Eastern Slavic naming customs

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An example of an ID document of a Russia citizen. The lower page includes the lines: Имя ("Name"), Фамилия ("Family name") and Отчество ("Patronymic").


The standard structure of the full name is the following:

Name Example (Cyrillic typing) Example (Latin typing)
First name (given name) Илья́ Ilyа́
Patronymic Алекса́ндрович Aleksа́ndrovich
Family name (surname) Ежо́в Yezhо́v


Given first name[edit]



Common male first names[edit]

Russian variant Ukrainian variant Latin typing transliteration Origin Comments
Ива́н Іва́н Ivа́n Hebrew equivalent to John
Бори́с Бори́с Boris Slavonic (Bulgarian) meaning "Fighter"
Пётр Петро́ Pyо́tr / Petrо́ Greek equivalent to Peter
Андре́й Андрій Andrе́y / Andriy Greek equivalent to Andrew
Дмитрий Дмитро Dmitry / Dmytro Greek meaning "Of Demetra"
Серге́й Сергій Sergе́y / Sergiy Latin -
Леони́д Леонід Leonid Greek from Greek "Leonidas"
Па́вел Павло́ Pа́vel / Pavlо́ Latin equivalent to Paul
Константи́н Костянти́н Konstantin / Kostyantyn Latin equivalent to Constantine
Кири́лл Кири́ло Kirill / Kyrylo Greek equivalent to Cyril
Васи́лий Васи́ль Vasily / Vasyl / Vassili Greek equivalent to Ваsіl
Poма́н Poма́н Romа́n Latin -
Владисла́в Владисла́в Vladislа́v Slavonic meaning "The Lord Of The Fame"
Михаи́л Миха́йло Mihail / Myhа́ilo Hebrew equivalent to Michael
Игорь Ігор Igor Old Norse derivative from Scandinavian "Ingwar"
Макси́м Макси́м Maxim / Maksym Latin meaning "The Greatest"

Common female first names[edit]

Russian variant Ukrainian variant Latin typing transliteration Origin Comments
Анна Ганна Anna / Hanna Hebrew equivalent to Anne or Hannah
Ольга Ольга Olga Old Norse derivative from Scandinavian Helga
Алекса́ндра Олекса́ндра Aleksа́ndra / Oleksandra Greek equivalent to Alexandra
Екатери́на Катери́на Yekaterina / Kateryna Greek equivalent to Catherine
Светла́на Світла́на Svetlа́na / Svitlа́na Slavonic meaning "The Shining One"
Юлия Юлія Yulia Latin equivalent to Julia or Julie

Forms of first name[edit]

The fact that Eastern Slavonic languages are synthetic languages rather than analytic languages implies the ability to convey fine shades of emotions via changing of words by using different suffixes. That's why some name forms considered below are not able in English which one is typical analytic language. The cases with reflecting of emotions considered below are not about names only but about all nouns in Eastern Slavonic languages. That's why it would be correct to state that the common rules of using suffixes in nouns for conveying of emotions in East-Slavonic languages are considered below by names example.

The form of name Russian name English analogue German analogue Comments
Full form Анна (Anna) Anne Anna -
Short form Аня (Anya) Anny - used in routine communication
Diminutive form Анечка (Anyechka) - Ännchen may be used to express tender attitude
Colloquial type of diminutive form Анька (Anka) - - may be used to express (dependently on context) (1) familiarity or (2) arrogant or slighting attitude (rare)

Let's consider each form in details below.

Short forms[edit]


A short form exists for almost each name. The typical tool for providing a short form of East-Slavonic name is suffix -a or -я ("ya"). The English analogue of that suffix is suffix -y in the name forms like Tommy, Katty. The short form is almost always used in routine communication. Short forms are always emotionally neutral. Some common names and their short forms are the further:

