Russian Boy Names
90 russian boy names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
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A Russian boy’s name tends to land like a handshake: firm, unhurried, and slightly more formal than you expected. The classic Russian boy names here are the ones that have travelled furthest — Nikolai, the Russian form of Nicholas and a name that has never needed a trend to survive; Mikhail, the Russian Michael, with a texture the English version lost long ago; Vladimir, weighty and instantly recognizable; and Aleksandr, which gives you all the reach of Alexander with a different spine.
Then there are the short ones, and they are the reason this list surprises people. Lev means lion in Russian and is two letters short of perfect. Maxim and Maksim are punchy and modern in either spelling. Anton is the Russian form of Anthony and sounds effortlessly continental, Yuri is the Russian form of George with a space-age association attached, and Artem and Denis are common in Russia yet still genuinely rare on an American roll call. Yakov, the Russian Jacob, closes the circle.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Russian Boy Names
Nikolai#605 in the U.S.Russian form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, composed of nike ('victory') and laos ('people')▶Lev#1040 in the U.S.Heart; from Hebrew lev (heart); or lion, from Russian/Slavic lev (lion)▶Yakov#1225 in the U.S.He who supplants, follower at the heel▶Maxim#1446 in the U.S.Greatest, the greatest▶Anton#1477 in the U.S.Continental European form of Anthony, from the Roman family name Antonius, of uncertain (likely▶Denis#1639 in the U.S.From the medieval name Dionysius, ultimately from Dionysos, the Greek god of wine; Saint Denis ▶German#1652 in the U.S.from Latin Germanus meaning "brother, of the same parents"▶Yuri#1803 in the U.S.Farmer, earth-worker (Slavic form of George)▶Mikhail#1908 in the U.S.Who is like God?▶Maksim#1921 in the U.S.Greatest▶Vladimir#1947 in the U.S.To rule▶Artem#2164 in the U.S.Safe▶Sasha#2355 in the U.S.Defender of men; Russian diminutive of Alexander (Greek Alexandros: alexein to defend + aner/an▶Aleksandr#2470 in the U.S.Defender of men; the Slavic form of Alexander, from Greek Alexandros (alexein: to defend + aner▶Andrey#2590 in the U.S.Manly, masculine▶Alexei#2744 in the U.S.Helper▶Kazimir#2760 in the U.S.To destroy▶Kassian#2968 in the U.S.Empty, vain▶Pavel#3308 in the U.S.Slavic form of Paul, from Latin Paulus, 'small, humble'▶Nikita#3430 in the U.S.Russian masculine name from Greek Aniketos, 'unconquered, unconquerable'▶Dmitri#3615 in the U.S.Russian form of Demetrius — Greek Demetrios, 'devoted to Demeter', the goddess of the earth and▶Ilya#3623 in the U.S.Russian form of Elijah — Hebrew Eliyyahu, 'my God is Yahweh' — the great prophet of fire▶Yerik#3775 in the U.S.Slavic short form linked to Yeremey (Jeremiah, 'God exalts') or a Slavic-styled Erik; routes la▶Demitri#3807 in the U.S.Variant of Dmitri/Demetrius — 'devoted to Demeter', goddess of harvest▶Avenir#3888 in the U.S.From French avenir, 'the future' — also Russian Avenir, from the legendary king in the Barlaam ▶Liev#4137 in the U.S.From Yiddish/Russian Lev, 'lion' (Hebrew 'heart'; Russian Leo); routes layered▶Ustin#4260 in the U.S.Ustin is a Russian and eastern European form in the family of Justin and Justus, all from the L▶Leonid#4261 in the U.S.Russian form of Leonidas — from Greek leon, 'lion' — 'son of the lion, lion-like'▶Ilia#4343 in the U.S.Slavic/Georgian form of Elijah — Hebrew Eliyahu, 'my God is Yahweh'▶Makar#4375 in the U.S.Russian form of Macarius — from Greek makarios, 'blessed, happy'▶Ruvim#4523 in the U.S.Slavic form of Reuben — from Hebrew Reuven, 'behold, a son!'