Slavic names

Given names originating from the Slavic languages are most popular in Slavic countries such as Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and others.

History of Slavic names

In pre-Christian traditions, a child younger than 7 - 10 years old would bear a "subtitutional name" (e.g. Niemój "not mine", Nielub "not loved"), whose purpose was to decrease the apparent importance of a child and protect him or her from the curiosity of evil powers. This practice probably derived from the existence of a high fatality rate for young children at that time. A child who survived 7 - 10 years was worthy of care and was granted adult status and a new adult name during the ritual of a first haircut.

Generally traditional names were dominant until Slavic nations converted to Christianity (e.g. the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church). For instance, the Council of Trent (1545 - 63) decided that every Catholic should have a Christian name instead of native one.

Names in Poland

After banning the usage of native non-Christian names (ordered by Council of Trent), Polish nobility (especially Protestants) tried to preserve traditional names, such as Zbigniew and Jarosław. Ordinary people, however, tended to choose names solely from the Christian calendar, where there was only a few saints' names of Slavic origin, like: Kazimierz (St. Casimir), Stanisław (St. Stanislaus), Wacław (St.Wenceslaus) and Władysław (St. Ladislaus). Names which referred to God (e.g. Bogdan, Bogumił) were also allowed.

Names in Russia

Old Russian names were based on just about any Russian word (like nickname). In the 13th century, when the number of Christian and non-Christian given names became about equal, the popularity of Old Russian names began to decline, and they progressively became nicknames or secondary names (bynames). However, the use of Old Russian names persisted into the 17th century, and even nobles continued to use them as "everyday" names (although it is almost certain that they were baptized under a Christian name).

Names today

This situation lasted until 19th and 20th centuries, when traditional names, especially of historical rulers and heroes, gained popularity during national revivals. For example, in Poland many forgotten names were resurrected, such as Bronisław, Bolesław, Dobiesław, Dobrosław, Jarosław, Mirosław, Przemysław, Radosław, Sławomir, Wiesław, Zdzisław, and Zbigniew; and new ones created, such as Lechosław and Wieńczysław. Today, traditional Slavic names are accepted by the Christian Church and are given at a child's baptism.

Meaning of Slavic names

Old Slavic names were built with one or two lexemes:

Single-lexeme names

Single-lexeme names were derived from ordinary or adjective words and would usually, but not always, be borne by peasants, e.g.: Poznan (known, recognized), Goszczon (being a guest at someone's place), Kochan (loved), Wygnan (banished), Krszczon (baptized), Baran (ram), Szydło (awl), Kąkol (cockle), Broda (beard, chin), Żyła (vein), Uchacz (ear-man), Łopata (shovel), Żaba (frog), Rus (Ruthenian/Russian man), Cich (silent man), etc. Some names of this kind are used today, for example:

Feminine:

• Vera (faith),
• Nadia (hope),
• Vesela (happy),
• Duša (soul),
• Zlata (golden),
• Zora (dawn),
• Sveta (light, holy or strong),
• Mila (favor),
• Dobra (good),
• Luba (love),
• Kveta, Cveta (flower),
• Vesna (spring),
• Slava (fame, glory),
• Mira (peace),
• Sobena (herself),
• Rada (happy),
• Brana (to protect),
• Živa, Żywia (alive),
• Miluša (kind),
• Snežana (snow woman),
• Jasna (clear),
• Jagoda (berry),
• Kalina (rowan tree).

Masculine:

• Slava, Slavko (fame, glory),
• Lech (cunning),
• Vlad (rule),
• Ognjen (fire),
• Dušan (soul),
• Vuk (wolf),
• Radost (happiness),
• Miłosz (love),
• Borya (fight),
• Zdravko (health),
• Dragan (precious),
• Gniew, Gniewko (anger),
• Darko (gift),
• Nemanja (without possession),
• Nebojša (fearless),
• Goran (highlander),
• Lasota (forest man),
• Mladen (young),
• Nayden (found),
• Plamen (flame),
• Yasen (ash tree),
• Zvezdan (star).