Алексей Aleksey (m) Лёша Lyosha
Анастасия Anastasia (f) Настя Nastya
Анатолий Anatoly (m) Толя Tolya
Борис Boris (m) Боря Borya
Дарья Darya (f) Даша Dasha
Галина Galina (f) Галя Galya
Геннадий Gennady (m) Гена Gena
Георгий Georgy (m) Гоша, Жора Gosha, Zhora
Иван Ivan (m) Ваня Vanya
Константин Konstantin (m) Костя Kostya
Ксения Ksenya (f) Ксюша Ksyusha
Лариса Larisa (f) Лара Lara
Леонид Leonid (m) Лёня Lyonya
Лев Lev (m) Лёва Lyova
Лидия Lidiya (f) Лида Lida
Любовь Lyubov' (f) Люба Lyuba
Мария Mariya (f) Маша Masha
Михаил Mihail (m) Миша Misha
Надежда Nadezhda (f) Надя Nadya
Наталья Natalya (f) Наташа Natasha
Николай Nikolay (m) Коля Kolya
Ольга Olga (f) Оля Olya
Павел Pavel (m) Паша Pasha
Полина Polina (f) Поля Polya
Пётр Pyotr (m) Петя Petya
Роман Roman (m) Рома Roma
Сергей Sergey (m) Серёжа Seryozha
София Sofia, Sofya (f) Соня Sonya
Светлана Svetlana (f) Света Sveta
Станислав Stanislav (m) Стас Stas
Тамара Tamara (f) Тома Toma
Татьяна Tatyana (f) Таня Tanya
Валерий Valery (m) Валера Valera
Валерия Valeriya (f) Лера Lera
Василий Vasily (m) Вася Vasya
Виктор Viktor (m) Витя Vitya
Виктория Viktoriya (f) Вика Vika
Владимир Vladimir (m) Вова, Володя Vova, Volodya
Вячеслав Vyacheslav (m) Слава Slava
Елена Yelena (f) Лена, Алёна Lena, Alyona
Елизавета Yelizaveta (f) Лиза Liza
Екатерина Yekaterina (f) Катя Katya
Юлия Yuliya (f) Юля Yulya
Юрий Yury (m) Юра Yura

Diminutive forms[edit]


There are diminutive forms as well. They differ with short forms in the sense that they are not emotionally sterile, they express some attitude (for example, tenderness, or disregarding, or being "one of the lads" etc. dependently on context and linguistic tools used). Diminutive forms are formed basing on the short form of name, not on the full form of the first name. The typical linguistic tool for emphasizing the tenderness to recipient are suffixes -еньк- (-yenk-), -оньк- (-onk-), -ечк- (-yechk-), -ушк (-ushk). The analogue in German are suffixes -chen and -lein. Some examples of diminutive forms are below.

Анна Anna Аня Anya Анечка Anyechka
Виктор Viktor Витя Vitya Витенька Viteneka
Дмитрий Dmitry Дима Dima Димочка Dimochka
Ольга Olga Оля Olya Оленька Olyenka
Степан Stepan Стёпа Styopa Степочка Styopochka

Colloquial diminutives[edit]

Анка-Пулемётчица (Anka Pulemyotchitsa), a character in the movie Чапаев ("Chapaev"). She is bold, active and resolute girl who takes part in the Civil War with her male colleagues. Анка (Anka) is vernacular variant which emphasizes "being one of the guys".

Colloquial diminutives formed by adding the -к- ("-k-") suffix are usually derived from short forms. In Russian, such variants dependently on context may be perceived as the feature of familiar communication or (rare) arrogant or slighting attitude. Some example of Colloquial diminutives are stated below.

Анна Anna Аня Anya Анька Aneka
Виктор Viktor Витя Vitya Витька Viteka
Дмитрий Dmitry Дима Dima Димка Dimka
Ольга Olga Оля Olya Олька Oleka
Степан Stepan Стёпа Styopa Стёпка Styopka

Slang forms[edit]


Slang forms distinguished by some linguists are in fact the particularities of colloquial diminutives. The emotion they transfer is the familiarity as well; being "one of the guys". Their specialities are that they are applicable with male names only, use the another suffixes -ян (-yan) or -он (-on). But the cornerstone which makes some linguists to distinguish them is their derivation from prison slang during the Soviet era and strong integration into vernacular speech during the 1990s. The last fact may be considered as about the dark times of the East Slavonic society during the transitional crisis and the role of language as "the social mirror". These forms of names are seems to be normal for now anyway, and their origins are not obvious for the typical speaker of any East Slavonic language. They are used be teenagers broadly now. Some examples of them are stated below.

Full form of first name (Cyrillic typing) Full form of first name (Latin typing) Short form (Cyrillic typing) Short form (Latin typing) Slang form (Cyrillic typing) Slang form (Latin typing)
Анатолий Anatoly Толя Tolya Толян Tolyan
Николай Nikolay Коля Kolya Колян Kolyan
Дмитрий Dmitry Дима Dima Димон Dimon
Владимир Vladimir Вова Vova Вован Vovan

Given names derivation in Early Soviet Union[edit]


Баррикада Barricade - Refers to the revolutionary activity
Марлен Marlene Маркс и Ленин (Marx and Lenin) -
Стэн Stan Сталин и Энгельс(Stalin and Engels) -


The common trend is that names like mentioned above are rare for now and sound bizarre for an Eastern Slavonic language speaker. They are tattoed upon the language which can be considered as social mirror reflecting the evidences of the processes in the East Slavonic society during the Early Soviet Era. People with dissonant names were the subjects of mockery which frequently made them change given names.






