329 Russian Girl Names and Meanings: Classic, Royal & Modern

Curious about Russian baby girl names? Maybe you're honoring your Russian roots. Maybe you just love a name that sounds like it belongs in a spy thriller (we don't blame you). Or maybe you want something European-but-different that nobody else at daycare pickup will have. Whatever brought you here, mama, you've landed in the right place.

We're not going to make you dig through fifteen browser tabs and a sketchy forum from 2014 to find this stuff — we've done that part for you. Below is basically every Russian girl name worth knowing: classic, cool, royal, rare, modern, Orthodox, you name it (pun intended).

They're gorgeous, they're refreshingly not-basic outside of Russia, and one of them might just be "the one." Fair warning, though: a few of these Russian names could work for a boy too, so don't be shocked if you meet a baby Sasha of any gender.

Let's find her name.

In this article: 📝\

Most popular Russian baby girl names

So you want a classic Russian name — makes sense, go with what's popular for a reason. Some of the most iconic Russian women's names have quietly infiltrated the rest of the world too, just wearing a slightly different outfit: Mariya becomes Maria, Sofia becomes Sophia, Aleksandra becomes Alexandra. Here's what they actually mean:

1. Alice (Алиса): A beautiful name in every language, Alice is one of the more common girl names in Russia today. It means "noble" or "exalted." Pronounced "ah-LEE-suh."
2. Anastasia (Анастасия): Even though it sounds distinctly Russian, Anastasia actually has Greek origins, meaning "resurrection." Plus, you can shorten it to the edgy Nastya or Nastenka, or the softer Ana or Stasia.
3. Anna (Анна): Anna Karenina is probably the most famous Russian literary character, made all the more vivid by Keira Knightley. The name means "grace" or "favor," and it's stayed near the top of Russia's most-popular list for decades.
4. Daria (Дарья, Дария): Meaning "she who possesses well," Daria is basically the name equivalent of a woman who has her life together (goals). There are two spellings floating around in Cyrillic that we can't fully capture in English, but either way, friends will probably just call her Dasha. Still a rare pick stateside, so you'd basically be a trendsetter. Pronounced "DAHR-yuh."
5. Elizabeth (Елизавета): A biblical name that's traveled the globe, Elizabeth means "God is my oath" and remains one of the most-used Russian female names out there. In Russian, she'll likely go by Liza day to day.
6. Mariya (Мария): Meaning "bitter," "beloved," or "rebellious" (depending who you ask — Slavic etymology loves an argument), Mariya was the most popular Russian girl name of 2020. She's the Russian cousin of Maria, Mary, and Marie, and she'll probably answer to Masha or Marusya around the house. Pronounced "muh-REE-yuh."
7. Polina (Полина): Meaning "little," or tracing back to Apollo himself, Polina has serious Greek god of the sun, music, and poetry energy. 🎶 Nickname potential: Polya. Pronounced "puh-LEE-nuh."
8. Sofia (София): A certified European classic, Sofia means "wisdom" — and she's currently one of the single most popular baby girl names in Russia, so you'd be picking a name that's both timeless and totally on-trend. She might go by Sonya. 📚
9. Varvara (Варвара): Think Barbara, but with more edge. It means "strange" or "foreign," and honestly? We love that for her. Friends will call her Varya. Pronounced "vahr-VAH-ruh."
10. Victoria (Виктория): Name your daughter Victoria and she's basically contractually obligated to win at life. It means "victory," obviously, and around the house she might go by Vika. 🏆

Note: In Russia, given names get remixed constantly thanks to a whole system of pet names, or "diminutives." So if your name is Sofia, different people in your life might call you Sonya, Sofyushka, Sofiyanka, Sofka, or Soka, depending how close you are. We break down the whole system later in this article — but keep an eye out, because each name's go-to nickname is woven right into its entry as you scroll. 👇

What is a cool Russian name?

Want a name with a little edge to it — one that could headline a spy movie or run a company (or both)? We've got you, mama:

