FOR ALL AGES
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Image © famveldman under a creative commons licence.
Feeling frazzled and frustrated that you just can't find 'that' baby boy name even though you've been through every baby names list under the sun?
If you feel like you're losing at the baby names game and are starting to doubt that you'll ever find a baby boy name that you know is 'the one', please don't despair; this feeling is completely and utterly normal. Close your eyes, and try to see the search for boys names as a fun treasure hunt with a special prize at the end.
To give you a helping hand in finding your favorite names for boys, we've put together a fantastic list of some of the most popular Russian boys names. The biggest country in the world (it's double the size of Australia!), Russia is home to 120 ethnic groups speaking over a hundred languages. This wonderful mix of cultural influences can be seen in Russia's rich array of inspiringly beautiful baby boy names.
In Russia, babies are generally given three names; a first name, a patronymic, and a surname. The patronymic, or middle name, is created by taking the father's name and an ending; for baby boys, this is usually "ovich" or "evich". It's popular for Russian baby boys and girls to be named after a Saint and have an annual "name day" celebration on the same date their namesake is honoured.
Image © Carlo Navarro under a creative commons license.
Many popular names for boys in Russia have been popular for centuries. These names are often steeped in historical meaning.
Russian names that come from the names of celebrated Saints are a popular choice for Russian baby boys. For decades, Alexander has been the most popular Russian boys name.
Image © diosmirnov under a creative commons license.
If you're looking for a gender-neutral name for your baby boy, there is no shortage of popular unisex Russian names.
Russia is famous for its incredible cultural heritage, so it's no surprise that many of the popular Russian boys names come from acclaimed names in the arts.
Russia has a long history of sporting success, and many famous Russian names, male and female, can be seen celebrated in the country's polls of the most popular names for boys.
Bogdan - Богдан: Can also be written as Bohdan, which means "God has rendered" or "born by God". The name "Bogdan" is a personal name of Slavic origin (from Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian and Ukrainian).
Egor - Егор: This name has its source from Ivarr, which is a yew tree that can be used to make bows and arrows for archers. Therefore, the name can mean "yew, bow arrow" or "farmer".
Evgeni - Евгений: The Russian version of Eugene is well-known as a name that means "of noble decent" or "well-born." But if your baby boy is born well, this name is perfect for you!
Fedor - Федор: Also written as Fyodor or Feodor, which means "divine gift". It is the Russian variation for the name Theodore.
Gavriil - Гавриил: Gavriil, which means "God Is My Strength", is a perfect name for a strong and righteous man who believes that whatever he does is acceptable to God. It makes a strong statement of trust in God's plan and provides him with the strength he needs to overcome conflict, challenges and adversities. It is the Russian form of Gabriel.
Ilya - Илья: Ilya is the Russianized form of Eliyahu, the Hebrew name for Elijah, which means "Jehovah is my God". While it's traditionally used as an abbreviated form of the male Hebrew name, it can also be used as a completely neutral name in Russian.
Maksim - Максим: Maksim is a sophisticated and beautiful name that means "the great" in Russian. It's the perfect choice for baby boys meant to be stars.
Ruslan - Руслан: The name Ruslan is fairly common in Russia, where it's been used as a hero's name for centuries. The meaning of this name is generally thought to be "lion man", like the lions depicted on the famous gold coins of Vladimir III.
Image © Alena Yakusheva under a creative commons license.
More than a fifth of the world's forests are located in Russia, and the beauty of the landscape and nature features heavily in the meanings of some of the most popular Russian boys names.
Anatoly - Анатолий: Also written as Anatoliy and Anatoli, it means "sunrise". It is derived from the Greek name Anatolius.
Dmitri - Дмитрий: also spelled Dmitriy or Dmitry, this classic Russian name means "follower of Demeter," the ancient Greek goddess of the harvest often referred to as "mother earth."
Ermolai - Ермолай: It means "people of Hermes". It is an unusual name because it is a transliteration of the Greek name Hermolaos.
Kodiak - Кадьяк: A Russian name which means "an island". Many often relate the name to the famous camera brand.
Kuzma - Кузьма: a Russian form of Cosmo. Kosmos, meaning "harmony" or "universe" in Greek, was early translated into Latin as "cosmos". In English, the term cosmology refers to the science of the universe. The name Kosmos derives from the Greek word κοσμος (kosmos), which conveys various meanings such as order, world, and realm; which is also the word for beauty and harmony.
