short post on Russian names

Some Russian names began to be given in Britain in the early 20^th century, due to increased socio – political contact with Russia, upper and middle class Britons seeing the Bolshoi Ballet etc.  The Empress of Russia from 1894 was the former Princess Alix of Hesse, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter.. and her husband Nicholas was the nephew of Queen Alexandra of England.

Russian names were somewhat exotic, often derived from Greek, and became better known in the UK in the Edwardian age.

 One name that was occasionally used was Tatiana, the meaning of which is unclear.  However it has also been used in the Russian abbreviated form of Tanya… and was very popular for a time.

Another name that was liked was the Russian Sonya.  Russian names often have abbreviations – and Sonya was an abbreviation of Sofia.. which is a name used in the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches and which means “wisdom.”

Tatiana was the name of one of the ill-fated Grand Duchesses.  The others were Olga, Marie and Anastasia. 

Olga which means Holy was also used in England.. and so was Anastasia.. The name is a Greek one which means “resurrection” and was popular in the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches..  However it became shortened to Stacy, and more popular in that form.

Another royal and Russian name is Xenia, which comes from the Greek for “hospitable”.  It has not proved so popular but a variant “Zena” is occasionally used.

 Alexis is a name given to boys and girls, and is from the Greek based on the word for “defend”.  It was the name of the Czar’s son and was used in the UK…

Another male name that came into British usage was Boris, which comes from a word meaning fight or struggle.