  • names ending with -слав (-slav) derive patronyms with suffix -вович (-vovich) to avoid double в ("v") in suffix. For example, if the father was Владислав (Vladislav) then the patronym will be Владиславович (Vladislavovich) for a son, and Владиславовна (Vladislavovna) for a daughter;


Анатолий Anatoly Анатольевич Anatolyevich Анатольевна Anatolyevna
Иван Ivan Иванович Ivanovich Ивановна Ivanovna
Владимир Vladimir Владимирович Vladimirovich Владимировна Vladimirovna
Дмитрий Dmitry Дмитриевич Dmitriyevich Дмитриевна Dmitriyevna
Николай Nikolay Николаевич Nikolayevich Николаевна Nikolayevna
Яков Yakov Яковлевич Yakovlevich Яковлевна Yakovlevna
Лев Lev Львович Levovich Львовна Levovna
Илья Ilya Ильич Ilyich Ильинична Ilyinichna
Владислав Vladislav Владиславович Vladislavovich Владиславовна Vladislavovna
Олег Oleg Олегович Olegovich Олеговна Olegovna
Константин Constantin Константинович Constantinovich Константиновна Constantinovna

Historical grounds[edit]


Patronyms are the old phenomenon in Russian society; the first reference could be found among the charts of the year 945. But patronyms were not of intensive usage until the 19th century. Originally patronyms were the feature of the royal dynasty (Рюриковичи, Ruerikovichi, Rurikids), that makes the Russian patronym in its original meaning being similar to German von. As from the 17th century, the second name with suffix -ович (-ovich) was the privilege given by tsar to commoners. For example, in 1610, tsar Vasili IV gave to the Stroganovs who were merchants the privilege to use patronyms. As the tribute for developing of salt industry in Siberia he let Pyotr Stroganov and all his issue to have and write the name with -ovich. The tsar wrote in the chart dated by May 29, literally: "... to write him with ovich, to try [him] in Moscow only, not to fee [him] by other fees, not to kiss a cross by himself [what means not to swear during any processions]"[2] In the 18th century, Stroganovs were the only family of merchants who had patronyms. During the 19th century, patronyms were spread to commoners.

The full analogue of the East Slavonic patronyms building system in its general device can be found in the modern Iceland (except matronyms are used there as well). In the modern Icelandic variant, the suffix -sson plays the role of the suffix -ович (-ovich), and the suffix -dottir plays the role of the suffix -овна (-ovna). That similarity may be explained by the fact that Russian concept of patronyms was borrowed from Scandinavian culture.

Legal basis[edit]

Everyone in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus is supposed to have three names. Foreigners who adopt Russian citizenship are able not to have the patronym or to have it. Nowadays, an adult person is entitled to legally change their patronymic if necessary[3] at any reason, for instance in order to alienate from the biological father (or show respect for the adopted one) as well as to decide the same for their underage child.

Family name (surname)[edit]


Derivation and meaning[edit]

Eastern-Slavonic languages being rather synthetic languages than analytic languages use special linguistic tools to make a surname. In Russian, these are suffixes -ов (-ov), -ев (-yev) or -ский (-sky) meaning "belonging to". For example Медведев (Medvedev) conveys (but not equal to) belonging to bear, Разумовский (Razumovsky) conveys (but not equal to) belonging to mind etc. Ukrainian and Belorussian languages use another suffixes which convey the same sense; generally these are suffixes -ко (-ko), -ук (-uk), and -ич (-ych). For example the sense of the surname Писаренко (Pisarenko) conveys (but not equal to) belonging to scribe, Ковальчук (Kovalchuk) - belonging to smith etc.



Grammar comments[edit]






Nominative Who? Иванов Ivanov Иванова Ivanova
Genitive [to born] Whom? Иванова Ivanova Иванову Ivanovu
Dative To whom? Иванову Ivanovu Ивановой Ivanovoy
Accusative Whom? Иванова Ivanova Иванову Ivanovu
Ablative By whom? Ивановым Ivanovym Ивановой Ivanovoy
Prepositional About whom? Иванове Ivanove Ивановой Ivanovoy

Social features[edit]


Cross-cultural communication[edit]

Germanization of East Slavonic names[edit]




Slavicization of foreign names with no patronyms[edit]





Slavicization of foreign names with patronyms of other forms[edit]





Forms of address[edit]

Common rules[edit]

The common rules are the further:

    • may convey the speaker's respect for the recipient. Historically patronymic was the feature of the royal dynasty only (Рюриковичи, Ruerikovichi), that's why traditionally the form "name + patronymic" convey the respect. That custom is remained to some degree (for example, younger people may call older people "first name + patronymic"), but that's not such a persistent nowadays anyway.
  • the surname only (Петров, Petrov) is used in formal communications, but much more rare. There's some trend in informal Russian to call a recipient with his/her surname expressing the irony as well;


  • informal ты (ty, "you");




Придёшь ли ТЫ сегодня, ...
Will you come today, ...
Form of name Name (Latin typing) Format Comments


Приедете ли ВЫ сегодня, ...
Will You come today, ...
Form of name Name (Latin typing) Format Comments




See also[edit]


Specific references:


Further reading (in Russian)[edit]

External links[edit]