1. Adelina (Аделина): Means "noble." Elegant without trying too hard.
2. Albina (Альбина): Means "white" or "fair." Clean, classic, cool.
3. Aleksandra (Александра): Needs zero introduction. It means "to ward off" or "to protect," so this name basically comes with built-in bodyguard energy. She can go by Sasha day to day.
4. Arina (Арина): A soft, lovely-sounding name that's distinctly Russian, often linked to the idea of peace. Around the playground, expect Arisha.
5. Aylin (Айлин): Means "moonlight halo," a beloved pick in Tatarstan and beyond.
6. Camelia (Камелия): After the flower, obviously. Delicate but doesn't wilt.
7. Calina (Калина): Means "moon." Pronounced "kuh-LEE-nuh."
8. Dasha (Даша): Means "gift from God." Also the everyday nickname for Daria and Darina.
9. Ekaterina (Екатерина): Catherine the Great — the empress who basically ran an empire and didn't apologize for it — was really an Ekaterina. Solid namesake. It means "innocent" or "pure," and she'll likely be Katya to everyone who knows her. Pronounced "yeh-kuh-tuh-REE-nuh."
10. Elina (Элина): Means "light" or "torch." She'll light up a room, guaranteed.
11. Elmira (Эльмира): Means "princess of nations." Big energy for a small human.
12. Eva (Ева): Simple, biblical, and it means "life." Fun fact: this is currently one of the most popular baby names for girls across all of Russia.
13. Iolanta (Иоланта): Means "violet flower," and yes, she's got a whole Tchaikovsky opera named after her.
14. Ksenia (Ксения): The Greeks used the word xenia to mean "hospitality" and "friendship" — basically the ultimate hostess-with-the-mostest name. She'll go by Ksyusha. Pronounced "KSEH-nee-yuh."
15. Malika (Малика): Means "queen." A favorite in Russia's Muslim communities.
16. Milada (Милада): Old Slavic for "young and dear." Genuinely adorable.
17. Milana (Милана): A typical Russian name meaning "favored," with regional cousins like Milena floating around too. Shortened to Mila, obviously.
18. Milava (Милава): Old Slavic for "dear one."
19. Nadezhda (Надежда): Means "hope." Nickname: Nadya. Pronounced "nuh-DYEZH-duh."
20. Nailya (Наиля): Means "successful" or "one who achieves" — a lovely Tatar-Russian pick.
21. Radmila (Радмила): Means "caring for the people." A born leader.
22. Sara (Сара): Biblical roots, means "princess." Timeless, no notes.
23. Tamara (Тамара): Means "date palm" (or "spice," depending who you ask) — iconic thanks to Georgia's legendary Queen Tamar.
24. Ulyana (Ульяна): Deeply, unmistakably Russian, and it means "youthful" — so no matter how old she gets, she's contractually young at heart. Nickname: Ulya. Pronounced "ool-YAH-nuh."
25. Valeriya (Валерия): Means "to be healthy and strong," which, frankly, is a solid thing to wish on your kid. Friends call her Lera. Pronounced "vuh-LEHR-ee-yuh."
26. Velislava (Велислава): Means "great glory." Not shy about it.
27. Veronika (Вероника): Said to mean "victory bringer" — noble, beautiful-sounding, and comes with a built-in nickname, Nika.
28. Yasna (Ясна): Slavic for "clear" or "bright." Crisp and lovely.
29. Zlatislava (Златислава): Means "golden glory." As extra as it sounds, in the best way.
30. Zoryana (Зоряна): Slavic for "dawn." A gorgeous word-name if you're into those.
31. Zvezdana (Звездана): A "starry" spin, close cousin of the word for star.

What’s a good Russian girl name?

We’re not finished yet! Here are even more popular Russian women's names with their meaning:

1. Agnessa (Агнесса): A more formal cousin of Agnes, meaning "pure."
2. Agrippina (Агриппина): A grand old Russian noble name — meaning "born feet-first," fittingly dramatic.
3. Alina (Алина): Means "light," with a diminutive form (Alinoshka) that's honestly almost too cute to handle.
4. Alyona (Алёна): Means "bright and shining light" — basically the human equivalent of golden hour. Pronounced "ah-LYOH-nuh."
5. Berislava (Берислава): Old Slavic for "one who takes glory." A quiet powerhouse.ogolyuba (Боголюба): Means "beloved by God." A big, warm meaning for a big warm personality.
6. Diana (Диана): Straight from the ancient Roman goddess herself, used across Europe and instantly recognizable everywhere.
7. Dobrava (Добрава): Old Slavic for "kind." Sets the tone from day one.
8. Doroteya (Доротея): Means "gift from God." Pronounced "duh-ruh-TYAY-uh."
9. Dragomira (Драгомира): Means "precious peace." Both things worth having.
10. Evpraksiya (Евпраксия): Means "good deeds." Setting the bar early.
11. Feodora (Феодора): Means "gift from God." Pronounced "fyoh-DOH-ruh."
12. Feodulia (Феодулия): Means "servant of God" — humble and lovely.
13. Inga (И́нга): Means "peace" or "prosperity."
14. Karina (Карина): Means "pure." Simple, sharp, gets straight to the point.
15. Kira (Кира): Means "mistress" or "ruler." Damn straight she can be both.
16. Kristina (Кристина): A common name across Europe meaning "follower of Christ."
17. Lyubomira (Любомира): Means "loving peace." A total sweetheart, on paper and in practice.
18. Margarita (Маргарита): Also the word for "daisy" — cute, but she can also go by Margosha, Rita, or Ritunya if she's feeling less floral. Pronounced "mahr-guh-REE-tuh."
19. Milena (Милена): Means "gracious" — soft on the ears, strong on vibes.
20. Militsa (Милица): Means "grace." Short, warm, huggable.
21. Milolika (Милолика): Old Slavic for "sweet-faced." Does what it says on the tin.
22. Nadia (Надя): Meaning "hope," Nadezhda's go-to nickname.
23. Neonila (Неонила): Means "youthful" — an underrated gem.
24. Olga (Ольга): One of the more iconic Russian names out there, meaning "blessed" or "holy." Diminutives include Lyolya and Olechka.
25. Olimpiada (Олимпиада): Yes, like the Olympics. Built-in ambition.
26. Pelageya (Пелагея): A proper old Russian classic, rooted in the Greek word for "sea."
27. Radomira (Радомира): Means "caring for peace" — a peacekeeper in training.
28. Regina (Регина): Literally means "queen." No further questions, your honor.
29. Rossiya (Россия): Means "Russia." As Russian as it gets. Pronounced "ruh-SEE-yuh."
30. Serafina (Серафина): Means "fiery, burning one" — after the seraphim. Not a name that whispers.
31. Solomiya (Соломия): Means "peace" — soft, calm, lovely to say.
32. Stefaniya (Стефания): Means "crown." The Russian answer to Stephanie.
33. Stella (Стелла): Means "star." She was always going to be the main character.
34. Taisiya (Таисия): Once the name of a companion of Alexander the Great, Taisiya means "beautiful" or "divine" — no notes. Nickname: Tasya. Pronounced "tah-EE-see-yuh."
35. Velimira (Велимира): Means "great peace." Ambitious in the calmest way possible.
36. Vera (Вера): Slavic in origin, meaning "faith" or "truth." Sweetly shortened to Verochka.
37. Yevlaliya (Евлалия): Means "well-spoken." She'll talk circles around you by age three.
38. Yulia (Юлия): Means "youthful" — the Russian answer to Julia, Julie, or Giulia. She might go by Yulya. Pronounced "YOOL-yuh."
39. Yuliana (Юлиана): Means "youthful," the fuller, fancier form of Yulia.
40. Zinovia (Зиновия): Rare, regal, and steeped in ancient Greek roots.
41. Zvenislava (Звенислава): Means "ringing glory" — as in, everyone will be talking about her.

