Discover the Most Unique Names Russian Celebrities Choose for Their Children
Explore the fascinating and inspiring stories behind the unusual names Russian stars have given their kids, inspired by cartoons, heroes, rivers, and poets.
Inspired by cartoon characters, legendary heroes, rivers, and poets.
It's no secret that many modern parents prefer to give their children unique and extraordinary names, both in Russia and worldwide. The Kardashian-Jenner clan, for instance, seems to compete in originality with names like Stormi, Dream, Chicago, and True. Kylie Jenner initially named her son Wolf but later changed her mind, likely due to the viral memes that followed.
Russian celebrities are no exception—they often choose distinctive names rather than common ones like Masha or Dasha. Of course, naming a child is a deeply personal decision, and here we share some of the most remarkable names given by famous Russian personalities without any judgment.
Nyusha
Singer Nyusha leads the list in uniqueness. Born Anna Shurochkina, she seems enchanted by animated themes and named her daughter after a beloved cartoon character. After keeping it a secret for a year, she revealed in an interview that her daughter’s name is Serafima-Simba, inspired by Disney's "The Lion King."
"I once changed my own name in my passport because Anna is so common. Now, my daughter is truly one of a kind," Nyusha said.
On December 14, 2021, Nyusha welcomed her second child. Like with her daughter, she kept the name secret for a while before revealing that her son is named Saffron—clearly avoiding traditional names in her family.
Ilya Prusikin*
Former Little Big frontman Ilya Prusikin* and his ex-wife Irina Smelaya surprised many by choosing the ancient Russian name Dobrynya for their son. Combined with the patronymic, Dobrynya Ilyich sounds powerful and heroic. Online jokes even suggested the child should take his mother’s surname to become Dobrynya Ilyich Smely—the name of a legendary warrior.
Natalia Vodianova
In 2006, Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova gave birth to her only daughter with British aristocrat Justin Portman. The wedding took place in Saint Petersburg, Russia’s northern capital, inspiring Natalia to name their daughter Neva, after the famous river. The emphasis is on the first syllable—NE-va.
Liana Shulgina
Liana Shulgina, daughter-in-law of singer Valeriya, also has an uncommon name. On January 1, 2021, she gave birth to a daughter named Selin—a unique name that sparked lively discussions online. Valeriya defended the choice, praising the name’s beauty. Selin cleverly combines the first letters of the parents’ names: Senya and Liana.
Olga Shelest
TV and radio host Olga Shelest began dating video director Alexey Tishkin in 1997, and sixteen years later, she gave birth to her first daughter. In November 2013, their daughter Muza was born in an American clinic, followed by another daughter, Iris, two years later.
"I have a common or popular name. In kindergarten, there were six Ols; in school, four; and in university, three. So, people always called me by my surname," Olga explained, highlighting her choice to give her children more distinctive names.
Sergey Shnurov
In 2000, Sergey Shnurov’s second wife, former director of the band Pep-See, gave birth to their son. They named him Apollon—not after the Greek god, but in honor of poet Apollon Grigoriev. His baptismal name is Pavel, so he uses both names: Apollon-Pavel. Like his father, he is involved in creative pursuits, but in visual arts. In 2018, Shnurov Jr. held his first art exhibition in Saint Petersburg.
*ILYA PRUSIKIN IS DESIGNATED AS A FOREIGN AGENT
Photos: social media
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