▶Artyom#4707 in the U.S.Russian form of Artemios/Artemius — from Greek artemes, 'safe, healthy, whole, vigorous' (linke▶Daniil#4721 in the U.S.Russian form of Daniel — from Hebrew Daniyyel, 'God is my judge'▶Timofey#4847 in the U.S.Russian form of Timothy — from Greek time, 'honor', plus theos, 'God' — 'honoring God; honored ▶Alexey#5052 in the U.S.Spelling of Aleksei — the Russian form of Alexis, from Greek alexo, 'to defend, to help' — 'def▶Misha#5164 in the U.S.Russian pet form of Mikhail (Michael) — from Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?'; here for boys▶Nikolay#5172 in the U.S.Russian form of Nicholas — from Greek nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people' — 'victory of the pe▶Akim#5230 in the U.S.Russian short form of Joachim (Yakim) — from Hebrew Yehoyaqim, 'God will establish; raised by Y▶Sacha#5389 in the U.S.French spelling of Sasha — a Russian pet form of Alexander/Alexandra, from Greek, 'defender of ▶Aleksei#5440 in the U.S.Russian form of Alexis — from Greek alexo, 'to defend, to help' — 'defender, helper'▶Dmitry#5487 in the U.S.The Russian form of Demetrius — from Greek, 'a follower of Demeter (the goddess of the harvest ▶Ilyan#5508 in the U.S.A modern name echoing Ilya (the Russian Elijah, 'my God is Yahweh') and Julian/Iliana ('youthfu▶Matvey#5565 in the U.S.The Russian form of Matthew — from Hebrew Mattityahu, 'gift of God; gift of Yahweh'▶Adrik#6177 in the U.S.A Russian/Slavic short form of Adrian — from Latin Hadrianus, 'a man from Hadria' (a town that ▶Zakhar#6803 in the U.S.The Russian form of Zachary/Zechariah — from Hebrew Zekharyah, 'the Lord has remembered; God re▶Vitaly#7201 in the U.S.The Russian form of Vitalis — from Latin vitalis, 'of life; vital; full of life; life-giving'▶Czar#7318 in the U.S.From the Russian title czar/tsar, 'an emperor; a sovereign ruler' (from Latin Caesar); a title/▶Dmitriy#7340 in the U.S.A Russian form of Demetrius — from Greek, 'follower/devotee of Demeter' (the goddess of the har▶Aleksi#7765 in the U.S.The Finnish and Russian short form of Alexis/Alexander, from the Greek alexein ('to defend') an▶Igor#7939 in the U.S.A Russian form of the Old Norse Ingvar — 'Ing's warrior; warrior of the god Ing' (Yngvi/Ing, a ▶Seva#8198 in the U.S.A name used in several cultures, variously the Sanskrit seva, 'selfless service; devotion', and▶Pasha#8771 in the U.S.Variously a Russian pet form of Pavel (Paul, 'small; humble', Latin) and the Turkish/Ottoman ti▶Vadim#8897 in the U.S.A Russian/Slavic name — variously linked to a root 'to rule' and 'to allege/to argue' (from Vad▶Anatoly#8998 in the U.S.A Russian form of Anatolius — from the Greek anatole, 'sunrise; the east'▶Danil#9151 in the U.S.A Russian/Slavic form of Daniel — from the Hebrew Daniyyel, 'God is my judge'▶Gennady#9269 in the U.S.Gennady is the anglicized form of the Russian Gennadiy, from the Greek gennadas, 'noble' or 'hi▶Iosif#9310 in the U.S.A Greek/Russian form of Joseph — from the Hebrew Yosef, 'God will add; He will increase'▶Kirill#9445 in the U.S.A Russian form of Cyril — from the Greek kyrios, 'lord', hence 'lordly; masterful'▶Sergei#9544 in the U.S.Sergei is the Russian form of Sergius, an old Roman (Latin) family name of uncertain deeper mea▶Saveliy#9690 in the U.S.A Russian name from Savely — variously from the Latin Sabellius (of the Sabine people) and link▶Savva#9692 