A Slavic name that means given by God. Old Slavonic names and their meanings
The ancient Slavs knew that the name greatly influenced the fate of the child, so they took it seriously. Slavic male names most often consisted of two full words with a deep meaning, which served as a kind of amulet against all evil spirits. The pagans preferred to give their heirs two or more names to protect them from evil spirits. After the adoption of Christianity, children were also given not one name, but two. The first was used for interaction and contact with the outside world, the second was given at the baptism of the baby. It was kept secret and known only to immediate family.
How to choose a name for a boy
In ancient times, names for boys were chosen especially carefully, because sons always remained warriors, protectors, successors of the family, elders, bearers of strength, greatness, power and wisdom.
Nowadays, choosing a name also needs to be taken seriously.
- Be wary of names that are too unconventional. Children can suffer greatly because their name is too prominent. Plus, they will most likely be constantly teased about it at school.
- You should not give the boy an affectionate and soft name. He will not be taken seriously, and his peers will call him a girl.
- The first name must be combined with the surname and patronymic. This is especially true for boys, as their last name stays with them for life.
- Following the fashion for names is stupid. Fashion quickly passes, but the name remains and may sound rather inappropriate.
When choosing a name for your son, you must first try it on a stranger and analyze all the associations that arise because of this. It is also advisable to carefully study all the interpretations and meanings of names.
Common names are too banal, and the baby gets lost in the company of his peers; names that are too rare attract too much attention to him.
The name should not be too rare, but also not the most popular. For most boys, firm names are suitable, since life will be difficult for them without a strong and assertive character.
Beautiful ancient Slavic names for a boy
The ancient Slavs most often gave the child a name at birth, and then during adolescence, when the main features of his individuality were already clearly emerging in the character of the young man. The name should have emphasized these qualities. If a man performed great feats, he could be given another name glorifying his great deeds.
List of beautiful names:
- Agniy – means light (from the word “fire”);
- Bel – pure, white, white-faced;
- Beloyar – bright and furious;
- Nobility - noble;
- Bogdan – given by God;
- Boleslav - aspiring to great glory;
- Vartislav - filled with glory;
- Velimir – peaceful, calm, balanced;
- Gleb – powerful, heavy;
- Dalimil – giver or bestower of mercy;
- Dobromir – kind and peaceful;
- Zareslav - glorifying the dawn;
- Karin – brown-eyed;
- Ladoslav - glorifying Lada;
- Lyubomil - beloved;
- Peace lover - loving peace;
- Miroslav - glorifying the world;
- Mstislav – vindictive, irreconcilable;
- Ognedar – sacrificer;
- Overexposure - very light, enlightened;
- Radim – joyful;
- Ruslan is a bright soul;
- Ratmir - protecting the world;
- Svyatoslav - sacred glory;
- Svetomir – bringing light and peace;
- Stanislav – establisher of glory;
- Tihomir - quiet and peaceful;
- Jaromir is peaceful like Yarilo.
Many names of Slavic origin are almost forgotten and have completely disappeared from use, since after the adoption of Christianity they were almost completely replaced by Greek and Jewish analogues.
Forgotten and rare names of Slavic origin
The list of forgotten and rare names is very long:
- Bezson – wakeful;
- Bogorod is a relative of the gods;
- Bozheslav - glorifying the deity;
- Burislav - like a storm;
- Vedamir - all-knowing;
- Wenceslaus - wearer of the crown of glory;
- Voibor – victorious in battle;
- Vysheslav - highest in glory;
- Gradimir - creator of the world;
- Gorynya - invincible and unshakable like a mountain;
- Gremislav - illustrious, thundering with glory;
- Daniyar – given for shine;
- Zlatan – precious;
- Lyudmil - dear to people;
- Mlad – junior, young;
- Okomir - eye of the world;
- Orislav – strong;
- Radim – worried about the world;
- Taislav is modest, concealing glory.