Dithematic names

Dithematic names are built with two lexemes. In Poland alone, there are over 600 masculine names, 120 feminine names and 150 different affixes (lexemes) known. These have been reconstructed through analysing historical sources and place names, e.g.: Bull of Gniezno. Some of names were reserved only for monarchs (e.g. in Poland: Kazimierz, Władysław, Bolesław). Examples are listed below. In order to understand them, you can use this pattern: Władysław contains the prefix wład (to rule, ruler) and the suffix sław (fame, glory). Note that feminine equivalents usually end in the vowel -a (e.g. Bogusław - Bogusława).

Diminutive form

Diminutives are very popular in everyday usage, and usually are created by dropping an affix and adding -ek (masculine, predominantly West Slavic; e.g. Polish Włodzimierz - Włodek), -ko (masculine, predominantly South Slavic and Ukrainian), -ka (feminine; also masculine in Russian), or -a: Mila, Luba, Staszek, Radek, Władek, Zlatko, Volodya, Bronek, Leszek, Dobrusia, Slavko, Wojtek, Mirka, Bogusia, Slava, Zdravko, Zbyszko, Milosz, Staś, Przemek, Bolko, Draho, etc.

Popularity in non-Slavic cultures

Some Slavic names have gained popularity in other (non-Slavic) countries, e.g.: Vera, Mila, Svante, Boris, Vladimir, Mirko, Laszlo, Casimir, Wenzel, Milena, Estanislao, Vlad, Nadia, Mircea, Bronislovas, Radu, Vesna, Wanda, Ladislao, Bogdan, etc.

Slavic names popular among Eastern Slavs

Slavic names popular in Belarus

Feminine: Sviatłana

Masculine: Bahdan, Radyjon, Stanislau, Sviataslau, Uladzimir, Uladzislau, Viačaslau, Jaraslau

Slavic names popular in Russia

Feminine: Bogdana, Boleslava, Borislava, Bronislava, Lyubov, Ludmila/Ludmilla, Miloslava, Miroslava, Nadezhda, Rada, Radoslava, Slava, Snezhana, Stanislava, Svetlana, Vera, Vladislava, Yaroslava.

Masculine: Bogdan, Boleslav, Boris, Borislav, Bronislav, Kazimir, Iziaslav, Milan, Miloslav, Miroslav, Mstislav, Radimir/Radomir, Radoslav, Rostislav, Stanislav, Svyatopolk, Svyatoslav, Vadim, Vlad, Vladimir, Vladislav, Vsevolod, Vyacheslav, Yaroslav.

Slavic names popular in Ukraine

Feminine: Bohdana, Lyubov, Lyudmila, Svitlana, Vira, Zoryana

Masculine: Bohdan, Myroslav, Stanislav, Volodymyr, Vladyslav, Vsevolod, Vyacheslav, Yaroslav
Slavic names popular among Southern Slavs

Slavic names popular in Bulgaria

Feminine: Beloslava, Bilyana, Bisera, Bistra, Blaga, Blagorodna, Blagovesta, Blaguna, Bogdana, Boriana, Borislava, Boyana, Boyka, Bozhana, Bozhidara, Branimira, Darina, Denica, Desislava, Dobra, Dobriana, Dobrinka, Dobromira, Elka, Grozda, Grozdana, Iskra, Kalina, Krasimira, Luba, Lubomira, Lyudmila, Lyubka, Lyubov, Malina, Miglena, Mila, Militsa, Milka, Milena, Mira, Miriana, Miroliuba, Miroslava, Nadezhda, Nadia, Neda, Nedelya, Nedyalka, Nevena, Ognyana, Plamena, Preslava, Rada, Radka, Radost, Radostina, Radoslava, Radosveta, Ralica, Rosica, Rostislava, Rumena, Rumiana, Slavena, Slavina, Slavka, Snezha, Snezhana, Snezhanka, Spasena, Spaska, Stanimira, Stanislava, Stanka, Stoyanka, Stoyna, Svetla, Svetlana, Svetoslava, Svetozara, Svilena, Tsveta, Tsvetanka, Tsvetelina, Tsviata, Velika, Velislava, Velizara, Velmira, Vera, Vesela, Veselina, Viara, Vihra, Vladislava, Zdravka, Zhivka, Zlata, Zlatina, Zora, Zorka, Zornitsa.