Petya - Петя: A name popularly known among Russians which means "stone" or "rock". Of Russian and Greek origin.
Rodion - Родион: Having its origin in Greece and Russia, it is indeed a unique name for your male child. It means "a song of the hero". This name has both Russian and Greek origins.
Yermolai - Ермолай: It means "people of Hermes". It can also be spelt Ermolai.
Yuri - Юрий: Yuri is a classic, modern choice for Russian Baby Boy Names. The name means "farmer" in Russian and is often chosen by parents across Russia.
If you want a Russian name for your baby boy that has a truly lovely meaning, then these names for boys will warm your heart.
Alyosha - Алеша: A Russian male name which means "defender". The name carries the idea of one who is always willing to help people.
Artem - Артем: Artem is a name of Greek origin derived from Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting. Its variant forms include Artyom and Artiom.
Avrelian - Аврелиа́н: There are several theories about the origin of the first name Avrelian. It may have originated as a Latinization of "Aurelius", derived from the Latin word aureolus, which means "golden."
Faddey - Фадди: This is a popular Christian name which means "gift of God".
Feofan - Феофан: Also a popular Christian name which means "Manifestation of God".
Kazimir - Казимир: A Russian variation of Casimir which means "keeper and destroyer of peace."
Kliment - Климент: Means "gentle" or "merciful". It is the Slavic variation of the popular Latin name Clement.
Kolya - Коля: The name is a Slavic baby boy name. In Slavic, the meaning of the name is "Victory Of The People". The name Kolya is mainly used in Russian, German, Polish and Ukrainian.
Lyosha - Лёша: Lyosha is a sweet and playful name for boys, but also means "defending men" in Russian. Some parents can combine it with other names to make unique baby names. Since it serves as a nickname, parents may consider using it as a middle name. However, it's not very popular yet, so don't expect many people to use it as a first name.
Svyatopolk - Святополк: One of the most loved baby names which mean "blessed people".
Volya - Воля: A free and independent person. Volya, a Russian male name, means "free will". Definitely, a name to consider for a male baby boy.
Yaromir - Яромир: It is a popular masculine given name in Eastern European countries. It originates from Slavic languages and means "man of peace". It has been used as a popular name for over 1,000 years, mostly in Russia and Poland.
Image © PublicDomainPictures under a creative commons license.
Baby boy names that give the nod to strength and resilience are amongst the most popular Russian names for boys and feature heavily in the baby boy names charts.
Aviv - Авив: A name that means "the spring season" in Hebrew and can be given as a first name or surname. It is also used as a geographical (place) name, such as Tel Aviv, and these names are sometimes used interchangeably.
Boris - Борис: It is a powerful name of Slavic origin. It means "battle" or "fight". A popular choice for parents looking to give their baby boy a traditional Russian name — and for a good reason.
Borya - Боря: A Russian diminutive of Boris, which means "battle" or "fight".
Kir - Кир: Kir is a modern Russian form of the name Cyrus. Kir is derived from the Persian words "khuru" and "khur", which mean sun and throne, respectively.
Kirill - Кирилл: Means "lord" or "master". It is a clever name that easily reflects a baby's personality. A classic and genuine choice which will always be fashionable.
Lukyan - Лукьян: This name is coined out of the Latin masculine name Lucian which means "light" or "bringer of light" in Slavic languages, and is used as both a given name and surname.
Mstislav - Мстислав: The given name literally means "the glory of vengeance". It is a masculine name derived from "msti", which means "vengeance", and slav, which means "glory or fame." It is also spelled Mścisław, and its feminine variation is written as Mstislava and Mścisława.
Nikolai - Николай: Nikolai is a great name for boys with a Slavic flair. Nikolai means "people of victory" and has long been the name of Russian leaders who fight to protect their homeland and lead it forward through difficult times. Nikolai is an easy layback name that still stays true to its roots while still being modern enough to be on trend today.
Vadik - Вадик: A name of Russian origin which means "ruler." The name is a variant of Vadim.
Vadim - Вадим: A baby boy's name of Russian origin which means "to rule", "powerful ruler", or "ruler."
Viktor - Виктор: Viktor is the Russian version of the name Victor which means 'champion' or 'conqueror'. Viktor is a powerful and strong name for a strong person with willpower and determination to conquer. Viktor may be a good fit for your baby boy.
