How to name a boy - old beautiful good simple strong male original Russian names for a boy

Heritage

What to name your son? Some are guided by the calendar, some by compatibility with the patronymic, some are looking for an original rare name, some choose among names of a certain origin... In any case, every name is beautiful and no matter what you decide on, your choice will be correct, after all, it is prompted by a loving heart. We invite you to pay attention to some native Russian and ancient Slavic names that resonate in the heart and subconscious at the level of sound and meaning, and create a stable spiritual connection between a boy of the 21st century and his real ancestors who lived on our land hundreds or even thousands of years before him ... There are many such names. A list of some of them with meanings is at the end of the article.

What is considered a Russian name for a boy?

The question itself is not as simple as it seems, since many people put different meanings into the concept of “Russian name for a boy”. Firstly, all names have a specific origin and among the most common in society today are biblical, Greek, and Roman names. These, in particular, include many names that have become completely familiar to our ears - such as, for example:

Alexey, Vasily, Vlas, Demyan, Gordey, Evgeniy, Kuzma, Makar, Nikolai, Prokhor
- Greek;
Vitaly, Victor, Dementy, Kondrat, Konstantin, Ignat, Maxim, Sergey
- Roman;
Elisha, Zakhar, Ilya, Matvey, Michael, Semyon, Thomas
- biblical.

- due to their large number and/or prevalence in the past, they are often conventionally considered Russian names. Yes, they really have become part of our culture, they have been calling their children in our country for many generations, and on this basis they can be classified as “Russian names”, that is, “names that children are often called (or were called) in Russia” .

Artist: Yuri Pantyukhin.
Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky. But one of the parents may want to find names for their children that would be originally Russian, or, rather, even Slavic, that is, “invented” here and widespread on our land not in the last few centuries, but even in ancient times . Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, there are no complete lists or official lists of names that existed in Rus' in pre-Christian times. Only a small part of such names have survived due to the fact that the deeds of their bearers were documented in separate documents, chronicles or birch bark letters. By studying them, we can imagine how the names of our distant ancestors might have sounded and partially reconstruct this lost layer of heritage.

Artist: Alexander Uglanov. On a sunny slope.

History of Old Russian male names

In Rus', there was a two-level custom of naming children: at birth, the son was given a nickname, which characterized either his position in the family, or the circumstances of birth or natural names; upon reaching adolescence, the child was given a second name, characterizing his internal qualities. After which both names could appear on the documents.

When boys reached the age of 7-10, they were usually sent to other families, either to artisans, or to more noble families, or to a squad.

Over the course of several years, the boy’s character was noted, and in accordance with it, a second name was given, which was subsequently taken into account in documents and deeds of sale.

Usually the names given when growing up consisted of two words that described the character of the young man. Often the child was called, to protect himself from the evil eye, by ugly names, such as: Fool, Nekras, Zloba.

What did children used to be called in Ancient Rus'?

In particular, researchers divided all Old Russian names into several groups according to a certain logic:

Totem names associated with animals and birds: Fox, Bear, Tur, Raven, Magpie.
Names that capture some external features: Belyai
(light),
Rusinko
(light brown),
Mal
(small),
Vyshen
(tall).
Names that capture some character traits: Buyan
(violent in temper),
Molchan
(silent),
Milan
(sweet, amiable).
Names associated with the characteristics of birth: Zhdan
(long-awaited child),
Nezhdan
(“random” child),
Istoma
(difficult birth).
Ordinal names associated with the order of birth: Pervusha, Vtorak, Tretyak
.
Names designed to scare away troubles and misfortunes: Failure, Koschey, Nemil
.
Names are amulets that carry a specific wish or attitude: most often with the endings -slav, -yar, -polk, mir, -bor. For example, Budimir
(=awakening the world),
Dobroslav
(=glorifying the dobo),
Ratibor
(=capable of defeating an entire army).

It should be remembered that in ancient times a person’s name could change over time.

For example, at birth he was named, conventionally, Mal (based on external characteristics), and having matured, or having undergone a certain initiation, he could have received a different name - for example, based on character traits or profession - say, Buyan. After the adoption of Christianity, a person could also simultaneously have two names - the one with which he was baptized according to the calendar, and the one given according to the old tradition, which became, as it were, a nickname - for example, Peter, nicknamed Molchan. The nickname could subsequently become fixed as a surname, which helped to distinguish between people with the same names.

Artist: Vsevolod Ivanov. Sanctuary of Chislobog.

In ancient times, the Slavs, apparently, also simultaneously had several names that were used in communication with people of different circles of proximity and kinship.

Thus, a person's real true personal name was known only to his parents, and perhaps his wife, teacher, or brother-in-law. For all others, nicknames were used throughout their lives, which could easily be changed under certain circumstances (like nicknames on the Internet). In this context, revealing your true name to someone is a sign of the highest degree of trust. This has come down to us in legends, according to which knowledge of the true name of someone (or the true name of an animal, thing) gives the knower power over that person. Based on this, we generally cannot say with certainty that the names of our ancestors that have come down to us through chronicles and charters were true personal names of people, and not nicknames used for “official, official and social contacts.”

Artist: Boris Olshansky. Berendey.

In addition, different classes were characterized by different names.

. For ordinary people, names were more often used to record external features, character traits, and order of birth. Among the military class and the nobility (boyars), two-part amulets names predominate, carrying a specific wish and often associated with the theme of victory, struggle, glory, etc.

There was also an unspoken list of names for the princes - all the Rurikovichs called their children names from this list and no others. You can easily check this yourself by re-reading the surviving historical chronicles with the names of the rulers of the principalities. At the same time, none of the lower classes had the right to name their children with these princely names. It is interesting that among these princely names there are both pre-Christian and biblical ones.

Artist:
I. S. Glazunov . Rurik, Truvor, Sineus.

Double name for a girl - Luna-Nicole

Mom Alena tells

Like any girl, as a child I really loved watching foreign films about love. And I have always been attracted to the double names of heroines.

