Slavic names
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The main types of Slavic names:
- Two-base names, often ending in mir/měr (Ostromir/měr, Tihomir/měr, Němir/měr), *voldъ (Vsevolod, Rogvolod), *pъlkъ (Svetopolk, Yaropolk), *slavъ (Vladislav, Dobroslav, Vseslav) and their derivatives (Dobrynya, Tishila, Ratisha, Putyata, etc.)
- Names from flora and fauna (Shchuka - pike, Yersh - ruffe, Zayac - hare, Wolk/Vuk - wolf, Orel - eagle)
- Names in order of birth (Pervusha - born first, Vtorusha/Vtorak - born second, Tretiusha/Tretyak - born third)
- Names according to human qualities (Hrabr - brave, Milana/Milena - beautiful, Milosh - cute, Nadezhda - hope)
- Names containing the root of the name of a Slavic deity (Troyan, Perunek/Peruvit, Yarovit, Stribor, Šventaragis[note 1], Veleslava)
History
In pre-Christian traditions, a child less than 7–10 years old would bear a "substitutional name", the purpose of which was to deflect attention from the child and thereby to protect it from the curiosity of evil powers. The practice was largely the result of the high mortality rate of young children at the time.[1] A child who survived to 7–10 years was considered worthy of care and was granted adult status and a new adult name during a ritual first haircut.[2]
Traditional names remained dominant until the
Names in Poland
After the ban on native non-Christian names imposed by the Council of Trent, the
Names in Kievan Rus'
Names today
Since
Meanings
Old Slavic names were built with one or two lexemes:
Single-lexeme names
Single-lexeme names were derived from ordinary or adjectival words and were usually, though not always, borne by peasants, e.g.: Baran (ram), Szydło (awl), Kąkol (cockle), Broda (beard, chin), Żyła (vein), Uchacz (ear-man), Łopata (shovel), Żaba (frog), Rus (Ruthenian/Russian man), Cich (silent man), etc.[4] Many names of this kind are used today, for example:
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Dithematic names
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2017) |
Dithematic names are built with two lexemes. Kaleta 1995 notes that "In the case of Old Germanic and Old Slavic personal names, the dithematic name form contained a wish for the new-born child. These wishes pertained to the values that obtained in these early times".
Prefix or suffix | Meaning | Examples |
---|---|---|
blag, błog, blah ,blaž | gentle, kind, blessed | Blahoslav, Blažena |
bog, bóg, boh, boż | God, rich, fate | Bohumil, Boguslav, Bohdan, Bożena, Bogusław, Bogdan, Bogna, Božidar, Božidarka, Bożydar, Modliboga, Falibog, Boguwola, Božetjeh, Bogosav, Bogoljub, Bogomil |
bole | great, more, large | Bolesław , Boleslav, Bolemir, Boleczest, Bolelut
|
bor | war, fight | , Lutobor, Myślibora, Strogobor, Borisav, Borislav; |
brat, bata | brother | Bratislav, Bratumił, Bratoljub |
bron, bran | to protect, to defend | Bronisław, Branislav, Bronimir, Bronisąd, Srbobran, Częstobrona, |
bude, budzi | to be | Budimír, Budimir, Budislav |
choti, chocie, želi | to want | Chociemir, Chciebor, Chociebąd, Chotimíra, Želimir, Želimirka |
chwał, fal, hval | to praise, to glorify | Boguchwał, Chwalibog, Chwalimir, Falibor, Hvalimir, |
tech, ciech, tješ, teš | happy, comfort | Ciechosław, Wojciech, Sieciech, Techomir, Dobrociech, Božetech, Tješimir, Sławociech, Tešimir |
dobo, dobie, | appropriate, brave | Dobiesław, Dobiegniew |
cze, cti, ča, če | honour | Ctirad , Čedomir, Častimir
|
dar, dan | gift, receive | Dan, Božidar, Božidarka |
dobro | good, goodness | , Dobrożyźń, Dobromir, Dobroslav, |
dom | house | Domarad, Domosław, Domagoj, Domamir, Domoľub, Domawit, Domabor |
drag, drog, drah, drag | precious, beloved | Dragoslav, Dragomir, Dragoljub, Drogodziej, Drogoradz, Wieledrog, Predrag, Drohobysz, Miłodrog, Miodrag, |
dzierż, drži | to have, to rule, to keep | Dzierżysław, Dzierżykraj, Dzirżyterg, Držislav |
gniew, hněv | angry, furious | Zbigniew, Gniewomir, Mścigniew, Wojgniew, Dobiegniew, Ostrogniew, Zbyhněv |
god | appropriate | Godemir, Godzimir, Godzisława |
