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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ruslan

Ruslan

♂ Boy

Pronounced roos-LAHN /rusˈlɑn/Medium

Meaning: From Turkic arslan, 'lion', via the Slavic hero Ruslan; 'lion'High

In 30 seconds: Lion-strong and storied: Ruslan is a hero's name across the Slavic and Turkic worlds — from arslan, 'lion'. Bold, romantic, and powerful.
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Origin HighTurkic, Slavic
MeaningFrom Turkic arslan, 'lion', via the Slavic hero Ruslan; 'lion'
U.S. rank (2025)#3571 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births32 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 622

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519922025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ruslan comes from Turkic arslan, 'lion', borne by the legendary hero of Pushkin's 'Ruslan and Lyudmila'. A strong, romantic name across the Slavic, Caucasus, and Central Asian worlds.

In the U.S. it appears in Slavic and Central Asian families. Rare, lion at the root, and bold.

Did you know? Ruslan, hero of Pushkin's poem 'Ruslan and Lyudmila', takes his name from Turkic arslan, 'lion' — a name of strength across Russia and Central Asia.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name — Ruslan — etymology

Variations

RuslanaArslan

Nicknames

Rus

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ruslan Chagaev (1978-)
    Uzbek professional boxer and former WBA heavyweight champion
  • ★Ruslan Provodnikov (1984-)
    Russian professional boxer known as The Siberian Rocky, former WBO light welterweight champion
  • ★Ruslan Ponomariov (1983-)
    Ukrainian chess grandmaster and FIDE World Chess Champion (2002-2004)

If you like Ruslan…

Arslan— the Turkic 'lion' source
Aslan— a fellow 'lion' name
Milan— a companion Slavic name
Roman— another strong Slavic-toned name

Explore names like Ruslan

By themeslavicturkic
By meaningLion

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ruslan mean?

Ruslan is from Turkic arslan, 'lion'.

How do you pronounce Ruslan?

It's said roos-LAHN /rusˈlɑn/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Ruslan a boy or girl name?

Ruslan is a boy's name.

How popular is Ruslan?

Ruslan is a rare name in the U.S.

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