When my eldest daughter Yulia was born, I wanted to give her a double name, but I didn’t dare, I was very young and listened to the opinions of those around me.

But my soul demanded a double name for my daughter! My husband and I thought about it for quite a long time. And as it turned out, the name Nicole was a perfect middle name (coincidentally, we are both fans of actress Nicole Kidman).

I know for sure that there is no other name like this in Russia. At home we call our daughter Lunyshka, but in kindergarten they call her by her full name.

Russian princely names of the Rurik dynasty

So the family princely names of the Rurikovichs include:

pre-Christian - Rurik, Oleg, Igor, Svyatoslav, Vladimir (Volodar/Volodsha), Vsevolod, Mstislav, Yaroslav, Yaropolk, Vyacheslav, Izyaslav, Svyatopolk, Rostislav, Rogvolod, Vseslav, Boris, Gleb
.
biblical - Roman, David, Vasily, Yuri
. Unlike the pre-Christian names of the princely list, biblical princely names could also be used by representatives of other classes, since they were available in the calendar, that is, they were open to everyone. Over time, the names of Boris and Gleb were also canonized. And even later, many others from the original princely list.

Forgotten and rare names of Slavic origin

The list of forgotten and rare names is very long:

Bezson – wakeful;
Bogorod is a relative of the gods;
Bozheslav - glorifying the deity;
Burislav - like a storm;
Vedamir - all-knowing;
Wenceslaus - wearer of the crown of glory;
Voibor – victorious in battle;
Vysheslav - highest in glory;
Gradimir - creator of the world;
Gorynya - invincible and unshakable like a mountain;
Gremislav - illustrious, thundering with glory;
Daniyar – given for shine;
Zlatan – precious;
Lyudmil - dear to people;
Mlad – junior, young;
Okomir – eye of the world;
Orislav – strong;
Radim – worried about the world;
Taislav is modest, concealing glory.

Whether a child should be given such a rare name should be decided by the parents themselves, after weighing the pros and cons.

Strong, beautiful and simple original Russian names for a boy

So how can we name a boy with a traditional Russian name today so that, on the one hand, it is connected with the most ancient layers of our history, and on the other hand, it does not sound inappropriate or strange to the ears of those around us?

Obviously, a whole series of ancient Slavic common names associated with animals, serial numbers, unsightly character traits, etc., will most likely disappear. At the same time, numerous lists of sonorous Old Slavic names presented on the Internet (mostly amulets names made up of two words), on the one hand, are also too unusual, and on the other hand, they often raise doubts whether this is really a really existing Old Russian name, and an analogue not invented in the 21st century, created simply on the basis of the general logic of composing Slavic names? If this fact does not bother you, then, of course, you can choose many beautiful options. In addition, what is important - regardless of their historical authenticity - these are names with meaning, the meaning of which is intuitively clear to any Russian person, so they still carry the function of a “amulet”. And who, in principle, forbids us to create new names in the context of our tradition, since historically it turned out that a large number of old and dear ones were irretrievably lost?

However, let's return to more familiar names. It seems optimal to search for options among ancient Russian/Slavic names that are more or less well-known in the context of our history, and therefore allow us to maintain the desired balance between adherence to tradition and modern realities. Such names, in subjective opinion, include:

The princely names mentioned above are known to everyone and recorded in numerous chronicles. Most of them are also included in the calendar, since many princes were subsequently canonized, that is, with this name a child can even be baptized, if desired.
Names of heroes, famous warriors and heroes of Rus'. Not all of them are included in the calendar, however, these names are also quite well known, are well remembered and evoke positive associations among most people. In addition, the very fact of their existence can be considered unambiguously confirmed - since they were brought to us by numerous ancient legends and traditions.
Names that at first glance seem to come from the Bible, Scandinavia, Byzantium or Rome, but in fact - according to some theories that we will voice below - are originally Russian and are easily “read” in Russian on a subconscious level.

The influence of related cultures on the formation of Old Russian male names

After the Baptism of Rus', Old Church Slavonic names gradually replaced the newcomer Greek, Latin and Jewish ones. But for a long time, young parents gave their children two names: one name was secret, which only parents and priests knew about, it was believed that it protected the child; the second name was given at baptism.

After the Baptism of Rus', instead of pagan gods, the people believed in the One God. At that time, in order to completely abandon paganism, many changed their names on their own, some by force, mostly they were servants of the gods.

Let's take a closer look at some of the original Russian names with history and meaning

Oleg

- “officially” it is considered that this is a name of Scandinavian origin (in the original version Helgi), meaning “saint”, “dedicated”. However, there are reasons to disagree with this interpretation and attribute this name to the original Russian-Slavic ones. The fact is that in all languages of the Slavic group there is a male name meaning “wolf” (Vuk, Vouk, Vulko, Volek, etc.), and only in Russian it seems to be absent. This is extremely strange, especially considering the fact that among our ancestors the wolf was one of the main sacred animals (along with the bear, raven and moose), personifying intelligence, strength, devotion, dexterity, reliability, fidelity, determination and a number of traditional male traits character. Such a name should have served as the strongest protective totem, and in its character and energy it would have been quite suitable for the prince. There is a version that Oleg (Voleg, Volek, Volga) is the Wolf, and Olga, in turn, is the female version of this name. By the way, Oleg, as we know, is part of the circle of princely names of the Rurikovichs, and its most famous bearer is Prince Oleg the Prophet.

