Slavic Names for Girls
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- Mira
Origin:
Latin, Slavic, Arabic, SanskritMeaning:
"admirable; peace; female ruler; ocean"Description:
This name owes its present life to actress Sorvino. Mira and Mirra have an arty aura.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Zora
Origin:
Serbo-CroatianMeaning:
"dawn"Description:
Zora is a meaningful literary heroine name honoring Zora Neale Hurston, an important black writer and leader of the Harlem Renaissance.
- Olga
Origin:
Slavic variation of Helga, NorseMeaning:
"holy"Description:
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.
- Audra
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"noble strength"Description:
Used primarily in Scotland, and represented here by singer Audra McDonald, the girls' name Audra has been overshadowed by the return of the classic Audrey. Audra may be to Audrey what Jenna is to Jennifer and Jessa is to Jessica: A variation that will rise as the original falls from favor, which may take another decade.
- Dana
Origin:
English, Slavic, Persian, ArabicMeaning:
"from Denmark, gift, or wise"Description:
This name found in both Celtic and Scandinavian mythology has gone from all-boy to almost all-girl, retaining a strong, unisex quality. However, it has dropped following its three-decade heyday from the 1960s to the 1990s.
- Maja
Origin:
German, Slovene, and Scandinavian form of Maya; also, ArabicMeaning:
"splendid"Description:
Whether you pronounce it my-a, ma-zha or ma-ha, Maja is an intriguing choice. Sometimes associated with Goya's famous painting "The Naked Maja." As a cognate of Maya, it's a Top 10 name in Slovenia and Sweden and is also popular in Germany and Norway.
- Mariska
Origin:
Hungarian diminutive of MariaMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
Actress Hargitay made us notice this one, it makes a robust, energetic Slavic impression.
- Nadezhda
Origin:
SlavicMeaning:
"hope"Description:
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 Americans learned that this was the original Russian name of the spy known as Elizabeth Jennings, played by Keri Russell.
- Ziva
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"life"Description:
A zippy little international name. The Hebrew name relates to the month of Israeli independence, while the Slavic Ziva (also spelled Živa and Siva) is a goddess of love, life and fertility.
- Kalina
Origin:
PolishMeaning:
"viburnum"Description:
Kalina, known as a girls' name throughout Eastern Europe, translates literally to viburnum in Polish, making it a botanical name. Viburnum is a flowering shrub. Some sources translate this name as simply "flower." Variations may include Kaline, Kalena, and Kalene.
- Valeska
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"strong"Description:
This diminutive of Valeria has a strong and striking sound to match its meaning. It has also been used in Brazil in recent decades.
- Sonja
Origin:
Russian, Slavic, and Scandinavian form of Sophia, GreekMeaning:
"wisdom"Description:
Popular throughout Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries like Sweden, Norway, Russia, and Germany, Sonja has a rich cultural heritage. The name gained international recognition through figures like Sonja Henie, the Norwegian Olympic figure skating champion.
- Eliska
Origin:
Czech from Hebrew, pet form of ElishevaMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Eliška is warm and friendly, in the Misha, Sasha mode.
- Asya
Origin:
Turkish; Russian and Bulgarian diminutive of AnastasiaMeaning:
"Asia; resurrection"Description:
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.
- Oksana
Origin:
Russian from HebrewMeaning:
"praise to God"Description:
Ukrainian figure-skating champion Oksana Baiul made it known here.
- Kasia
Origin:
Polish, diminutive of Katarzyna, form of KatherineMeaning:
"pure"Description:
Attractive and equally intriguing alternative to Katya.