What are Russian Orthodox girl names?

Russia's naming traditions are basically tangled up with the Russian Orthodox Church, and honestly? It's one of the sweetest parts of the culture. Traditionally, babies were named after the saint whose feast day landed closest to their birth (or baptism), which meant an automatic built-in patron saint for life. Handy.

That's also where the imeniny, or "name day," comes from. Instead of just celebrating a birthday, plenty of Orthodox families also mark their kid's angel day — their namesake saint's feast day — with a little gathering, a church visit, or the classic greeting "С днём ангела!" ("Happy Angel's Day!"). Basically a second birthday. We're into it.

Want a name with that classic Orthodox pedigree? A few favorites from above already qualify — Anastasia, Yekaterina, Taisiya, Antonina, Agafya, and Yevdokiya were all traditionally saint names. Here are a few more to round things out:

1. Beloslava (Белослава): Means "white glory." Pure and proud.
2. Bozhena (Божена): Means "divine." No pressure.
3. Dobroslava (Доброслава): Means "good glory." Kind and celebrated, ideally at once.
4. Domnika (Домника): Means "of the Lord." Quiet, dignified, uncommon.
5. Elpida (Элпида): Greek for "hope" — the Orthodox cousin of Nadezhda.
6. Evstolia (Евстолия): A rare, graceful saint's name.
7. Feodosiya (Феодосия): The feminine form of Feodosiy, meaning "God-given." Nickname: Dosya. Pronounced "fyoh-doh-SEE-yuh."
8. Feodotiya (Феодотия): Means "given by God." A gift, literally.
9. Feona (Феона): Means "of God." Simple and serene.
10. Filareta (Филарета): Means "lover of virtue." A nice thing to grow into.
11. Filitsata (Филицата): The Russian form of Felicitas — means "happiness," basically built-in.
12. Filoteya (Филотея): Means "friend of God." Sweet and quietly powerful.
13. Fotina (Фотина): Means "light," after Saint Photine, the woman at the well.
14. Emiliana (Эмилиана): Means "eager" or "industrious," the fuller form of a name you already know.
15. Iulianiya (Иулиания): The full Orthodox form of Ulyana, meaning "youthful," after Saint Juliana. Pronounced "yoo-lee-AH-nee-yuh."
16. Iustina (Иустина): Means "just" or "fair" — the formal cousin of a name you already know.
17. Iya (Ия): Means "violet." Tiny name, big charm.
18. Kiriakiya (Кириакия): Means "of the Lord," traditionally given to Sunday-born babies.
19. Krasava (Красава): Old Slavic, literally means "beauty." On the nose and we love it.
20. Krasomila (Красомила): Means "beautiful and dear," Old Slavic through and through.
21. Lyubomila (Любомила): Means "loving and dear." A total heart-name.
22. Malusha (Малуша): A real historic name — mother of Vladimir the Great, no less.
23. Melaniya (Мелания): Meaning "dark" or "black-haired," after Saint Melania the Younger, and still used by Orthodox families today. Softens nicely to Lyalya. Pronounced "meh-LAH-nee-yuh."
24. Melitina (Мелитина): A gentle, lesser-known saint's name.
25. Paraskeva (Параскева): Meaning "Friday" or "preparation," named for a beloved early Christian martyr. Historically shortened to the very grandma-core Praskovya. Pronounced "pah-rah-SKYEH-vuh."
26. Perpetuya (Перпетуя): Means "perpetual" — a devoted early martyr saint's name.
27. Predslava (Предслава): An ancient royal name meaning roughly "before glory."
28. Ripsimiya (Рипсимия): Honors an early Christian martyr. Bold and rare.
29. Rogneda (Рогнеда): A genuine Kievan Rus' princess. Extremely main-character.
30. Sinklitikiya (Синклитикия): After a real desert mother and saint. A serious history flex.
31. Sofroniya (Софрония): Means "wise" or "prudent." An old soul from day one.
32. Susanna (Сусанна): Biblical, timeless, means "lily."
33. Tsveta (Цвета): Means "flower" or "color." Short, punchy, pretty.
34. Vassa (Васса): Means "desert." Short, striking, unforgettable.
35. Vlasiya (Власия): The feminine form of Saint Blaise's name.
36. Voislava (Воислава): Means "warrior's glory." Not messing around.
37. Yarina (Ярина): A softer Ukrainian-Russian form of Irina.
38. Yaroslavna (Ярославна): A poetic, literary form — straight out of Russia's oldest epic poem.
39. Yevgeniya (Евгения): Meaning "noble" or "well-born," honoring Saint Eugenia. She'll probably go by Zhenya. Pronounced "yev-GYEH-nee-yuh."

What's the most beautiful Russian girl name?

Beauty's obviously subjective, but we've rounded up the Russian girl names we think sound (and mean) the most gorgeous. Quick heads-up before you scroll: you'll spot a few names ending in -ovna or -evna (like Aleksandrovna or Nikolaevna) in here — these are technically patronymics, not first names. We kept them in because they're stunning and people search for them constantly, but skip to our patronymics section near the end if you want the full breakdown.

