Russian last names with origins and meanings
Discover common Russian last names (familii) with origins, meanings, and the patronymic naming system explained.
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Russian last name ideas
- Ivanov (Иванов)
- Petrov (Петров)
- Sidorov (Сидоров)
- Vasiliev (Васильев)
- Mikhailov (Михайлов)
- Volkov (Волков)
- Medvedev (Медведев)
- Sokolov (Соколов)
- Orlov (Орлов)
- Lebedev (Лебедев)
- Kuznetsov (Кузнецов)
- Kovalev (Ковалёв)
- Popov (Попов)
- Melnikov (Мельников)
- Rybakov (Рыбаков)
- Smirnov (Смирнов)
- Belov (Белов)
- Chernov (Чернов)
- Krasnov (Краснов)
- Ryzhov (Рыжов)
- Morozov (Морозов)
- Vinogradov (Виноградов)
- Zimin (Зимин)
- Gromov (Громов)
- Vetrov (Ветров)
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Russian last name ideas
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From a given name28
- Ivan
- Pyotr
- Sidor
- Vasily
- Mikhail
- Fyodor
- Alexander
- Aleksei
- Andrei
- Pavel
- Semyon
- Stepan
- Nikolai
- Yakov
- Grigory
- Roman
- Dmitri
- Sergei
- Maksim
- Zakhar
- Boris
- Egor
- Anton
- Taras
- Nikita
- Ilya
- Makar
- Bogdan
From animals and birds25
- wolf
- bear
- falcon
- eagle
- swan
- dove
- hare
- goat
- magpie
- sparrow
- nightingale
- ram
- bull
- mosquito
- beetle
- carp
- pike
- raven
- fox
- goose
- rooster
- cat
- horse
- thrush
- sable
Not quite right? Describe what you're naming and Nomi finds names that fit.
From an occupation19
- smith
- smith
- priest
- miller
- fisherman
- carpenter
- potter
- cooper
- weaver
- shepherd
- tailor
- shoemaker
- butcher
- baker
- hunter
- merchant
- soldier
- prince
- king
From a nickname or trait13
- quiet
- white
- black
- red
- red-haired
- curly-haired
- newcomer
- stout
- grey-haired
- bearded
- tall
- short
- swift
Nature15
- frost
- grapevine
- winter
- thunder
- wind
- lake
- birch
- oak
- pine
- maple
- linden tree
- raspberry
- apple
- flower
- grass
About Russian last names
Most Russian surnames end in -ov, -ev or -in, and the ending changes for women: Ivanov becomes Ivanova.
Frequently asked questions
Those endings are possessive, like 's in English. Ivanov first meant Ivan's son or Ivan's family.
Most add an -a, so Ivanov becomes Ivanova and Nikitin becomes Nikitina. Names ending in -sky become -skaya.
Smirnov, Ivanov, Kuznetsov, Popov and Sokolov are among the most common. All five are in the list on this page.
It is a middle name made from the father's first name. A son of Pyotr is Petrovich, and a daughter is Petrovna.
Yes. Every name on this page is free to use in stories, games and pen names.
Yes. Describe your character in the search at the top of the page to get 50+ Russian surname ideas.