Awesome Russian Names

Ekaterina

Russian; Macedonian; Bulgarian, variation of Catherine

"pure"

This international variation was publicized by Olympic skater Ekaterina Gordeeva.

Elizaveta

Elizaveta is the Russian and Bulgarian form of Elizabeth, a name with Hebrew origins meaning 'God is my oath' or 'pledged to God.' This elegant Slavic variation has been used by Russian royalty,…

Filippa

Filippa is the feminine form of Philip, derived from the Greek name Philippos meaning 'lover of horses.' This elegant name has been used throughout Europe for centuries, particularly in Scandinavian…

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.

Inga

Norse

"guarded by Ing"

Ing was a powerful Norse god whose name inspired several modern variations -- though Inga has become a caricatured Scandinavian choice.

Irina

Russian from Greek

"peace"

Irina is a Russian ballet-inflected classic, one of the Three Sisters in the Chekhov play. While some Americans will pronounce this like Irene with three syllables, the pronunciation used throughout…

Isidora

Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian variation of Isadora, Greek

"gift of Isis"

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

Katenka

Katenka is a feminine name of Russian origin, functioning as an affectionate diminutive form of Ekaterina (Catherine). This endearing variant adds warmth and intimacy to the formal name through the…

Katerina

Macedonian, Czech, Russian, Bulgarian, and Greek form of Katherine, Greek

"pure"

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…

Katya

Russian, diminutive of Ekatarina, Russian variation of Katherine

"pure"

One of the warm and earthy Russian nickname names now coming into style. Denzel Washington gave his daughter the Katia spelling.

Klara

German, Russian, Polish, Scandinavian variation of Clara

"light"

German, Slavic and Scandinavian form of Clara, which is a Top 100 girl name in multiple European countries, including Austria, Croatia, Iceland and Poland. While Clara is fashionable in the US, the…

Kristina

Scandinavian variation of Christina

"annointed, a Christian"

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…

Larisa

Greek

"citadel"

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.

Lidiya

Lidiya is a feminine name of Slavic origin, representing a variation of Lydia, which derives from the ancient Greek name Λυδία (Lydia), referring to a person from Lydia, a region in Asia Minor. This…

Liliya

Russian; Bulgarian; Ukrainian

"lily"

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