1. Adriana (Адриана): Means "from Adria." Effortlessly elegant.
2. Afanasiia (Афанасия): Means "immortal." Goes by Fanya for short. Pronounced "ah-fah-NAH-see-yuh."
3. Agafya (Агафья): Means "good" or "noble." Nickname: Agasha. Pronounced "ah-GAHF-yuh."
4. Agata (Агата): Means "virtuous." Pronounced "ah-GAH-tuh."
5. Aglaya (Аглая): Means "splendor" or "shining one," named after Aglaea, one of the Three Graces in Greek mythology (we love a mythological flex). Nickname: Glasha. Pronounced "ah-GLAH-yuh."
6. Agnia (Агния): Means "pure." Pronounced "AHG-nee-yuh."
7. Agrafena (Аграфена): Means "born feet-first" — iconic entrance, honestly. Often shortened to the famous Grushenka. Pronounced "ah-gruh-FYEH-nuh."
8. Akilina (Акилина): Means "eagle." Nickname: Lina. Pronounced "ah-kee-LEE-nuh."
9. Aleksandrovna (Александровна): A patronymic meaning "daughter of Aleksandr," usually paired with a first name rather than standing alone. Pronounced "ah-lek-SAHN-drov-nuh."
10. Alla (Алла): Means "ascend." Short, punchy, done.
11. Anfisa (Анфиса): Means "flowering." Nickname: Fisa. Pronounced "ahn-FEE-suh."
12. Angelina (Ангелина): Means "angel." Pretty self-explanatory.
13. Anika (Аника): Means "grace." Pronounced "ah-NEE-kuh."
14. Anitchka (Аничка): A diminutive of Anna, also meaning "grace." Pronounced "ah-NEECH-kuh."
15. Anoushka (Анушка): Another Anna diminutive, also "grace." Pronounced "ah-NOOSH-kuh."
16. Antonina (Антонина): Means "beyond praise" — we stan the confidence. Nickname: Tonya. Pronounced "ahn-toh-NEE-nuh."
17. Anzhelika (Анжелика): Means "angel." Nickname: Lika. Pronounced "ahn-zheh-LEE-kuh."
18. Avdotya (Авдотья): Means "good." Nickname: Dunya. Pronounced "ahv-DOHT-yuh."
19. Beatrisa (Беатриса): The Russian spin on Beatrice — means "she who brings happiness."
20. Bronya (Броня): Means "armor," which is genuinely a great thing to name a newborn who's about to enter toddlerhood. Pronounced "BROH-nyuh."
21. Dariya (Дария): Means "one who is good." Nickname: Dasha. Pronounced "DAHR-ee-yuh."
22. Dina (Дина): Means "judgment." Short and confident.
23. Dominika (Доминика): Means "born on Sunday." Pronounced "doh-mee-NEE-kuh."
24. Elena (Елена): Means "shining light." Nickname: Lena. Pronounced "yeh-LYEH-nuh."
25. Ellada (Эллада): Poetically means "Greece" itself. Dramatic and gorgeous.
26. Emma (Эмма): Means "whole." Universally loved for a reason.
27. Esfir (Есфирь): Means "star." Nickname: Fira. Pronounced "yes-FEER."
28. Evelina (Эвелина): Means "life." Nickname: Lina. Pronounced "eh-veh-LEE-nuh."
29. Evgeniya (Евгения): Means "noble." Nickname: Zhenya. Pronounced "yev-GYEH-nee-yuh."
30. Faina (Фаина): Means "shining." Nickname: Faya. Pronounced "fah-EE-nuh."
31. Galina (Галина): Means "healer." Nickname: Galya. Pronounced "gah-LEE-nuh."
32. Grusha (Груша): Means "majestic." Pronounced "GROO-shuh."
33. Helina (Хелина): Means "light of the sun." Pronounced "kheh-LEE-nuh."
34. Inessa (Инесса): Means "pure." Nickname: Ines. Pronounced "ee-NEH-suh."
35. Inna (Инна): Means "stream." Pronounced "EE-nuh."
36. Isabel (Изабель): Means "God is my oath." Familiar and elegant.
37. Iskra (Искра): Means "spark," which is honestly maybe the most accurate baby name on this entire list. Pronounced "EES-kruh."
38. Ivanovna (Иваньевна): A patronymic meaning "daughter of Ivan." Pronounced "ee-VAH-nov-nuh."
39. Izolda (Изолда): Means "ice battle" — very extra, very iconic. Pronounced "ee-ZOHL-duh."
40. Jelena (Елена): Means "deer." Nickname: Lena. Pronounced "yeh-LYEH-nuh."
41. Kapitolina (Капитоли́на): Means "big-headed," named after Rome's Capitoline Hill (not an insult, promise). Nickname: Kapa. Pronounced "kah-pee-toh-LEE-nuh."
42. Katia (Катя): Means "pure." Heads up — this one's already a nickname (for Yekaterina), but plenty of women rock it as their full, official name too. Pronounced "KAHT-yuh."
43. Katjusha (Катюша): Means "little pure one," a classic diminutive of Yekaterina. Pronounced "kuh-TYOO-shuh."
44. Katya (Ка́тя): Means "perfect" or "pure." Pronounced "KAHT-yuh."
45. Kavya (Кавья): Means "poem." Pronounced "KAHV-yuh."
46. Klara (Клара): Means "light." Classic, clean, no notes.
47. Klavdiya (Кла́вдия): Means "lame," which, sure, isn't the cutest meaning on this list, but the name itself is gorgeous. Nickname: Klava. Pronounced "KLAHV-dee-yuh."
48. Klementina (Клементина): Means "merciful." Pronounced "kleh-men-TEE-nuh."
49. Kristina (Кристина): Means "follower of Christ."
50. Ksana (Ксана): Means "praise to God." Also doubles as a nickname for Kseniya or Aleksandra. Pronounced "KSAH-nuh."
51. Kseniya (Ксения): Means "foreigner." Nickname: Ksyusha. Pronounced "KSEH-nee-yuh."
52. Lada (Лада): Means "love." Short and sweet.
53. Larisa (Лариса): Means "citadel." Nickname: Lara. Pronounced "luh-REE-suh."
54. Lelyah (Лелия): Means "holy." Pronounced "LYEH-lyuh."
55. Lena (Лена): Means "ray of light." Already a go-to nickname for Elena, but stands on its own too. Pronounced "LYEH-nuh."
56. Lia (Лия): Means "weary" — relatable, honestly, given the whole newborn situation. Pronounced "LEE-yuh."
57. Lidiya (Лидия): Means "woman from Lydia." Nickname: Lida. Pronounced "LEE-dee-yuh."
