Russian Names – Contemporary Frequencies & Old Soviet Rarities Posted by josefina on Jan 2, 2008 in language
After you’ve spent more than two weeks in Russia and made friends with at least a handful of Russians you will, without a doubt, ask yourself: “Is it just me or does this country only have ten given names all in all?” Though it may seem as if everyone you meet is either a Masha or a Dasha or a Misha or a Vova, it would be harshly unfair to claim that Russians only have ten names to go around, five for women and five for men. Believe it or not, but that is as a matter of fact not the case. Recently I received a wonderful gift from the students in my Swedish class at Ural State University in Yekaterinburg, Словарь русских личных имён [Dictionary of Russian personal names] by А. В. Суперанская, which boasts on its front page to contain «более 7500 русских имён» [“more than 7500 Russian names”]. My first reaction at this was, of course, to raise my eyebrows in surprise – if they have so many names then why do I have over ten women called Irina in my phone and almost as many men with the name Aleksey? Russian parents aren’t known for being very eager to experiment and choose an infrequent or peculiar name for their newborn child but prefer something usual, traditional and as common as bread with soup. Keeping kids apart in a class with five boys named Boris can easily be done with a little help from their отчества [father names]. In Russia a person is officially called both by first name and father name, but in private the first name is rarely ever used in its full form. Instead every name has a short form and that is the name most commonly used, and what some people might see as their “real” name. The use of first names in their full form has become more and more common during the last ten years since Russia, despite its deep dedication to xenophobia, has failed to withstand influence from the West.
I think that many people studying Russian language, including myself, might not yet be familiar with all of the short forms for the most common names (and, for example, the names that lack short forms) and which syllable is stressed in them. Therefore I, with a little help from my awesome new dictionary, decided to put together a list of the twelve most common given names for both men and women. (Note that the stressed syllable is in thick shrift and that there are at least twice as many other Russian names that are just as common).
For men:
Александр – Саша, Шура, Саня
Алексей – Алёша, Лёша, Лёха, Лёня
Андрей – Андрюша
Артём – Тёма
Владимир – Вова, Воля, Володя
Дмитрий – Дима, Митя
Евгений – Женя
Иван – Ваня
Максим – Макс
Михаил – Миша, Миха
Олег – (-)
Сергей – Серёжа
For women:
Александра – Саша, Шура, Олеся, Аля, Леся
Галина – Галя
Дария – Даша
Евгения – Женя
Елена – Лена, Лёля, Алёна
Екатерина – Катя, Катюша, Рина
Ксения – Ксюша
Мария – Маша, Мара, Маруся
Надежда – Надя
Наталья – Наташа, Натуся, Талья
Ольга – Оля, Лёля
Татьяна – Таня, Тата
If lack of fantasy and inspiration when it comes to name-giving today is widespread in Russia, then the trend was the opposite roughly 90 years ago. 90 years ago, after the October Revolution, society was innovative and people were feeling radical and because of this a new trend flourished. In the new country preparing for a new world in a new future the new fashion was to come up with new names. Some people even changed their old, often Christian or plainly “bourgeois-sounding”, names into brave new Soviet ones. It is not too difficult to figure out where the inspiration came from for names like Трактор [male] and Тракторина [female – from the word tractor]. Other popular at the time, but soon to disappear in order to never return, names were Антенна [antenna], Баррикада [barricade], Атеист [atheist], Гранит [granite], Октябрь [October], Восмарт [short for восьмое марта – March 8th, international women’s day], Кармий [male] and Кармия [female – short for Красная Армия, the Red Army], Правдина [in honor of the paper «Правда» – truth], Капиталина [in honor of «Капитал» – The Capital by Karl Marx], Индустрий [industry], Энергий [energy], Съезд [congress, в честь съезд партии – in honor of the party congress], Луначар [in honor of the politician and academic Анатолий Васильевич Луначарского (1875 – 1933).
Back then it was also very much in style to name one’s offspring in the honor of political leaders. Among the most frequent ones was the Communistic version of Christianity’s Holy Trinity with the Father, the Son & the Holy Ghost – Marx, Engels & Lenin. Rarer, though existing, were names involving Trotsky, Zinoviev and Stalin.
Names made from Marx:
Маркселена [short for Маркс, Энгельс and Ленин], Марксина, Марклен [short for Маркс and Ленин], Маркслен [short for Маркс and Ленин], Марлен [short for Маркс and Ленин], Марленст [short for Маркс, Ленин and Сталин], Марлест [short for Маркс, Ленин and Сталин], Марлин [short for Маркс, Ленин and Интернационал – the International], Марлэн [short for Маркс, Ленин and Энгельс].
Names made from Engels:
Энегелина, Энгельсин, Энгельсина, Эмлен [short for Энгельс, Маркс and Ленин], Энгель, Энглен [short for Энгельс and Ленин].
