200+ Russian Baby Girl Names That Are Underrated (2026)

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Russian girl names sit in an odd spot — instantly recognizable once you see them, yet still overlooked when English-speaking parents are building out a shortlist. Part of that comes down to structure: a single name often carries a soft diminutive, a formal version, and a scattering of nicknames tucked inside it, so what looks like one name is really several options in disguise. That range is what makes this list worth digging into, from names you already half-recognize to ones still waiting for their turn.

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Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store –

Old Slavic Root Names

Orthodox Saint Names (Greek and Hebrew Roots)

Romanov-Era Aristocratic Names

Literary Names from the Great Russian Novels

Folk and Fairy-Tale Names

Short and Lyrical Diminutives That Stand Alone

Names with a Cool, Distinctive Sound for Western Ears

What surprises Western ears is how many names you already half-know. Anastasia, Natasha, Tatiana — those have crossed over. But beneath that visible layer is an enormous catalog of names rooted in Old Slavic poetry, Orthodox saint days, and the great Russian novels: Kira, Vera, Yelena, Praskovya, Glafira, Zinaida. Names that feel ornate without being precious. Names that have texture.

I pulled this list together by leaning on three wells: the Slavic pre-Christian root names (the ones meaning peace, light, dear), the saint-derived names that came with Orthodox Christianity, and the literary names that Tolstoy, Pushkin, and Chekhov made permanent. A handful are everyday in Moscow but vanishingly rare in the U.S. — those are the ones I find most exciting for an American baby in 2026.

A quick note on pronunciation before we begin: Russian names usually carry the stress on a single syllable that English speakers tend to misplace. I’ve tried to flag the trickier ones. And almost every name here has at least two diminutive forms — the formal one for the birth certificate, and the soft one for bedtime.

Old Slavic Root Names

These predate the Christianization of Rus and tend to be transparent compounds — slav (glory), mir (peace/world), svet (light). They feel ancient and a little folkloric, like names from a Baba Yaga story rather than a modern apartment block.

Lyudmila

Origin: Slavic (Russian/Ukrainian)
Pronunciation: lyood-MEE-luh · lʲʊdˈmʲilə
Meaning: dear to the people
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pushkin’s heroine in *Ruslan and Lyudmila*; everyday in Russia, almost unheard-of stateside.

Svetlana

Origin: Russian (Slavic)
Pronunciation: svet-LAH-nah · svɛtˈlɑːnə
Meaning: light, bright one
Popularity: #5,751 and falling (#5,108 → #5,751, 2024)

Soviet-era classic that still feels lyrical; diminutive Sveta is approachable.

Miroslava

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: meer-oh-SLAH-vuh · mʲɪrɐˈsɫavə
Meaning: feminine form of Miroslav, combining Slavic elements for “peace/world” and “glory” — roughly “one who celebrates peace”
Popularity: #6,299 and rising (#6,327 → #6,299, 2024)

Long and stately, with the sweet nickname Mira built in.

Stanislava

Origin: Slavic (feminine of Stanislav)
Pronunciation: stah-nee-SLAH-vah · stɑːnɪˈslɑːvə
Meaning: to become glorious
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Feminine of Stanislav; vintage in a way that reads more Polish-Czech than Russian.

Vladislava

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: vlah-dee-SLAH-vah · vlɐdʲɪˈslavə
Meaning: one who rules with glory
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Big, bold, and rare — Vlada works as the casual form.

Yaroslava

Origin: Slavic (feminine form of Yaroslav)
Pronunciation: yah-roh-SLAH-vah · jɑːroʊˈslɑːvə
Meaning: combines a Slavic root meaning ‘fierce/ardent’ (yar-) with slava, ‘glory’ — popularly rendered ‘glory of spring’ via association with the Slavic spring deity Yarilo
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carries a sunny, fierce energy; common in Ukraine, rarer in Russia.

Vladimira

Origin: Slavic (feminine of Vladimir)
Pronunciation: vlah-dee-MEER-ah · vladiˈmiːra
Meaning: famous/great ruler
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The feminine of Vladimir; serious and uncompromising.

Bronislava

Origin: Slavic (Polish Bronisława)
Pronunciation: bron-ee-SLAH-vah · brɒnɪˈslɑːvə
Meaning: glorious defender
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has a stone-and-armor sound; Bronya is the softener.

Radmila

Origin: South Slavic (rad + mil compound)
Pronunciation: RAHD-mee-lah · ˈradmila
Meaning: glad and dear
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the loveliest sound combinations on this list.

Velimira

Origin: Slavic (compound name)
Pronunciation: veh-lee-MEER-ah · ˌvɛlɪˈmiːrə
Meaning: great peace
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Almost ceremonial; would suit a calm, watchful baby.

Zlata

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: ZLAH-tah · ˈzlɑːtə
Meaning: golden
Popularity: #4,277 and rising (#6,398 → #4,277, 2024)

Short, clean, and surging in popularity across Eastern Europe.

Snezhana

Origin: Slavic (Bulgarian/Russian)
Pronunciation: snyeh-ZHAH-nah · snjɪˈʐanə
Meaning: snowy, snow-white
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Russian winter in name form; storybook-pretty.

Lada

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: LAH-dah · ˈlɑːdə
Meaning: linked to a (disputed) Slavic goddess of love; or ‘order’/’maiden’/’bride’
Popularity: #14,537 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pre-Christian deity; modern and minimalist.

Vesna

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: VES-nuh · ˈvɛsnə
Meaning: ‘Spring’ in several Slavic languages; also the name of an ancient Slavic goddess of spring.
Popularity: #17,474 and falling (#17,425 → #17,474, 2024)

Milena

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: mih-LEH-nah · mɪˈlɛnə
Meaning: dear, kind, beloved
Popularity: #786 and falling (#701 → #786, 2024)

Soft, internationally portable, used everywhere from Italy to Belarus.

