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Russian boy names: 100+ names with meanings and nicknames

103 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Classic Russian boy names include Mikhail (who is like God?), Aleksandr (defender of men) and Ivan (God is gracious), each with a familiar short form such as Misha, Sasha or Vanya. In 2025, Mikhail was the most popular boys' name in Moscow (2,546 babies), ahead of Aleksandr (2,408) and Lev (1,793), according to Moscow's registry office, and it led across Russia too.

Below are 100+ Russian boys' names and nicknames, each with its meaning, language of origin, common diminutive and a simple pronunciation where English speakers may stumble. Sections cover classic names, biblical names, Greek and Latin names, Slavic and Old Norse names, storybook names and the nicknames Russians use every day. We list names whose meaning is well established and say probably where it is less certain.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Denis (Денис)

    Of Dionysus; Greek Dionysios. Diminutive Deniska. Say dyeh-NEES

  • Pavel (Павел)

    Small; Latin Paulus. Diminutive Pasha. Say PAH-vyel

  • Styopa (Стёпа)

    Short for Stepan: crown, wreath; Greek

  • Roman (Роман)

    From Rome; Latin Romanus. Diminutive Roma. Say rah-MAHN

  • Artyom (Артём)

    Dedicated to Artemis; Greek. Diminutive Tyoma. Say ar-TYOM

  • Eduard (Эдуард)

    Guardian of prosperity; Old English Eadweard. Diminutive Edik

Russian name builder

Pick a first name, the father's name and a family name. The builder makes the patronymic and the right form of the surname, then shows the name in Cyrillic and three Latin spellings, and the way family, friends and officials would say it.

The name

In RussianМихаил Иванович Петров
Usual English spellingMikhail Ivanovich Petrov
BGN/PCGN (maps and references)Mikhail Ivanovich Petrov
Passport (ICAO, since 2013)MIKHAIL IVANOVICH PETROV

Ivanovich means son of Ivan. Petrov first meant Pyotr's.

How people say it

Polite: name and patronymicМихаил ИвановичMikhail Ivanovich
Spoken, among people who know himМихаил ИванычMikhail Ivanych
In documents and lists: surname firstПетров Михаил ИвановичPetrov Mikhail Ivanovich
Family and friendsМишаMisha
Affectionate, for children and close friendsМишенькаMishenka
Familiar -ka form: can sound rudeМишкаMishka

Find a Russian boy name on this page

Narrow 103 names by how common they were for US boys in 2025, by section, length or first letter, or search the meanings.

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Classic Russian boy names

Names that have stayed in use for centuries. Capital letters in the pronunciation mark the stressed syllable. We use the familiar English spelling where one exists.

  1. Aleksandr (Александр) Moscow #2: Defender of men; Greek. Diminutives Sasha and Shura. Say ah-lyek-SAHNDR
  2. Dmitri (Дмитрий): Devoted to Demeter; Greek. Diminutive Dima. Say DMEE-tree
  3. Nikolai (Николай) US #605: Victory of the people; Greek. Diminutive Kolya. Say nee-kah-LIE
  4. Andrei (Андрей): Manly; Greek andreios. Diminutive Andryusha. Say ahn-DRAY
  5. Alexei (Алексей): Defender, helper; Greek. Diminutives Alyosha and Lyosha. Say ah-lyek-SAY
  6. Pyotr (Пётр): Stone, rock; Greek petros. Diminutive Petya. Say PYOH-tr
  7. Fyodor (Фёдор): Gift of God; Greek Theodoros. Diminutive Fedya. Say FYOH-dar
  8. Yuri (Юрий): Farmer; Greek, a Russian form of George. Diminutive Yura
  9. Vasily (Василий): Royal, kingly; Greek basileios. Diminutive Vasya. Say vah-SEE-lee
  10. Grigory (Григорий): Watchful; Greek gregorios. Diminutive Grisha. Say gree-GOH-ree
  11. Yevgeny (Евгений): Well-born, noble; Greek. Diminutive Zhenya. Say yev-GYEH-nee
  12. Lev (Лев) Moscow #3: Lion, the Russian word itself. Diminutive Lyova. Say LYEF
  13. Konstantin (Константин): Constant, steadfast; Latin. Diminutive Kostya. Say kahn-stahn-TEEN
  14. Pavel (Павел): Small; Latin Paulus. Diminutive Pasha. Say PAH-vyel
  15. Mark (Марк) Moscow #5 US #245: Probably of Mars; Latin Marcus. No. 5 in Moscow in 2025. Say MARK

Biblical Russian boy names

Hebrew and Aramaic names that reached Russia through the Orthodox Church.

