Awesome Slavic Names

Monika is a feminine name primarily of Latin origin, being a variant spelling of Monica. The name derives from the Latin 'moneo' meaning 'to advise' or 'to remind.' Monika is particularly popular in Central and Eastern European countries, including Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, and Hungary, where this spelling is preferred over the more Anglicized 'Monica.' The name gained international recognition through Saint Monica, the persistent and prayerful mother of Saint Augustine. Monika has a melodic quality with its soft consonants and balanced syllables. While the 'Monica' spelling peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1970s, the 'Monika' variant maintains steady usage particularly in European countries and among families honoring their European heritage.

Nadezhda is more familiar in the English-speaking world by its short forms, Nadia or Nadya. Well-used through the Slavic countries and Russia, Nadezhda was the name of Lenin's wife. Viewers of The Americans learned that this was the original Russian name of the spy known as Elizabeth Jennings, played by Keri Russell.

Nadja is a feminine name of Slavic origin, primarily used in Eastern European countries, Russia, and Germany. It's a variant of Nadia, which derives from the Russian word 'nadezhda' meaning 'hope.' The name gained international recognition through cultural works, including Vladimir Nabokov's novel 'Nadja' and André Breton's surrealist novel of the same name. With its exotic yet accessible sound, Nadja strikes a balance between uniqueness and familiarity in Western countries. The name has a melodic quality and carries the uplifting meaning of hope. While not among the most common names, Nadja has maintained steady popularity, particularly in Europe, for its elegant sound and positive connotations.

Possibility for a girl born under one of the water signs -- Cancer, Pisces, or Scorpio.

The French version of this name, Natalie, is most popular in the U.S., but all variations are appealing and this one is a fresh twist. Pronunciation is like Natalia.

Nela is a pretty if slight name that ranks among the Top 1000 for girls in the UK. It is commonly used throughout Europe as a short form for any range of names ending in -nela including Cornelia and Fenella, though it is widely used on its own.

Popular in Croatia, Spain, New Zealand, and Slovenia, Niko has also been rising up the US popularity charts for boys since the late 2000s. Fresher than Nicholas, spikier than Nico, it currently ranks just outside the US Top 300.

An alluring Russian variant of Nicodemus, Nikodim has an attractive sound and could be a unique full name for the cool nickname Niko.

Nikola is a feminine name in Slavic countries, though it serves as the masculine form of Nicholas in several Eastern European languages. Derived from the Greek 'Nikolaos' meaning 'victory of the people,' this name combines 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). While predominantly masculine in countries like Serbia, Croatia, and Bulgaria, Nikola has gained popularity as a feminine name in some regions. The name carries associations with strength and triumph while offering the friendly nicknames Niki or Niko. Its international recognition connects to notable figures like scientist Nikola Tesla. The name's cross-cultural nature allows it to travel well across borders while maintaining its distinctive Slavic character. With its strong consonants balanced by ending vowels, Nikola projects both strength and elegance as a feminine choice.

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.