Mila

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: MEE-lah · ˈmiːlə
Meaning: gracious, dear one
Popularity: #33 and falling (#28 → #33, 2024)

The everyday diminutive that’s become a name in its own right.

Vera

Origin: Russian/Slavic
Pronunciation: VEER-ah · ˈvɪrə
Meaning: faith
Popularity: #226 and falling (#223 → #226, 2024)

Three letters, one of the great quiet Russian names.

Nadezhda

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: nah-DYEZH-dah · nɐˈdʲeʐdə
Meaning: hope
Popularity: #10,892 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Almost always called Nadya; warm and grounded.

Lyubov

Origin: Russian/Slavic
Pronunciation: lyoo-BOF · lʲʊˈbof
Meaning: love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The third of the *faith/hope/love* sister trio.

Olesya

Origin: Slavic (Russian/Ukrainian)
Pronunciation: oh-LES-yah · oʊˈlɛsjə
Popularity: #14,782 and falling (#13,218 → #14,782, 2024)

A Ukrainian name absorbed into Russian use; literary and soft.

Darina

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: dah-REE-nuh · dɑːˈriːnə
Meaning: gift
Popularity: #10,445 and falling (#6,728 → #10,445, 2024)

Folk-tale energy without the heaviness.

Bogdana

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: bog-DAH-nah · bɔɡˈdanə
Meaning: given by God
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Less common than the masculine Bogdan.

Tihana

Origin: South Slavic (chiefly Croatian/Serbian)
Pronunciation: tee-HAH-nah · tiˈxaːna
Meaning: quiet, calm
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has a stilled, watery feel.

Yarina

Origin: Ukrainian (vernacular form of Irina, from Greek Eirene)
Pronunciation: yah-REE-nah · jɐˈrɪnɐ
Meaning: peace
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lighter cousin to Yaroslava.

Zarina

Origin: Tatar (from Zara), cognate with Persian ‘golden’
Pronunciation: zah-REE-nə · zɑːˈriːnə
Meaning: linked to the Persian word for ‘golden’
Popularity: #2,340 and rising (#2,673 → #2,340, 2024)

Glamorous without being fussy.

Slava

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: SLAH-vah · ˈslɑːvə
Meaning: glory, fame
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Can be a name on its own or a nickname for any *-slava*.

Dobrila

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: doh-BREE-lah · dəˈbriːlə
Meaning: kind, good one
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare even in Russia; very gentle.

Krasimira

Origin: Bulgarian (Slavic)
Pronunciation: krah-see-MEE-rah · ˌkrɑːsɪˈmiːrə
Meaning: A Slavic compound name joining roots for ‘beauty’ and ‘peace’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bulgarian-Russian crossover with serious lyrical weight.

Orthodox Saint Names (Greek and Hebrew Roots)

When Rus converted to Christianity in 988, an enormous body of Greek and Hebrew saint names arrived and got beautifully Russified. These are the names you’ll find on church calendars and most Russian birth certificates of the last thousand years.

Anastasia

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: an-ah-STAY-zhah · ænəˈsteɪʒə
Meaning: resurrection
Popularity: #166 and rising (#167 → #166, 2024)

Famous from the last Romanov daughter; nicknames Nastya, Nastenka, Asya.

Yekaterina

Origin: Russian (from Greek, root disputed)
Pronunciation: yeh-kah-teh-REE-nah · jɪˌkætəˈriːnə
Meaning: Pure
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Russian Catherine; commanding, imperial — Katya softens it.

Yelena

Origin: Russian (from Greek, root disputed)
Pronunciation: yeh-LEH-nah · jɪˈlɛnə
Meaning: Bright, shining
Popularity: #2,497 and rising (#2,512 → #2,497, 2024)

The Russian Helen; Lena is the everyday form.

Yevgeniya

Origin: Greek (via Russian, from Eugenia)
Pronunciation: yev-GYEH-nee-yah · jɪvˈɡʲe.nʲɪ.jə
Meaning: well-born, noble
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Zhenya works as the unisex nickname.

Yevdokiya

Origin: Greek (via Russian, from Eudocia/Eudokia)
Pronunciation: yev-dah-KEE-yah · jɪvdɐˈkʲi.jə
Meaning: good favor, held in good esteem
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Wonderfully old; Dunya is the diminutive Tolstoy uses.

Yefimiya

Origin: Greek (via Russian, from Euphemia)
Pronunciation: yeh-fee-MEE-yah · jɪfʲɪˈmʲi.jə
Meaning: well-spoken, of good repute
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hardly used now, but stunning in writing.

Yefrosinya

Origin: Greek (via Russian, from Euphrosyne)
Pronunciation: yeh-froh-SEEN-yah · jɪfrɐˈsʲinʲjə
Meaning: joy, mirth, good cheer
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Frosya as the nickname; convent-quiet.

Ksenia

Origin: Russian
Pronunciation: KSEN-ee-ah · ˈksɛniə
Meaning: Hospitality, stranger
Popularity: #6,039 and rising (#8,288 → #6,039, 2024)

Galina

Origin: Russian (from Greek Galene)
Pronunciation: gah-LEE-nah · ɡɑːˈliːnə
Meaning: calm, serene
Popularity: #7,338 and rising (#9,191 → #7,338, 2024)

Olympic-gymnast classic; Galya is the softener.

Larisa

Origin: Ancient Greek (Slavic spelling variant of Larissa)
Pronunciation: luh-REE-sah · ləˈriːsə
Meaning: citadel, stronghold
Popularity: #6,269 and rising (#7,104 → #6,269, 2024)

1970s Soviet darling, now coming back around.

Marina

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: muh-REE-nah · məˈriːnə
Meaning: of the sea
Popularity: #640 and falling (#572 → #640, 2024)

The poet Marina Tsvetaeva owns this name forever.