Artist: Igor Ozhiganov.
Prophetic Oleg - farewell to the horse. Igor

- another name from the “Scandinavian” circle, where it sounds like “Ingvar”, meaning “warlike” or “protecting God” or “guarded by God.”
It has been noted, however, that the name Ingvar does not appear in the medieval chronicles of Scandinavia at all, and became widespread there much later. The Scandinavian origin of the Varangians-Rus, who came to Rus' led by Rurik, also raises more and more questions - there are much more compelling reasons to consider them a related Slavic-speaking tribe from the shores of the Baltic (read more). In this regard, it is appropriate to consider another hypothesis, according to which the name Igor comes from the Russian “igra” (Old Russian “igr”), meaning something like “player” (= merry fellow? strategist? lively active person?). The most famous historical character is Igor, the son of Rurik and the pupil of the Prophetic Oleg, whose wife was Olga. The name Igor is included in the list of princely names of the Rurikovichs. Artist: Ilya Glazunov.
Prince Oleg with Igor. Boris

- an abbreviated/diminutive form of the common Proto-Slavic name Borislav, common in the past in the territories of Rus' and Bulgaria. Means “fighter”, “glorious in the fight”, “fighting for glory”. Historically, the most famous in Rus' was Prince Boris - Gleb's brother - both of them were killed in the fight with their older brother Svyatopolk, and later canonized by the church. The name Boris is included in the list of princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Gleb (Uleb)

- There are several versions of the origin of the name. Some derive its etymology from the Scandinavian or Old German Gottlieb, meaning “favorite of God (Gods)”, others believe that the name Gleb comes from the Old Slavic word “gleba” - that is, “earth”. The name Gleb is included in the list of princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Artist: N.K. Roerich .
Boris and Gleb. Svyatoslav

- “holy glory.” The most famous Svyatoslav of Ancient Rus' is the warrior prince, son of Igor and Olga Svyatoslav Igorevich, who became famous for a number of victorious Khazar and Bulgarian campaigns. Svyatoslav seriously expanded the borders and sphere of influence of Ancient Rus', fought on equal terms with Constantinople, and in terms of the scale of his personality and the strategic victories he achieved, he is considered one of the most outstanding rulers of Rus'. The name is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs, and is also one of the few Russian “pagan” names canonized by the church. However, it was not Svyatoslav described above, also known as an ardent zealot of the ancient faith, who was canonized, but Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, the Vladimir prince of the 13th century (Svyatoslav-Gabriel Yuryevsky).

Artist: Boris Olshansky.
Battle on the Dnieper. Vladimir (Volodimir/Volodar/Volodsha/Volotoman)

- in this case, the Slavic version of the origin from the words “owning the world” seems indisputable, however, a number of scientists still offer the Scandinavian version Valdimarr (from “vald” - ruler and “marr” - famous). Which interpretation seems more realistic is up to you to decide; however, we note the interesting fact of the mention of the name Volodymyr in the oldest surviving holy book of Ancient Rus' - the “Dove Book”, dressed in a Christian form, but essentially representing a pre-Christian view of the world. There, a certain Volodimir Volodimirovich (in other lists - Volotoman Volotomanovich) asks questions about the structure of the world to Tsar Davyd Osievich (aka Davyd Evseevich). Unfortunately, information about who both of these characters were has not reached us, however, it is obvious that for listeners in the past it was perfectly clear who was being discussed, and the significance of these figures in the context of the fact that they are mentioned in this sacred text, no doubt. (read more). The name Vladimir is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Yaroslav

- “Yar + glory” can mean 1) “glorifying Yar (Yaril).” Yarila-Yarilo personifies the sun, and in particular its youngest, passionate, hottest hypostasis - the spring sun, being one of the main gods of the ancient Slavic pantheon. Yarilo is awakening, fertility, currents of all kinds of energies, purity, sincerity, light, an invincible thirst for life and love. Thus, Yaroslav is “glorifying Yarila”, “glorifying the sun”, “glorifying life; 2) “ardent”, that is, strong, powerful, hot, energetic; respectively, in its entirety - “possessing bright glory” or “glorious with its vitality (rage).” Both interpretations complement each other, and one way or another revolve around the concept of Yar - vital force. Naming a child with this name is intended to enhance the corresponding qualities in him, or to emphasize his spiritual closeness to the sun god. The most famous historical Yaroslav is Yaroslav the Wise, famous for his educational activities, the creation of the first legislative act of Rus' “Russian Truth”, as well as his far-sighted foreign policy. The name Yaroslav is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Artist: Viktor Korolkov.
Yarilo. Vsevolod

- consists of the Old Russian words “vs” (= all, everything) + “volodeti” (= to own), that is, it means “owning everything”, “omnipotent”. The most famous historical figure is Vsevolod the Big Nest, also known as Vsevolod III. The time of his reign marked the heyday of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. The prince left behind 12 children, including 8 sons, for which he received his nickname. The name Vsevolod is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Mstislav

- consists of the Old Russian words “vengeance” (= to protect, to overcome) + “slava”, that is, it means “gloriously protecting”, “glorious defender”, “glorious warrior”. As we see, the root of “revenge” in Old Russian included a much wider range of concepts than just revenge on someone, and the main ones were just positive ones - associated with protection, preservation, and righteous struggle. The most famous historical character is Mstislav the Brave (Udaloy) of Tmutarakan, who became famous as a great warrior, brave in battle (he fought against the Kasogs, participated in the campaign of Yaroslav the Wise to Poland), merciful to the defeated and attentive to his army. The name Mstislav is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Artist: N.K. Roerich .
Single combat between Mstislav and Rededey. Yaropolk

- consists of the Old Russian words “ardent” (that is, energetic, ardent, furious, active, radiant) and “regiment” (= people, crowd, assembly). “Regiment” can be interpreted both as a large army and simply as a community of people; accordingly, the name Yaropolk can be read in two ways: “shining among the people,” “inspiring the army,” “charging the people around with fury,” “worth a whole army,” and so on. Such polysemy does not at all mean that the interpretation of this name today is blurred or inaccurate - the fact is that all the original root stems, used in particular for adding names, contain a wide layer of meanings and meanings that complement each other without any or a contradiction or need to “choose” just one. It is the complex of all meanings that creates a single correct image - as if we are looking at a certain object from different angles. The name Yaropolk is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Svyatopolk

- consists of the Old Russian words “sacred” (that is, bright, sacred, sublime) and “regiment” (= people, crowd, assembly). Can be interpreted as “revered as a saint,” “illuminating the people (or army) with the light of their soul,” “holy army,” etc. The name Svyatopolk is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Artist: Andrey Klmenko.
A Tale of Igor's Campaign, Eclipse of the Sun. Vyacheslav

- “vyache” in Old Russian was used in the concept of “more, stronger, better” as a comparative degree, that is, the name Vyacheslav is read as “more glorious”, “superior to others in its glory”, “most glorious”. There were other transcriptions of him - Vecheslav, Vyacheslav. Interestingly, among the southern Slavs the name Vyacheslav was transformed into the form Vaclav - many historical characters are also known by this name. The name Vyacheslav is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs. For several centuries it was almost completely forgotten, until, in the wake of a return to the “Russian style” and an in-depth study of the native culture, a “fashion” arose for it among the nobles and intelligentsia in the 19th century.

