Russian Names that Start With N
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- Nina
Origin:
Short form of names that end in -ninaDescription:
Nina is as multiethnic as you can get: Nina is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, a Babylonian goddess of the oceans, and an Incan goddess of fire. Here and now, it's a stylish possibility that's been underused. "Weird Al" Yankovic chose this decidedly nonweird name for his daughter.
- Natalia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"birthday [of the Lord]"Description:
Natalia was derived from the Latin word natalis, meaning "birthday." It refers to the birthday of Jesus Christ, and thus originated as a name for girls born on Christmas Day. Related forms include the French Natalie, Portuguese Natalina, and Russian diminutive Natasha.
- Nadia
Origin:
Russian, ArabicMeaning:
"hope; tender, delicate"Description:
Nadia, an accessible Slavic favorite, has a strong run of popularity in the US in the early 2000s, partially thanks to the character on Lost called Nadia but actually named Noor, but it's since slumped down the rankings. An earlier inspiration was Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who won the 1976 Olympics.
- Nikolai
Origin:
Russian variation of NicholasMeaning:
"people of victory"Description:
Russian forms, like Russian supermodels, are hot these days. This is a strong, worldly way to make Nicholas new; it was chosen for his son by Barry Bonds, Jr. Nikolai also comes with several attractive nickname options, including approachable Nik, spunky Niko, or even hip Kai. A traditional nickname for Nikolai in Russia is Kolya.
- Natasha
Origin:
Russian diminutive of NatalyaMeaning:
"birthday of the Lord"Description:
Natasha, an appealing, still unusual name, entered the American mainstream post-Cold War but seems to have peaked in the eighties, replaced by the more straightforward Natalie. As is common for Natashas the world over, the Obamas shorten their Natasha's name to Sasha.
- Nessa
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"headlands, promontory"Description:
Like its cousin Tessa, Nessa -- a shortening of Vanessa or Agnes or Anastasia among other possibilities -- is an attractive nickname that can stand on its own.
- Nikita
Origin:
Russian or SanskritMeaning:
"victor; house"Description:
Nikita – a masculine Russian name deriving from the Greek name Niketas, meaning "victory" – has come a long way from portly post-Stalin Soviet leader Khrushchev to the female spy/assassin in the movie and TV series La Femme Nikita.
- Nika
Origin:
Russian, diminutive of Veronika; Slovenian; Croatian, feminine form of NicholasDescription:
Enticing modern nickname name possibility.
- Natan
Origin:
Variation of Nathan, HebrewMeaning:
"given"Description:
For jet-setting parents or those with many cultural backgrounds, a name that is workable across various languages is often a priority. Natan is a great option, as it is a familiar name in many European countries. It is currently most popular in Poland but seeing significant use in Israel as well.
- Nikita
Origin:
Russian cognate of Greek AniketosMeaning:
"unconquered"Description:
Redolent of Khrushchev and la femme.
- Natalya
Origin:
Russian from LatinMeaning:
"natal day, Christmas"Description:
Perfect name for a little girl born at Christmas. Its many variations and pet forms include Natalia, Nataliya, Natalie, Nataly, Natascha, Talya, Talia, Tasha and Tasya.
- Nataly
Origin:
Spelling variation of Natalie, FrenchMeaning:
"birthday of the Lord"Description:
With Natalie and Natalia in the US Top 100, it is not a surprise for spelling variations to gain popularity. Nataly was given to nearly 300 baby girls in 2023 and was one of the fastest-rising girl names that year.
- Nadya
Origin:
Slavic and RussianMeaning:
"hope"Description:
Nadya and Nadia are Eastern European short forms -- for the more difficult Nadezhda -- now fully accepted on their own.
- Nelya
Origin:
English, diminutive of Helen, Eleanor, et al: "bright, shining one"Meaning:
"bright, shining one"
- Nada
Origin:
Arabic, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, MacedonianMeaning:
"dew at sunrise; hope"Description:
Concise Nada is a cross-cultural choice with pleasant meanings. In Arabic, it is derived from nadan meaning "dew, moisture", though other possible translations include "caller" and "goodness". As a Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian name, it means "hope".
- Nastya
- Nata
- Nadiya
Origin:
Russian, Arabic; "hope; moist with dew"Meaning:
"hope; moist with dew"Description:
A timeless cultural crossover name, Nadiya can either be a variant spelling of Nadia, a diminutive of the Russian name Nadezhda, meaning "hope"; or derived from the Arabic word Nada, meaning "morning dew" or "to be wet with dew" — something especially precious in dry climates.
- Nadka
- Nastasya