Masculine:
Biser, Blago, Blagoy, Blagovest, Blagun, Bogdan, Bogomil, Bojidar, Boril, Boris, Borislav, Borko, Boyan, Boyko, Bozhil, Bozhin, Branimir, Darin, Darko, Delcho, Delyan, Denislav, Desislav, Deyan, Dragan, Dragomir, Dobri, Dobrin, Dobroliub, Dobromir, Dobroslav, Goran, Grozdan, Iskren, Kamen, Krasimir, Krastan, Krastyo, Lachezar, Lyuben, Lyubomir, Lyuboslav, Lyudmil, Malin, Milan, Milcho, Milen, Mileti, Milko, Milush, Mirko, Miro, Miroslav, Mladen, Momchil, Naum, Nayden, Nedelcho, Nedyalko, Ognian, Ognyan, Orlin, Parvan, Plamen, Preslav, Prodan, Radi, Radko, Radomir, Radoslav, Radosvet, Radoy, Raicho, Rayko, Razvigor, Rosen, Rostislav, Rumen, Slav, Slavcho, Slavi, Slavian, Slavko, Slavomir, Spas, Stanimir, Stanislav, Stanko, Stoil, Stoyan, Stoycho, Stoyko, Strahil, Svetlin, Svetoslav, Svetozar, Svilen, Tihomir, Tomislav, Traicho, Traiko, Tsvetan, Tsvetomir, Valko, Varban, Velichko, Veliko, Velin, Velislav, Velizar, Velko, Ventseslav, Ventsislav, Veselin, Vihren, Vitomir, Vladimir, Vladislav, Volen, Yasen, Yavor, Zdravko, Zhelyazko, Zhivko, Zlatan, Zlatko, Zlatomir, Zvezdelin.

Slavic names popular in Croatia

Feminine:
Berislava, Biserka, Blaga, Blagica, Blaženka, Bogdana, Bogomila, Bogumila, Borka, Borislava, Božena, Božica, Božidarka, Branimira, Branka, Buga, Cvita, Cvijeta, Čedna, Danica, Davorka, Divna, Dragana, Dragica, Draženka, Dubravka, Dunja, Hrvatina, Hrvoja, Hrvojka, Jasenka, Jasna, Ljuba, Ljubica, Mila, Milica, Miljenka, Mislava, Mira, Mirka, Mirna, Mojmira, Morana, Nada, Neda, Nediljka, Nevenka, Ognjenka, Ranka, Rašeljka, Ratka, Ruža, Ružica, Sanja, Slava, Slavica, Slavenka, Smiljana, Spomenka, Srebrenka, Stanislava, Stana, Stanka, Snješka, Snježana, Sunčana, Sunčica, Svitlana, Svjetlana, Tjeha, Tihana, Tihomila, Tuga, Vedrana, Vera, Verica, Vjera, Vesna, Vjekoslava, Vlasta, Vlatka, Zdenka, Zlata, Zora, Zorica, Zorka, Zrinka, Zrina, Zvjezdana, Zvonimira, Zvonka, Željka, Živka.