Rostislav

- means "growing glory", "increasing glory", "one whose fame is constantly increasing." The name Rostislav is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Vseslav

- means “glorified by all,” “the most glorious,” but, at the same time, it can also have the meaning “glorifying everything,” that is, “glorifying life.” Its truncated form Seslav was also used. A well-known bearer of the name is Vyacheslav Bryachislavich, the Polotsk prince featured in “The Word and Igor’s Campaign,” also known as Vseslav the Prophetic or Vseslav the Magician, a warrior-magician, a hero, who was credited with the ability to turn into a beast. The name Rostislav is one of the princely names of the Rurikovichs. Unlike most of the names mentioned above, he was never canonized by the church.

Monument to Vseslav Bryachislavovich in Polotsk.
The following names were NOT included in the list of princely names of the Rurikovichs, but may also be of interest to those who are looking for a beautiful and strong original Russian or Slavic name for a boy:

Stanislav

- means “to become glorious.” In the history of Rus', a single use of this name is recorded for a member of the princely Rurik dynasty - we are talking about Stanislav Vladimirovich, the youngest son of Vladimir the Saint. For some reason, this name was never used again by representatives of the princely family. At the same time, it became quite widespread among the nobility and boyars, of which relevant documentary evidence remains. With the spread of Christianity, the name practically disappeared from use, and then returned in a very unusual way from Poland: there this name (with an emphasis on the last syllable) was extremely popular at all times, and even kings were often called Stanislavs, one of whom established the corresponding state award - Order of St. Stanislaus. With the annexation of Poland, this award was “inherited” by the Russian Empire, and the order not only took root on our land, but also became one of the most frequently issued. Along with the spread of the Order, interest in the name Stanislav returned, however, its widespread dissemination was hampered by its absence in the Orthodox name book. After the October Revolution, the name gradually began to appear more and more often.

Order of St. Stanislaus
Ratmir

- like Stanislav, it was most common among the ancient Russian nobility, boyars, and warriors of the squad. It was not used by princes and ordinary people. The name Ratmir was given by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin to one of the key characters in the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila”, endowed with such traits as ardor, love, and the desire to get what he wants at any cost. Obviously, it was not in vain that our great poet chose this name for such a hero.

Vladislav

- “possessing glory.” There is a version that the name came to Rus' quite late - in the 13th century from neighboring South Slavic peoples (possibly Serbs). An indirect confirmation of this is the absence of a name in the series of princely names of the Rurikovichs.

Miroslav

- can mean “glorifying the world”, “glorified by love of peace”, “glorious in the world (that is, among the people)”, “glory to the whole world”. The name Miroslav is common among all Slavic peoples. However, not a single saint with that name was canonized. In Rus', it was probably used more often among the nobility, boyars and squads. The names of the Rurikovichs are not included in the princely list.

Artist: Konstantin Makovsky.
Boyar wedding feast. Vadim

- etymologists have not come to a common point of view on how to interpret the meaning of the name, although on the question of its origin, the majority agrees that the name should be classified as Old Slavic. 1) From the Old Russian “vaditi” - “to sow confusion”, “to argue”. This interpretation raises great doubts, because, as we can see by studying other ancient Russian names, they are always built around the positive concepts of “glory”, “peace”, “to own”, “to win”. On the other hand, “sower of troubles” or “disputer” - if such a meaning is allowed - is not a very strong repulsive nickname that could be used to scare away troubles, such as the names Koschey or Failure. 2) The root basis of “Wadi” is also sometimes interpreted as “to tame”, “to lure”, “to call” - as in the word “to attract” that is familiar to us today. In this context, the name Vadim is interpreted as “calling”, “alluring”. 3) According to the third version, Vadim is an abbreviation of the full name Vadislav, which, taking into account the previous version, can be expanded as “calling glory.” This interpretation seems to be the most reasonable, since in this case, the name completely fits into the general series and logic of the formation of two-part male names in Rus'.

Bogdan

- as you might guess, it means “God-given”, “God’s gift”. Perhaps this was the name given to especially long-awaited children, for example, in families where they did not appear for a long time. The only thing that remains unclear is which God (or Gods?) we are talking about in this case, since opinions differ regarding the time of appearance of this name - whether it came along with the Christian faith, or whether it existed in Rus' in pre-Christian times. Some etymologists believe that the name is a tracing from the ancient Greek name “Theodotus” with a similar meaning, others believe that in this case the name would simply enter the Russian language in its original sound “Theodotus” (in general, the name Fedot is just that and is), like other Greek names that were not “translated” into Russian.

Peresvet

- the prefix "pere-" was used in Russian to denote the highest degree of something and was later shortened to "pre-" - as in the words "wise", "wonderful", "excellent". Peresvet, accordingly, means “very bright”, “brightest light”, “light of light”, “the complete opposite of darkness”, etc. The Russian hero Peresvet, who went out to fight with the khan’s combatant Chelubey before the Mamaev massacre, has gone down in history forever. According to the preserved history, both fighters died in the fight, however, according to some versions, Chelubey initially cheated by taking a much longer spear, which gave him a huge advantage over the enemy. Nevertheless, Peresvet, although he himself also died, was still able to knock Chelubey out of the saddle, that is, he equalized the result of an obviously unequal fight, which means that in a certain sense he won.