Irina

Origin: Russian
Pronunciation: ih-REE-nah · ɪˈriːnə
Meaning: Russian form of Irene, meaning ‘peace’
Popularity: #1,567 and rising (#1,600 → #1,567, 2024)

Three syllables, all liquid; Ira and Irisha as nicknames.

Yulia

Origin: Russian (from the Roman family name Julius, via Latin/Greek)
Pronunciation: YOO-lee-ah · ˈjuːliə
Meaning: traditionally glossed as ‘youthful’ (Russian form of Julia/Julius); the Roman name’s true root is uncertain
Popularity: #5,765 and rising (#6,393 → #5,765, 2024)

A popular, frequently repeated gloss, but the true origin of the Roman name Julius is genuinely debated among scholars, not settled as ‘youthful.’

Sofiya

Origin: Greek (cognate of Sophia)
Pronunciation: so-FEE-yah · sɒˈfiːə
Meaning: wisdom
Popularity: #2,317 and rising (#2,437 → #2,317, 2024)

Less Italianate than Sofia; Sonya is the famous diminutive.

Varvara

Origin: Greek (source of Barbara)
Pronunciation: vahr-VAH-ruh · vɑːrˈvɑːrə
Meaning: foreign, non-Greek-speaking
Popularity: #10,182 and falling (#9,556 → #10,182, 2024)

Varya is gentle and storybook.

Tatiana

Origin: Latin (Roman family name Tatius + -anus); popularized via Russian usage
Pronunciation: tah-tee-AH-nah · ˌtɑːtiˈɑːnə
Meaning: Of Tatius
Popularity: #1,079 and rising (#1,173 → #1,079, 2024)

Pushkin’s *Eugene Onegin* heroine — letter-writing, dreamy.

Natalia

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: nuh-TAL-yuh · nəˈtæljə
Meaning: relating to the birth of Christ on Christmas Day
Popularity: #105 and falling (#96 → #105, 2024)

Natasha from *War and Peace* is its soul.

Yelizaveta

Origin: Hebrew (via Russian, form of Elizabeth)
Pronunciation: yeh-lee-zah-VYEH-tah · jɪlʲɪzɐˈvʲetə
Meaning: God is my oath
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Liza is the warm everyday version.

Anna

Origin: Hebrew (via Latin/Greek)
Pronunciation: AN-ah · ˈænə
Meaning: grace
Popularity: #94 and falling (#79 → #94, 2024)

Tolstoy’s tragic heroine; in Russia it stays simple, unfussy.

Mariya

Origin: Hebrew (via Greek Maria)
Pronunciation: mah-REE-yah · məˈriːjə
Meaning: uncertain ancient root; proposed meanings include ‘bitter’ and ‘beloved’
Popularity: #4,965 and falling (#3,407 → #4,965, 2024)

Masha as the nickname carries all the warmth.

Marfa

Origin: Aramaic (East Slavic variant of Martha)
Pronunciation: MAR-fuh · ˈmɑːrfə
Meaning: lady, mistress
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Smells like a wooden house in a folk tale.

Susanna

Origin: Hebrew (via Greek Sousanna), ultimately an Egyptian word for the lotus flower
Pronunciation: soo-ZAN-ah · suːˈzænə
Meaning: lily (traditional gloss); root ultimately denotes the lotus flower
Popularity: #1,360 and falling (#1,291 → #1,360, 2024)

Rare in Russia, biblical and lovely.

Anfisa

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: ahn-FEE-suh · ɐnˈfʲisə
Meaning: flowering, blooming
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Chekhov used it; rich and almost forgotten.

Pelageya

Origin: Greek (from pelagos, ‘sea’)
Pronunciation: peh-luh-GAY-uh · pʲɪlɐˈɡʲejə
Meaning: of the sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Polya as the soft form; deeply rural and beautiful.

Praskovya

Origin: Greek (from Paraskevi/Paraskeva)
Pronunciation: prahs-KOHV-yuh · prʌsˈkovjə
Meaning: preparation
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old peasant-name vibe; Parasha as the nickname.

Agafya

Origin: Greek (via Agatha)
Pronunciation: ah-GAHF-yah · ɐˈɡafʲjə
Meaning: good
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name from Russian fairy tales; Ganya is the diminutive.

Akulina

Origin: Latin (via Greek)
Pronunciation: ah-koo-LEE-nuh · ɐkʊˈlʲinə
Meaning: eagle
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Country name with surprising elegance.

Avdotya

Origin: Greek (via Yevdokiya)
Pronunciation: ahv-DOHT-yah · ɐvˈdotʲjə
Meaning: good will, of good repute
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Even more Old Russia than the original.

Feodora

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: fay-oh-DOR-ah · feɪoʊˈdɔːrə
Meaning: gift of god
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Feminine of Feodor; imperial and serious.

Feodosiya

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: fay-oh-DOH-see-yah · feɪoʊˈdoʊsiːjə
Meaning: given by god
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Theodosia in English; very Byzantine, very Romanov.

Klavdiya

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: KLAHV-dee-yuh · ˈklav.dʲɪ.jə
Meaning: lame (traditional derivation of the Roman clan name Claudius/Claudia)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sounds nothing like its meaning; Klava softens it.

Lukerya

Origin: Greek (Russian folk-form of Glykeria)
Pronunciation: loo-KAIR-yuh · lʊˈkʲerʲjə
Meaning: sweet
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of Turgenev’s tenderest characters.

Romanov-Era Aristocratic Names

The 18th and 19th centuries gave Russia its great drawing-room names — the ones in Tolstoy and Pushkin, the ones embroidered on christening gowns. They feel grand without being inaccessible.