Masculine:
Berislav, Berivoj, Blago, Bogdan, Bogumil, Bogoljub, Bogomil, Boris, Borislav, Borna, Božetjeh, Božidar, Božo, Bratislav, Budimir, Branimir, Brajko, Branko, Braslav, Bratoljub, Cvitko, Cvjetko, Časlav, Častimir, Čedomir, Dalibor, Damir, Darko, Davor, Davorin, Davorko, Desimir, Dobroslav, Dobrovit, Domagoj, Dragan, Drago, Dragoslav, Dragutin, Dražan, Dražen, Draženko, Držiha, Držislav, Godemir, Gojko, Gojislav, Gojslav, Goran, Grubiša, Hrvatin, Hrvoj, Hrvoje, Hrvoslav, Kazimir, Kažimir, Jasenko, Klonimir, Krešimir, Krešo, Krševan, Lavoslav, Ljubomir, Ljudevit, Milan, Mile, Milivoj, Milovan, Miljenko, Mirko, Miro, Miroslav, Miroš, Mislav, Mladen, Mojmir, Mutimir, Nediljko, Nedjeljko, Nenad, Neven, Njegomir, Njegovan, Ognjen, Ostoja, Ozren, Predrag, Pribislav, Prvan, Prvoslav, Prvoš, Radimir, Radomir, Radoš, Rajko, Ranko, Ratimir, Ratko, Rato, Radovan, Radoslav, Siniša, Slaven, Slaviša, Slavoljub, Snješko, Slavomir, Smiljan, Spomenko, Srebrenko, Srećko, Stanislav, Stanko, Strahimir, Svetoslav, Tihomil, Tihomir, Tješimir, Tomislav, Tomo, Tugomir, Tvrtko, Trpimir, Vatroslav, Većeslav, Vedran, Velimir, Veselko, Vidoslav, Vjekoslav, Vjenceslav, Višeslav, Vitomir, Vjeran, Vladimir, Vlado, Vlatko, Vojmil, Vojmir, Vojnomir, Vuk, Zdenko, Zdeslav, Zdravko, Zorislav, Zoran, Zrinko, Zrinoslav, Zlatko, Zvonimir, Zvonko, Želimir, Željko, Živko.

Slavic names popular in Macedonia

Feminine: Blagica, Ljupka, Mirjana, Slavka

Masculine: Boban, Blagoja, Blagojče, Borče, Cvetan, Darko, Dragan, Dragi, Duško, Goran, Ljupčo, Slavčo, Milan, Mile, Vladica, Vladimir, Vlatko, Zlatko

Slavic names popular in Serbia and Montenegro

Feminine:
Biljana, Biserka, Bojana, Bogdana, Borislava, Boža, Božena, Božica, Božidarka, Branimira, Branka, Brankica, Branislava, Budislavka, Daliborka, Danica, Davorka, Dejana, Draga, Dragana, Dragoslava, Draženka, Dubravka, Dušana, Goranka, Jasna, Jugoslava, Krešimira, Ljubica, Mila, Milena, Milica, Milja, Milka, Mira, Miroslava, Mirna, Mladenka, Nada, Nevena, Navenka, Nedeljka, Radmila, Radomira, Radoslava, Slava, Slavica, Slavka, Stanka, Stanislava, Svetlana, Tomislava, Vedrana, Vera, Vjera, Vesna, Vesela, Višnja, Zorica.

Masculine:
Bogdan, Boguljub, Bojan, Borislav, Bora, Boris, Borisav, Boško, Branimir, Branislav, Branko, Božidar, Budimir, Čedomir, Dalibor, Damir, Danko, Davor, Dejan, Dobrica, Dobroslav, Domagoj, Dragan, Dragiša, Drago, Dragoljub, Dragomir, Dragoslav, Dragutin, Draža, Dražen, Dubravko, Dušan, Duško, Goran, Gradimir, Ljuba, Ljubomir, Ljubodrag, Milan, Milivoje, Mile, Milenko, Milo, Miloje, Milorad, Miloš, Milovan, Milutin, Mijomir, Miodrag, Miro, Miroslav, Mirko, Mislav, Miša, Mladen, Momčilo, Momir, Nebojša, Nedeljko, Nemanja, Nenad, Njegomir, Obrad, Ognjen, Ostoja, Predrag, Rade, Radivoje, Radoje, Radomir, Ratomir, Radiša, Radmilo, Radoslav, Radosav, Radovan, Rajko, Ranko, Ratko, Sava, Slava, Slaven, Slavko, Slavimir, Slaviša, Slobodan, Srdjan, Srećko, Sredoje, Sreten, Stanko, Stanislav, Stracimir, Svetozar, Tihomir, Tomislav, Uroš, Vedran, Velibor, Velimir, Veljko, Veselko, Vladimir, Vladislav, Vlastimir, Vojislav, Vuk, Vukašin, Vukota, Vukan, Vukosav, Zdravko, Zoran, Žarko, Željko, Živko, Živojin, Živorad, Života.