58. Liliya (Лилия): Means "lily." Nickname: Lilya. Pronounced "LEE-lee-yuh."
59. Lucya (Люся): Means "light," a nickname for Lyudmila. Pronounced "LOO-syuh."
60. Luda (Люда): Means "love of the people," already a nickname of Lyudmila in its own right. Pronounced "LOO-duh."
61. Ludmila (Людмила): Means "love of the people." Goes by Luda or Milochka. Pronounced "lyood-MEE-luh."
62. Lyubov (Любовь): Means "love," about as direct as a name gets. Nickname: Lyuba. Pronounced "lyoo-BOHF."
63. Manya (Маня): Means "rebellious," a nickname for Mariya with attitude built right in. Pronounced "MAHN-yuh."
64. Margarita (Маргарита): Means "pearl."
65. Margosha (Маргоша): Also means "pearl," already a nickname of Margarita. Pronounced "mahr-GOH-shuh."
66. Marina (Марина): Means "from the sea."
67. Marinochka (Мариночка): A sweet diminutive of Marina, also "from the sea." Pronounced "muh-REE-nuch-kuh."
68. Marta (Марта): Means "lady."
69. Matrona (Матрона): Means "lady" too. Nickname: Motya. Pronounced "muh-TROH-nuh."
70. Maya (Майя): Means "gracious."
71. Mikhailovna (Михайловна): A patronymic meaning "daughter of Mikhail." Pronounced "mee-khah-EE-lov-nuh."
72. Mila (Мила): Means "gracious," and yes, extremely on-trend right now.
73. Mischa (Миша): Means "who is like God." Usually a boys' nickname (for Mikhail), but hey, names don't have rules anymore. Pronounced "MEE-shuh."
74. Natalya (Наталья): Means "birthday." Goes by Natasha. Pronounced "nuh-TAHL-yuh."
75. Natasha (Наташа): Means "born on Christmas Day," and it's already a beloved nickname for Natalya in its own right. Pronounced "nuh-TAH-shuh."
76. Nika (Ника): Means "victory." Pronounced "NEE-kuh."
77. Nikita (Никита): Also means "victory," usually more common as a boys' name, but not exclusively. Pronounced "nee-KEE-tuh."
78. Nikolaevna (Николаевна): A patronymic meaning "daughter of Nikolai." Pronounced "nee-koh-LAH-yev-nuh."
79. Nina (Нина): Means "grace."
80. Ninotchka (Ниночка): A diminutive of Nina, meaning "favor." Pronounced "nee-NOHCH-kuh."
81. Oksana (Оксана): Means "praise to God." Nickname: Ksyusha. Pronounced "ohk-SAH-nuh."
82. Olegovna (Олеговна): A patronymic meaning "daughter of Oleg." Pronounced "oh-LYEH-gov-nuh."
83. Olien (Олиен): Means "dear one."
84. Olya (Оля): Means "follower of God," and already a nickname of Olga in her own right. Pronounced "OHL-yuh."
85. Rada (Рада): Means "happy." Can't argue with that.
86. Radinka (Радинка): Means "counsel." Pronounced "rah-DEEN-kuh."
87. Raisa (Раи́са): Means "relaxed" — the goal, honestly. Nickname: Raya. Pronounced "rah-EE-suh."
88. Renata (Рената): Means "born again."
89. Roksana (Роксана): Means "dawn." Pronounced "rohk-SAH-nuh."
90. Roza (Роза): Means "rose."
91. Rozaliya (Розалия): Also means "rose." Pronounced "roh-ZAH-lee-yuh."
92. Rufina (Руфина): Means "red hair." Pronounced "roo-FEE-nuh."
93. Sabina (Сабина): Means "of the Sabine people."
94. Samara (Сама́ра): Means "guardian."
95. Sanvi (Санви): Means "knowledge." Pronounced "SAHN-vee."
96. Sanya (Санья): Means "dream," and also a nickname for Aleksandra. Pronounced "SAHN-yuh."
97. Sasha (Саша): Means "defender." You already know this one — it's the everyday nickname for Aleksandra, but plenty of girls carry it as their full name too.
98. Sonechka (Сонечка): A sweet diminutive of Sofia, meaning "wisdom." Pronounced "SOH-nyech-kuh."
99. Sonya (Со́ня): Means "wisdom," already Sofia's go-to nickname, but a full name in its own right too. Pronounced "SOHN-yuh."
100. Sveta (Света): Means "holy" or "bright," already a nickname of Svetlana. Pronounced "SVYEH-tuh."
101. Svetlana (Светлана): Means "light." Goes by Sveta. Pronounced "svyet-LAH-nuh."
102. Tatiana (Татьяна): Means "fairy queen" — iconic. Nickname: Tanya. Pronounced "taht-YAH-nuh."
103. Tavisha (Тавиша): Means "heavenly." Pronounced "tuh-VEE-shuh."
104. Ulyana (Ульяна): Means "youthful."
105. Valentina (Валентина): Means "healthy" or "strong." Nickname: Valya. Pronounced "vah-len-TEE-nuh."
106. Vanka (Ва̑нка): Means "grace." Pronounced "VAHN-kuh."
107. Vasilisa (Василиса): Means "queen" or "empress," and it's a beloved classic Russian name in its own right. Pronounced "vuh-see-LEE-suh."
108. Viktoria (Виктория): Means "victory."
109. Vladimirovna (Владимировна): A patronymic meaning "daughter of Vladimir." Pronounced "vlah-DEE-mee-rov-nuh."
110. Vladlena (Владлена): Means "rule with greatness" — a Soviet-era name literally blending "Vladimir Lenin." History lesson, free of charge. Pronounced "vlahd-LYEH-nuh."
111. Yana/Jana (Яна): Means "God is gracious." Pronounced "YAH-nuh."
112. Yelizaveta (Елизавета): Means "consecrated to God." Nickname: Liza. Pronounced "yeh-lee-zah-VYEH-tuh."
113. Yevdokiya (Евдокия): Means "appear well." Nickname: Dunya or Dusya. Pronounced "yev-doh-KEE-yuh."
114. Yuliya (Юлия): Means "youthful."
115. Zhanna (Жанна): Means "God is gracious." Pronounced "ZHAH-nuh."
116. Zinaida (Зинаида): Means "like God." Nickname: Zina. Pronounced "zee-nah-EE-duh."
117. Zlata (Злата): Means "golden." Pronounced "ZLAH-tuh."
118. Zoya (Зоя): Means "life." Nickname: Zoyechka. Pronounced "ZOH-yuh."
119. Zoyechka (Зоечка): Also means "life," already a sweet diminutive of Zoya. Pronounced "zoh-YECH-kuh."