Alexandra

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: al-eg-ZAN-drah · ælɪɡˈzændrə
Meaning: defender of mankind
Popularity: #221 and falling (#204 → #221, 2024)

The last empress wore it; Sasha and Shura are the nicknames.

Olga

Origin: Old Norse (via Old Russian)
Pronunciation: OHL-guh · ˈoʊlɡə
Meaning: holy, blessed
Popularity: #3,309 and falling (#3,077 → #3,309, 2024)

Steely and ancient; was a 10th-century saint-queen.

See above — but Catherine the Great deserves a separate mention.

– **Mariya Fyodorovna** — Compound name style. Pairing a first name with a patronymic is a whole Russian aesthetic.

Glafira

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: glah-FEER-uh · ɡləˈfɪərə
Meaning: elegant, polished, refined
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Aristocratic and rare; Glasha is the warm nickname.

Zinaida

Origin: Russian (from Greek)
Pronunciation: zee-nah-EE-dah · zɪnəˈiːdə
Meaning: of Zeus, divine
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Zina as a nickname is sparky and bright.

Lidiya

Origin: Greek (place name)
Pronunciation: LEE-dee-yə · ˈliːdijə
Meaning: woman of Lydia (named for the ancient Anatolian region)
Popularity: #16,580 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lida is sweet; the name has a museum-portrait quality.

Margarita

Origin: Greek (via Latin)
Pronunciation: mar-guh-REE-tah · mɑːrɡəˈriːtə
Meaning: pearl (ultimately from a Persian root)
Popularity: #1,808 and falling (#1,788 → #1,808, 2024)

Polina

Origin: Greek — most directly linked to ‘Apollinariya’ (from the god Apollo); also popularly treated as a Slavic form of Paulina.
Pronunciation: poh-LEE-nah · poʊˈliːnə
Meaning: Most directly linked to ‘Apollinariya,’ from the Greek god Apollo; also popularly treated as a Slavic form of Paulina, meaning ‘small, humble.’
Popularity: #3,310 and falling (#3,213 → #3,310, 2024)

Now ubiquitous in Russia, still distinctive abroad.

Apollinariya

Origin: Greek/Latin
Pronunciation: uh-pol-ih-NAH-ree-yuh · ɐpəlʲɪˈnarʲɪjə
Meaning: belonging to Apollo
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Vasilisa

Origin: Greek (via Russian)
Pronunciation: vah-see-LEE-suh · ˌvɑːsɪˈliːsə
Meaning: descended from the Greek word for ‘queen’
Popularity: #10,183 and falling (#8,944 → #10,183, 2024)

The fairy-tale heroine Vasilisa the Wise; mighty and feminine.

Nina

Origin: Russian (via an obscure-origin Georgian saint’s name) or Italian (diminutive)
Pronunciation: NEE-nah · ˈniːnə
Meaning: Possibly Babylonian water goddess
Popularity: #321 and rising (#338 → #321, 2024)

Adopted from Georgian, very Russian-feeling now.

Nika

Origin: Greek (via Slavic use); separately a Persian name
Pronunciation: NEE-kah · ˈniːkə
Meaning: victory (from Greek Nike)
Popularity: #3,149 and falling (#2,810 → #3,149, 2024)

Short and sharp; can stand alone or shorten Veronika.

Veronika

Origin: Greek (Macedonian), via Latin
Pronunciation: veh-RON-ih-kuh · vəˈrɒnɪkə
Meaning: bringer of victory
Popularity: #3,038 and rising (#3,172 → #3,038, 2024)

Vera-with-extras; Nika as the nickname.

Yevgenia

Origin: Greek (via Russian, from Eugenia)
Pronunciation: yev-GYEH-nee-ah · jɪvˈɡʲe.nʲɪ.jə
Meaning: well-born, noble
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Karolina

Origin: European (multi-language)
Pronunciation: kair-oh-LEE-nah · ˌkɛroʊˈliːnə
Meaning: free man (feminine form of Charles)
Popularity: #1,255 and rising (#1,366 → #1,255, 2024)

Came in with German court influence; Karolinka as a soft form.

Adelaida

Origin: Germanic (via Adelaide)
Pronunciation: ad-uh-LYE-duh · ˌædəˈlaɪdə
Meaning: of noble kind
Popularity: #2,078 and rising (#3,175 → #2,078, 2024)

19th-century salon name; Adya is the diminutive.

Albina

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: al-BEE-nuh · ælˈbiːnə
Meaning: white or fair-skinned (feminine of the Roman name Albinus, from albus ‘white’)
Popularity: #10,282 and rising (#12,228 → #10,282, 2024)

Imported, but felt very Petersburg by the late 1800s.

Antonina

Origin: Russian/Ukrainian (from Latin Antonina, from Antonius)
Pronunciation: an-tuh-NEE-nuh · ˌæntəˈniːnə
Meaning: Priceless one
Popularity: #5,440 and rising (#6,439 → #5,440, 2024)

Tonya as the softener — Yuri Zhivago’s wife in Pasternak.

Klara

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: KLAHR-uh · ˈklɑːrə
Meaning: bright, clear, famous
Popularity: #1,854 and falling (#1,828 → #1,854, 2024)

German-import, felt aristocratic in Russia.

Stefanida

Origin: Greek (via Russian, feminine form of Stefan/Stephen)
Pronunciation: stef-ah-NEE-duh · stɛfəˈniːdə
Meaning: crown, wreath
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has the slight ceremonial weight of court costume.

Augusta

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: aw-GUS-tuh · ɔːˈɡʌstə
Meaning: venerable, majestic (feminine form of Augustus)
Popularity: #3,076 and rising (#3,917 → #3,076, 2024)

Rare and pillar-stiff; Gusya as a softer pet form.

Yelizar

Origin: Hebrew (via Russian, form of Eleazar)
Pronunciation: yeh-lee-ZAHR · jɪlʲɪˈzar
Meaning: God has helped
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mostly masculine but appeared feminized.