Whether a child should be given such a rare name should be decided by the parents themselves, after weighing the pros and cons.
Orthodox Russian male names
Some ancient names gained wide popularity due to the fact that Slavs with that name were elevated to the rank of saints and canonized.
These are Russian names for boys:
- Boris – fighting for glory;
- Vsevolod - owner of everything;
- Vladimir is great in his power, ruling the world;
- Vladislav – owner of glory;
- Vyacheslav - great fame, most famous;
- Vsevolod - owner of everything;
- Gorazd – big, large;
- Rostilav - increased glory;
- Svyatoslav - holy glory;
- Yaropolk is an ardent warrior.
These names are quite popular in our time; moreover, they are very harmonious and have a good interpretation. Many of them are among the top most popular male names.
Unusual Slavic names
Unusual names can be divided into the following categories:
- derived from the participles: Zhdan, Nezhdan, Khoten, Bazhen, Bazhan, Kriv;
- in order of birth: First, Bolshoi, Second, Second, Tretiak, Chetvertak, Menshoi, Nine;
- associated with flora and fauna: Wolf, Walnut, Birch, Eagle, Borscht, Raven, Swan, Lark, Hare;
- deities: Lad, Yarilo.
Such names today are exotic and unusual. It is unlikely that anyone will dare to name their child such an extravagant name.
Over time, many of them became the basis for surnames: Menshov, Tretyakov, Volkov, Zhdanov, Bazhenov, Bazhutin, Borshchev, Voronikhin, Vtorushin, Zaitsev, Orlov.
Despite the fact that ancient Slavic male names are outdated, some parents still call their sons by them. Recently, there has been a revival of interest in old names, since modern ones have become very popular and too common, and parents do not want to name their child like everyone else. But finding a rare name requires a lot of wisdom.
Male names:
Bazhen (Bazhan) - desired child, desired.
Belozar - white dawn, enlightened.
Belogor is highly enlightened.
Beloslav - From BEL - white, turn white and SLAV - to glorify.
Belyan - walking the path of light and spiritual improvement.
Berimir - caring for the world; or the conqueror of it.
Berislav - one who takes glory, who cares about glory.
Blagoslav - glorifying kindness.
Bogdan (Bozhko) is a child given by God.
God-knower - one who knows the gods.
Bogodar (Bogadar) - gifted by the gods.
Bogolyub - lover of the Gods.
Bogomil (Bogumil) - dear to one of the Gods.
Bogumir - interaction of the Gods and the world.
Boleslav - glorifying the forest deity.
Borimir is a fighter for peace (or in the world), a peacemaker.
Borislav is a fighter for glory or a glorious fighter. (Judeo-Christian abbreviation “Boris”).
Boyan is a divine storyteller.
Bratislav - From BRATI - to fight and SLAV - to glorify or glorify brotherhood (brother).
Bronislav (Branislav) - a famous warrior or one who glorifies battle.
Bryachislav - from BRYACHA - to rattle and SLAV - to glorify.
Budimir is a peacemaker or peacemaker.
Vedagor - knowledgeable about the highest, knowledgeable.
Vedislav - glorifying knowledge (knowledge).
Veleslav - glorifying Veles. Veligor - great sublime.
Velimir (Velemir) - the great world or embodiment of Veles.
Velimudr (Velemudr) - knowledgeable or wise, like Veles.
Velisvet (Velesvet) - the great enlightened one; light of Veles; interaction between Veles and Svetovit.
Velislav - great glory, most glorious.
Wenceslaus - dedicator to glory, crowned with glory.
Veselin - cheerful, cheerful.
Vladimir is the ruler of the world (a cursed name in Rus' due to its bloody baptism).
Vladislav (Volodislav) - owner of glory.
Vojislav is a glorious warrior or truly glorious.
Wolf is one of the personified names of the animal world or a partial embodiment of Perun.
Raven is one of the personified names of the animal world or a dark embodiment.
Vorotislav - returning glory.