Artist: Boris Olshansky.
Overexposure on the Kulikovo field. Dobrynya (Dobryn)

— comes from the word “good,” which, in ancient times, probably had a meaning closer to the concepts of “daring” or “the best” than to the word “kind” as we understand it today. According to some versions, it was a shortened name from the full Dobromir or Dobroslav. Historically, however, it was the shortened version that was remembered, in no small part due to the image of the Russian hero Dobrynya Nikitich. The name is also often found in historical chronicles as the name of a particular boyar or city mayor.

Artist: V. Vasnetsov.
Fight between Dobrynya Nikitich and the seven-headed Serpent Gorynych. Rodion

is a rather controversial name within our list. According to the generally accepted version, it came to us from Greece and means “resident of the island of Rhodes.” Nevertheless, the name is clearly readable in Russian, and if so, is it worth complicating something that our brain intuitively perceives as simple without any translation into other languages? “Rod” is the name of the ancient Slavic God the Father, from whom the rest of the gods descended, who, in turn, created our world and people. The name “Rod” then expanded to designate the gens in the sense of family, that is, a series of ancestors going back centuries (all the way to God Rod himself). Rodion, with this interpretation, is “a descendant of the clan (or Rod?)”, “together with the clan (or Rod?)”

Below are other options for male names, including rarer ones that are classified as traditional Russian/Slavic male names:

B - Bazhen

(desired),
Bogdan, Bogolyub, Boleslav
(more glorious),
Borimir
(fighter for peace),
Boris, Borislav, Boyan
(fighter),
Brachislav
(famous warrior),
Bronislav
(defender of glory),
Budimir
(awakening peace) V -
Vadim
(Vadimir),
Velizar
(a lot of light),
Vladimir, Vladislav, Voislav
(fighting for glory),
Volodar
(owner),
Volga
(Volkh, possibly an analogue of the name Oleg with the meaning of wolf),
Vsevolod, Vseslav, Vysheslav
(more glorious),
Vyacheslav
G -
Gleb, Gorazd
(big),
Gorislav
(blazing glory),
Gradimir
(creator of the world),
Gremislav
(thundering glory) D -
Danislav
(give glory = let him be glorious),
Dobroslav
(Dobrynya, Dobryata),
Dobrynya
(daring),
Dragomil
(especially dear),
Dragomir
(who treasures the world),
Druzhina
(friend, comrade-in-arms) F -
Zhdan
(long-awaited child) Z -
Zvyaga
(ringing, loud) I -
Igor, Izyaslav
(who has achieved fame),
Istoma
(difficult childbirth)

Artist: Igor Ozhiganov.
Lel. L - Ladimir

(getting along with the world, pacifying),
Lel
(= the name of the Slavic god of love Lelya),
Luchezar
(radiant),
Lyubim
(darling, beloved),
Lyubomir
(loving the world, beloved by the world) M -
Mal
(Malyuta) (small),
Mecheslav
( sword and glory),
Milan
(darling),
Mirko
(peaceful),
Miroslav
(glorifying the world, glorious in the world),
Mstislav
(defender of glory) O -
Odinets
(the only one),
Oleg
(=Voleg=wolf),
Ostromir
(piercing the world) R -
Radimir
(caring for peace),
Radislav
(fighter for glory),
Radomir (Radmir)
(joyful peace),
Ratibor
(capable of defeating an entire army),
Ratmir
,
Rostislav
S -
Svyatopolk, Svyatoslav, Stanimir, Stanislav, Stoyan
(steadfast) ,
Sumorok
(born at dusk) T -
Tverdislav
(affirmer of glory),
Tihomir
(pacified),
Tretyak
(third in the family) U -
Uslad (Oslad)
(loving inheritance) X -
Khors (Khros)
(= name of the god of the autumn sun Khors) ,
Khotislav
(desiring glory) Ch -
Cheslav
(honor and glory) I -
Jaromir, Yaropolk, Yaroslav

List of options for a male child by month and their Old Slavonic meaning

Many of our ancestors followed a list of Slavic names that would be best suited for a particular month of the year, for example:

January

Phaedrus: God's gift; The character of a boy with this name will be gentle and strong, protecting his owner from unpleasant, sometimes cruel, external factors.
Proclus: Spartan knight; such a person is usually very shy and reserved.
Timothy: God-honoring; With the name Timofey it is very easy and fun, he always has friends and companions in life.
Stepan: crown, diadem; He is a very active fellow, loves noisy digging and never sits still.
Theoktist: created by God; Theoktista's character is not always pleasant to those around him; he is very cunning, sometimes irritable, and quick-tempered. A person with that name is an intolerable lazy person who does not tolerate the opinions of others.
Trofim: breadwinner; From an early age, Trofim grows up as a serious and strong-willed child, who in most cases does as he sees fit, without listening to the opinions of the people around him.
Athanasius: immortal; The character is endowed with curiosity and the desire to move forward, as well as balance and great imagination.
Clement: merciful; Clement's character is sweet and independent; it often happens that his perseverance helps him achieve a lot in life.
Theodosius: given by God; He grows up smiling and good-natured, but, despite all this, very touchy.
Nahum: comforting; Outwardly, Naum is calm and peaceful; he will never show his inner world to strangers or unfamiliar people.
Ivan: God's mercy; From an early age he grows up to be a smart and active boy, always finding adventures and moving forward.
Savva: captive; The owner of this name is warm and generous towards his family, friends and sometimes almost strangers.

February

Vsevolod: owner of everything; The owner of this name is focused and often serious.
Arseny: courageous; Since childhood, Arseny has been stubborn and persistent, achieving everything on his own.
Gerasim: venerable; The name Gerasim often intertwines such qualities as good nature, wit and firmness.
Julian: from the Julian family; a person with a similar name is very energetic and cheerful.
Pavel: small; Since childhood, Pavel has been very attached to his mother; his character is gentle, caring, homely, but at the same time quite eccentric.
Nikita: winner; a person who is fickle in his affections and feelings, prone to rapid mood swings and changes of plans.
Prokhor: singing; a strong, reserved and emotional character that attracts all women.
Luke: light; possesses such qualities as efficiency, confidence, cordiality.
Nikifor: winner; owners of such names are often inclined towards science and programming.
Valerian: strong, healthy; likes to take on everything at once, discover a lot of new things, but in return this does not always bring benefits.
Akim: erected by God; hides a highly intelligent and quite active personality.
Arkady: blessed, bear hunter; From an early age, Arkasha develops a soft and cheerful character.
Valentin: healthy; The character of this boy has considerable firmness, but at the same time a certain lightness and lightness.