Slavic names popular in Slovenia

Feminine:
Bogdana, Branka, Cvetka, Danica, Darinka, Draga, Dragica, Dunja, Jasna, Ljubica, Milica, Mira, Morana, Mora, Nada, Neda, Nedeljka, Nevenka, Slava, Slavica, Spomenka, Stanislava, Stana, Stanka, Svetlana, Vedrana, Vera, Vesna, Vlasta, Zdenka, Zdravka, Zlatka, Zora, Zorica, Zorka, Zvonka, Živa

Masculine:
Bogdan, Boris, Borut, Bojan, Božidar, Božo, Branko, Cvetko, Črtomir, Darko, Dragan, Drago, Dragotin, Dušan, Gojmir, Gorazd, Kresnik, Milan, Mirko, Miroslav, Perun, Radivoj, Rajko, Srečko, Slavko, Stanislav, Stanko, Stane, Vekoslav, Venceslav, Vitomir, Vladimir, Vlado, Vojteh, Zdenko, Zdravko, Žarko, Željko, Živko
Slavic names popular among Western Slavs

Slavic names popular in Poland

Feminine:
Bogna, Bogdana, Bogumiła, Bogusława, Bolesława, Bożena, Bronisława, Czesława, Dąbrówka, Dobrochna, Dobroniega, Dobrosława, Gniewomira, Godzimira, Godzisława, Gorzysława, Grzymisława, Kazimiera, Ludmiła, Marzanna, Mieczysława, Milena, Miła, Mira, Mirosława, Radochna, Radosława, Sławomira, Sobiesława, Stanisława, Sulisława, Wacława, Wiesława, Władysława, Zdzisława

Masculine:
Bogdan, Bogumił, Bogusław, Bogusz, Bohdan, Bolesław, Bożydar, Bronisław, Chwalibóg, Chwalisław, Czcibor, Czesław, Dobiegniew, Dobiesław, Dobrogost, Dobromir, Dobromił, Dobrosław, Domard, Domasław, Dzierżysław, Gniewko,Gniewomir, Godzimir, Godzisław, Gorzysław, Jarosław, Krzesimir, Kazimierz, Lech, Lechosław, Lesław, Leszek, Lubomir, Ludomił, Mieszko, Mieczysław, Miłosław, Miłosz, Mirosław, Mścisław, Mściwój, Przemysław,Przybysław, Radosław, Rościsław, Sambor, Sędziwoj,
Sławoj, Sławomir, Sobiesław, Stanisław, Sulisław, Świętosław, Wacław, Wiesław,Wińczysław,Władysław,
Włodzimierz, Wojciech, Wszebor,Zawisza,Zbigniew, Zbyszko, Zdzisław, Ziemowit

