Ukrainian name explained

Ukrainian names are given names that originated in Ukraine. In addition to the given names, Ukrainians also have patronymic and family names (surnames; see: Ukrainian surnames).

Ukrainian given names

Diminutive and hypocoristic forms are male names native to the Ukrainian language that have either an empty inflexional suffix (Ukrainian: Івась, Ukrainian: Павлусь, Ukrainian: Гриць) or the affixes -о, -ик (Ukrainian: Славко, Ukrainian: Грицько, Ukrainian: Василько, Ukrainian: Андрійчик, Ukrainian: Петрик, Ukrainian: Дмитрик).^[1] Female names have the affixes -ся, -йка, -нька, (Ukrainian: Катруся, Ukrainian: Гануся, Ukrainian: Соломійка, Ukrainian: Надійка, Ukrainian: Марієнька, Ukrainian: Христинонька).

As in most cultures, a person has a given name chosen by his or her parents. First names in East Slavic languages mostly originate from one of three sources: Orthodox church tradition (which derives from sources of Greek origin), Catholic church tradition (of Latin origin), or native pre-Christian Slavic origins. Pre-Christian wishful names were given in the hope of controlling the fate of the people. For instance, to scare away evil, children were given names derived from dangerous predatory animals. In contrast, the names of Shchasny (Happy) or Rozumnyk (Smart) were supposed to make them happy or smart respectively.^[2]

Most names have several diminutive forms.

Popular Ukrainian male given names

Ukrainian: Альберт (Albert pronounced as /uk/), from Albert, of Germanic origin.
Ukrainian: Анатолій (Anatolii, pronounced as /uk/), from Anatolius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Андрій (Andrii pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Andrew, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Антон (Anton pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Антін (Antin pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Anthony, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Аркадій (Arkadii pronounced as /uk/), from Arcadius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Арсен (Arsen pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Арсеній (Arsenii pronounced as /uk/), from Arsenius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Артем (Artem pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Artemius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Артур (Artur pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Arthur, of Latin or Celtic origin.
Ukrainian: Атанасій (Atanasii pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Афанасій (Afanasii pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Опанас (Opanas), Ukrainian: Панас (Panas pronounced as /uk/), from Athanasius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Богдан (Bohdan pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Борис (Borys pronounced as /uk/), a pre-Christian Slavic diminutive of Ukrainian: Борислав (Boryslav).
Ukrainian: Броніслав (Bronislav pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Боронислав (Boronyslav pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Вадим (Vadym pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Vadim, of Persian or Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Валентин (Valentyn pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Valentine, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Валерій (Valerii pronounced as /uk/), from Valerius, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Василь (Vasyl pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Basil, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Віктор (Viktor pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Victor, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Віталій (Vitalii pronounced as /uk/).
Ukrainian: Владислав (Vladyslav pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Володислав (Volodyslav pronounced as /uk/), a pre-Christian name of Slavic origin, meaning "lord of fame".
Ukrainian: Владлен (Vladlen), of Russian Communist origin (Vladimir Lenin). No longer used.
Ukrainian: Володимир (Volodymyr pronounced as /uk/), a pre-Christian name of Slavic origin, equivalent to Vladimir and Waldemar.
Ukrainian: Всеволод (Vsevolod pronounced as /uk/), a pre-Christian name of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: В'ячеслав (Viacheslav pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Wenceslaus, a pre-Christian name of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Геннадій (Hennadii pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Генадій (Henadii pronounced as /uk/), from Gennadius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Григорій (Hryhorii pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Gregory, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Давид (Davyd pronounced as /uk/), from David, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Данило (Danylo pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Daniel, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Дем'ян (Demian pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Damian, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Денис (Denys pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Dennis, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Дмитро (Dmytro pronounced as /uk/), from Demetrius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Едуард (Eduard), equivalent to Edward, of Anglo-Saxon origin.
Ukrainian: Євген (Yevhen pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Євгеній (Yevhenii pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Eugene, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Зіновій (Zinovii pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Зеновій (Zenovii pronounced as /uk/), from Zenobius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Іван (Ivan pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Ian, John and Sean, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Ігор (Ihor pronounced as /uk/), from Ingvar, of Varangian origin.