March

Fedot: long-awaited; Fedot has a calm and quiet character, prone to self-will.
Philip: horse lover; Confident in himself from an early age, he amazes with his actions, which are aimed for the better.
Mlad: young; such a name often foreshadows success in the future and inspires considerable trust among others.
Kuzma: active; They tend to take a scientific approach in all their actions and are able to concentrate.
Makar: happy; considered one of the most mysterious characters. Balanced and also able to make important decisions.
Casimir: predict, tell the world; It very often occurs that the character is formed from childhood to be stubborn and persistent.
Sevastian: highly respected; outwardly a fairly balanced person, but often very hot-tempered inside.
Egor: patron of agriculture; On the one hand, the boy is very sharp and focused, but on the other hand, he can be a little withdrawn.
We love: beloved; a spiritually rich boy, always trying to make the world a little better.
Gerasim: venerable; The name Gerasim often intertwines such qualities as good nature, wit and firmness.

April

Innocent: innocent; a quiet boy who seeks solace in books and loved ones.
David: beloved; the name of a smart and bright boy who is ready to do anything to make his family and people close to him happy.
Martin: Mars-like; a shy and quiet character often predominates.
Mstislav: glorious avenger; From childhood, the child stands out for his activity and endless energy.
Ognedar: giving fire; the name is characterized by emotionality, practicality, optimism and spirituality.
Benjamin: beloved child; Smart beyond his years, he grows up as a stubborn and inquisitive child, without losing his qualities in adulthood.
Efim: pious; A very honest and kind child makes his parents happy from an early age and is endowed with acting and creative talents.
Leonidas: son of the lion; the very name speaks of his proud and majestic character, attracting other people and loving to be above everyone else.
Plato: powerful; He looks broadly at this whole world, is hardworking and extraordinary.
Zakhar: God's memory; a sympathetic and peace-loving man who is always happy to help.

May

Ratibor: protector; little Ratik is calm and balanced. Not prone to outbursts of emotion and whims.
Semyon: hearing; Semyon's character combines shyness, slight excitability, perseverance and energy.
Peter: stone; The bearer of such a name is very vulnerable, and also quite impressionable and sincere.
David: beloved; the name of a smart and bright boy who is ready to do anything to make his family and people close to him happy.
Gabriel: divine warrior; an active and sociable friend with a good sense of humor and wit.
Thomas: twin; From childhood he grows up to be a kind and calm boy.
Vsevolod: owner of everything; The owner of this name is focused and often serious.
Jacob: heel; The owner of this name has a rich inner world and a big heart.
Nikifor: winner; owners of such names are often inclined towards science and programming.

June

Khotomir: desiring peace; balanced, decent, able to control his actions and emotions.
Egor: patron of agriculture; On the one hand, the boy is very sharp and focused, but on the other hand, he can be a little withdrawn.
Christian: Christian; From childhood to adulthood, the boy is attracted to technology, and in this area he is able to achieve many successes.
Elisha: salvation; an eternally cheerful and cheerful guy who simply cannot help but be in company - that’s everything for him.
Gregory: cheerful; dependent on the opinions of others, loves to show himself from the best side, emphasizing everything with clothes. Technique is Gregory’s weakness.
Tikhon: calm; The character is quiet, balanced, fully living up to its name.
Carp: fruit; looks like a small animal, just as clumsy, good-natured and funny.
Khariton: favor; The character is quite complex, often prone to narcissism.
Yang: Merciful God; a child bearing such a name most often has a brilliant and well-built mind.

July

Emelyan: flattering; Most often, such a child is calm, hardworking and quite modest.
Yaropolk: fierce warrior; The character of the name lies in fortitude and courage. From an early age he feels his own specialness.
Fedot: long-awaited; Fedot has a calm and quiet character, prone to self-will.
Demyan: conqueror; Most often, the bearers of this name are characterized by harshness and impulsiveness.
Nicodemus: conqueror of nations; Nikodim grows up to be a sociable and straightforward boy, as well as tactful and delicate.
Demid: advice of Zeus; a persistent boy, endowed with a special destiny.
Thomas: twin; From childhood he grows up to be a kind and calm boy.
Light color: light; stands out from the general crowd with his eternally positive mood, the expression “glowing from within” can completely describe a boy with that name.
Milan: cute; always eager to help someone, which often leads to additional problems.

August

Seraphim: fiery angel; this name has a special energy that endows the child with charisma, the ability to show oneself and the brightness of the soul.
Elijah: God's power; Ilya is an extremely economical person who treats his loved ones warmly.
Krasimir: beauty of the world; the name completely describes the character, every second Krasimir comes up with something. Such qualities as ambition, kindness, and practicality prevail.
Matvey: God's gift; the soul of the company and the pride of his parents.
Nahum: comforting; Outwardly, Naum is calm and peaceful; he will never show his inner world to strangers or unfamiliar people.
Stepan: crown, diadem; He is a very active fellow, loves noisy digging and never sits still.
Clement: merciful; Clement's character is sweet and independent; it often happens that his perseverance helps him achieve a lot in life.

September

Arseny: courageous; Since childhood, Arseny has been stubborn and persistent, achieving everything on his own.
David: beloved; the name of a smart and bright boy who is ready to do anything to make his family and people close to him happy.
Yesislav: truly glorious; usually belong to a layer of society that can afford a lot.
Zlatoslav: valuable warrior; Since childhood, I have often heard such an expression as “a ray of sunshine” addressed to me.
Khariton: favor; The character is quite complex, often prone to narcissism.
Pavel: small; Since childhood, Pavel has been very attached to his mother; his character is gentle, caring, homely, but at the same time quite eccentric.
Jacob: heel; The owner of this name has a rich inner world and a big heart.
Gorisvet: clear; the name belongs to such a person who is capable of much, even for the sake of an ordinary goal.
Julian: from the Julian family; a person with a similar name is very energetic and cheerful.