Vsevid (Vseved) - all-seeing; omniscient.
Vsevolod is the ruler of the people, who owns everything.
Vsemil - beloved by everyone.
World - worldwide, i.e. capable of penetrating all worlds.
Vsesvet - all-worldly, i.e. capable of perceiving all lights (worlds).
Vseslav - all-glorifying, famous.
Vyshezor - one who sees (sees) the higher worlds, i.e. the worlds of Rule and Glory.
Vysheslav - glorifying the elder RELATIVES (Gods).
Vyacheslav is the most famous, the most glorious.
Vyachko is a legendary personality: Vyachko is the progenitor of the Vyatichi.
Godoslav (Godlav) - Historical figure: Godoslav is the prince of the Bodrichi-Rarogs.
Gorazd - skillful, capable, good.
Gorislav - fiery, burning in glory or highly revered.
Gorynya - mountain-like, huge, indestructible; fiery.
Gostemil (Gostomysl; Gostemysl) - dear to another (guest). Historical figure: Gostomysl - Prince of Novgorod.
Gradimir - guardian of the world or his city.
Gradislav - protecting the glory or glorifying the city (or glorified in it).
Granislav - improver of glory.
Gremislav - famous.
Gudislav is a renowned musician, trumpeting glory.
Dalemir is far (secluded) from the world (society).
Darimil - giver of mercy, abundantly merciful.
Daren - gifted.
Dzvenislav - glorified.
Dedoslav is a glorifier of ancestors, the keeper of family traditions.
Dobrovest - one who talks about goodness.
Dobrovlad - possessing kindness and non-violence.
Dobrogor - exalting good.
Dobrolyub - kind and loving.
Dobromil is kind and sweet.
Dobromir (Dobrynya, Dobrysha) - kind and peaceful.
Dobromysl is kind and reasonable.
Dobroslav - glorifying kindness.
Domaslav - glorifying relatives.
Dragomir is more valuable than the world.
Drevoslav - glorifying antiquity, the heritage of ancestors, the family tree.
Tree world - associated with the family tree and nature.
Dubynya - like an oak, indestructible. Druzhina is a comrade.
Ruff is one of the personified names of the animal world.
Lark is one of the personified names of the animal world.
Zhdan is a long-awaited child; expected.
Zhivomir - living in the world or the embodiment of Zhiva.
Zhivorod (Zhivarod) is the healer’s path to ROD.
Zimovit - harsh, merciless; winter orbit - the prototype of “Santa Claus”.
Zlatomir is a golden world.
Iskren - sincere; sparkling.
Casimir - showing the world.
Koschey is thin and bony.
Krasimir is beautiful and peaceful.
Kriv is the leader of the tribal union, which later began to be called “Children of Kriv” or “Krivichi”.
Kudeyar is the sorcerer of Yarila.
Ladimir (Ladomir) - living in harmony with the world; sorcerer of Lada.
Ladislav - glorifying Lada (love), the embodiment of Lada.
Swan is a personified name for the animal world; one of the incarnations of Mara.
Radiant - radiating dawn.
We love - beloved.
Lubodar - giver of love.
Lyubomir - loving the world or beloved in the world.
Inquisitive - someone who loves to think.
Lyuboslav - lover of glory, beloved, glorified.
Lyubomud - one who keeps wisdom.
Lyuboyar - loving Yarila - the sun.
Mal (Maloy, Mladen) - the youngest.
Mieczyslaw - famous for the sword.
Milan is cute. Milovan - caressing, caring, or the one who was spared.
Milorad - sweet, joyful (to the sun).
Miloslav - sweetly glorifying.
Miloyar is Yarila's favorite.
Peaceful - peace-loving.
Miroslav - glorifying the world and glorified in the world.
Molchan - taciturn, silent.
Mstislav - glorifying revenge. Historical figure: Mstislav Vladimirovich - Prince of Tmutarakan, Grand Duke of Kiev.
