“Slavic” names are shared, in their own forms, across Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Czech, Serbian, Croatian and more. They spring from common roots, which is why the same name recurs from Warsaw to Belgrade to Moscow.

Compound names of glory and peace

A signature of Slavic naming is the two-part name built from noble elements: -mir (“peace, world”), -slav (“glory”), bog (“God”), vlad (“rule”). So Vladimir is “ruler of peace,” Miroslav “peace and glory,” Bogdan “given by God.”

Endearments

Slavic languages are rich in affectionate pet forms: Aleksandr becomes Sasha, Yekaterina becomes Katya, Anna becomes Anya. Feminine names usually end in -a.

Faith and nature

Alongside the old pagan and heroic names sit the Orthodox saints (Ivan, Nikolai) and names drawn from nature and the dawn (Zora, Vesna, Danica).

Frequently asked questions

What counts as a Slavic name?

Slavic names are shared across Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Czech, Serbian and other Slavic languages, springing from common roots u2014 so the same name appears in many national forms.

What do -mir and -slav mean in Slavic names?

-mir means u201cpeaceu201d or u201cworldu201d and -slav means u201cglory.u201d They build compound names like Vladimir (u201cruler of peaceu201d) and Miroslav (u201cpeace and gloryu201d).

Why does Sasha come from Alexander?

Slavic languages use affectionate pet forms u2014 Aleksandr becomes Sasha, Yekaterina becomes Katya, Anna becomes Anya.

What are popular Slavic names?

Ivan, Nikolai and Milan for boys, and Anya, Milena and Zora for girls, are widely used across the Slavic world.