October

Ivan: God's mercy; From an early age he grows up to be a smart and active boy, always finding adventures and moving forward.
Vladislav: owner of glory; grows up as a capricious and active child, loving his mother and demanding maximum attention from her.
Ignatius: fiery; From an early age he grows up as a peaceful, smiling and bright boy.
Mark: hammer; most often the name belongs to a practical, sober-minded and independent person.
Erofey: sacred; grows calm and quiet, almost unnoticed. Endowed with great intellectual abilities.
Vedagor: in charge; bright and sensitive, bringing joy to everyone around.
Benjamin: beloved child; Smart beyond his years, he grows up as a stubborn and inquisitive child, without losing his qualities in adulthood.
Burislav: indestructible, like a storm; grows up as a hot-tempered and slightly capricious child who loves attention from the outside.

November

Jacob: heel; The owner of this name has a rich inner world and a big heart.
Heraclius: glory of Hera; an extraordinary person endowed with many abilities: in music, architecture, in the field of exact sciences.
Ignatius: fiery; From an early age he grows up as a peaceful, smiling and bright boy.
Boris: struggle; an independent boy who achieves everything himself.
Blagoyar: fair; a very charismatic fellow, capable of achieving a lot, if you just want it.
Zareslav: dawn; a sociable person who loves to be the center of attention.
Orestes: highlander; a sociable and active guy, sometimes sentimental. Poorly tolerates various losses or breaks in relationships.
Vincent: victorious; manifestations of love and tenderness are rare, but if the right person is found, then these feelings will pour out on him to the fullest.

The most traditional Russian name for a boy is Ivan?

Ask 10 people which male name is the most typical Russian name and 9 out of 10 will most likely say Ivana. And really, what other name appears so often, for example, at least in Russian proverbs?

What Vanya didn’t learn, Ivan
won't learn.
Ivan
small but smart.
Ivan
I was in the Horde, and Marya tells the news.
With the name Ivan
, no name - idiot.
Ivan
Marya doesn’t listen: he’s too good at giving orders himself.
Ivan is getting some exercise
- we will get it too.
Ivan is rich
- rich and gentleman.
Good Ivan
- both to people and to us;
thin Ivan
- neither to people, nor to us.

The most common interpretation of the meaning of the name Ivan states that it comes from the biblical John, which, in turn, goes back to the Hebrew Yohanan or Yoanan and means “God (Yahweh) is merciful” or “God’s reward.” But is it possible to prove such a connection? And are there real prerequisites for confirming this version? In this case, it would be necessary to clearly record that the name Ivan spread to Rus' precisely with the advent of Christianity, but was never used before.

But in addition to proverbs (which may just be the fruit of folk art of recent centuries, so to speak - sayings for a popular name), the name Ivan literally permeates all Russian fairy tales! Ivan the Fool ,
Ivan Tsarevich , Ivan and the Gray Wolf, Ivan the Cow's Son, Ivan Bykovich, Ivan the Peasant Son, Ivan and the Sea Tsar, Ivan and Sivka-Burka , Ivan and the Battle on Kalinov Bridge, Ivan and the Frog Princess , Ivan and Miracle Yudo , Ivan and Koschey the Immortal ...
in fact, in our fairy tales there are NO other main characters with names AT ALL. Or simply “man”, “merchant”, “tsar”, “son”, “soldier”, or - if he is called by name - then Ivan.

Artist: Ivan Bilibin. Ivan Tsarevich is at a crossroads.

There is no need to prove that Russian fairy tales, with their spells, triple repetition of actions, conversations with animals, a needle in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare... and other magical objects, rituals and characters, have nothing in common with Christianity and are rooted in deep antiquity - call it pre-Christian, pagan or Vedic. And in them, everywhere and always, the main character - Ivan - is essentially a kind of collective image of a Russian person, who is often at first considered unlucky or even a fool, and then turns out to be a real sage, who, with the help of his ingenuity, becomes the only one who overcame incredible obstacles, found way out of all hopeless situations, and even received a fabulous reward.

Artist: Viktor Vasnetsov.
Ivan Tsarevich and the Grey Wolf.
But perhaps the name John, which came along with the Bible, was so loved by the Russian people that it even found its way into the original texts of folk tales? Yes, John is the beloved disciple of Jesus Christ, there is the Gospel of John, but there is also the Gospel of Mark, Luke, Matthew, there is the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, closely connected with Russia, and the prophet Elijah, beloved by the people - but none of these We will not meet names in any fairy tale even once...

The opposite picture seems more consistent - people in Rus' baptized under the name John more readily than other names precisely because it was most consonant with the ancient sacred name Ivan, which has always existed in Rus'. It remains to find out its meaning.

Classification of Old Russian male names

Men in ancient Rus' were named according to several principles:

Ugly names that protect a child from the evil eye: Neglyad, Zlobynya, Fool.
Name in honor of a plant or animal: Cat, birch, wolf.
Names consisting of two words that characterize the bearer: Vladimir - the ruler of the world, Yaropolk - a fierce commander, Bogdan - given by God.
Names that reflect the position in the family, for example: Starshak - eldest son, Tretyak - third son, Pervusha - first son.
Names of pagan gods: Yarilo.

Origin and meaning of the Russian name Ivan - versions

Ivan - from the sacred willow tree, revered by the Slavs, Celts and Greeks as a protector from evil forces and misfortunes, a tree that gives water (willows always grow near water) and an analogue of the World Tree on earth.
Ivan = “man”, “born man”. In Sanskrit, whose common roots with the Russian language have been proven by a number of domestic and foreign researchers, including Svetlana Zharnikova, “jan” means “to be born,” and “jana” means “person.” By the way, it is interesting that in the same Sanskrit “dur” means “door”, and “dur-anta” means the door to infinity. A direct indication that the “fool” is a channel of communication with other worlds and cosmic wisdom.
Ivan = "forest" (grove/tree/willow) or "source" from Sanskrit "vana". Or maybe the “tree of origin”? "World tree"? Here we again return to “man born”, in the meaning of “source”.

