Wikipedia:Romanization of Russian/Harmonization

This page should evolve into a list of common Russian geographical and personal names, so that the standard policy on conventional naming could be evolved. It would eventually be incorporated into Transliteration of Russian into English or given a separate article if deemed appropriate.

Personal names

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The origin of most modern given Russian names lies in Calendar of Saints that mentions various names from Biblical sources, translated/transcribed/transliterated and adopted from Greek, Latin and Hebrew, on a daily basis. These names were forced into use over Old Slavonic (mostly with slav ending which means Slava, glory, and mysl ending for thought) and Varangian names by the Russian Orthodox Church somewhere around the rule of Tsar Ioann IV; the priests would not allow any name not in the Calendar to be registered. Thus, the real Slavic names were treated as pagan and are really rare since then. These names were not reused until the historical works of the 1800s that re-introduced them to the public.

Most Russians did not have any other name than given name; they were usually known as Pashka, son of Ivashka; the ka suffix meant the low social status. Only the noble people were addressed to by applying the patronymic form, and only the noble ones were using surnames – usually, boyars who were named after their udel. In the late 1700s, the ordinary people were given some artificial surnames that reflected the place of their birth, their profession, appearance, social status etc. But creating surnames after the Calendar was not an uncommon practice as well. Even some rarely used names and/or adaptations were used and they survived in family names.

Here's a list of most common modern (1800s) and older notable Russian given names. Since most of the current names are of foreign origin, names that have a common English spelling which sounds similar to the Russian are sometimes anglicized.

Feminine

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Russian Transliteration Conventional/Anglicized forms Diminutive form origin
Анна Anna Anne/Ann Anya Hebrew
Александра Alexandra Sasha, Shura Greek
Алла Alla
Алёна Alyona Alena, Elena, Helen Greek
Алиса Alisa Alice
Анжела Anzhela Angela
Анастасия Anastasia Anastasiya Nastia Greek
Антонина Antonina Tonya Greek
Ангелина Angelina Latin
Валентина Valentina Valya Latin
Василиса Vasilisa Vassilissa Greek
Варвара Varvara Barbra Varya Greek
Вера Vera Vera Verochka Slavonic
Вероника Veronika Veronica Hebrew
Владислава Vladislava Slavonic
Виктория Viktoriya Victoria Vika
Галина Galina Galya Greek
Дарья Dariya, Darya Daria Dasha Slavonic
Евгения Yevgeniya Evgenia, Eugenia, Eugeniya Zhenya Greek
Евдокия Yevdokiya Evdokiya, Evdokia Greek
Екатерина Yekaterina Ekaterina, Catherine Katya Greek
Жанна Zhanna Joanne
Iya Ia Greek
Елена Yelena Elena, Helen Lena Greek
Елизавета Yelizaveta Elizaveta, Elisabeth/Elizabeth Lisa Hebrew
Зинаида Zinaida Zina Greek
Зоя Zoya Zoia, Xoia (??) Greek
Инна Inna Hebrew (masculine?)
Инга Inga Scandinavian
Ирина (Арина) Irina (Arina) Iren, Irene Ira Greek
Кира Kira Kyra Greek
Клавдия Klavdia Klaudia, Claudia Klava Latin
Клара Klara Latin
Кристина (Христина) Kristina (Khristina) Cristina, Christine/Christina Kris
Ксения Kseniya, Ksenia Xenia Ksyusha Greek
Лариса Larisa Larissa Lara Greek
Лия Lia Liya Greek
Лидия Lidia Lidiya Lida Greek
Любовь Lyubov Lyuba Slavonic
Людмила Lyudmila Ludmila Lyuda, Lyusya Slavonic
Маргарита Margarita Margaret/Margareth Rita Greek
Марина Marina Marine Latin
Марианна/Марьяна Marianna/Mar'yana Mary Ann, Maryanne. Marianna Hebrew
Марфа Marfa Martha Hebrew
Мария Mariya Maria, Mary Masha, Manya Hebrew/Latin
Матрёна (Матрона) Matryona/Matrona Matriona, Matrona Latin
Надежда Nadezhda Nadine, Nadeane Nadya Slavonic
Нинель Ninel Constructed from Lenin, gallicized form of Nina
Наталия Natalia Nataliya, Natalya, Nataly, Natalie Natasha Latin
Нина Nina
Нонна Nonna Latin
Ольга Olga Helga Varangian
Олеся Olesya Olesia, Alexa Ukraininan, Alexandra
Оксана Oxana Ukraininan, Xenia
Прасковья Praskoviya Praskovya, Paraskeva Greek
Полина Polina Pauline (same pronounce but another meaning) Polya Greek, short form of Appolinaria
Раиса Raisa Raissa Raya Greek
Римма Rimma Latin
Роза Roza Rose
Светлана Svetlana Sveta pseudo-slavonic, created by Vasily Zhukovsky
Сюзанна (Сусанна) Suzanna (Susanna) Susanne, Susan Hebrew
София, Софья Sofia, Sofiya Sophia Sonya Greek
Таисия, Таисья Taisia, Taisya Thaïs Tasya, Taya Greek
Тамара Tamara Toma Georgian/Hebrew
Татьяна Tatiyana, Tatyana Tatiana Tanya Greek
Ульяна Ul'yana Juliana, Ulyana, Uliana Yana Latin
Устинья Ustin'ya Justinia Latin
Фаина Faina Phaina Faya Greek
Юлия Yulia Yuliya, Julia Yulya Latin
Федора Fedora Feodora, Theodora Greek