Ukrainian: Ілля (Illia pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Elias and Elijah, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Йосип (Yosyp pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Йосиф (Yosyf pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Осип (Osyp pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Joseph, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Казимир (Kazymyr pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Casimir, of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Кирило (Kyrylo pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Cyril, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Костянтин (Kostiantyn pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Constantine, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Кузьма (Kuzma pronounced as /uk/), from Cosmas, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Лев (Lev pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Leo, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Леонід (Leonid pronounced as /uk/), from Leonidas, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Леонтій (Leontii pronounced as /uk/), from Leontius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Любомир (Liubomyr pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Максим (Maksym pronounced as /uk/), from Maximus, of Latin origin, meaning "greatest".
Ukrainian: Маркіян (Markiian), equivalent to Marcian, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Марко (Marko pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Marcus and Mark, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Мар'ян (Marian pronounced as /uk/), from Marianus, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Матвій (Matvii pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Mathias and Matthew, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Микита (Mykyta pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Nikita, from Nicetas, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Микола (Mykola pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Nicholas, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Мирон (Myron pronounced as /uk/), of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Мирослав (Myroslav pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Михайло (Mykhailo pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Michael and Mitchell, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Назар (Nazar pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Назарій (Nazarii pronounced as /uk/), from Nazarius, a Christian name of ambiguous linguistic origins.
Ukrainian: Олег (Oleh pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Helge, of Varangian origin.
Ukrainian: Олександр (Oleksandr pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Alexander, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Олексій (Oleksii pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Олекса (Oleksa pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Alexis, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Омелян (Omelian pronounced as /uk/), from Aemilianus, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Орест (Orest pronounced as /uk/), from Orestes, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Остап (Ostap pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Євстафій (Yevstafii pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Eustace, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Павло (Pavlo (pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Paul, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Петро (Petro pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Peter, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Пилип (Pylyp pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Philip, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Роман (Roman pronounced as /uk/), of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Ростислав (Rostyslav pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Руслан (Ruslan pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Arslan, of Tatar origin.
Ukrainian: Сава (Sava pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Святослав (Sviatoslav pronounced as /uk/), a pre-Christian name of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Семен (Semen), equivalent to Simeon, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Сергій (Serhii pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Serge, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Станислав (Stanyslav pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Станіслав (Stanislav pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Степан (Stepan pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Стефан (Stefan pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Stephen, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Тарас (Taras pronounced as /uk/), of Greek or Dacian origin.
Ukrainian: Тимофій (Tymofii pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Timothy, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Тимур (Tymur pronounced as /uk/), of Mongol or Turkic origin.
Ukrainian: Трохим (Trokhym pronounced as /uk/).
Ukrainian: Федір (Fedir pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Федор (Fedor pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Теодор (Teodor pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Хведір (Khvedir pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Theodore, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Феодосій (Feodosii pronounced as /uk/), from Theodosius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Франц (Frants pronounced as /uk/), from Franz, equivalent to Francis, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Юрій (Yurii pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Георгій (Heorhii pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Єгор (Yehor pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to George, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Юхим (Yukhym pronounced as /uk/), from Euthymius, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Яків (Yakiv pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Jacob and James, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Ярослав (Yaroslav pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.