gost, host | guest | Miłogost, Radogost, Uniegost, Hostirad, Hostimil, Hostisvit, Lubgost, Gościsław |
gwiazd, hvezd, zvezd | star | Hviezdoslav, Hviezdomir, Zvezdan, Zvezdana |
jar, yar | strong, severe, fierce | |
kaz | to tell, to show | Kazimierz, Casimir, Kazimir, Skaziczest |
krasi, kreši, krzesi | beauty | Krzesimir, Krešimir , Krzesisław, Kresivoje, Krasimira
|
kvet | flower | Kvetoslava |
lud, ljud | people | Ľudmila, Ľudovít, Ljudevit, Ljudemisl |
lut | severe, ruthless | Lutosław, Lutobor, Lutogniew, Lutomir, Zbylut, Lutomysł |
lyub, lub, l'ub | love | Lubomir , Ljubomir, Lubosław, Lubov, Lubor, Ľubica, Ľubor,
|
mil, mił | love, to like, favour, graced | Vlastimil, Tomiła, Milica, Miłowit, Milomir, Miloslav, Milivoje, Ludmila, Radmila, Jarmila, |
mir, měr, mierz, myr | peace/world, prestige[8] | Chociemir, Ratimir , Želimir, Branimir, Zvonimir, Jaczemir
|
msti, mści | vengeance | Mstislav, Mścisław, Mściwoj, Mstivoj, Mszczuj |
mysl, mysł | think | Přemysl, Myslivoj, Mislav |
nieg | delight | Dobroniega, Njegomir, Mironieg, Niegodoma, Niegosław |
ne, nie | negative | Nevzor, Nekras, Nezhdan, Niedamir, Nenad, Nebojša, Niedalic, Niesuł, Nemanja |
ostro | sharp | Ostromir, Ostrogniew, Ostrík |
pluk | regiment | Yaropolk, Jaropluk, Sviatopolk, Svätopluk, Świętopełk |
rast, rost, rósc, | grow, demand, usurp | Rastislav, Rościsław, Rościgniew, Rostimira |
rad | counsel | Radovan, Radomír, Radoslav |
rati, raci | war, fight, to do (vocal change from radi to rati) | Ratibor, Racisława, Racimir, Ratimir , Racigniew, Gnierat
|
siem, ziem, zem, | family, land | Ziemowit , Siemysław
|
sobie, sobě | usurp, for me | Soběslav , Sobierad, Sobiemir, Sobiebor
|
slav, sław | glory, fame | Rastislav
|
spyci, spyti | pointless, unnecessary | Spytihněv |
stan | to become | Stanimir, Stanislav, Stanisław, Stanibor, Stanimir, Staniša |
sud, sąd, sand | to judge | Sudomir, Sudislav, Sędzimir, Sędziwoj, Bogusąd, Sędowin, Krzywosąd |
suli | to promise, better | Sulisław, Sulibor, Sulimir, Sulirad, Sulich, Radsuł |
svet, sviat, święt, svat | light, strong[citation needed] | , Svatoboj, Svetomir, Świętożyźń, |
svo, sve, świe, sav | all, every, always | Świedrag, Svorad, Świegniew, Dragosav, Milosav |
unie | better | Uniedrog, Uniebog, Uniesław |
veli, vyache, więce, više | great, more, large | , Więcerad, Višeslav |
vest, wieść | to know, to lead | Blagovest, Dobrowieść |
vit, wit | to rule, to lead | Sviatovit, Vitomir , Dobrovit, Witosław, Uniewit, Gościwit,
|
vlad, wład, volod, włod, lad | to rule, ruler | |
vlast, włość | homeland | Vlastimil, Włościwoj, Vlastimir, Vlastislav |
vrat | bring back | Vratislav |
voj, woj | fighter, warrior, war | Borivoj, Vladivoj, Vojnomir, Radivoj, Wojbor, Milivoj , Dobrivoje, Kresivoje, Ljubivoje
|
wol, vol | to prefer | Wolebor, Wolimir, Wolisław |
vse, vše, wsze | all | Vseslav |
zby | to dispel, to get rid of | Zbigniew, Zbylut |
zde, zdzie, sede, Sdě | to do, make | Zdzisław, Zdziwoj, Sedemir, Zdeslav, Zderad, Zdziemił, Sděmir, Sdivoj |
želi, żeli | want, desire | Żelibrat, Żelimysł, Żelisław, Želimíra, Želibor, Želimir, Želmír |
zlat, złot, zlato | gold | Zlatomíra, Zlatimir, Zlatibor, Zlatan, Zlatko |
Participle-built names
These are derived either from the
- names containing a good wish, e.g. Kochan ('let him be loved'), Milan.
- names referring to affection for the new born child, e.g. Obiecan ('promised'), Żdan ('promised', 'expected'),
- names protecting from evil (consisting of lexemes with a negative, deterring effect) e.g. Wygnan, Mazan, Grozim, Niemir.[10]
Other examples: Poznan ('known', 'recognized'), Goszczon (being a guest at someone's place), Krszczon ('baptized'),
.Diminutive and hypocoristic names
Popularity in non-Slavic cultures
Some Slavic names have gained popularity in other (non-Slavic) countries, e.g.:
, Bogdan, etc.Christian saints with Slavic names
The following list contains only canonized Saints. Beatified Saints with Slavic names (e.g. Saint Ceslaus, Saint Radim) are not included.