Masculine

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Russian middle names are patronymics (son of) which were originally used as families. Every person had name of his father (or some other male name) applied to his given name, usually constructed by adding ov or yev. When the current families were created, they became indistinguishable from patronymics (old: Nikolay Nikolayev); to distinguish them, a suffix is applied to what was an original patronymic, usually ich in masculine form and na in feminine form (modern: Nikolay Nikolayevich). This creates even more controversy because in old patronymics (and most modern family names) the accent was on the same syllable as the name, but in modern use the accents often separated. Note that many Slavic families are also ending with ich (or Ç, Č, Ĉ).

Russian Transliteration Conventional/Anglicized forms Old Patronymic Modern patronymic (masculine/feminine) Diminutive form Origin
Авдей Avdey Avdeyevich/Avdeyevna Hebrew
Александр Aleksandr Alexander Alexandrov -ich/-na Sasha, shurik Greek
Альберт Albert modern Albertovich/-na Alik Germanic
Андрей Andrey Andrei Andreyev -ich/-na Andryusha Greek
Анатолий Anatoly Anatoliyev -ich/-na Tolya Greek
Анастас/Анастасий Anastas/Anastasy extinct Anastasiyevich/-na Stas Greek
Алексей Aleksey Alexey Alexeyev -ich/-vna Alyosha Greek
Аристарх Aristarkh Aristarch extinct Aristarkhovich/-na Greek
Аркадий Arkady Arkadiy, Arkadi extinct Arkadiyevich/-na Arkasha Greek
Артём Artyom Artiom Artyomov ich/na Tyoma
Артур Arthur Artur modern Arthurovich/-na English
Арсений Arseny Arseniy Arseniyev -ich/-na Greek
Архип Arkhip Arkhipov -ich/-na ??
Афанасий Afanasy Afanasiyev -ich/-na Greek
Борис Boris Borisov -ich/-na Borya Slavonic
Бенедикт Benedikt Venedikt, Benedict Benediktov -ich/-na Benya Hebrew/Latin
Богдан Bogdan Bogdanov -ich/-na Slavonic (from Greek)
Бронислав Bronislav extinct Bronislavovich/-na Slava Slavonic
Валентин Valentin Valentine extinct Valentinovich/-na Valya Latin
Валерий Valery Valeriy, Valeri Valeriyev (rare) -ich/-na Latin
Вадим Vadim Vadimov -ich/-na Vadik
Василий Vasily Vasily, Basil Vasiliyev -ich/-na Vasya Greek
Виктор Viktor Victor Viktorov (rare) -ich/-na Vitya Latin
Владислав Vladislav Vladislaviyev (rare) Vladislavovich/Vladislavovna -ich/-na Vladik Slavonic
Вениамин Veniamin Beniamin, Benjamin Veniaminov -ich/-na Hebrew
Вилен Vilen extinct Vilenovich/-na Constructed from Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Владлен Vladlen extinct Vladlenovich/-na Constructed from Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Владилен Vladilen Vladilenovich/-na Constructed from Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Владимир Vladimir Vladimirov Vladimirovich/-na Slavonic