Nevzor - blind. Nekras is one of the “negative” names.
Fire expert - one who knows the spiritual essence of fire; sorcerer of the Fire God.
Ognedar is a giver who makes sacrifices to Fire.
Firelover - a lover of fire or the embodiment of the Fire God.
Ogneslav - glorifying Ognebog or his incarnation.
Ogneyar - fusion of two elements (levels); solar flame; partial embodiment or embodiment.
Oleg - early Russian (post-Aryan) meaning - “movement towards the light”.
Eagle is one of the personified names of the animal world; one of the incarnations of Perun.
Peresvet is a very light or partial incarnation of one of the Gods of the light pantheon. Historical figure: Peresvet - warrior of the Battle of Kulikovo.
Provid (Prozor) - seer, clairvoyant.
Putimir is a wanderer. Putislav (Putyata) - glorifying wanderings; explanatory.
Radiohost - caring about another (guest).
Radimir (Radomir) - caring about the world.
Radislav - one who cares about fame.
Reasonable - reasonable, sensible.
Ratibor is a defender.
Ratmir is the defender of peace.
RODislav (RODaslav, RODeslav, RODOSlav) - glorifying the ROD; glorifying his family.
Rostislav - growing fame.
RODimir (RODamir, RODemir, RODomir) - ROD and WORLD; giving birth to the world; partial embodiment or embodiment; RODOmysl - thinking about one's own kind.
RODosvet - an enlightening, spiritualizing genus; the name of the sorcerer ROD.
Svetoslav (Svetislav) - glorifying light, bright, ardent.
Svetlana is bright, pure in soul.
Svetobor - fighting, winning with light, enlightenment.
Svetovid - seeing the light, perspicacious; incarnation of Belobog.
Svetozar - illuminating with light.
Svetogor - The embodiment of the power of the earth.
Svetomir is an enlightening world (society).
Svetopolk is the leader of the light army.
Svetoyar - ardently light (enlightened), sunny.
Skorodum is a quick thinker.
Slawomir - glorifying the world or glorious in the world.
Smeyan - cheerful.
Nightingale is a personified name for the animal world.
Catfish is a personified name for the animal kingdom.
Stanimir - establisher of peace.
Stanislav - establisher of glory.
Stoyan - strong, unbending.
Sudimir is a sage who talks about the world.
Sudislav - bestower of glory.
Tverdimir (Tverdomir) - from TVERD - solid and MIR - peaceful, peace.
Tverdislav (Tverdoslav) - from TVERD - firm and SLAV - to glorify; glorifying the firmament.
Tvorimir is the creator of the world. Tihomir - quiet and peaceful.
Trislav - glorifying Triglav. Tur is the personified name of the animal world. Historical figure: Tur - the founder of the Turich family.
Brave - brave. Caslav - aspiring to glory.
Churoslav - glorifying CHUR (sorcerer).
Yarilo is the solar incarnation, the hypostasis of the heavenly plowman.
Jaromil - dear to Yaril the sun.
Jaromir is a sunny world.
Yaromudr - endowed with bright wisdom.
Yaropolk - leader of the solar army. Yaroslav - glorifying Yarila.
Female names:
Bazhena is the feminine form of the name Bazhen.
Belogora - enlightened.
Beloslava is the female form of the name Beloslav.
Berislava is the female form of the name Berislav.
Blagoslava is the female form of the name Blagoslav.
Bogdana is the feminine form of the name Bogdan.
Bogumila - dear to the Gods.
Boleslava is the female form of the name Boleslav.
Borislava is the female form of the name Borislav.
Boyana is the feminine form of the name Boyan.
Bratislava is the female form of the name Bratislava.
Bronislava is the female form of the name Bronislav.
Vedana (Vedeneya, Vedenya) - knowledgeable.
Vedislava - glorifying knowledge.
Velizhana is polite, pacifying her feelings.
Velizara - multi-light, illuminated.