  1. Ivan (Иван) Moscow #6 US #163: God is gracious; Hebrew, the Russian John. Diminutive Vanya. Say ee-VAHN
  2. Mikhail (Михаил) Moscow #1: Who is like God?; Hebrew. Diminutive Misha. Say mee-khah-EEL
  3. Ilya (Илья): My God is Yahweh; Hebrew Elijah. Diminutive Ilyusha. Say eel-YAH
  4. Daniil (Даниил): God is my judge; Hebrew Daniel. Diminutive Danya. Say dah-nee-EEL
  5. Matvei (Матвей) Moscow #7: Gift of God; Hebrew, the Russian Matthew. Diminutive Motya. Say maht-VAY
  6. Yakov (Яков): Holder of the heel, in Genesis; Hebrew Jacob. Diminutive Yasha
  7. Semyon (Семён): Hearing, listening; Hebrew Simeon. Diminutive Syoma. Say syeh-MYOHN
  8. Zakhar (Захар): God remembers; Hebrew Zechariah. Familiar form Zakharka. Say zah-KHAR
  9. Iosif (Иосиф): He will add; Hebrew, the Russian Joseph. Diminutive Osya
  10. Osip (Осип): Folk form of Joseph: he will add; Hebrew. Diminutive Osya
  11. Foma (Фома): Twin; Aramaic, the Russian Thomas. Familiar form Fomka, also slang for a crowbar

Russian boy names from Greek

Greek saints' names that became everyday Russian names, often with a very Russian nickname.

  1. Artyom (Артём) Moscow #8: Dedicated to Artemis; Greek. Diminutive Tyoma. Say ar-TYOM
  2. Kirill (Кирилл): Lordly; Greek kyrios, lord. Diminutive Kiryusha. Say kee-REEL
  3. Timofei (Тимофей) Moscow #10: Honoring God; Greek Timotheos. Diminutives Tima and Timosha
  4. Yegor (Егор): Farmer; Russian folk form of Georgy. Familiar form Yegorka. Say yeh-GOR
  5. Georgy (Георгий): Farmer; Greek georgos, the Russian George. Diminutive Zhora
  6. Leonid (Леонид): Son of the lion; Greek. Diminutive Lyonya. Say lyeh-ah-NEET
  7. Nikita (Никита): Victor, winner; Greek Niketas. Familiar form Nikitka. Say nee-KEE-tah
  8. Denis (Денис): Of Dionysus; Greek Dionysios. Diminutive Deniska. Say dyeh-NEES
  9. Arseny (Арсений): Manly, virile; Greek arsenios. Diminutive Senya. Say ar-SYEH-nee
  10. Arkady (Аркадий): From Arcadia, a region of Greece. Diminutive Arkasha
  11. Gennady (Геннадий): Noble, generous; Greek gennadas. Diminutive Gena. Say gyeh-NAH-dee
  12. Anatoly (Анатолий): Sunrise, east; Greek anatole. Diminutive Tolya. Say ah-nah-TOH-lee
  13. Filipp (Филипп): Lover of horses; Greek. Diminutive Filipok, as in Tolstoy's story

Russian male names from Latin and English

Roman names that came through the Church, plus one Old English name long used in Russia.