Popular Ukrainian female given names

Ukrainian: Алла (Alla pronounced as /uk/), of Gothic origin.
Ukrainian: Анастасія (Anastasiia pronounced as /uk/), of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Ангеліна (Anhelina pronounced as /uk/), from Angelina, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Анжела (Anzhela pronounced as /uk/), from Angela, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Антоніна (Antonina pronounced as /uk/), of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Броніслава (Bronislava), Ukrainian: Боронислава (Boronyslava), feminine of Bronislav and Boronyslav.
Ukrainian: Валентина (Valentyna pronounced as /uk/), from Valentina, feminine of Valentyn.
Ukrainian: Варвара (Varvara pronounced as /uk/), from Barbara, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Василина (Vasylyna pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Vasyl.
Ukrainian: Вероніка (Veronika pronounced as /uk/), from Veronica, a Latin alteration of Berenice, of Ancient Macedonian origin.
Ukrainian: Вікторія (Viktoriia pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Viktor, from Victoria, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Веселка (Veselka), Ukrainian word Ukrainian: веселка, meaning "rainbow".
Ukrainian: Віра (Vira pronounced as /uk/), meaning "faith", calque from Greek Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Πίστη (Piste).
Ukrainian: Галина (Halyna pronounced as /uk/), from Galene, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Ганна (Hanna pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Анна (Anna pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Anne, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Дарина (Daryna pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Дарія (Dariia pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Дар'я (Daria pronounced as /uk/), from Daria, of Persian origin.
Ukrainian: Діна (Dina (given name)), from Dinah, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Емілія (Emiliia pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Emily, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Єва (Yeva pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Eve, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Євдокія (Yevdokiia pronounced as /uk/), from Eudocia, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Євгенія (Yevheniia pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Євгена (Yevhena), from Eugenia, feminine of Yevhen and Yevhenii, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Єлизавета (Yelyzaveta pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Єлізавета (Yelizaveta pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Єлисавета (Yelysaveta pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Elizabeth and Isabella, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Єфросинія (Yefrosyniia pronounced as /uk/), from Euphrosyne, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Зінаїда (Zinaida pronounced as /uk/), from Zenaida, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Злата (Zlata pronounced as /uk/), of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Зоряна (Zoriana pronounced as /uk/), Slavic for "star", compare to Estelle (given name), Stella.
Ukrainian: Зоя (Zoia), from Zoe, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Іванна (Ivanna pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Жанна (Zhanna), Ukrainian: Яна (Yana pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Jane, Jean, Joan, Joanna and Joanne, feminine of Ivan, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Інна (Inna pronounced as /uk/).
Ukrainian: Ірина (Iryna pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Irene, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Калина (Kalyna), guelder-rose, symbol of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people.
Ukrainian: Катерина (Kateryna pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Caitlin, Karen, Katherine, Kathleen and Katrina, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Квітка (Kvitka), Ukrainian Ukrainian: квітка, meaning "flower".
Ukrainian: Клавдія (Klavdiia pronounced as /uk/), from Claudia, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Лариса (Larysa pronounced as /uk/).
Ukrainian: Леоніда (Leonida pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Leonid.
Ukrainian: Лідія (Lidiia pronounced as /uk/), from Lydia, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Лілія (Liliia pronounced as /uk/).
Ukrainian: Любов (Liubov pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Любомира (Liubomyra pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Liubomyr, meaning "love", calque from Greek Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Αγάπη (Agape).
Ukrainian: Людмила (Liudmyla pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Ludmila, of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Мая (Maia pronounced as /uk/), the month of May.
Ukrainian: Маргарита (Marharyta pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Margaret and Marjorie, of Persian origin.
Ukrainian: Марина (Maryna pronounced as /uk/), from Marina, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Марія (Mariia pronounced as /uk/), from Maria, equivalent to Marie, Mary and Miriam, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Меланія (Melaniia pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Melanie, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Мирослава (Myroslava pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Myroslav.
Ukrainian: Михайлина (Mykhailyna pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Mykhaylo, equivalent to Michelle, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Надія (Nadiia pronounced as /uk/), meaning "hope", calque from Greek Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἐλπίς (Elpis).
Ukrainian: Наталія (Nataliia pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Наталя (Natalia pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Natalie, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Ніна (Nina pronounced as /uk/), from Nino, of ambiguous ancient Near Eastern origin.
Ukrainian: Оксана (Oksana pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Ксенія (Kseniia pronounced as /uk/), from Xenia, of Greek origin. The form Oksana is most common.
Ukrainian: Олександра (Oleksandra pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Леся (Lesia pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Олеся (Olesia pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Oleksandr, equivalent to Alexandra, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Олена (Olena pronounced as /uk/), from Helena, equivalent to Elaine, Ellen and Helen, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Ольга (Olha pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Oleh, a pre-Christian name derived from Helga, of Varangian origin.
Ukrainian: Парасковія (Paraskoviia pronounced as /uk/), from Paraskeve, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Пелагея (Pelaheia), Ukrainian: Пелагія (Pelahiia pronounced as /uk/), from Pelagia, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Раїса (Raisa pronounced as /uk/).
Ukrainian: Романа (Romana), feminine of Roman.
Ukrainian: Руслана (Ruslana pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Ruslan.
Ukrainian: Світлана (Svitlana pronounced as /uk/), meaning "shining one", of Slavic origin.
Ukrainian: Святослава (Sviatoslava), feminine of Sviatoslav.
Ukrainian: Сніжана (Snizhana pronounced as /uk/).
Ukrainian: Соломія (Solomiia pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Salome, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Софія (Sofiia pronounced as /uk/), from Sophia, equivalent to Sophie, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Стефанія (Stefaniia pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Степанія (Stepaniia), Ukrainian: Степанида (Stepanyda pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Stephanie, masculine of Stefan and Stepan, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Таїсія (Taisiia pronounced as /uk/), Ukrainian: Таїса (Taisa pronounced as /uk/), from Thaïs, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Тамара (Tamara), from Tamar, of Hebrew origin.
Ukrainian: Текля (Teklia pronounced as /uk/), from Thecla, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Тетяна (Tetiana pronounced as /uk/), of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Уляна (Uliana pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Gillian or Juliana, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Федора (Fedora pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Theodora, masculine of Fedir, Fedor, Khvedir and Teodor, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Христина (Khrystyna pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Christine, of Greek origin.
Ukrainian: Юлія (Yuliia pronounced as /uk/), equivalent to Julia and Julie, of Latin origin.
Ukrainian: Яніна (Yanina), diminutive of Yana, equivalent to Janine.
Ukrainian: Ярослава (Yaroslava pronounced as /uk/), feminine of Yaroslav.

External links

List of popular names in Ukrainian (in Ukrainian)
Database of Names - Main Department of Statistics in Lviv Oblast (in Ukrainian)

Notes and References

Iatsenko . Ganna . 2019-01-01 . Philosophy of a Name: Ukrainian Context . Beytulhikme . en . 9 . 2 . 437–451 . 10.18491/beytulhikme.1477 . 198520705 . 1303-8303.
Book: Chernovatyi . Leonid . Schochenmaier . Eugen . 2023 . Reference Dictionary of Ukrainian Names . Mondonomo . 978-953-50455-0-2 . x.