Artist: Viktor Korolkov. Sacred tree.

Thus, all three of the above versions complement each other, forming a coherent picture, from which it follows that “IVAN/YAN/VANYA” is the Primordial Man, the Foundation of the Fundamentals, the Source, the Born Man, who has a connection with the cosmos, that is, representing a microcosm , an analogue of the World Tree at a certain level of reality and existence. It is not surprising that this original name was included in all Indo-European languages (Iavan, John, Ioan, Johann, Johann, Jonas, Vano, Hovhannes, Jan, Janus, Jean, Juan, Juan, Ivo, Jen, Giovanni, Gan, Hans, John, Veni, Eni, Aeneas, Johan, Sean, Ion, etc.) and remained in them through the millennia, when people who had dispersed from a common ancestral home ceased to understand each other. It is interesting that the root “VAN” is clearly visible in some languages of the peoples of Southeast Asia, where it means “Prince, King, Master” - in particular, this is the title that the Chinese emperors bore... ___________ To summarize, it remains to say that no matter what name you you named your child - it will be wonderful, because it is your choice and His Name. And the origins of different names and naming traditions are interesting to study in any case, regardless of whether you plan to follow them - simply as one of the elements of the mosaic that makes up our history and culture.

Character of a boy born in 2021

The coming year will be the year of the rat according to the eastern calendar.
And the rat in Chinese tradition is a special animal. A child born in the year of the rat has a difficult character. A son can grow up to be a contradictory person, but quite strong-willed and strong. The rat child (and even the adult who was born this year) decides for himself what to do and what path in life to choose. If the decision goes beyond some generally accepted conventions, so much the worse for these conventions. The rat will still do things his own way.

Parents should respect the personality of their child and allow him to do as he sees fit. In fact, it is a great happiness when a son from an early age wants to be independent and make decisions about his future destiny. Raising such a child is the main task of any parents.

In this case, of course, initially the rat child cannot know what is really true and what is not. Going forward and neglecting conventions, he may make mistakes. The parents' task is to unobtrusively correct their son's behavior. It is desirable that he considers the new corrected choice of how to act as his own.

Remember also that the rat child is distinguished by amazingly developed intuition. Therefore, his illogical actions may well lead to the right result and success in life.

How to name your son: 5 rules

All conversations regarding the influence of a person’s naming on his fate need not be taken seriously. But when choosing a beautiful and unusual name for a baby, you still need to take into account certain, quite mundane, nuances. There are five basic rules to follow when naming your son.

Consonance of the full name Agree, the full name “Romeo Emelyanovich Sisev” will always attract undue attention to the child. Not every teacher will say “Gremislav Abdelkhakimovich Eldarkhanov.” And Prince Mikhailovich Zhuk, quite likely, having matured, will want to change his name. Therefore, if the family surname is not elegant, it is better to find an unpretentious, simple name for the baby. For example, “Vadim Mikhailovich Zhuk” will look much more advantageous.

Compatibility with patronymic. There are several recommendations here. First you need to take into account the nationality of the father. For example, if the father is Armenian Gegham, then it is better to name the boy accordingly. Agree, the combination “Avetis Geghamovich” sounds strong in comparison with the combination “Vasily Geghamovich”. Another tip: focus on the length of the middle name. Short names are better suited for bulky middle names, and vice versa. For example, “Lev Konstantinovich” sounds more melodic than “Innokenty Konstantinovich”. Also, you should not give your baby a “name” that ends with the letter that the father’s name begins with. For example, “Vadim Maksimovich”. Also think about avoiding the accumulation of vowels and consonants at the junction of the name and patronymic. Because there is a high probability that in a conversation people will involuntarily distort them. An example of a not entirely successful combination: “Peter Vladimirovich.” But combinations play well when there are beautiful sound matches or names begin with the same letter: “Andrey Alekseevich”, “Elisey Evgenievich”.

Correspondence to time and place. No one condemns parents’ love for popular television products, but it’s unlikely that Batman or Nolik will feel comfortable in the village of Michurino. Edward and Barak will also look special in the Slavic environment. And Tirrion or Mason during puberty will not collect autographs, but will carry bruises home. Therefore, think carefully about your decision before naming your boy with a name that is too unusual.

Transformation. Almost all names have derived variations. They are transformed into diminutive forms or nicknames. And the latter may turn out to be offensive. This must be taken into account so that the child is not teased later. Please note that mom will be able to call Maxim “Maksyusha or Masya”, and friends - “Max” or “Maksyukha”. It’s more difficult with Gleb. Parents will address him: “Glebushka.” And peers will immediately twist it: “Bread.”

Unisex names. Psychologists recommend to parents: “When naming your son, avoid options with vague gender references.” For example, these are the names Zhenya or Valya, which are suitable for both girls and boys

This is especially important if the child’s last name is not declined. For example, surnames like “Viligura” or “Katz” do not give an idea of who their bearer is - a guy or a girl

Therefore, “Sasha Shuvalov” is still an acceptable option, but “Sasha Koval” is alas. This combination can provoke problems with the child’s self-identification and suppress exceptional masculine traits in character.

In Russia, the tradition of naming a child after relatives remains. For example, like a great-grandfather. This custom is a matter of debate. Some young parents are against him, because they believe that the baby can absorb the negative experiences of his ancestors and repeat their fate. And other mothers and fathers insist: naming according to the generic principle is additional protection.

It is better not to name your son after a relative who suffered a brazen, painful death or who had problems with the law. Psychologists also advise not to take your father's name. Otherwise, little San Sanych may grow up not as a loving son and helper, but as an irritable and insecure eternal fatherly competitor.