Serafima

Origin: Hebrew (from seraphim)
Pronunciation: seh-ruh-FEE-muh · ˌsɛrəˈfiːmə
Meaning: burning, fiery
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sima as the diminutive; angelic and unusual.

Literary Names from the Great Russian Novels

Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Pushkin, Turgenev, Chekhov — they essentially defined which Russian names feel romantic in the modern imagination. Picking one of these is picking a small piece of a story.

Natasha

Origin: Russian (from Natalia)
Pronunciation: nuh-TASH-ah · nəˈtæʃə
Meaning: pet form of Natalia, born on Christmas day
Popularity: #933 and rising (#986 → #933, 2024)

Tolstoy’s Natasha Rostova in *War and Peace* — joy and recklessness.

Kitty

Origin: English (via Greek)
Pronunciation: KIT-ee · ˈkɪti
Meaning: pet form of Katherine/Caitlin, from Greek for ‘pure’
Popularity: #14,374 and falling (#14,337 → #14,374, 2024)

Yekaterina Shcherbatskaya, Anna’s foil — sunny.

Sonya

Origin: Russian (pet form of Sophia)
Pronunciation: SOHN-yah · ˈsoʊnjə
Meaning: wisdom
Popularity: #1,917 and falling (#1,875 → #1,917, 2024)

Sonya Marmeladova in *Crime and Punishment* — quiet endurance.

Dunya

Origin: Greek (via Russian pet form of Yevdokiya)
Pronunciation: DOON-yah · ˈduːnjə
Meaning: good will, held in good repute
Popularity: #3,977 and rising (#4,673 → #3,977, 2024)

Raskolnikov’s fierce sister.

Marya

Origin: Hebrew (variant spelling of Mariya/Maria)
Pronunciation: MAH-ryah · ˈmɑːrjə
Meaning: uncertain ancient root; proposed meanings include ‘bitter’ and ‘beloved’
Popularity: #6,811 and rising (#7,900 → #6,811, 2024)

Princess Marya in *War and Peace* — devout, plain-spoken, deep.

Liza

Origin: Hebrew (via Yelizaveta)
Pronunciation: LEE-zə · ˈliːzə
Meaning: God is my oath (pet form of Elizabeth)
Popularity: #1,806 and falling (#1,661 → #1,806, 2024)

The doomed heroine of Karamzin’s *Poor Liza* — set the template for Russian sentimental novels.

Bela

Origin: Hungarian
Pronunciation: BAY-luh · ˈbeɪlə
Meaning: Beautiful
Popularity: #4,561 and falling (#3,991 → #4,561, 2024)

The tragic mountain heroine.

Aksinya

Origin: Greek (via Xenia)
Pronunciation: ahk-SEEN-yuh · ɐkˈsʲinʲjə
Meaning: hospitable; of hospitality
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sholokhov’s *And Quiet Flows the Don*.

Anya

Origin: Russian/Ukrainian
Pronunciation: AHN-yuh · ˈɑːnjə
Meaning: grace (pet form of Anna/Hannah)
Popularity: #394 and rising (#443 → #394, 2024)

Chekhov’s hopeful young heroine in *The Cherry Orchard*.

Masha

Origin: Russian/Ukrainian (diminutive of Maria)
Pronunciation: MAH-shah · ˈmɑːʃə
Meaning: Diminutive of Mariya
Popularity: #4,422 and rising (#5,328 → #4,422, 2024)

One of Chekhov’s *Three Sisters*; intelligent and restless.

Yelena Andreyevna

Origin: Greek (Yelena, Russian form of Helen) with a Russian patronymic (Andreyevna, ‘daughter of Andrei’)
Pronunciation: yeh-LYEH-nah ahn-DRAY-ev-nah · jɪˈlʲenə ɐnˈdrʲejɪvnə
Meaning: traditionally glossed as ‘torch’ or ‘bright/shining one’ (Yelena), though the root is disputed; ‘daughter of Andrei’ (Andreyevna, from Andrei, ‘manly, brave’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The bored beauty in *Uncle Vanya*.

Nastasya

Origin: Russian (variant of Anastasia)
Pronunciation: nah-STAH-syuh · nʌˈstɑːsjə
Meaning: resurrection
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Dostoyevsky’s Nastasya Filippovna in *The Idiot* — devastating.

Aglaya

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: ah-GLAH-yah · ɐˈɡla.jə
Meaning: splendor, radiant beauty
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The other heroine of *The Idiot*; pristine and proud.

Katerina Ivanovna

Origin: Greek (Katerina) with Russian patronymic (Ivanovna)
Pronunciation: kat-uh-REE-nuh ee-VAHN-uv-nuh · ˌkætəˈriːnə ɪˈvɑːnəvnə
Meaning: Pure
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Recurring Dostoyevsky name; always a little feverish.

Lara

Origin: Russian (pet form of Larissa)
Pronunciation: LAHR-ah · ˈlɑːrə
Meaning: pet form of Larissa, ultimately from a Greek place name meaning ‘citadel/fortress’
Popularity: #740 and falling (#731 → #740, 2024)

Pasternak’s Lara in *Doctor Zhivago*.

Tonya

Origin: English/Russian pet form of Antonina/Antonia (ultimately the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown origin)
Pronunciation: TAHN-yuh · ˈtɑːnjə
Meaning: Diminutive of Antonina
Popularity: #6,590 and rising (#12,082 → #6,590, 2024)

Zhivago’s wife.

Asya

Origin: Russian/Bulgarian, short form of Anastasia
Pronunciation: AHS-yuh · ˈɑːsjə
Meaning: resurrection (as a short form of Anastasia)
Popularity: #3,118 and rising (#3,182 → #3,118, 2024)

Turgenev’s novella *Asya* gives it lasting tenderness.