Slavic names popular in Slovakia and Czech Republic

Feminine:
Blahoslava, Blahuse, Bojana, Bojka,Boleslava, Bolena, Bolerka, Bohumira,Bohuslava,Bozidara, Boza, Bozena, Bozka, Bratislava, Bretislava, Bretka, Breticka,Bronislava/Branislava, Brana, Branka, Brona, Bronicka, Bronka, Dobrali, Dobromila,Dobromira,Dobroslava, Drahomira, Draha, Drahuse, Drahuska, Draza, Dusana, Dusa, Sudanka, Dusicka, Duska, Jarka,Kvetoslava, Kveta, Kvetka, Kvetuse, Kvetuska, Libera, Liba, Libenka, Libuse, Libuska, Lidmila, Ludmilla, Ludmila, Lida, Lidka, Liduna, Lidunka, Liduse, Lizuska, Lubomira, Luba, Lubena, Lubina, Lubina, Lubka, Lubuska, Mecislava, Melina, Mecka, Mila, Milena, Milady, Miladena, Milana, Mlada, Mladena, Miladka, Milanka, Milenka,Milka, Miluse, Miluska, Mlaska, Mladuska, Miloslava,Miroslava, Mira, Mirka, Miruska, Nadezda/Nadezhda, Nadeja, Neda/Nedda, Pribislava, Pribena, Próbka, Pribuska, Radomia, Rada, Radlinka, Radoslava, Rada,Rostislava, Rosta, Rostina, Rostinka, Rostuska, Sobeslava, Sobena, Sobeska, Stanislava, Stana, Stanicka, Stanuska, Svetlana, Svetla, Svetlanka, Svetluse, Svetluska, Veleslava, Vela, Velina, Velinka, Velka, Veluska, Venceslava/Vaclava, Vena, Venka, Venuska, Vera, Vierka, Verka, Veruska, Vladimíra, Vladmira,Vladislava/Ladislava, Valeska, Vlasta, Zbyhneva, Zbyna, Zbysa, Zbyhneka, Zbyhneuska, Zdenka, Zdeslava, Zdislava, Desa, Zdeska, Zwisa, Zdiska, Zelislava,Zitomira, Zitka, Zituse, Zivanka, Zivka, Zivuse, Zivuska,Zlata, Zlatina, Zlatinka, Zlatka, Zlatuje, Zlatuska, Zlatana, Zlatunka, Zoila, Zora, Zorah.

Masculine:
Blahoslav, Blahos, Blahosek, Bohdan, Bohumil, Bohumír, Bohuslav,Bojan, Bujanek, Bojek,Boleslav, Bolek Borivoj, Bora, Borik, Borek, Borzivoi, Bozidar,Bratislav, Bretislav, Bretik, Bronislav/Branislav, Branek, Branik, Budislav, Budek, Ceslav/Ctislav,Ctibor, Dalibor, Dobromil, Dobromir, Dobroslav, Drahomir, Draha, Drahos, Drahosek, Durko, Sudan, Sudanek, Dusek, Honza, Jarek, Jarousek, Jaromil, Jaromir, Jarek,Jaropluk, Jaroslav, Jur, Karda, Kvetoslav, Lubomir, Lubor, Lumir, Luba, Lubek, Luborek, Lubos, Lubosek,Ludomir, Ludoslav, Mecislav, Mecek, Mecik, Mecislavek,Milan, Milic,Miloslav, Milda, Milon, Milos,Miroslav, Mirek, Mstislav,Nepomuk, Pomuk, Nepomucek, Premysl, Myslik, Premek, Pribislav, Priba, Pribik, Pribisek, Radek/Radik, Radacek, Radan, Radko, Rados, Radousek, Radomir/Radimir, Radim, Radoslav, Rostislav, Rosta, Rostek, Rosticek, Rostik, Slavomir, Slava, Slavoj, Sobeslav, Sobek, Sobik, Stanislav, Stana, Standa, Stanek, Stanko, Stanicek, Stanik, Svatomir, Svatopluk,Svatoslav,Techomir,Techoslav,Veleslav, Vela, Velek, Velousek, Venceslav/Vaclav, Vacek, Vasek, Vena, Venousek, Wenzel, Vladimír, Vladislav/Ladislav, Vlad, Vlastimil, Vojtech, Vojta, Wojtek, Vojtik, Vojtisek, Zbyhnev, Zbyna, Zbytek, Zbytek, Zelislav, Zelek, Zelicek, Zelik, Zelousek,Zdeslav, Zdislav, Zdik, Zdisek, Zitomir, Zitek, Zitousek, Zivan, Zivanek, Zivek, Zivko, Zlatan, Zlatek, Zlaticek, Zlatik, Klatko, Zlatousek.