Some of the Russian names have been derived from nature, orthodox Christianity, and virtues. Although the spellings and the pronunciations of these names can vary, most of them fit perfectly as given names and are widely used in the West. According to SSA data, the Russian names Angelina, Nina, and Vera featured in the top 500 girl names in the US in 2022 ( 1). Using all three names is common among Russians. Usually, a patronymic name is given to the baby by their father or other paternal relatives.
A given name is assigned at birth or upon a name change. Russian parents believe that giving the best name can offer the baby the best start to her life.Ī typical Russian name consists of a first name, a patronymic name or middle name, and a family name.
Some names are recognizable versions of classic American names, such as Lizabeta for Elizabeth and Annika for Ann.
A fair proportion of Russian girl names are orthodox Christian names, and the others include Pre-Christian Slavic names, Communist names and those derived from ethnic minorities of Russia.