What are some rare and unique Russian girl names?

Want something your daughter won't share with three other girls in her class? We dug deeper into Russian naming history — Old Slavic folklore, obscure Orthodox saints, and a handful of genuinely modern picks — to bring you 50 more names you've almost definitely never seen on a list like this:

1. Agapiya (Агапия): Straight from the Greek agape, meaning "love." About as sweet as it gets. Pronounced "ah-GAH-pee-yuh."
2. Alevtina (Алевтина): A proper old-school Russian classic — the meaning's a little fuzzy (etymologists argue between "unanointed" and a Russified riff on Valentina), but the name itself is gorgeous. Pronounced "ah-lyev-TEE-nuh."
3. Amina (Амина): Means "trustworthy" or "honest," and it's genuinely common across Russia's Muslim communities, especially Tatarstan and the Caucasus — a good reminder that "Russian names" cover way more ground than just the Slavic classics.
4. Anisya (Анисья): Means "fulfillment," in the best possible way. Pronounced "ah-NEES-yuh."
5. Antonida (Антонида): An older, folksier cousin of Antonina, meaning "priceless." Pronounced "ahn-toh-NEE-duh."
6. Appolinariya (Аполлинария): A mouthful, sure, but it means "belonging to Apollo," so honestly, worth it. Pronounced "ah-poh-lee-NAH-ree-yuh."
7. Arkadiya (Аркадия): Means "from Arcadia" — as in the mythical, idyllic paradise. Big dreamer energy. Pronounced "ar-KAH-dee-yuh."
8. Arseniya (Арсения): The feminine form of Arseny, meaning "virile" or "courageous." We're taking "courageous" and running with it. Pronounced "ar-SEH-nee-yuh."
9. Avgusta (Августа): The Russian form of August, meaning "majestic" or "venerable." Big main-character energy. Pronounced "ahv-GOOS-tuh."
10. Bella (Белла): Simply, beautifully, "beautiful." No further notes needed.
11. Berta (Берта): Means "bright" or "famous" — manifesting on your daughter's behalf already.
12. Charitina (Харитина): From the Greek charis, meaning "graceful." Pronounced "khah-ree-TEE-nuh."
13. Cyzarine (Цизарин): Means "royalty," plain and simple. Pronounced "see-zuh-REEN."
14. Domna (Домна): Means "lady of the house," which, let's be honest, most toddlers already believe about themselves. Pronounced "DOHM-nuh."
15. Efimiya (Евфимия): Means "well-spoken" or "of good repute." Pronounced "yef-FEE-mee-yuh."
16. Efrosinia (Евфросиния): Means "joy, mirth, delight" — basically the human embodiment of a party. Pronounced "yev-fro-SEE-nee-yuh."
17. Elvira (Эльвира): Means "true" or "foreign friend." Sleek, a little dramatic, extremely usable. Pronounced "el-VEE-ruh."
18. Feofaniya (Феофания): Means "manifestation of God" — the root of "Epiphany," if you're into that kind of connection. Pronounced "fyoh-fah-NEE-yuh."
19. Feoktista (Феоктиста): Means "created by God." Pronounced "fyoh-ok-TEE-stuh."
20. Fevronia (Феврония): The meaning's genuinely uncertain, but she's the patron saint of love and marriage in Russia — Peter and Fevronia Day is basically the Russian answer to Valentine's Day. Pronounced "fyev-ROH-nee-yuh."
21. Fyokla (Фёкла): The Russian form of Thecla, meaning "God's glory." Short, punchy, and honestly kind of underrated. Pronounced "FYOH-kluh."
22. Glafira (Глафира): Means "elegant" or "refined." Pronounced "glah-FEE-ruh."
23. Goluba (Голуба): Means "dove." Rare, soft, sweet.
24. Ioanna (Иоанна): The Russian form of Joanna, meaning "God is gracious." Pronounced "ee-oh-AH-nuh."
25. Iraida (Ираида): Means "heroine" — basically a descendant of Hera herself. Pronounced "ee-rah-EE-duh."
26. Irina (Ирина): Means "peace." Nickname: Ira. Pronounced "ee-REE-nuh."
27. Kaleriya (Калерия): A warm, classic Russian name with roots meaning "warmth" or "calling." Pronounced "kah-LYEH-ree-yuh."
28. Kallista (Каллиста): From the Greek for "most beautiful." Not subtle, not sorry. Pronounced "kah-LEES-tuh."
29. Kamilla (Камилла): Means "attendant" or "temple server," and it's one of the trendier Western-style imports gaining ground in Russia right now.
30. Koroleva (Королева): Literally the word for "queen." Pronounced "kuh-ruh-LYEH-vuh."
31. Kupava (Купава): Means "water lily" — straight out of Russian folklore and opera.
