The Ultimate List of Russian Girl Names with Meanings & Diminutives

Welcome to our essential guide for parents seeking a beautiful and meaningful Russian name for their baby girl. This meticulously curated table features over 60 popular, classic, and unique Russian female names. Each entry provides the English spelling, the authentic Russian name in Cyrillic script, its profound meaning, and a list of common affectionate diminutives (like Anya for Anna or Katya for Ekaterina). Whether you’re honoring your heritage, inspired by Russian literature, or simply love the melodic sound of these names, our resource is designed to be your one-stop destination for making an informed and heartfelt choice. Discover the perfect name that carries a story, tradition, and a beautiful sound.

Name (English)	Name (Russian)	Meaning	Diminutives	Begins With	Ends With
Agafya	Агафья	Good, kind	Agasha, Ganya, Gasha	A	A
Agnessa	Агнесса	Pure, chaste	Agnesha, Nessia	A	A
Alevtina	Алевтина	Strong, healthy (related to Valentina)	Alya, Tina, Levta	A	A
Alina	Алина	Bright, beautiful	Alinochka, Lina, Alla	A	A
Alisa	Алиса	Noble, of nobility	Alisochka, Alya, Lisa	A	A
Alyona	Алёна	Bright, shining light (orig. from Yelena)	Alyonushka, Lyona, Alya	A	A
Anastasia	Анастасия	Resurrection	Nastya, Stasia, Asya, Nastia	A	A
Anfisa	Анфиса	Blooming, flower	Fisa, Fisia, Anfisushka	A	A
Anna	Анна	Grace, favor	Anya, Annushka, Asya, Nyura	A	A
Arina	Арина	Peace (variant of Irina)	Arisha, Rina, Arya	A	A
Daria	Дарья	Possessing goodness	Dasha, Dashenka, Darina	D	A
Diana	Диана	Divine, goddess-like	Dina, Dianochka	D	A
Eva	Ева	Life	Evochka, Evka	E	A
Ekaterina	Екатерина	Pure	Katya, Katenka, Katyusha, Rina	E	A
Elena	Елена	Bright, shining light	Lena, Lenochka, Alyona, Lesya	E	A
Elizaveta	Елизавета	My God is an oath	Liza, Lizochka, Veta, Liza	E	A
Elvira	Эльвира	Truth, trustworthy	Ela, Elya, Vira, Elvirka	E	A
Emiliya	Эмилия	Rival, industrious	Emma, Milya, Emochka, Milka	E	A
Evdokiya	Евдокия	Well-pleasing, good will	Dunya, Dusya, Dokea, Evdoksha	E	A
Galina	Галина	Calm, serene, healer	Galya, Galochka, Gala, Galinka	G	A
Irina	Ирина	Peace	Ira, Irinka, Irisha, Rina	I	A
Karina	Карина	Pure, beloved	Kara, Rina, Karinka, Karisha	K	A
Kira	Кира	Lady, ruler; Sun (from Persian)	Kirochka, Kirusya, Kira	K	A
Ksenia	Ксения	Hospitality, stranger	Ksyusha, Ksenya, Ksyuta, Senya	K	A
Larisa	Лариса	Citadel, fortress (from Greek city)	Lara, Larochka, Lora, Risya	L	A
Lidia	Лидия	Woman from Lydia (ancient region)	Lida, Lidochka, Lilya	L	A
Liliya	Лилия	Lily (flower)	Lilya, Leela, Lilochka, Lika	L	A
Lubov	Любовь	Love	Lyuba, Lubusha, Lyubochka	L	B
Lyudmila	Людмила	Dear to the people	Lyuda, Mila, Ludochka, Milasha	L	A
Margarita	Маргарита	Pearl	Rita, Ritochka, Margo, Mara	M	A
Maria	Мария	Beloved, wished-for child	Masha, Mashenka, Marya, Marusya	M	A
Marina	Марина	Of the sea	Marisha, Marinochka, Masha, Rina	M	A
Nadezhda	Надежда	Hope	Nadya, Nadenka, Nadusha, Dasha	N	A
Natalia	Наталия	Birthday (of Christ), Christmas	Natasha, Natashenka, Tasha, Talia	N	A
Nina	Нина	Dreamer; or version of “Anne”	Ninochka, Ninusya, Ninel	N	A
Oksana	Оксана	Praise to God; Hospitable (from Xenia)	Ksyusha, Oksanochka, Sana	O	A
Olga	Ольга	Holy, blessed	Olya, Olechka, Lyolya, Olgusya	O	A
Polina	Полина	Small, humble; or dedicated to Apollo	Polya, Polenka, Lina, Pasha	P	A
Raisa	Раиса	Easygoing, carefree; Leader	Raya, Rayusha, Raiska	R	A
Snezhana	Снежана	Snow woman, snowy	Snezhka, Zhana, Snezha, Snusha	S	A
Sofiya	София	Wisdom	Sonya, Sonechka, Sofia, Sofi	S	A
Svetlana	Светлана	Light, pure, saint	Sveta, Svetochka, Lana, Veta	S	A
Tamara	Тамара	Date palm tree	Toma, Tomochka, Tamusya, Mara	T	A
Tatiana	Татьяна	Fairy queen; from the Roman family Tatius	Tanya, Tanechka, Tatusya, Tata	T	A
Ulyana	Ульяна	Youthful, downy (from Julianna)	Ulya, Ulyasha, Lyana, Yana	U	A
Valentina	Валентина	Strong, healthy, vigorous	Valya, Valechka, Valentinka, Tina	V	A
Varvara	Варвара	Foreign, stranger	Varya, Varvarushka, Varenka	V	A
Vasilisa	Василиса	Queen, royal, regal	Vasya, Vasia, Lisanka, Sisa	V	A
Vera	Вера	Faith	Verochka, Verusha, Verka	V	A
Veronika	Вероника	True image, she who brings victory	Nika, Veronica, Nikusha, Rona	V	A
Viktoriya	Виктория	Victory	Vika, Vikusha, Vikochka, Toria	V	A
Yana	Яна	God is gracious	Yanochka, Yanusha, Yanina	Y	A
Yekaterina	Екатерина	Pure (alternate spelling of Ekaterina)	Katya, Katenka, Katyusha, Rina	Y	A
Yelena	Елена	Bright, shining light (alternate spelling)	Lena, Lenochka, Alyona, Lesya	Y	A
Yevgeniya	Евгения	Noble, well-born	Zhenya, Zhenechka, Zheka, Genya	Y	A
Yulia	Юлия	Youthful, downy	Yulia, Yulenka, Yulka, Yulchik	Y	A
Zinaida	Зинаида	Born of Zeus	Zina, Zinusha, Zinochka, Zinaida	Z	A
Zlata	Злата	Golden	Zlatochka, Lata, Zlatusha	Z	A
Zoya	Зоя	Life	Zoyenka, Zoyka, Zosya	Z	A

Notes on the Table:

Diminutives: Many names have multiple diminutives, and some (like Sasha for Alexandra) are used more commonly than the full name itself. This list includes the most common ones.
Spelling: Some names can be spelled multiple ways in English (e.g., Sofia/Sofiya, Yulia/Julia). The table uses common transliterations.
Popularity: Names like Anna, Ekaterina, Maria, Anastasia, Sofiya, and Viktoriya have remained extremely popular for decades.
Trends: Older Soviet-era names like Nina and Galina are less common for newborns today but are making a comeback. Short, melodic names like Mila, Vera, and Alina are currently very fashionable.

The Ultimate List of Russian Girl Names with Meanings & Diminutives

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