Gemma

Origin: Italian
Pronunciation: JEM-ah · ˈdʒɛmə
Meaning: a gem/jewel (the Latin root literally meant ‘bud’)
Popularity: #203 and falling (#177 → #203, 2024)

Unusual but real in Russian literary use.

– **Yelizaveta Prokofyevna** — Compound character name from *The Idiot*. The matriarch.

Alyona

Origin: Russian (diminutive of Elena/Helena)
Pronunciation: uh-LYOH-nah · əˈljoʊnə
Meaning: shining light (traditional gloss for Helena)
Popularity: #10,290 and falling (#7,657 → #10,290, 2024)

The pawnbroker in *Crime and Punishment* shares the name, but Alyona itself is sweet.

Folk and Fairy-Tale Names

Russian folklore has its own roster — names that show up in skazki, the painted-tile tales of firebirds and bear-tsars. They feel rustic in the best way.

Vasilisa the Beautiful, Vasilisa the Wise — the central fairy-tale heroine.

– **Marya Morevna** — Compound folk name. The warrior-princess of one of the great Russian tales.

Snegurochka

Origin: Russian (folklore)
Pronunciation: snyeh-GOO-rotch-kuh · snʲɪˈɡurətɕkə
Meaning: snow maiden
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Usually a title rather than a name, but the diminutive Snezha works.

Alyonushka

Origin: Slavic (diminutive of Alyona)
Pronunciation: uh-LYOH-noosh-kuh · ʌˈlʲonʊʃkə
Meaning: dear/little Alyona (affectionate diminutive)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The sister in the goat-brother fairy tale; eternally tender.

Mashenka

Origin: Russian (diminutive of Masha)
Pronunciation: mah-SHEN-kah · məˈʃɛŋkə
Meaning: Little Masha
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The girl in the three-bears story.

Nastenka

Origin: Russian (diminutive of Anastasia)
Pronunciation: NAHS-ten-kah · ˈnɑːstjɛŋkə
Meaning: Little Nastya
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The kindhearted stepdaughter of *Morozko*.

Varenka

Origin: Russian diminutive of Varvara (Greek, from barbaros, ‘foreign, non-Greek-speaking’)
Pronunciation: vah-RYEN-kuh · vɐˈrʲenʲ.kə
Meaning: foreigner, stranger
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Storybook-soft.

Marfusha

Origin: Aramaic (Russian affectionate diminutive of Marfa/Martha)
Pronunciation: mar-FOO-shuh · mɑːrˈfuːʃə
Meaning: little lady/mistress (affectionate form of Marfa)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Olyushka

Origin: Russian (diminutive of Olga, via Olya)
Pronunciation: ahl-YOOSH-kuh · ɐlʲˈjuʂkə
Meaning: Little Olga
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Affectionate folk diminutive.

Zabava

Origin: Slavic (Old Russian)
Pronunciation: zah-BAH-vah · zɐˈbavə
Meaning: amusement, entertainment
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The princess in the Dobrynya the Dragonslayer cycle.

Lebed

Origin: Russian
Pronunciation: LYEH-byet
Meaning: swan
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Solomonida

Origin: Hebrew (from Solomon/Shlomo)
Pronunciation: soh-loh-mah-NEE-duh · ˌsɒləməˈniːdə
Meaning: peace
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Russified Old Testament cross-over.

Domna

Origin: Latin (via Greek)
Pronunciation: DOM-nuh · ˈdɒmnə
Meaning: lady, mistress of the house
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Country-rooted, very *izba*.

Glikeria

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: glee-KEH-ree-uh · ɡlɪˈkɛriə
Meaning: sweet
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The unaltered form of Lukerya.

Fevroniya

Origin: Greek (root uncertain)
Pronunciation: fehv-ROH-nee-yah · fʲɪvˈronʲɪjə
Meaning: Probably “joyful”
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Heroine of the medieval *Tale of Peter and Fevronia*, Russia’s patron saints of marriage.

Yefimia

Origin: Greek (via Russian, from Euphemia)
Pronunciation: yeh-fee-MEE-ah · jɪfʲɪˈmʲi.jə
Meaning: well-spoken, of good repute
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Saintly and old.

Iraida

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: ee-rah-EE-duh · iːrɑːˈiːdə
Meaning: likely related to the goddess Hera
Popularity: #18,588 as of 2008 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has a folk-tale ring; Ira as the nickname.

Khariton

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: khah-ree-TOHN · xɐrʲɪˈton
Meaning: grace, favor
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sometimes feminized to Kharitina.

Domnika

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: dohm-NEE-kuh · dɒmˈniːkə
Meaning: belonging to the Lord
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quiet, watchful.

Yevpraksiya

Origin: Greek (via Russian)
Pronunciation: yev-PRAHK-see-ah · jɛfpˈraksʲɪjə
Meaning: doing good; a good deed
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Medieval Kievan princess name.

Mlada

Origin: Slavic (from mladý, ‘young’)
Pronunciation: MLAH-dah · ˈmlɑːdə
Meaning: young
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tiny and bright.

Lyubava

Origin: Slavic (Old East Slavic)
Pronunciation: lyoo-BAH-vuh · lʲʊˈbavə
Meaning: beloved, dear one
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and folkloric.

Bazhena

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: bah-ZHEN-ah · bɐˈʐɛnə
Meaning: desired, wished-for
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and gentle.

Cheslava

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: ches-LAH-vah · tʃɛsˈlavə
Meaning: honor and glory
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has a Polish edge.

Rusalka

Origin: Slavic (folklore)
Pronunciation: roo-SAHL-kah · rʊˈsɑːlkə
Meaning: a female water spirit
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used poetically; Dvořák and Pushkin both immortalized her.