32. Leyla (Лейла): Means "night," and it's a beloved name across Russia's Muslim regions, from Tatarstan to the Caucasus. Pronounced "LAY-luh."
33. Lukeriya (Лукерья): A cozy folk form of Glykeria, meaning "sweet." Pronounced "loo-KYEHR-yuh."
34. Lukiya (Лукия): Means "light." A different (and rarer) path to the same glow.
35. Lyubava (Любава): An Old Slavic fairy-tale name meaning "beloved" — straight out of Russian folklore. Pronounced "lyoo-BAH-vuh."
36. Marfa (Марфа): The Russian form of Martha, meaning "lady" or "mistress." Deeply, wonderfully old-school. Pronounced "MAHR-fuh."
37. Marianna (Марианна): A mashup of Maria and Anna — basically two icons for the price of one.
38. Miloslava (Милослава): An Old Slavic compound meaning "dear glory." Pronounced "mee-loh-SLAH-vuh."
39. Nonna (Нонна): Traditionally given to a ninth child, meaning "nine." Great if your family's getting... ambitious.
40. Poliksena (Поликсена): An ancient Greek-Russian name with serious mythology cred.
41. Praskovya (Прасковья): Means "Friday," and it's the classic standalone form of Paraskeva above — total grandma-chic energy, in the best way. Pronounced "prahs-KOH-vyuh."
42. Printsessa (принцесса): Literally the word for "princess." Pronounced "preen-TSEH-suh."
43. Serafima (Серафима): Means "the burning ones," after the seraphim — fiery, passionate, not messing around. Pronounced "seh-rah-FEE-muh."
44. Snezhana (Снежана): Means "snow." Total Snow White vibes, minus the poisoned apple. Pronounced "snyeh-ZHAH-nuh."
45. Stanislava (Станислава): The feminine form of Stanislav, meaning "to become glorious." Pronounced "stah-nee-SLAH-vuh."
46. Stratonika (Стратоника): A rare Greek-Orthodox import, historically used across Russia.
47. Ustinya (Устинья): A folk form of Justina, meaning "just" or "fair." Pronounced "oo-STEEN-yuh."
48. Vasilida (Василида): "Queenly," in the rarest possible spelling.
49. Vasilina (Василина): Means "royal" or "kingly" — basically Vasilisa's understated cousin. Pronounced "vah-see-LEE-nuh."
50. Vesna (Весна): Means "spring," the season of new beginnings — pretty perfect for a new baby.
51. Vlada (Влада): Short, sharp, and it means "to rule." No middle ground with this one.
52. Vladislava (Владислава): The feminine form of Vladislav, meaning "to rule with glory." Pronounced "vlah-dee-SLAH-vuh."
53. Vsemila (Всемила): Means "dear to all." Everybody's favorite, basically by name.
54. Yagoda (Ягода): Literally means "berry." A fun, sweet word-name nobody else will have.
55. Yaromila (Яромила): An Old Slavic compound roughly meaning "fierce and dear." Pronounced "yah-roh-MEE-luh."
56. Yasemin (Жасмин): Means "gift from God."
57. Yesenia (Есения): A genuinely modern Russian name, inspired by the poet Sergei Yesenin and loosely tied to the word for "autumn." Very of-the-moment. Pronounced "yeh-SEH-nee-yuh."
58. Yevlampiya (Евлампия): Means "shining well" or "radiant." Pronounced "yev-lahm-PEE-yuh."
59. Zabava (Забава): Means "amusement" or "fun" — an Old Slavic fairy-tale name straight out of Russian folk epics (bylini, if you want to sound fancy at parties). Pronounced "zah-BAH-vuh."
60. Zarema (Зарема): Means "golden dawn" — a stunner popular across the Caucasus and beyond.
61. Zarina (Зарина): Means "golden," with Persian roots but genuinely used across Russia. Pronounced "zah-REE-nuh."
62. Zhdana (Ждана): An Old Slavic name meaning "long-awaited" — perfect if this baby took a minute (or several years) to arrive. Pronounced "ZHDAH-nuh."
63. Zoreslava (Зореслава): A modern Old Slavic revival meaning "glory of the dawn" — basically Miroslava's stylish younger sister. Pronounced "zoh-reh-SLAH-vuh."
64. Zvezda (Звезда): Means "star," full stop. A bold, poetic word-name if you want something that means exactly what it says. Pronounced "zvyez-DAH."

## What are modern Russian girl names?

Not every mama-to-be wants something out of a history book (respect either way). Naming trends move in Russia just like anywhere else, and right now the country's official birth records have Sofia, Eva, and Anna holding it down at the top — names you'll already recognize from our top 10 up above.