Velimira is the feminine form of the name Velimir.
Velislava is the female form of the name Velislav.
Wenceslaus is the female form of the name Wenceslaus.
Faith is faith, true.
Veselina (Vesela) is the female form of the name Veselin.
Vladimir is the female form of the name Vladimir.
Vladislava is the female form of the name Vladislav.
Voislava is the female form of the name Voislav.
Omniscient - omniscient.
Vsemil is the feminine form of the name Vsemil.
Vseslav is the feminine form of the name Vseslav.
Goluba is meek.
Gorislava is the female form of the name Gorislav.
Gradislava is the female form of the name Gradislav.
Granislava is the female form of the name Granislav.
Darena (Darina, Dara) is the female form of the name Daren.
Dzvenislava - glorified.
Dobrovlada - possessing kindness.
Dobrogora - exalting goodness.
Dobrolyuba - loving goodness.
Dobromila is the feminine form of the name Dobromil.
Dobromira is the feminine form of the name Dobromir.
Dobroslava is the female form of the name Dobroslav.
Dragomir is the feminine form of the name Dragomir.
Zhdana is the female form of the name Zhdan.
Zhivoroda - priestess of Zhiva.
Zvenislava - proclaiming glory; glorifying.
Zlatotsveta (Zlata) - golden-flowered.
Zoremira - illuminating, enlightening the world.
Iskra is the feminine form of the name Iskren.
Kazimir is the female form of the name Kazimir.
Krasimira is the female form of the name Krasimir.
Lada - beloved, dear. Goddess of love, mother of the Gods.
Ladomila - dear to the goddess Lada, merciful.
Ladomira is the female form of the name Ladomir.
Ladoslava - glorifying Lada.
Luchezara - radiant, illuminating with light.
Lyubava (Love) - beloved.
Lyubomila - beloved, dear.
Lyubomir is the feminine form of the name Lyubomir.
Lyuboyara - loving Yarila.
Lyudmila is the female form of the name Lyudmil.
Ludomira - reconciler of people.
Milada - dear to the goddess Lada.
Milana (Milena) is the female form of the name Milan.
Miloslava is the female form of the name Miloslav.
Miroslava is the female form of the name Miroslav.
Mstislava is the female form of the name Mstislav.
Hope is hope.
Nekrasa is the female form of the name Nekras.
Why do ordinary people like scary movies so much? It turns out that this is an opportunity to pretend to relive your fears, become more confident and even let off steam. And this is true - you just need to choose an exciting horror film that will make you really care about the heroes.
Silent Hill
The story takes place in the city of Silent Hill. Ordinary people wouldn't even want to drive past it. But Rose Dasilva, little Sharon's mother, is simply forced to go there. There is no other choice. She believes that this is the only way to help her daughter and keep her out of the psychiatric hospital. The name of the town did not come out of nowhere - Sharon constantly repeated it in her sleep. And it seems like a cure is very close, but on the way to Silent Hill, mother and daughter get into a strange accident. Rose wakes up to find that Sharon is missing. Now the woman needs to find her daughter in a cursed city full of fears and horrors. The trailer for the film is available for viewing.
Mirrors
Former detective Ben Carson is going through hard times. After accidentally killing a colleague, he is suspended from the New York Police Department. Then the departure of his wife and children, an addiction to alcohol, and now Ben is the night watchman of the burnt out department store, left alone with his problems. Over time, occupational therapy pays off, but one nightly round changes everything. The mirrors begin to threaten Ben and his family. Strange and frightening images appear in their reflection. To save the lives of his loved ones, the detective needs to understand what the mirrors want, but the problem is that Ben has never encountered mysticism.
Asylum
Kara Harding is raising her daughter alone after the death of her husband. The woman followed in her father’s footsteps and became a famous psychiatrist. She studies people with multiple personality disorder. Among them there are those who claim that there are many more of these individuals. According to Kara, this is just a cover for serial killers, which is why all her patients are sent to death. But one day the father shows his daughter the case of the tramp patient Adam, who defies any rational explanation. Kara continues to insist on her theory and even tries to cure Adam, but over time, completely unexpected facts are revealed to her...