Викентий Vikenty Vickentiy, Vikenty Vikentiyev (rare) -ich/-na Kesha Latin
Виталий Vitaly Vitaliy Vitaliyev (rare) ich/-na Vitalik Latin
Всеволод Vsevolod extinct Vsevolodovich/-na Seva Slavonic
Вячеслав Vyacheslav Viacheslav extinct Vyacheslavovich/-na Slava Slavonic
Гарри Harry Garri extinct Harryevich/-na English
Гавриил Gavril Gavriil, Gabriel Gavrilov -ich/-na Hebrew
Геннадий Gennady Gennadi, Gennadiy extinct Gennadiyevich/-na Gena
Георгий Georgy Georgi, Georgiy, George extinct Georgiyevich/-na Zhora
Григорий Grigory Grigori Grigoriyev -ich/-na Grisha
Герасим Gerasim Gerasimov -ich/-na
Глеб Gleb Glebov (rare) -ich/-na Slavonic
Герман Herman German Hermanov (rare) -ich/-na Latin (not to be confused with Hermann)
Даниил Danil Danilov -ich/-na Danya Greek
Дмитрий Dmitry Dmitriev -ich/-na Dima Greek
Давид (Давыд) David (Davyd) Davidov (Davydov) -ich/-na Hebrew
Демьян Demiyan Demyan Demiyanov -ich/-na Latin
Денис Denis Dennis Denisov -ich/-na Denya Latin
Егор Egor Yegor Egorov -ich/-na
Евгений Yevgeny Evgeny, Yevgeny, Eugene Yevgeniyev (rare) -ich/-na Zhenya Latin
Емельян Emelian Yemeliyan, Emilian Emelianov -ich/-na Yemelya
Ефим Efim Yefim Efimov -ich/-na Fima
Ефрем Efrem Yefrem, Ephraim Efremov -ich/-na Hebrew
Захар/Захарий Zakhar (Zakhary) Zachary Zakharov (Zakhariev) -ich/-na Hebrew
Зиновий Zinovy Zinovi Zinoviyev -ich/-na
Иван Ivan Ioanne, John (loosely) Ivanov -ich/-na Vanya Greek
Игорь Igor Igoryev (rare) -ich/-na Varangian
Илларион Illarion Illarionov -ich/-na ??
Иосиф Iosif Joseph extinct Iosifovich/-na Hebrew
Иннокеннтий Innokenty Innokentiy Innokentiyev -ich/-na Kesha Latin
Ипполит Ippolit Ipplolet extinct Ippolitovich/-na
Исай Isay Isaiah Isayev -ich/-na Hebrew
Исак (Исаак) Isak (Isaak) Isaac extinct -ich/-na Izya Hebrew
Илья Iliya Ilya, Elia, Elijah Iliychyov (rare) Iliych/Iliynichna Ilyusha Hebrew
Ким Kim extinct Kimovich/na Constructed from Comintern
Кир Kir Kyr Kirov (rare) -ich/-na Persian
Кирилл Kirill Kirillov -ich/-na
Кузьма (Козьма) Kuzma (Kozma) Kosma extinct Kuzmich/Kuzminichna
Константин Konstantin Constantine extinct Konstantinovich/-na Kostya
Климентий (Климент) Klimenty (Kliment) Klimentiyev (Klimentov) -ich/-na Klim Latin
Лаврентий Lavrenty Lavrentiyev -ich/-na Latin
Лавр Lavr Lavrov -ich/-na Latin
Лев Lev Lvov -ich/-na Lyova Slavonic
Леонид Leonid Leonidov -ich/-na Lyonya Latin
Леонтий Leonty Leonti Leontiyev -ich/-na Latin
Лука Luka Luc extinct Lukich/Lukinichna Latin
Лукьян Lukian Lukiyan, Lucian Lukiyanov -ich/-na Latin
Макар Makar Makarov -ich/-na Greek (from Hebrew)
Марк Mark Marc Markov -ich/-na Latin
Марлен Marlen modern Marlenovich/-na Constructed from Marx and Lenin
Марклен Marklen modern Marklenovich/-na Constructed from Marx and Lenin
Мартын (Мартин) Martin extinct Martinovich/-na Latin
Матвей Matvey Matthew Matveyev -ich/-na Hebrew
Максим Maxim Maximov -ich/-na Max Latin
Максимилиан Maximilian extinct Maximilianovich/-na Max Latin
Михаил Mikhail Michael Mikhaylov -ich/-na Misha Hebrew
Модест Modest extinct Modestovich/-na Modya Latin
Нестор Nestor Nester Nestorov -ich/-na
Николай Nikolay Nikolai, Nicholas Nikolayev -ich/-na Kolya Greek
Никита Nikita Extinct Nikitich/Nikitichna
Никон Nikon Nikonov (rare) -ich/-na
Олег Oleg Helgu extinct Olegovich/Olegovna Varangian
Осип Osip Iosif, Joseph Osipov -ich/-na Hebrew
Пётр Pyotr Petr, Piotr, Peter Petrov -ich/-na Petya Greek/Latin
Платон Platon Plato Platonov -ich/-na Greek
Прокофий (Прокопий) Prokofy (Prokopy) Prokofiyev (Prokofiyev) ich/-na
Прохор Prokhor Prokhorov -ich/-na
Родион Rodion Rodionov -ich/-na Rodik Greek
Павел Pavel Paul Pavlov -ich/-na Pasha Latin
Роберт Robert extinct Robertovich/-na Latin
Роман Roman Romanov -ich/-na Latin
Ролан (Роланд) Rolan/Roland modern Rolanovich/-na (Rolandovich/-na) Latin
Ростислав Rostislav extinct Rostislavovich/-na Slava Slavonic
Руслан Ruslan Ruslanov -ich/-na Latin
Савва Savva extinct Savvich/-na Hebrew
Савелий Savely Saveli Saveliyev -ich/-na Greek
Святослав Svyatoslav extinct Svyatoslavovich/-na Slava Slavonic
Сергей Sergey Sergei, Serge Sergeyev -ich/-na Seryozha
Семён Simeon Semyon Simeonov -ich/-na Hebrew
Станислав Stanislav extinct Stanislavovich/-na Slava Slavonic
Степан Stepan Stephan Stepanov -ich/-na Styopa
Тарас Taras Tarasov -ich/-na
Тимофей Timofey Timothy Timofeyev -ich/-na
Тихон Tikhon Tikhonovich/Tikhonovna
Терентий Terenty Terentiy, Terence Terentiyev -ich/-na Latin
Тит Tit Titus Titov -ich/-na Latin
Феликс Felix modern Felixovich/-na Latin
Фёдор Fyodor Feodor, Fiodor, Theodor Fyodorov -ich/-na Fedya Greek
Фрол Frol Flor Frolov -ich/-na Latin
Фома Foma extinct Fomich/Fominichna Arameic
Филипп Philip Filipp, Philipp Philippov -ich/-na Latin
Харитон Khariton Kharitonov -ich/-na Greek
Юрий Yuri Yuri, Georgy (loosely) Yuriyev -ich/-na Yura Greek
Юлий Yuly Yuliy, July, Julius, Julian extinct Yuliyevich/-na Yulik Latin
Яков Iakov Yakov, Iacob, Jacob Iakovlev -ich/-na Hebrew
Ярослав Yaroslav modern Yaroslavovich/-na Slava Slavonic
Эдуард Edward Eduard modern Edwardovich/-na Edik English

Ancient forms

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Russian Transliteration Modern form
Гаврила/Гаврило Gavrila/Gavrilo Gavril (undistinguishable in Romanization)
Данила/Данило Danila/Danilo Danil (undistinguishable in Romanization)
Дамиан Damian Demiyan
Сампсон Sampson Samson
Димитрий Dimitri Dmitry
Добрыня Dobrynya extinct
Дионисий Dionisiy Denis
Егор Yegor Georgiy
Валериaн Valerian Valery
Иоанн Ioann Ivan
Михайло Mikhailo Mikhail
Макарий Makary Makar
Никола Nikola Nikolay
Симеон Simeon Semyon
Елисавет Elisavet Yelizaveta
Параскева Paraskeva Praskoviya
Марья Mariya Mariya (undistinguishable in Romanization)
Наталья Nataliya Nataliya (undistinguishable in Romanization)
Христиана Khristiana Kristina
Павлина Pavlina Paulina
Артемий Artemy Artyom
Сергий Sergiy Сергей
Софья Sofiya Sofiya (undistinguishable in Romanization)

Foreign surnames

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Surnames and names of foreign origin should basically follow Romanization rules for their respective languages. Adding Russian version is advised if doesn't follow standard practices for Romanizing or the person specifically chose to adopt a similar Russian surnname and/or name and patronymic combination (a practice common in XVI-XX centuries).

Russian Transliteration Conventional/Anglicized forms
Хакамада Khakamada Hakamada
Чарторыйский Chartorysky Czartoryski
Каподистрия Kapodistriya Capodistria
Тольятти Toliyatti Togliatti
Russian Transliteration Conventional/Anglicized forms
Москва Moskva Moscow
Санкт-Петербург Sankt-Peterburg St Petersburg
Архангельск Arkhangelsk Archangel
Курск Kursk
Ульяновск Ulyanovsk Ulyanovsk
Петергоф Petergof Peterhof

Proposals

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Based on case-by-case review of common Russian and borrowed, names, in addition to the rules defined Transliteration of Russian into English, the following guidelines are proposed in order to maintain phonetic English spelling:

  • If a name is borrowed from ancient Greek, Latin or Hebrew, the transliteration should avoid unnecessary complications and take into account its rendition in English if it sounds alike to the Russian one spelling and does not create any confusion – e.g. Maria, Tatiana, Sophia, Maxim, Alexander, Lidia, Xenia, Feodor, Simeon etc. A specific list should be provided in the article.
Reasons: Many borrowed names were originally written using exact transliterations, but they were simplified through the everyday use by adopting conventions of Slavic languages, and by numerous Reforms of Russian orthography. These alterations are commonly accepted today; however, they are mostly about writing but the spelling stays very close to original adaptations of 16th century. Because these differences in spelling are often impossible to perceive in English writing, the originals should be preserved if possible. This does not apply to names that were significantly changed in both spelling and writing.
  • The name borrowed from modern Latin-based languages should be written the way it's written in this particular language – e.g. Harry, Angela, Paulina, Jeanne, Roland, Victor, Victoria etc. The same applies to foreigners whose names were customarily adopted into their Russian equivalents (most of them are not problematic though – e.g. Adam,Robert, Albert, Adolf, Karl). A specific list should be provided in the article.
Reasons: obvious.
  • Soft sign should be replaced with i in front of the vowels, and ignored in any other place.
Reasons: Many soft-sign modifications of Western names are now considered folk as opposed to official which use И (Ма́рья vs Мари́я, Со́фья vs Софи́я ; И́лия vs Илья́ is the exception). Trying to universally substitute J or Y gives results inconsistent with English spelling.
  • Hard sign should be ignored at the end of words. In the middle it could be customarily replaces with hyphen or apostrophe if necessary.
Reasons: there's no other simple ways to indicate palatalization in English.
  • Short I (Й) at the end of the words (ей, ай, яй, уй, ой, юй, эй) should be transliterated with 'i, with the only exception of ий/ый when both vowels are represented with single i or y when it's common.
Reasons: The use of Y at the end of words contradicts many common English spellings, especially ей and эй which are to be transliterated with ey which is assumed to be long i in many end-of-word cases, and ay (ай) would often be incorrectly spelled as in way.
  • In a special case of ИЯ, the Y in ya should be dropped both in the middle and at the end of words.
Reasons: IA is unlikely to be confused with ИА, ИЯ or ЬА because these combinations are unconventional in modern Russian due to various simplifications, but IA is very conventional in English transliterations of Hebrew names.
  • In a special case of ЬИ (Ильич), the soft sign should be indicated with Y instead of I
Reasons: Conventional and unlikely to be confused with something else.
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Category:Romanization Category:Russian language Category:Cyrillic alphabets