Short and Lyrical Diminutives That Stand Alone

Russians use diminutives constantly, and over time many of them migrated from “pet name” to “real name” status. These work beautifully as full names for Western parents — small, songlike, complete.

Three letters, three crossover vowels.

Soft, single-syllable shimmer.

Sasha

Origin: Russian/Ukrainian (diminutive of Alexander and Alexandra)
Pronunciation: SAH-shah · ˈsɑːʃə
Meaning: protector/defender of people (via Alexander/Alexandra)
Popularity: #642 and falling (#619 → #642, 2024)

Unisex in Russia, gender-neutral abroad.

Tasha

Origin: Russian (short form of Natasha)
Pronunciation: TAH-shuh · ˈtɑːʃə
Meaning: pet form of Natasha, whose root traces to a Latin word for ‘birth/Christmas Day’
Popularity: #8,349 and falling (#5,722 → #8,349, 2024)

1970s American but originally Russian.

Katya

Origin: Russian/Ukrainian
Pronunciation: KAHT-yah · ˈkɑːtjə
Meaning: diminutive of Yekaterina (Catherine); root meaning disputed
Popularity: #2,780 and rising (#3,117 → #2,780, 2024)

Sharper than Kate, warmer than Katherine.

Galya

Origin: Greek (via Russian diminutive of Galina)
Pronunciation: GAHL-yuh · ˈɡɑːljə
Meaning: calm, tranquil (as in a calm sea)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Open vowels, gentle landing.

Nadya

Origin: Russian (diminutive of Nadezhda)
Pronunciation: NAHD-yah · ˈnɑːdjə
Meaning: hope
Popularity: #4,973 and rising (#5,085 → #4,973, 2024)

Soft and serious at once.

Tanya

Origin: Russian pet form of Tatiana (ultimately Latin, from the Roman name Tatianus/the Sabine king Tatius)
Pronunciation: TAHN-yuh · ˈtɑːnjə
Meaning: Of Tatius
Popularity: #3,493 and falling (#3,320 → #3,493, 2024)

Crossed over decades ago, still feels Russian.

– **Vanya** — Usually masculine, but Ivana shortens here too. Unisex possibility.

Lyuba

Origin: Russian (diminutive of Lyubov)
Pronunciation: LYOO-buh · ˈlʲʉbə
Meaning: love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Diminutive of Lyubov.

Sonia

Origin: Russian (pet form of Sophia)
Pronunciation: SOHN-yah · ˈsoʊnjə
Meaning: wisdom
Popularity: #1,359 and falling (#1,260 → #1,359, 2024)

Diminutive of Sofiya, fully usable on its own.

Lena

Origin: Scandinavian/German/Russian (pet form of Helena, Magdalena, or Yelena)
Pronunciation: LEE-nah · ˈliːnə
Meaning: short/pet form of Helena, Magdalena, or Yelena
Popularity: #263 and rising (#270 → #263, 2024)

From Yelena; minimalist.

Olya

Origin: Russian (diminutive of Olga, from Old Norse Helga)
Pronunciation: OHL-yah · ˈoʊljə
Meaning: holy
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

From Olga; small and bright.

Ira

Origin: Hebrew (male) / Russian-Slavic (female, from Irina)
Pronunciation: EYE-ruh · ˈaɪrə
Meaning: a homograph of two distinct traditions: Hebrew Ira (male), meaning ‘watchful, alert’; and Russian/Slavic Ira (female), a diminutive of Irina/Irene, meaning ‘peace’
Popularity: #1,436 and falling (#1,398 → #1,436, 2024)

From Irina; tiny and self-contained.

Inna

Origin: uncertain Slavic
Pronunciation: EE-nuh · ˈiːnə
Meaning: Strong water
Popularity: #7,719 and falling (#6,042 → #7,719, 2024)

Compact and unusual stateside.

Alla

Origin: Slavic (disputed origin)
Pronunciation: AHL-luh · ˈɑːlə
Meaning: Other, second
Popularity: #15,292 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and Soviet-vintage.

Ada

Origin: Germanic or Hebrew (dual origin)
Pronunciation: AY-dah · ˈeɪdə
Meaning: noble (or ‘ornament, ‘ dual root)
Popularity: #193 and falling (#178 → #193, 2024)

Eva

Origin: Latin (Latinate form of Hebrew Ḥavah, via Eve)
Pronunciation: EE-vah · ˈiːvə
Meaning: life
Popularity: #120 and falling (#112 → #120, 2024)

Same as English Eve, but the Russian pronunciation softens it.

Maya

Origin: Multiple unrelated origins (Sanskrit, also Hebrew/Latin via Maria, or Greek Maia)
Pronunciation: MY-ah · ˈmaɪə
Meaning: illusion (in the Sanskrit-origin usage); in Western usage often a variant of Maria
Popularity: #51 and falling (#50 → #51, 2024)

Rita

Origin: Italian/Spanish
Pronunciation: REE-tah · ˈriːtə
Meaning: a short form of Margaret (via Italian Margherita/Spanish Margarita), ultimately meaning ‘pearl’
Popularity: #1,404 and falling (#1,376 → #1,404, 2024)

From Margarita.

Lika

Origin: Slavic (pet form, base name ambiguous)
Pronunciation: LEE-kə · ˈliːkə
Meaning: From Angelika
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of Chekhov’s loves had this name.

Dasha

Origin: Russian (diminutive of Darya)
Pronunciation: DAH-shah · ˈdɑːʃə
Meaning: possessor of good(ness) (root meaning of Darya)
Popularity: #1,849 and rising (#1,908 → #1,849, 2024)

Quick, bright, friendly.

Tasya

Origin: Greek (via Russian pet form of Anastasia)
Pronunciation: TAH-syuh · ˈtasʲə
Meaning: rising again, resurrection
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Even softer than Nastya.