Vsevolod - Все́волод: Also spelled Wsewolod means "lord of everything" or "lord of everybody." Its meaning is closely related to the name Vladimir. This would make for a great name for your baby boy.
Yevgeni - Евгений: It is coined from the name Eugene which is a mix of a Russian and an English name, but it means "to be of noble descent." You can use it if you're looking for a unique, Russian-sounding name or if the meaning behind the name strikes your fancy.
In Russia, as in many Eastern Slavic countries, it is common for people to bear patronymic names. A patronymic name, simply called a patronym, is a personal name gotten from the name of a father or an ancestor. In Russia, a person's patronymic is a recognized element of their name that is used in all official papers as well as when speaking to friends and family informally and professionally. These patronymic names from combining the surname with the suffix -ovich or -evich for boys and -ovna or -evna for girls. Here are a few patronymic names that are common among Russians:
Dementievich - Дементьевич: A surname of Russian origin which means "son of Dementi." Other spelling variations of this name include Dyoma, Dyomka, Dementyushka and Demenya.
Ivanovich - Иванович: Also spelled Ivanovych, the name Ivanovich is most common in Russia and Ukraine that means "Son of Ivan". This name is most commonly used in modern Slavic literature as the Russian equivalent of John Doe, written as Ivan Ivanovich.
Mikhailovich - Михайлович: Also written as Mikhaylovich, this patronymic name means 'son of Mikhail' or 'son of Michael'. One famous person to have taken this name is Aleksey Mikhaylovich, famously known as Alexis of Russia.
Sergeyevich - Сергеевич: A very common name in Russia which means "son of Sergey." One of Russia's greatest poets and a proclaimed father of modern Russian literature, Alexander Pushkin bears this name.
Vissarionovich - Виссарионович: This means the "son of Vissarion". Vissarion is the Russian variation of the Greek name Bessarion. The famous Soviet political leader Joseph Stalin also had this name.
Vladimirovich - Владимирович: This means the "descendant of Vladimir" or "Vladimir's son." The Russian president chosen in 2000 bears this name.
Russia has strong roots deeply entrenched in ancient Slavic traditions. Hence, it's unsurprising that some Russian names have their meanings and roots derived from various Slavic words. While civilization has seen some Slavic names fade into oblivion and become mere lines on pages of history books, some of these names have retained their use in modern times. You can find a list of these names here:
Aburom (Абуро́м) is an old and rare Russian name. It may be a toponymic name derived from the name of Mount Abarim, where Moses died, according to some legends.
Agap (Ага́п) is an ancient name formerly spelled as Agapy. It is rooted in the Greek word Agapios, which means "Love."
Agapit (Агапи́т) is a name that means "loved one." It's an old and uncommon Russian Christian male first name.
Albert (Альберт) is a masculine given name derived from Adalbert and Adelbert. It may be used as a surname, but more commonly as a male-given name. It means "bright", "noble" and "famous".
Avdey (Авде́й) was formerly spelled as Avdiy. Borrowed from Byzantine Christianity, it is a very uncommon name. This name will definitely make your baby boy stand out from everyone else.
Dobromil (Добромил) is also spelled "Dobromił" and is a masculine name of Slavic origin which means "love of goodness."
Genrikh (Генрих): In Russian, this name is a masculine form of the given name "Henry". The name can be seen as derived from the Germanic name Heinrich, a variant of the name Henry.
Lyubava (Любава), which means "to love", is a beautiful name of Slavic origin.
Ninel (Нинель) is a boy name usually given to those that belong to Judaism religion. It is thought to be the name of a saint.
Peresvet (Пересвет) means "overexposure". The name, which can also be written as Peresviet, refers to the 14th-century warrior monk Alexander Peresvet who has a statue in honor of his combat with the then Tatar champion Temir-murza. In recent times, however, this name has been used to refer to one of Russia's laser weapons for air defense and anti-satellite warfare.
Radomir (Радомир) is a boy's name of Russian origin which means "happy". When he is older and has grown into his own personality and confidence, "Radomir" will be an important reminder to serve children with happy hearts and positive minds.
Vilen (Вилен) is derived from the word "Volodiměrŭ", which means "to rule with greatness." This name serves to remind your child to always reach for greatness.
Zhdan (Ждан) is a name of Slavic origin which means "long awaited." The name can also be written as Zhdanov.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.