in the U.S.A Russian/Greek form of Sabbas — from the Aramaic saba, 'an old man; a wise elder/sage'; borne ▶Vasili#9779 in the U.S.A Greek/Russian form of Basil — from the Greek basileios, 'kingly; royal; of a king'▶Alexandr#9910 in the U.S.A Russian/Czech form of Alexander — from the Greek Alexandros, 'defender of men; protector of t▶Dimetri#9950 in the U.S.Dimetri respells Dmitri, the Russian form of the Greek Demetrios, meaning 'devoted to Demeter,'▶Arseniy#9958 in the U.S.A Russian form of Arsenios — from the Greek arsenios, 'manly; virile; strong/masculine'▶Fyodor#10189 in the U.S.The Russian form of Theodore — from the Greek Theodoros, 'a gift of God' (theos, 'God', + doron▶Stepan#10653 in the U.S.The Russian and Ukrainian form of Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown; garland; wreath.' ▶Elisey#10999 in the U.S.The Russian Yelisey/Elisey, a form of the Hebrew Elisha, 'God is salvation; my God is salvation▶Mischa#11844 in the U.S.A Russian short/pet form of Mikhail (Michael), from the Hebrew for 'who is like God?' Tradition▶Nickoli#11884 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Nikolai/Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike▶Oleg#11906 in the U.S.The Russian form of the Old Norse Helgi, 'holy; sacred,' brought by the Varangians. Oleg of Nov▶Serj#12080 in the U.S.Serj is a short, phonetic form of Sergei or Serge, from the Roman family name Sergius, often gl▶Yeltsin#12186 in the U.S.A Russian surname adopted as a given name, best known from Boris Yeltsin, the first president o▶Vitali#12213 in the U.S.Vitali is a Russian and Italian form of the Latin Vitalis ('of life; vital'), from vita ('life'▶Arseny#12297 in the U.S.The Russian form of Arsenios/Arseny, from the Greek for 'virile; strong; masculine.' A classic ▶Anatoliy#12422 in the U.S.Anatoliy is the Russian/Ukrainian form of Anatole/Anatolios, from Greek anatole, 'sunrise; dawn▶Avel#12490 in the U.S.Avel is the Russian and broader Slavic form of Abel, the biblical name from Hebrew hevel ('brea▶Fedor#12860 in the U.S.Fedor (also Fyodor) is a Russian form of Theodore, from the Greek Theodoros, 'gift of God' (fro▶Gleb#13001 in the U.S.Gleb is a Russian and Slavic boy's name derived from the Old Norse Gudleifr, meaning heir or de▶Matvei#13480 in the U.S.Matvei is the Russian form of Matthew, from Hebrew Mattityahu, 'gift of God'. It is a long-stan▶Orel#13663 in the U.S.From Hebrew Or-El, 'light of God' — or ('light') plus El ('God'). Separately, Oryol/Orel is a R▶Renat#13718 in the U.S.A Russian and Tatar name from the Latin Renatus, 'reborn; born again.' In the Soviet era it was▶Samuil#13833 in the U.S.The Russian, Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Samuel, from Hebrew Shemuel — usually read as 'Go▶Sascha#13844 in the U.S.The German spelling of Russian Sasha, the everyday diminutive of Aleksandr (Alexander), from Gr▶Sergey#13860 in the U.S.The Russian form of Sergius, an ancient Roman family name (gens Sergia) whose meaning is not se▶Vasily#14036 in the U.S.Vasily is the Russian form of Basil, which comes from the Greek Basileios, 'royal' or 'kingly,'▶Valery#14062 in the U.S.Valery (Valeriy) is a genuine and long-established Russian boy's name from the Latin Valerius, ▶Yuriy#14173 in the U.S.The Ukrainian and Russian form of George, from Greek Georgios, 'farmer; worker of the earth'. Y▶AzaryA short, friendly form of Azariah ('the Lord has helped'); Azary (Azari) is also a Russian form▶TzarFrom the Russian tsar (also spelled tzar), 'emperor; monarch' — a title derived from the Latin ▶