Mike Enslin doesn't believe in an afterlife. As a horror writer, he is writing another book about the supernatural. It is dedicated to poltergeists living in hotels. Mike decides to settle in one of them. The choice falls on the infamous room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel. According to the hotel owners and city residents, evil lives in the room and kills guests. But neither this fact nor the senior manager's warning frightens Mike. But in vain... In the issue the writer will have to go through a real nightmare, from which there is only one way to get out...
The material was prepared using the ivi online cinema.
Ancient Slavic female names.
Bazhena is the female form of the name Bazhen.
Belogora - enlightened.
Beloslava is a female form named after Beloslav.
Berislava is the female form of the name Berislav.
Blagoslava is the female form of the name Blagoslav.
Bogdana is the feminine form of the name Bogdan.
Bogumila - dear to the Gods.
Boleslava is the female form of the name Boleslav.
Borislava is the female form of the name Borislav.
Boyana is the feminine form of the name Boyan.
Bratislava is the female form of the name Bratislava.
Bronislava is the female form of the name Bronislav.
Vedana (Vedeneya, Vedenya) - knowledgeable.
Vedislava - glorifying knowledge.
Velizhana is polite, pacifying her feelings.
Velizara - multi-light, illuminated.
Velimira is the female form of the name Velimir.
Velislava is the female form of the name Velislav.
Wenceslaus is the female form of the name Wenceslaus.
Faith is faith, true.
Veselina (Vesela) is the female form of the name Veselin.
Vladimir is the female form of the name Vladimir.
Vladislava is the female form of the name Vladislav.
Voislava is the female form of the name Voislav.
Omniscient - omniscient.
Vsemil is the feminine form of the name Vsemil.
Vseslav is the female form of the name Vseslav.
Goluba is meek.
Gorislava is the female form of the name Gorislav.
Gradislava is the female form of the name Gradislav.
Granislava is the female form of the name Granislav.
Darena (Darina, Dara) is the female form of the name Daren.
Dzvenislava - glorified.
Dobrovlada - possessing kindness.
Dobrogora - exalting good.
Dobrolyuba - loving goodness.
Dobromila is the feminine form of the name Dobromil.
Dobromira is the female form of the name Dobromir.
Dobroslava is the female form of the name Dobroslav.
Dragomir is the female form of the name Dragomir.
Zhdana is the female form of the name Zhdan.
Zhivoroda is the priestess of Zhiva.
Zvenislava - proclaiming glory; glorifying.
Zlatotsveta (Zlata) - golden-flowered.
Zoremira - illuminating, enlightening the world.
Iskra is the feminine form of the name Iskren.
Kazimir - the female form of the name Kazimir.
Krasimira is the female form of the name Krasimir.
Lada - beloved, dear. Goddess of love, mother of the Gods.
Ladomila - dear to the goddess Lada, merciful.
Ladomira is the female form of the name Ladomir.
Ladoslava - glorifying Lada.
Luchezara - radiant, illuminating with light.
Lyubava (Love) - beloved.
Lyubomila - beloved, dear.
Lyubomir is the feminine form of the name Lyubomir.
Lyuboyara - loving Yarila.
Lyudmila is the female form of the name Lyudmil.
Ludomira - reconciler of people.
Milada - dear to the goddess Lada.
Milana (Milena) is the female form of the name Milan.
Miloslava is the female form of the name Miloslav.
Miroslava is the female form of the name Miroslav.
Mstislava is the female form of the name Mstislav.
Hope is hope.
Nekrasa is the female form of the name Nekras.
Ogneslava - glorifying Fire.
Ogneyara is the female form of the name Ogneyar.
