Russian Nobility: Names They Gave Their Children and Which Are Trending Again
Discover the timeless names cherished by Russian nobility, their historical significance, and how many are regaining popularity today among modern parents.
In earlier times, choosing a name was a serious matter as it reflected one’s family lineage. These names have stood the test of centuries and remain beloved among Russians today.
Nowadays, names rarely connect to family history. Parents often follow trends and personal tastes. Increasingly, alongside traditional names like Ivan and Maria, unique names such as Avocadia, Ural, Arya (named after a key character from the Seven Kingdoms in “Game of Thrones” — editor’s note), Theona, and Varis are emerging.
Such names can be hard to explain, and it’s unlikely that a child named Theona will share their parents’ passion for a popular TV series twenty years later.
Still, most parents tend to choose from classic categories: Christian, Old Russian, folk, or pagan names.
Historically, a person’s name represented their social class. Nobles avoided Old Russian names common among merchants and peasants.
They also steered clear of names typical for commoners. Names like Potap, Antip, Nikodim, Bogdan, Nikita, and Timofey were rare among the aristocracy. Similarly, it was unusual for noblewomen to be named Efrosinya, Fekla, Agafya, Evdokia, Matrena, Tatyana, or Darya—names more often associated with peasant girls.
Another taboo was names from non-Christian or pagan origins. Names such as Yaroslav, Svyatopolk, Azamat, and Murza were also uncommon in noble circles.
The names chosen for noble children mostly followed tradition.
“Grandsons often bore the names of their famous grandfathers and so on. For example, among the Chernyshev counts, you’ll find men named Zakhar or Grigory in every generation. The Naryshkins favored names like Lev, Kirill, and Alexander. For the Razumovsky family, Natalia was a cherished name, while the Dolgorukovs preferred Ekaterina,” explains Tatiana Yakovleva, a name history expert at Woman.ru.
Interestingly, the name Ekaterina, often considered inherently Russian, actually wasn’t widely used until the mid-18th century. It became one of the most popular names during Soviet times.
In the 1638 census of Moscow and its adjacent settlements, there were 441 noblewomen recorded, but only 12 were named Ekaterina—and all of them were of German descent who had assimilated into Russian culture.
The reign of Catherine II marked the peak popularity of the name, which spread across all social classes.
Russian naming conventions were also influenced by a desire to emulate European culture.
“Children were often sent to study in Europe or had French and German tutors. As a result, young noble boys and girls frequently spoke French and sometimes barely understood their native language. This led to the adoption of names with French, German, or English equivalents,” the expert adds.
Examples include Nicolas, Serge, Michel, Alex, Daniel, Natalie, Elsa, Elizabeth, Margot, and Christina.
“The most popular names at the time were Anna, Maria, Ekaterina, Alexandra, Elizabeth, and Sophia for girls. Among boys, Alexander, Mikhail, Sergei, and Nikolai were common. These names remain familiar and popular today. According to registry office statistics, Sophia and Alexander consistently rank at the top in Moscow,” Yakovleva notes.
Data from 2022 confirms this trend. In Moscow, 1,565 boys were named Alexander, and 1,790 girls were named Sophia, making these the most popular names. Other frequently chosen names include Sergei, Mikhail, Natalia, and Ekaterina.
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