was the name of Lenin's wife. Viewers of The…
Ludmila
Slavic
"beloved of the people"
This Slavic classic name might begin to make its mark with American parents, what with the growing popularity of the short form Mila. Borne by a tenth century saint who had been a princess from…
Galina
Russian and Slavic feminine form of Galen, Greek
"calm, healer"
Commonly used in Russia, has an Old World Slavic feel. The original Galen can be used for girls as well as boys.
Lyubov
Oksana
Russian from Hebrew
"praise to God"
Ukrainian figure-skating champion Oksana Baiul made it known here.
Tamara
Hebrew
"date palm tree"
Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original.
Taisia
Yesenia
Spanish, Arabic
"palm tree; flower"
Yesenia is a Latinx favorite popularized by a character on a Spanish-language soap opera. Jessenia is another variation. The name is drawn from the name of a palm tree in South America, but Yesenia…