Peredslava (Predslava) – preceding glory. Historical figure: Predslava - wife of Svyatoslav Igorevich, mother of Yaropolk Svyatoslavich.
Peresvet is the female form of the name Peresvet.
Radmila - pleasing with sunny mercy.
Radimir is the female form of the name Radimir.
Radislava is the female form of the name Radislav.
Radmila is caring and sweet.
Radosveta - sanctifying joy.
Joy (Rada) - joy, happiness, sunny.
Rostislava is the female form of the name Rostislav.
Svetislava is the female form of the name Svetislav.
Svetlana is the female form of the name Svetlana.
Svetozara (Svetozara) is the female form of the name Svetozar.
Svetogor is the female form of the name Svetogor.
Svetoyara - sunny.
Snezhana is white-haired and cold.
Stanimira is the female form of the name Stanimir.
Stanislava is the female form of the name Stanislav.
Tikhomira is the female form of the name Tihomir.
Chaslava (Cheslava) is the female form of the name Chaslav.
Chernava - dark-haired, dark-skinned; avesha mara.
Pike is the personified name of the animal world. The earthly incarnation of the ROD.
Jaromila - sweet Yarile.
Yaroslava - female form named after Yaroslav
Until the end of the 10th century, the Russian people had not yet accepted Christianity and worshiped several gods. Accordingly, Old Russian names for children were pagan. After the adoption of Christianity, a confrontation began between common and Christian names.
Naming
The most important rite in Christianity is baptism. After the birth of a child, he must be baptized and given the Orthodox name of a saint. Old Russian names are gradually being replaced by Christian ones.
But church names are not originally Russian in origin. They came from ancient Greek, Hebrew, Roman languages. For a long time, the church in every possible way prohibited names of ancient Russian origin. After all, they were pagan, and the state was Christian.
Worldly name
Still, it is difficult to re-educate people right away, so along with the name given at baptism, children were given familiar Old Russian names. It turned out that the child had a church name and a so-called secular name. This was the name the baby was given in a narrow family circle. Gradually, with the strengthening of the position of the church and the faith of people, household names turned into nicknames.
There are several examples of such double names. The boyar, who received the name Fedor at baptism, was called Doroga at home, or the prince, bearing the name Mikhailo, was called Svyatopolk at home. Such examples are often found in ancient books or novels of Russian classics.
Names in pre-revolutionary Russia
In pre-revolutionary Russia, Old Russian names generally fell out of use. Within a week after birth, parents were required to baptize the child and give him a name according to the church calendar.
But for kids from a rich, influential family, the name was chosen by the parents, depending on the euphony and their preferences. The Church did not want to spoil relations with its benefactors and did not want to lose charitable contributions.
And when a baby from a poor family was baptized, the clergyman could choose a name from the church book, depending on the time of birth. The parents’ opinion might not even be taken into account, and the name did not always sound beautiful and euphonious.
There is an interesting fact related to the name and wealth of the family. Historians have found that by name it was possible to determine belonging to the class. So, in peasant families, girls were often called Vasilisa, Fedosya, Fekla. Noble families never named their daughters that way. Rich and ruling families gave their daughters names such as Elizabeth, Olga, Alexandra, Catherine. It was impossible to find such names in peasant families.
Old Russian names and their meaning
As a rule, when you hear an Old Russian name, you can understand what it means without translation.
Old Russian male names
- Here, for example, is Svyatoslav. It is clear that the name is formed from the words “holy” and “glory”.
- Vsevolod is a man who owns everything.
- Bohumil - it’s immediately clear what kind of name this is. Child Bogumil - dear to God.
- Or Vsemil means dear to everyone.
Very interesting were the names that children received depending on their position in the family. For example, if a third son was born into a family, he was given the name Trajan. The first son was called First, and the second was Second.
With names for girls, everything is also almost always clear.
- Just like the boy Bogumil, the girl was called Bogumil.
- Bliss is happy, and Bazhena is desirable. By the way, now you can sometimes come across the name Bazhen.
