Awesome Russian Names

Katerina and its near-identical twin Katarina have a pleasingly lilting European sound, though for some Americans they may be uncomfortably close to Katrina, which will be linked for a long time to the hurricane that devastated New Orleans.

Nadya and Nadia are Eastern European short forms -- for the more difficult Nadezhda -- now fully accepted on their own.

One of many international versions of this classic.

Now that Zoe is getting wildly popular in the U.S. and the U.K. -- one poll puts it at number one in Wales -- parents may start hunting down fresh twists like this.

Common Russian name of one of that country's most beloved saints, known for his kindness and gentility.

Margarita is an international form of Margaret that shares its meaning of "pearl", but also directly translates to "daisy" in Spanish and Greek. Despite being widely associated with the alcoholic beverage in English, it has a long history of use in Spanish, Greek and several Slavic languages — most notably being the name of the heroine of Mikhail Bulgakov's 1966 novel Master and Margarita.

Long integrated into the U. S. name pool but still retaining some Slavic flavor, Tanya feels a bit tired; it's ready for replacement by cooler Russian choices like Sasha, Mischa, or parent name Tatiana.

The Isidora spelling, though equally legitimate, is about 90 percent less common than Isadora.

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".

Maksim is a masculine name of Slavic origin, representing the Eastern European form of Maximus, derived from Latin meaning 'greatest' or 'largest.' Particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other Slavic countries, Maksim carries connotations of greatness, achievement, and leadership. The name has historic connections to several saints and notable figures throughout Eastern European history. In recent decades, Maksim has gained some international recognition as cultural boundaries blur, though it retains its strong Slavic identity. The spelling with a 'k' rather than an 'x' reflects the Cyrillic alphabet's representation of the sound, giving the name an authentic Eastern European character while remaining accessible to English speakers.

Vasilisa is the feminine form of Vasili, the Russian translation of Basil.

This version of the name of a Greek nymph, based on the ancient city of Larisa, is widely used in Russia thanks to a martyr saint venerated by the Eastern Church.

Pronounced like Lillia, Liliya is the cognate of Lily in various Slavic languages.

See NATASHA.

This streamlined form of a pretty and feminine classic may not be as popular as it once was, but it's never out of style. A royal name best used now in its full glory rather than as nicknames Kris or Kristy.

New name in the pool of international names, added by lovely supermodel Alyona Osmanova.

Ania is a feminine name with Slavic origins, particularly popular in Poland and other Eastern European countries. It functions as a diminutive form of Anna, which ultimately derives from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'grace' or 'favor.' The name features a straightforward pronunciation (AHN-yah or AHN-ee-ah, depending on regional accents) that travels well across language boundaries despite its specific cultural roots. Ania has a delicate, feminine quality while maintaining simplicity and brevity. Though not widely used in English-speaking countries, it has gained some recognition with increased global cultural awareness. The name carries the warmth and timeless quality of its root name Anna while offering a fresh, slightly exotic alternative that's still easy to pronounce and spell.

Popular Russian name, familiar here via author Svetlana Stalin, the dictator's daughter.

A form of Alexander commonly used in Russia, Armenia, Estonia and Kazakhstan.