  1. Roman (Роман) Moscow #9 US #42: From Rome; Latin Romanus. Diminutive Roma. Say rah-MAHN
  2. Valentin (Валентин) US #660: Strong, healthy; Latin valens. Diminutive Valya. Say vah-lyen-TEEN
  3. Valery (Валерий): To be strong; Latin valere. Diminutive Valera. Say vah-LYEH-ree
  4. Viktor (Виктор): Conqueror, winner; Latin. Diminutive Vitya
  5. Vitaly (Виталий): Of life, vital; Latin vitalis. Diminutive Vitya. Say vee-TAH-lee
  6. Maksim (Максим) Moscow #4: Greatest; Latin Maximus. Diminutive Maks. Say mahk-SEEM
  7. Venedikt (Венедикт): Blessed; Latin Benedictus. Diminutive Venya
  8. Kliment (Климент): Merciful; Latin clemens. Short form Klim
  9. Innokenty (Иннокентий): Innocent; Latin innocens. Diminutive Kesha. Say ee-nah-KYEN-tee
  10. Eduard (Эдуард): Guardian of prosperity; Old English Eadweard. Diminutive Edik

Slavic and Old Norse boy names

Most were names of the princes of early Rus. Oleg, Igor and Gleb came with Norse (Varangian) settlers; Svyatoslav was the first ruler with a Slavic name.

  1. Vladimir (Владимир): Famous ruler; Slavic, popularly read as 'rules the world'. Diminutive Volodya
  2. Yaroslav (Ярослав): Fierce glory; Slavic. Diminutive Slava. Say yah-rah-SLAHF
  3. Vyacheslav (Вячеслав): Greater glory; Slavic. Diminutive Slava. Say vyah-cheh-SLAHF
  4. Stanislav (Станислав): Becomes glorious; Slavic. Diminutive Stas. Say stah-nee-SLAHF
  5. Vladislav (Владислав): Rules with glory; Slavic. Diminutives Vlad and Vladik
  6. Svyatoslav (Святослав): Holy glory; Slavic, borne by medieval Kyiv princes. Diminutive Slava
  7. Bogdan (Богдан): Given by God; Slavic. Diminutive Bodya (mainly Ukrainian). Say bahg-DAHN
  8. Vsevolod (Всеволод): Rules over all; Slavic. Diminutive Seva. Say FSYEH-vah-laht
  9. Rostislav (Ростислав): Growing glory; Slavic. Diminutive Rostik
  10. Miroslav (Мирослав): Glorious in peace; Slavic. Diminutive Slava
  11. Mstislav (Мстислав): Vengeance and glory; Slavic, a princely name. Diminutive Mstisha
  12. Oleg (Олег): Holy, blessed; Old Norse Helgi. Diminutive Olezhka. Say ah-LYEK
  13. Igor (Игорь): From Norse Yngvarr: the god Yngvi plus warrior. Diminutive Garik. Say EE-gar
  14. Gleb (Глеб): Heir of God; Old Norse Gudleifr. Diminutive Glebushka

Old-fashioned and storybook Russian boy names

Names from village life, fairy tales and classic literature that are back in fashion with some parents.

  1. Afanasy (Афанасий): Immortal; Greek athanasios. Diminutive Afonya. Say ah-fah-NAH-see
  2. Prokhor (Прохор): Leader of the dance; Greek Prochoros. Diminutive Prosha
  3. Tikhon (Тихон): Lucky, fortunate; Greek tyche, fortune. Diminutive Tisha
  4. Kuzma (Кузьма): Order, world; Greek Kosmas. Diminutive Kuzya. Say kooz-MAH
  5. Makar (Макар): Blessed, happy; Greek makarios. Familiar form Makarka. Say mah-KAR
  6. Yefim (Ефим): Cheerful, good-spirited; Greek Euthymios. Diminutive Fima. Say yeh-FEEM
  7. Platon (Платон): Broad-shouldered; Greek, the Russian Plato. Diminutive Tosha
  8. Stepan (Степан): Crown, wreath; Greek stephanos. Diminutive Styopa. Say styeh-PAHN
  9. Ruslan (Руслан): Probably lion, from Turkic arslan via the folk hero Yeruslan; made famous by Pushkin's poem (1820). Diminutive Rusya
  10. Timur (Тимур): Iron; Turkic temir. Diminutive Tima. Say tee-MOOR
  11. Danila (Данила): Folk form of Daniil: God is my judge; Hebrew. Diminutive Danya

Russian nicknames that work as names

Short forms so familiar that many are now used as given names outside Russia. In the US, Sasha, Misha and Vanya are now given mostly to girls.

