Russian Names

Argentine model Tati Cotliar is bringing notice to this shortening of the classic Russian name Tatiana. Tati is cute but teasable; you may need to have supermodel looks and poise to pull it off.

An accessible Russian nickname...but could "cost ya".

Vanya is much more familiar.

Tatyana, an alternate spelling of the lovely Tatiana, definitely has its followers.

Tassia is an obscure short form used mostly in Russia and Eastern Europe, where the name Anastasia as in the executed Russian princess is common. Rarely found in the English-speaking world, Tassia could make a distinctive and attractive nickname for this elegant royal name and can easily stand on its own.

With Natalie and Natalia in the US Top 100, it is perhaps not a surprise to see a spelling variant enter the US Top 1000. New for 2023, Nataly was given to nearly 300 baby girls.

Phonetic spelling brought to light by actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

A bold and evocative African place name. The country of Kenya gets its name from Mount Kenya, referred to it as "Kirinyaga" or "Kerenyaga" by the local Kikuyu people, meaning "mountain of whiteness" due to its snow-capped peak.