But there's also a real appetite for something a little less expected: Old Slavic names getting a glow-up, plus Western imports sneaking into Russian nurseries. Here's what's actually trending:

1. Alisiya (Алисия): A trendy modern spelling on the rise.
2. Alsu (Алсу): A modern Tatar-Russian favorite, thanks in part to a certain famous pop star.
3. Ameliya (Амелия): The Russian take on Amelia, meaning "work" or "industrious." A Western import that's climbing fast.
4. Anzhela (Анжела): A softer, more modern take on "angel" than the formal version.
5. Ariana (Ариана): Means "most holy," and it's picking up serious steam with younger Russian parents.
6. Bogdana (Богдана): Means "God-given," from bog (god) and dana (given). Pronounced "bug-DAH-nuh."
7. Darina (Дарина): A softer, modern spin on Daria, usually understood to mean "gift." Goes by Dasha. Pronounced "duh-REE-nuh."
8. Emiliya (Эмилия): The Russian form of Emily or Emilia, meaning "eager" or "rival."
9. Ilona (Илона): Elegant, a little European, increasingly popular.
10. Lepota (Лепота): Old Russian for "beauty" — a rare word-name having a comeback.
11. Liana (Лиана): Means "to bind" or "vine." Trendy and pretty.
12. Mir (мир): Means "peace," full stop.
13. Miroslava (Мирослава): A gorgeous Old Slavic revival name meaning "peaceful glory" — from mir (peace) and slava (glory). Goes by Mira. Pronounced "mee-ruh-SLAH-vuh."
14. Nadeyatsya (надеяться): The Russian verb "to hope" itself — not a traditional given name, but a lovely word to draw inspiration from.
15. Novomira (Новомира): Means "new world" or "new peace" — a modern coined name with big optimism baked in.
16. Siyana (Сияна): Means "shining" or "radiant." Simple, modern, glowing.
17. Vesela (Весела): Means "cheerful." Sets the mood before she's even said a word.
18. Vesnyanka (Веснянка): A nature-name riff on "spring" — fresh and current.
19. Yaromira (Яромира): Means "fierce peace" — soft power at its finest.
20. Yaroslava (Ярослава): The feminine form of Yaroslav, meaning "fierce and glorious" or "glory of spring." Pronounced "yuh-ruh-SLAH-vuh."
21. Zaria (Зария): Sun-and-dawn energy, sleek and current.
22. Zaya (Зая): A cute, modern short name — colloquially doubles as "bunny."
23. Zimoslava (Зимослава): Means "winter's glory" — a striking modern coinage for a winter baby.
24. Zorina (Зорина): Means "dawn." Bright, current, easy to say.
25. Zlatomira (Златомира): Part of the big Old Slavic revival trend — means "golden peace."

What are Russian patronymics (middle names)?

Quick cultural detour before we wrap up: Russians traditionally roll with three names, not two — a first name, a patronymic, and a family surname. The patronymic sits in the middle, and it's literally built from dad's first name.

For a daughter, you tack on -ovna or -evna. Dad's Aleksandr? She's Aleksandrovna. Dad's Nikolai? Nikolaevna. Dad's Vladimir? Vladimirovna. You'll spot a bunch of these hiding in our "most beautiful" list above (Aleksandrovna, Ivanovna, Mikhailovna, Nikolaevna, Olegovna, Vladimirovna) — they're gorgeous, and people search for them constantly, but they're technically middle names, not first names, and they only really make sense once you know who dad is.

It's a sweet system if you like the idea of your baby's full name literally shouting out her dad — just maybe not one to pick solo, the way you would a first name.

What are Russian nicknames for girls?

Okay, mama, this is the fun part. Russian is famous for stacking up layers of nicknames for every single name, and they're not just shortened versions — each one has its own vibe, from "we're besties" casual to "your grandma's pet name for you" soft.

Here's the general breakdown, so nothing catches you off guard at pickup:

• The formal name goes on the birth certificate (and gets used with teachers, doctors, anyone official). Think Yekaterina, Aleksandra, Mariya.
• The everyday nickname is what everyone actually calls her, day to day. Think Katya, Sasha, Masha.
• The diminutive (aka the "I love you so much" version) is extra-soft and extra-cute, usually made by tacking on endings like ochka, echka, enka, or usha. Think Katyusha, Sashenka, Mashenka.

We tucked each name's everyday nickname right into its entry above, so if you scrolled fast, go back and peek — there's probably a cute one attached to your favorite.

Fun fact: it's totally normal for a Russian woman to be introduced by her nickname first, and you might not learn her "official" name for months. So if you're picking a Russian name for your baby, make sure you actually love the nickname too — chances are, that's the one she'll answer to.

How do you pronounce Russian girl names?

Russian pronunciation looks intimidating on paper, but it's genuinely more logical than it seems — and we've already tucked a phonetic pronunciation into every tricky name's entry above, right where you need it. Here's the cheat sheet those respellings are built on:

• Stress matters. A lot. Russian words have one syllable that gets said louder and longer than the rest, and it can land almost anywhere in the word. We capitalized the stressed syllable in every pronunciation above to help.
• "zh" sounds like the "s" in "pleasure" or "treasure."
• "kh" is a rasp from the back of the throat, like the Scottish "loch."
• "ts" is one sound, like the "ts" in "cats."
• "y" before a vowel (as in ya, ye, yu, yo) softens the sound instead of being its own syllable.

And don't stress too hard about nailing it perfectly — Russian speakers are used to non-native speakers giving it their best shot, and a warm, confident attempt always lands better than an anxious one. 😊

Which of our Russian baby girl names is your favorite? Come tell the other mamas of Peanut — we're dying to know.