  1. Sasha (Саша): Short for Aleksandra or Aleksandr: defender of men; Greek
  2. Misha (Миша): Short for Mikhail: who is like God?; Hebrew
  3. Kostya (Костя): Short for Konstantin: constant, steadfast; Latin
  4. Vanya (Ваня): Short for Ivan: God is gracious; Hebrew
  5. Dima (Дима): Short for Dmitri: devoted to Demeter; Greek
  6. Pasha (Паша): Short for Pavel: small; Latin
  7. Petya (Петя): Short for Pyotr: stone, rock; Greek
  8. Fedya (Федя): Short for Fyodor: gift of God; Greek
  9. Yasha (Яша): Short for Yakov, the Russian Jacob; Hebrew
  10. Slava (Слава): Glory; short for names like Vyacheslav and Yaroslav; Slavic
  11. Grisha (Гриша): Short for Grigory: watchful; Greek
  12. Kolya (Коля): Short for Nikolai: victory of the people; Greek

More Russian pet names for boys

The forms friends and family use every day. Endings like -enka and -ushka (Sashenka, Vanyushka) make them warmer, while a -ka ending (Sashka, Vanka) is familiar and can sound rude to an adult.

  1. Lyosha (Лёша): Short for Alexei: defender, helper; Greek
  2. Vitya (Витя): Short for Viktor, conqueror, or Vitaly, of life; Latin
  3. Tolya (Толя): Short for Anatoly: sunrise, east; Greek
  4. Seva (Сева): Short for Vsevolod: rules over all; Slavic
  5. Styopa (Стёпа): Short for Stepan: crown, wreath; Greek
  6. Tyoma (Тёма): Short for Artyom: dedicated to Artemis; Greek
  7. Yura (Юра): Short for Yuri: farmer; Greek
  8. Volodya (Володя): Short for Vladimir: famous ruler; Slavic
  9. Vova (Вова): Playful short form of Vladimir: famous ruler; Slavic
  10. Gosha (Гоша): Short for Georgy, farmer; also used for Igor
  11. Lyova (Лёва): Short for Lev: lion; Russian
  12. Kesha (Кеша): Short for Innokenty: innocent; Latin
  13. Zhenya (Женя): Short for Yevgenia or Yevgeny: well-born, noble; Greek
  14. Senya (Сеня): Short for Arseny, manly, or Semyon, hearing
  15. Shura (Шура): Short for Aleksandr or Aleksandra: defender of men; Greek
  16. Tima (Тима): Short for Timofei, honoring God, or Timur, iron
  17. Vlad (Влад): Short for Vladislav or Vladimir: rule; Slavic

How to pick the right name

Love the nickname too

Russians rarely use the full name day to day. Aleksandr becomes Sasha and Mikhail becomes Misha, so make sure the short form suits your son as well as the full name.

Check the stress

Russian stress often falls where English speakers do not expect it: ee-VAHN, not EYE-van. The pronunciation in each note shows the stressed syllable in capitals.

Say it with the patronymic

A Russian full name includes a middle name formed from the father's name, such as Ivan Petrovich. If your family uses one, say the whole name aloud before you decide.

Pick one English spelling

Cyrillic can be written several ways in English, such as Dmitri or Dmitry and Alexei or Aleksei. Choose one spelling and use it on every document.

Russian boy names: 103 ideas from Nomezo

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Russian boy names: the 2025 rankings, how patronymics work, and the US gender twist

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

Mikhail was the top name for baby boys across Russia in 2025, given to 4.03% of them, ahead of Aleksandr and Artyom (Russia's Social Fund). In Moscow, Mikhail led with 2,546 babies, and Lev, the Russian word for lion, came third.

A Russian boy's name also decides his children's middle names, because a patronymic is built from the father's first name. The builder above puts first name, patronymic and surname together in Cyrillic and Latin letters, with the tender and familiar short forms.