Yana

Origin: Slavic (from Hebrew, via Jane/John)
Pronunciation: YAH-nah · ˈja.nə
Meaning: “God is gracious” (the same root meaning as Jane and John)
Popularity: #1,890 and rising (#1,918 → #1,890, 2024)

Brisk and modern.

Zoya

Origin: Russian (from Greek Zoe)
Pronunciation: ZOH-yah · ˈzoʊjə
Meaning: life
Popularity: #976 and falling (#861 → #976, 2024)

Same root as Zoe but with the Russian *y* sound.

– **Maya** — Variant. Often paired with patronymic for fuller feel.

Names with a Cool, Distinctive Sound for Western Ears

These are the ones I’d shortlist if I were specifically looking for a Russian name that lands as fresh and uncommon in an English-speaking room — not unpronounceable, just unexpected.

Kira

Origin: Irish (via Ciara) and/or Persian (via Cyrus); also used in Japan
Pronunciation: KEER-uh · ˈkɪrə
Meaning: Irish ‘ciar’ = dark/black (via Ciara); also linked to Persian Cyrus (disputed sense) — not ‘shining’ as commonly claimed
Popularity: #455 and falling (#429 → #455, 2024)

Sharp K, easy to say, almost unknown stateside.

Stasya

Origin: Russian (short form of Anastasia)
Pronunciation: STAH-syuh · ˈstɑːsjə
Meaning: resurrection
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A standalone short form of Anastasia.

Inessa

Origin: Russian (from Spanish Inés, ultimately Greek Agnes)
Pronunciation: ee-NESS-uh · ɪˈnɛsə
Meaning: pure, chaste
Popularity: #4,225 and rising (#5,299 → #4,225, 2024)

Iskra

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: EES-kruh · ˈiːskrə
Meaning: spark
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soviet-era invented name; gorgeous in any era.

Margo

Origin: French
Pronunciation: MAR-goh · ˈmɑːrgoʊ
Meaning: phonetic form of Margot/Margaret; ‘pearl’
Popularity: #545 and falling (#543 → #545, 2024)

From Margarita; clipped and modern.

Alisa

Origin: Finnish/Russian form of Alice
Pronunciation: uh-LEE-suh · əˈliːsə
Meaning: of noble character
Popularity: #1,442 and falling (#1,378 → #1,442, 2024)

Alice with Cyrillic flavor.

Diana

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: dy-AN-uh · daɪˈænə
Meaning: divine, heavenly
Popularity: #243 and falling (#228 → #243, 2024)

Western root, Russian use.

Karina

Origin: Greek/Latin (uncertain)
Pronunciation: kuh-REE-nuh · kəˈriːnə
Meaning: either a form of Katherine, or from Latin Carina (‘keel’, also an Italian term of endearment)
Popularity: #774 and falling (#761 → #774, 2024)

Globally portable.

Milana

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: mih-LAH-nah · mɪˈlɑːnə
Meaning: gracious, dear one (feminine form of Milan)
Popularity: #783 and falling (#755 → #783, 2024)

Newer Russian favorite that hasn’t traveled yet.

Adelina

Origin: Italian (variant of Adeline, ultimately Germanic)
Pronunciation: ad-uh-LEE-nah · ˌædəˈliːnə
Meaning: noble
Popularity: #341 and rising (#387 → #341, 2024)

Russified through 19th-century imports.

Ulyana

Origin: Russian form of Juliana/Julia (Latin, from the Roman family name Julius)
Pronunciation: ool-YAH-nuh · ʊlˈjɑːnə
Meaning: youthful
Popularity: #17,447 and falling (#17,401 → #17,447, 2024)

The Russified spelling is the prettiest version.

Marusya

Origin: Russian/Ukrainian (diminutive of Mariya)
Pronunciation: mah-ROO-syah · məˈruːsjə
Meaning: From Mariya
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and folk-song-like.

Slavena

Origin: Slavic (from slava, ‘glory’)
Pronunciation: slah-VEH-nah · slaˈvɛna
Meaning: glory
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has the *-ena* musicality.

Tomila

Origin: Slavic (Old Russian)
Pronunciation: toh-MEE-lah · tɔˈmiːla
Meaning: one who was longed for; also linked to ‘suffering/languishing’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual but real.

Nora

Origin: diminutive (short form of Eleanor, of disputed origin, rarely of Honora, Latin)
Pronunciation: NOR-ah · ˈnɔːrə
Meaning: Light
Popularity: #22 and rising (#24 → #22, 2024)

Russian-Western crossover.

Zhanna

Origin: Hebrew (via French Jeanne)
Pronunciation: ZHAHN-nah · ˈʒɑːnə
Meaning: God is gracious
Popularity: #17,571 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Russian Joan; sharp and short.

Tamara

Origin: Hebrew (via Slavic/Georgian Orthodox tradition)
Pronunciation: tuh-MAR-uh · təˈmɑːrə
Meaning: date palm (from the Hebrew name Tamar)
Popularity: #1,757 and rising (#1,848 → #1,757, 2024)

Beloved in Russia and Georgia; Lermontov wrote a famous poem about her.

Rada

Origin: Slavic (from *radъ, ‘glad’)
Pronunciation: RAH-duh · ˈrɑːdə
Meaning: joyful
Popularity: #14,824 and falling (#13,141 → #14,824, 2024)

Two syllables, completely unstuffy.

Lala

Origin: Persian (also used informally in Slavic contexts as a pet form of various names)
Pronunciation: LAH-lah · ˈlɑː.lɑː
Meaning: a term of respectful address, roughly comparable to calling someone ‘elder brother’
Popularity: #7,771 and rising (#9,331 → #7,771, 2024)

Lullaby-soft.

Eska

Origin: Slavic (claimed pet form of Yelizaveta)
Meaning: From Yelizaveta
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings