Learn Russian Names: Last Name, First Name and Patronimic

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Self study guide for elementary level learners of Russian
and for intermediate level students who wish to review basic grammar and vocabulary

Phrasebook Topic 4

Learn Russian Names: Last Name, First Name and Patronimic

Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 1
Grammar Lesson 1 Gender of Nouns: Hard Stem. Personal pronouns он (he), она (she), оно (it). "The" and "a"."To be" in the Present tense
Grammar Lesson 2 Gender of Nouns: Hard and Soft Stems. Exceptions
Grammar Lesson 3 Nominative Plural of Nouns
Grammar Lesson 4 Personal Pronouns я, ты, он, она, оно, мы, вы, они. Ты vs. Вы
Phrasebook Topic 3 Professions
Phrasebook Topic 4 Learn Russian Names: Last Name, First Name and Patronimic
Quiz 5 Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 1-4 and Phrasebook Topics 3-4 with this 20 minute quiz.
Test 1 Check what you have learned from Russian Letters and Sound System section and Grammar Lessons 1-4

Лексика Russian Names - Русские имена

One Russian person has three names: first name - имя, last name - фамилия, and patronimic name - отчество.

First name

First names have many forms in Russian. In informal situations, and with children, Russians use a host of imaginative variations of a person's имя. For example, Михаил can appear as Миша, Мишенька, Мишка. Миха, Мишутка, Мишутонька, Мишуточка, and so on. Елена can be called Лена, Леночка, Ленка, Ленок, Ленуся. This is like using Nick for Nicholas or Mike for Michael, but the list can be very long, as Russians use the large range of suffixes available to them.

Here is the list of some Russian names with most common nick and affectionate forms.

Given name	Nick name	Affectionate name
used in formal situations and in one's ID	used in informal situations and to address a friend	used to address a child as well as one's nearest and dearest
men's names
Александр Алексей Анатолий Андрей Антон Борис Виктор Владимир Дмитрий Евгений Егор Иван Игорь Михаил Николай Олег Павел Пётр Роман Сергей Фёдор Юрий	Саша, Шура Лёша, Алёша Толя Андрюша Антоша, Тоша Боря Витя Володя, Вова Дима Женя - Ваня - Миша Коля - Паша Петя Рома Серёжа Федя Юра	Сашенька, Шурочка Лёшенька, Алёшенька Толенька Андрюшенька Антошенька, Тошенька Боренька Витенька Володенька, Вовочка Димочка Женечка Егорушка Ванечка Игорёк Мишенька Коленька Олежка, Олеженька Пашенька, Павлик Петенька Ромочка Серёженька Феденька Юрочка
women's names
Анна Алла Анастасия Антонина Варвара Дарья Екатерина Елена Елизавета Зинаида Инна Ирина Лариса Людмила Любовь Мария, Марья Наталия, Наталья Надежда Оксана Ольга Светлана Тамара Татьяна Юлия Яна	Аня - Настя Тоня Варя Даша Катя Лена Лиза Зина - Ира Лара Люда, Люся, Мила Люба Маша Наташа Надя - Оля Света Тома Таня Юля -	Анечка, Аннушка, Анюта Алочка Настенька Тонечка Варенька Дашенька Катенька, Катюша Леночка Лизонька Зиночка Иночка Ирочка Ларочка Людочка, Люсенька, Милочка Любочка Машенька Наташенька Наденька Оксаночка, Ксюша Оленька Светочка Томочка Танечка Юленька Яночка

Notes

Some given names have male and female variations. For example: Александр and Евгений are used for men and boys, Александра and Евгения - for women and girls. Their nick names and diminutives used for both male and female variations.
Some given names have no short (nick) names. For example: Егор, Игорь, Олег, Оксана, Алла, Инна, Яна. Though they all have diminutives.

Patronimics and Last Names

Patronimic names are used to address someone who is your senior or to denote respect. Adult Russians who are on formal terms will call each other by their first name and patronimic. Young people will address older people in this way. Patronimic name is formed from one's farther first name with the appropriate suffixes added: -ович or -евич for men and -овна, or -евна for women.

Examples:

Иван Петрович	Ivan, Peter's son
Михаил Сергеевич	Michael, Sergey's son
Анна Петровна	Anna, Peter's daughter
Ольга Сергеевна	Olga, Sergey's daughter

Russian last (family) names take on a feminine ending for women. For example:

Владимир Путин	Vladimir Putin but
Людмила Путина	Ludmila Putina

Notes

Some Russian last names are derived from first names historically. For example, the most widespread Russian last names are Иванов and Петров. They should not be confused with patronimics. The suffixes will help you to distinguish them. Here are some examples of full Russian names (first name + patronimic + last name). Listen to them. Note the difference between patronimic and last name suffixes.

имя - отчество - фамилия
Иван Иванович Иванов
Павел Антонович Петров
Мария Ивановна Иванова
Татьяна Сергеевна Андреева

Try to "Russianize" your first name and patronimic.

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