Names made from Lenin:
Ленара [short for Ленинская армия – the army of Lenin], Ленгенмира [short for Ленин – гений мира – Lenin – world genius], Лениолла, Ленмара [short for Ленин and Маркс], Лентрозина [short for Ленин, Троцкий and Зиновьев], Ленэра [short for Ленинская эра – the era of Lenin], Ленгвард [short for Ленинская гвардия – the guard of Lenin], Ленинар [a combination of Ленин and народ – people], Леннор [short for Ленин – наш организатор – Lenin is our organizer], Ленэрг [short for Ленинская эра грядёт – the era of Lenin is coming].
Other names that were not predestined to survive their owners if the winds were to turn slightly more capitalistic were such as Коминта [female], Коминтерн [male], Коминтерна [all variants made from the word Коммунистический интернационал – the communist international], Комиссар [male], Комиссара [female – from the word meaning commissary], Социал [male], Социала [female – made from социализм – socialism], Сталий [male], Сталина [female – made from, obviously, the last name of Stalin].
Out of all the names mentioned above I think my own two personal favorites are Тракторина [for a girl] and Ленэгр [for a boy]. The last one not only for fun but just in case the era of Lenin was actually to arrive.
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Comments:
John Baker:
J,
You seem to have missed THE most Russian of all Russian names for girls/women. That is Svetlana. Since I am engaged to a certain Svetlana I am particularly sensitive to this. But whenever/wherever I meet a “Svetlana” my first thought/question is, “Is she Russian?”
Maybe it doesn’t make the Top Ten, but it certainly is the Most Russian!
George Moore:
Hmmm, I guess my wife is not Russian, she is a “Larysa”, I’ve not seen and met more than 500,000 of them. Anyway, your info was very interesting. I am kinda agreeing with you on the Tractor and Lenin idea though, very humerous, maybe I will name our next child one of them.
Catherine:
Well, the topic is very interesting. However, you need to keep in mind that Russian parents go through some trend times like everyone else does. Yes, there was a time for all those mumba-jumba names. Now, though young people tend to go back to the traditions and name their kids with very Russian, very traditional names.
Also, EACH and EVERY name in Russian language has more than one variation of a short form. They just might not be suitable for everyone’s use, since they express friendship, family or intimate relationship, or be suitable for a child only.
Let’s say, you have not found any short form for the name OLEG. However, I may say Олежек (Olezhek) addressing a friend, husband, brother or a child. But it would be inappropriate for me to use that name for a man that I have a professional relationship with.
The most popular names for girls in the past few years are Ekaterina, Anastasiya, Julia, Elizaveta. Very classical, very traditional, very beautiful.
Parents don’t name their kids some exotic names too often, because they want to return to those old Russian family traditions of being together for better and for worse, being married once and for life. The sexual revolution in Russia went through it’s course, and people are ready for family treasures and memories. Choosing Russian traditional names is one of the ways getting there as a family. Family of Russian culture.
Josefina:
You’re right – Svetlana is way more Russian than most of the names I picked. The thing is that I tried to make my case that Russians only have 10 names all in all, but as I did so, counting up the names of people I know, I realized that I have been wrong all along and that Russian actually (believe it or not!) has 20 names. But because I was ashamed of admitting to being wrong, I decided to cut it short to 12 each. Meaning leaving Svetlana out. Sorry!
noha kamel:
I lived in hurghada, Egypt for so many years and as so many russians know how many russian population live there. most of my friends there are russians and it didn’t take me more than few months to realize how the russian naming system works, Most of the friends I made or people I worked with their names are as follows
Females
Elena (Lena)
Irina ( Ira)
Ekaterina ( Katia – or Katiosha)
Natalia or Nataly ( Natasha)
Tatiana ( Tania – Taniosha)
Marina ( rina)
These are the most common names as I have seen
Men ( which were very few in Hurghada)
Vladimir
Alexey
Maxim
Genia
I am an Egyptian Female Which have been very close to russian society without marrying from a russian or even seeing Russia, But I believe so many people will agree with me!
fear:
from Евгени the short name would be Хена or Геня, as far as i know
Demi:
so my name is Demianenka.
im trying to find out where its from.
can anyone help?
i would appreciate it.
Лёха:
Алексей, Алёша – Лёша, Лёха, Лёкса, Лешуня.
Алёша – русская народная форма от Алексей
Nena:
Лёня is the short form for Леонид (Leonid), not Алексей.
And Лёля & Алёна are not short names for Елена. They’re just сщьздуеудн different names.
As are Олеся (Леся) and Александра.