  1. Step 1Check what parents choose nowMikhail, Aleksandr and Lev led Moscow in 2025.
  2. Step 2Build the full nameMikhail Ivanovich Petrov.
  3. Step 3Think one generation aheadPavel's children are Pavlovich and Pavlovna.
  4. Step 4Check the US gender splitSasha and Misha go mostly to US girls.

The most popular boys' names in Moscow and Russia, 2025

  • Across Russia the 2025 leaders were Mikhail (4.03% of baby boys), Aleksandr (3.56%), Artyom (3.11%), Matvei (2.68%) and Timofei (2.43%), according to Russia's Social Fund (Snob, February 6, 2026).
  • Rare picks. Moscow parents also chose old names like Prokhor (14 boys), Trofim (12) and Foma (7) in 2025 (Moscow city government).
Top 10 boys' names in Moscow, 2025
RankNameBabies in MoscowUS rank, 2025
1Mikhail2,546#21 (as Michael)
2Aleksandr2,408#30 (as Alexander)
3Lev1,793227 boys
4Maksim1,672114 boys (as Maxim)
5Mark1,515#245
6Ivan1,492#163
7Matvei1,351#32 (as Matthew)
8Artyom1,34637 boys (as Artem)
9Roman1,251#42
10Timofei1,188Fewer than 5

Sources: Moscow city government, January 2026; US Social Security Administration.

How a patronymic works

  • The rule. A son takes his father's name plus -ovich, or -evich after a soft ending: Ivan gives Ivanovich and Sergey Sergeyevich. Some names ending in a vowel take -ich, so Ilya gives Ilyich and Foka Fokich (Wikipedia).
  • One generation ahead. The name you give a son becomes his children's middle name: a boy named Pavel will have children called Pavlovich and Pavlovna, and a Lev's are Lvovich and Lvovna.
  • Polite address. Leaving out the patronymic when speaking to someone of higher standing, or at a business meeting, is considered offensive (Wikipedia).
  • Norse and Slavic roots. Oleg, Igor and Gleb came with Norse settlers, and Svyatoslav, son of Igor and Olga, was the first ruler of Kyivan Rus with a Slavic name (Behind the Name).

Russian boys' names in the US

Russian nicknames and names by sex among US babies, 2025
NameUS girlsUS boys
Sasha41447
Valery3665
Yuri13988
Vanya75Fewer than 5
Misha4911
Nikita3125

Source: US Social Security Administration. In Russia all of these are boys' names, though Sasha also shortens Aleksandra.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular boy name in Russia?

Mikhail. It was the top name for baby boys across Russia in 2025, given to 4% of them, ahead of Aleksandr and Artyom, according to Russia's Social Fund. It was also No. 1 in Moscow, with 2,546 babies.

What are common Russian nicknames for boys?

Sasha for Aleksandr, Misha for Mikhail, Dima for Dmitri, Vanya for Ivan, Kolya for Nikolai and Seryozha for Sergei are among the best known. Endings like -enka and -ushka make them warmer; a -ka ending, like Sashka, is familiar and can sound rude to an adult.

What is a strong Russian boy name?

Ruslan (lion), Timur (iron), Vsevolod (rules over all), Andrei (manly) and Yaroslav (fierce glory) all carry strong meanings.

What do Sergei, Anton and Boris mean?

Sergei and Anton come from Roman family names whose meanings are unknown, and the origin of Boris is debated. They are classic Russian names, but this list sticks to names with a well-established meaning.

What does -slav mean in Russian names?

The ending -slav comes from slava, glory. Yaroslav means fierce glory, Vyacheslav greater glory and Svyatoslav holy glory, and all of them can be shortened to Slava.

How does a Russian patronymic work for a boy?

He takes his father's first name plus -ovich, or -evich after a soft ending, so Ivan's son is Ivanovich and Sergey's son Sergeyevich. Some names add -ich, as in Ilya, Ilyich. His sisters take -ovna or -evna instead.

Is Sasha a boy's or a girl's name?

Both in Russia, where it shortens Aleksandr and Aleksandra. In the US it is now mostly a girl's name: in 2025, 414 US girls and 47 boys were named Sasha.

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