Russian Names that Start With I

  1. Ivan
    • Origin:

      Russian variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Though some might find it a bit heavy-booted, Ivan is one of the few Russian boys' names to become fully accepted into the American naming pool.
  2. Ilya
    • Origin:

      Russian variation of Elijah
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is my God"
    • Description:

      A rare example of an a-ending boy's name that sounds masculine, Ilya has a large measure of creative Slavic charm. >p>Ilya Ilyich Oblomov is the central character in Goncharov's novel "Oblomov." Unfortunately, he spends most of his life in his bathrobe and slippers.
  3. Irina
    • Origin:

      Russian from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "peace"
    • Description:

      Irina is a Russian ballet-inflected classic, one of the Three Sisters in the Chekhov play. While some Americans will pronounce this like Irene with three syllables, the pronunciation used throughout Europe, where it's widely used, starts with a short i as in it or if and a strong emphasis on the second syllable.
  4. Ira
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Russian, Greek, Finnish, Sanskrit, "watchful one; peace; protectress; earth
    • Description:

      Truly multi-cultural, Ira can be: a Russian short form of Irina, meaning "peace"; a gender-switch of the Hebrew male name Ira, meaning "watchful"; a modern Greek and Finnish form of Hera, meaning "hero" or "protectress"; a Sanskrit name meaning "earth" or "enjoyment"; and a Basque nature name meaning "fern", from the word iratzea.
  5. Irena
    • Inessa
      • Origin:

        Russian variation of Ines; Spanish from Greek
      • Meaning:

        "pure, chaste"
      • Description:

        Inessa is a truly multi-cultural name, heard in Spain, Germany and Russia, and is related to the names Agnes and Ines/Inez.
    • Igor
      • Origin:

        Old Norse via Russian
      • Meaning:

        "warrior"
      • Description:

        Musical association with Igor Stravinsky, but also Dr. Frankenstein's right-hand man.
    • Ilias
      • Ilari
        • Origin:

          Basque
        • Meaning:

          "cheerful"
        • Description:

          Sounds just like its meaning.
      • Ivanna
        • Origin:

          Feminine of Ivan, which is itself a variation of John
        • Description:

          Ivanna / Ivana both come out of the name "John" by way of the Russian variant Ivan. Whereas Joanna feels dated, Ivanna feels cosmopolitan and fresh. Ivanka (of Trump fame) is a diminutive version of Ivanna.
      • Illarion
        • Irya
          • Origin:

            Variation of Irina, Russian
          • Meaning:

            "peace"
          • Description:

            Irya is an Irina diminutive, and rare even in its native country.
        • Izabele
          • Iustin
            • Irini
              • Irisa
                • Izabela
                  • Ioann
                    • Iryna
                      • Ignat