Nena:
Sorry for *сщьздуеудн
I meant *completely* (forgot to switch languages)
lesha_20sindicat@mail.ru:
Алёша – русская народная форма от Алексей
Алексей-Алёша – Лёша, Лёха, Алёха, Лешуня (сокращенно Лёня)
Александр(а) – Алексаша, Саша, Шура
Ксения – Ксюша
Мария – Маша, Мара, Маруся
Надежда – Надя
Наталья – Наташа, Натуся, Талья
Ольга – Оля, Лёля
Татьяна – Таня, Тата
Таня:
Alexey-Alesha – Lesha, Leha, Aleha
Maxim – Max
Genia – Evgeniy
Воронцова Ольга Антоновна:
ИМЕНА, КОТОРЫЕ ПИШУТ В ПАСПОРТЕ
АЛЁША (АЛЕКСЕЙ). ОТЧЕСТВО – АЛЁШЕВИЧ, АЛЁШЕВНА.
ДАНИЛА (ДАНИИЛ). ОТЧЕСТВО – ДАНИЛОВИЧ, ДАНИЛОВНА.
ДЕНИС (ДИОНИСИЙ). ОТЧЕСТВО – ДЕНИСОВИЧ, ДЕНИСОВНА.
АЛЁША – РУССКАЯ НАРОДНАЯ ФОРМА ОТ АЛЕКСЕЙ.
ДАНИЛА – РУССКАЯ НАРОДНАЯ ФОРМА ОТ ДАНИИЛ.
ДЕНИС – РУССКАЯ НАРОДНАЯ ФОРМА ОТ ДИОНИСИЙ.
•АЛЕКСЕЙ
АЛЁША
^
ЛЁША-ЛЁХА-АЛЁХА-ЛЕШУНЯ-ЛЁСА-АЛЁСА-АЛЕКСЕЮШКА
•ДАНИИЛ
ДАНИЛА
^
ДАНЯ-ДАНИЛУШКА
• ДИОНИСИЙ
ДЕНИС
^
ДЕНЯ-ДЕНИСКА-ДИСА
Воронцова Ольга Антоновна:
Официальные имена в паспорте: Алёша, Данила, Артём, Денис, Антон….
Алёшич, Алёшинична; Данилыч, Данилынична.. – отчества.
Алёша – народная форма от Алексей.
Данила – народная форма от Даниил.
Артём – народная форма от Артемий.
Денис – народная форма от Дионисий.
Антон – народная форма от Антоний.
Воронцова Ольга Антоновна:
ИМЕНА ЛЮДЕЙ
АЛЕКСЕЙ. АЛЁША – УМЕНЬШИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ФОРМЫ: АЛЕКСЕЙКА, АЛЕКСЕЯ (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА), АЛЕКСЕЙША, АЛЕКСЕЮШКА (ЛАСКАТЕЛЬНАЯ ФОРМА), АЛЕШУНЦИЯ, ЛЕШУНЦИЯ, АЛЕШУНЯ, ЛЕШУНЯ, ЛЕШАРА, ЛЁШАРА, АЛЁСЯ, ЛЁСЯ, АЛЁСА, ЛЁСА, АЛЁКА, ЛЁКА, ЛЁША, АЛЁХА, ЛЁХА.
ОТЧЕСТВО: АЛЕКСЕЕВИЧ, АЛЕКСЕИЧ (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА), АЛЕКСЕЕВНА, АЛЕКСЕИНИЧНА (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА).
АЛЁШИЧ, АЛЁШИНИЧНА.
АЛЕКСАНДР(А) – УМЕНЬШИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ФОРМЫ: АЛЕКСАША, САША, АЛЕКСАНДРЮША (ЛАСКАТЕЛЬНАЯ ФОРМА), САНЮША, НЮША, САШУРА, ШУРА, САНЯ, ШУРИК.
ОТЧЕСТВО: АЛЕКСАНДРОВИЧ, АЛЕКСАНДРОВНА.
АНДРЕЙ – УМЕНЬШИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ФОРМЫ: АНДРЕЙКА, АНДРЮША, АНДРЕЯ (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА), АНДРЕЮШКА (ЛАСКАТЕЛЬНАЯ ФОРМА), ДЮША.
ОТЧЕСТВО: АНДРЕЕВИЧ, АНДРЕЕВНА, АНДРЕИЧ (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА), АНДРЕИНИЧНА ИЛИ АНДРЕВНА (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА).
МАКСИМ – УМЕНЬШИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ФОРМЫ: МАКСИМКА, МАКСИМА (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА), МАКСИМУШКА (ЛАСКАТЕЛЬНАЯ ФОРМА), МАСЯ, МАКС.
ОТЧЕСТВО: МАКСИМОВИЧ, МАКСИМОВНА, МАКСИМЫЧ (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА), МАКСИМЫНИЧНА ИЛИ МАКСИМЫЧНА (РАЗГОВОРНАЯ ФОРМА).
ОЛЕГ – УМЕНЬШИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ФОРМЫ: ОЛЕЖКА (ЛАСКАТЕЛЬНАЯ ФОРМА), ОЛЕЖА, ОЛЕГА.
ОТЧЕСТВО: ОЛЕГОВИЧ, ОЛЕГОВНА.