- Darina - given by God.
- Krasimira is the beauty of the world.
But not everything is so clear
For example, the name Ostromir. The association “sharp world” immediately arises. But this somehow does not fit into the understanding. Or the name Zhiroslav. It is clear that he is glorifying something. But what?
This is where a dictionary of the Old Russian language comes to the rescue. Thus, the word "fat" meant wealth and abundance. It is now clear that the name Zhiroslav means “glory to wealth.”
The word "ostro" means "brave", therefore, Ostromir - "brave world". Although, of course, from the modern understanding it sounds a little strange.
- Radomir;
- Vladimir;
- Ratimir;
- Gostimir and many similar ones.
Old Russian names are coming back
After the October Revolution, ancient Russian pagan names gradually began to return to use. This is due to the fact that young parents wanted to move away from the Saints and give the baby a beautiful name.
But at the same time, the revolution and electrification brought their own changes - Vseslav, Jaromir, Ogneslav, Zarina and Liliana were now running through the streets.
Of course, the period of Soviet power made its own adjustments. Names associated with ideology, such as Turbina or Dazdraperma, became fashionable. But still, reason prevails - the Russian people want to return to their roots.
Children began to be born, who were given beautiful ancient Russian names. It sounds beautiful when the girl’s name is not Revolution, but Lyubava or Militsa. Names such as Muse, Nellie, Rosalia, Svyatoslav and Jaromir became fashionable.
Of course, not all names have returned; many are unlikely to take root. Not every parent now wants to name their child, for example, Stoppolsvet or Octo-Eyes. But still, for the most part, Old Russian names are very beautiful, and most importantly, it is clear to a Russian person what they mean. Without translation, it becomes clear that Vladlena is the ruler, and Lyubomira is the darling of the world.
Name as a characteristic of a person
In ancient Rus', the name was given great importance. Parents tried to name the child in such a way as to highlight his belonging to the clan and family. Names could be given that defined any qualities desired for the child. Also, a person’s name determined his position in society.
In ancient times, a name could stick to a person even in adulthood. So, if a person had certain physical features, the name could personify them. You can easily guess what people with the names Kudryash, Mal, Chernysh were like.
Or these names, indicating certain characteristic traits: Clever, Kind, Silent, Brave.
As already written above, depending on the number of children in the family, he was given a name: Pervyak or Tretyak, Elder, Menshak.
In the literature you can often find names indicating a profession. Particularly popular names are Kozhemyaka, Warrior and Villager. After reading this, you might think that these are nicknames or nicknames. But people were actually called that way, and this is confirmed by documents available to historians. Although at that time in Rus' there was not much difference between a name as such and a nickname.
What about the girls?
Studying ancient Russian names, you can find a lot of nicknames for men. But with girls everything is a little different. Why?
It's all about the position of women in society. No matter how often girls do not fight for their rights, their influence on the life of the state is always belittled. And accordingly, there are not many historically recorded facts of famous female names.
Old Russian female names as independently formed names were very rare. As a rule, they came from men.
- Gorislav - Gorislava;
- Vladimir - Vladimir;
- Vladlen - Vladlena;
- Svyatoslav - Svyatoslav.
This is partly the fact that women were to some extent deprived; girls gradually began to be given Christian names more often. If in the case of men there were often double names, for example, Svyatoslav-Nikola, then girls had only one - Olga, Elizaveta, Anna.
In addition, over time, patronymics are gradually being used on behalf of the father. At first, in order to determine family affiliation, the child could be called Pantelei, Miroslav's son. Then the suffix “-ich” was added to the name. At first, such freedom was allowed only to noble people. But soon this tradition took root everywhere.
In modern society it is no longer possible to do without a middle name. Especially at special and official events, this is even a necessity. But at first such a privilege was given only to the upper class. Only after the abolition of serfdom was an ordinary peasant allowed to give and bear a patronymic.