- Boris I of Bulgaria
- Borislav
- Casimir
- Jaroslav (disambiguation)
- Vladimir of Duklja
- Ladislaus I of Hungary
- Ludmila of Bohemia
- Milutin of Serbia
- Nadezhda
- Stanislav
- Svorad
- Uroš of Dečani
- Vladimir I of Kiev
- Vladislav
- Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia
- Wojciech (Polish) / Vojtěch (Czech), canonized as Adalbert of Prague
- Zdislava Berka
Names popular among Eastern Slavs
In Ukraine
- Masculine
Bohdan, Bohumyl, Bozhydar, Bazhan, Boryslav, Borys, Boryslav, Bronyslav, Volodymyr, Volodyslav (Vladyslav), Viacheslav, Vseslav, Vsevolod, Vadym, Myloslav, Myroslav, Mstyslav, Mechyslav, Radym, Radymyr/Radomir, Radoslav, Rostyslav, Stanyslav, Sviatopolk, Sviatoslav, Zhadan, Zorian, Tykhomyr, Liubomyr, Yaroslav, Yaromyr.
- Feminine
Bohdana, Bazhana, Boleslava,
In Russia
- Masculine
Bogdan,
- Feminine
Bogdana,
Names popular among Southern Slavs
In Bulgaria
- Feminine
Albena, Beloslava, Bilyana, Bisera, Bistra, Blaga, Blagorodna, Blagovesta, Blaguna, Bogdana, Boryana, Borislava,
- Masculine
Biser, Blago, Blagoy, Blagovest, Blagun, Bogdan,
In Croatia
- Feminine
- Masculine
In North Macedonia
- Feminine
Angela, Angelina, Angja, Ankica, Biljana, Bisera, Bistra, Blaga, Blagica, Blagorodna, Verka, Vladica, Denica, Živka, Zlata, Jagoda, Letka, Ljupka, Mila, Mirjana, Mirka, Rada, Radmila, Slavica, Slavka, Snežana, Stojna, Ubavka
- Masculine
Blagoj, Boban, Čedomir Cvetan, Dragan, Dragi, Duško, Goran, Ljupčo, Slavčo, Milan, Mile, Miroslav, Vladimir, Vlatko, Zlatko, Živko, Stojan, Zlate, Mirko, Ljuben, Zoran, Ognen, Rade
In Serbia
- Feminine
Blagica, Biljana, Biserka,
- Masculine
Bajko, Beloš, Beriša, Biljan, Boban, Blagoje, Bogdan, Bogomil, Bogoljub, Bojan, Borislav, Bora, Boris, Borisav, Boško, Branimir,
In Slovenia
- Feminine
Bogdana, Branka, Cvetka, Danica, Draga, Dragica, Dunja, Janina, Jasna, Ljuba, Ljubica, Milena, Milica, Mira, Morana, Mora, Nada, Neda, Nedeljka, Neva, Nevenka, Neža, Slava, Slavica, Spomenka, Stanislava, Stana, Stanka, Svetlana, Vedrana, Vera, Vesna, Vlasta, Vojka, Zdenka, Zdravka, Zlatka, Zora, Zorica, Zorka, Zvonka, Živa
- Masculine
Bogdan, Boris, Borut, Bojan, Božidar, Božo, Branko, Ciril, Cvetko, Črtomir, Dejan, Dragan, Drago, Dragotin, Dušan, Gojmir, Gorazd, Gregor, Jaroslav, Jernej, Kresnik, Lado, Milan, Miran, Mirko, Miroslav, Miško, Perun, Radivoj, Rajko, Srečko, Slavko, Stanislav, Stanko, Stane, Vekoslav, Venceslav, Vitan, Vitomir, Vladimir, Vlado, Vojteh, Zdenko, Zdravko, Zoran, Žarko, Željko, Živko
Names popular among Western Slavs
In Poland
- Feminine
Bogna, Bogdana, Bogumiła, Bogusława, Bolesława, Bożena, Bronisława, Czesława, Dąbrówka, Dobrochna, Dobroniega, Dobrosława, Gniewomira, Godzimira, Godzisława, Gorzysława, Grzymisława, Kazimiera, Ludmiła,
- Masculine
Bogdan, Bogumił, Bogusław, Bogusz, Bohdan, Bolesław, Bożydar, Bronisław, Chwalibóg, Chwalisław, Czcibor, Czesław, Dobiegniew, Dobiesław, Dobrogost, Dobromir, Dobromił,
In Slovakia and Czech Republic
- Feminine
Blahoslava, Blahuše, Bojana, Bojka, Boleslava, Bolena, Bolerka, Bohumira, Bohuslava, Božidara, Boža, Božena, Božka,
- Masculine
Blahoslav (house form, Blahoš, Blahošek) Bohdan, Bohumil, Bohumír, Bohuslav, Bojan, Bujanek, Bojek, Boleslav, Bolek,
Slavic names popular in Upper Sorbian Łužica
- Feminine
Božena, Lubina, Ludmila, Měrana, Milena,
- Masculine
Bohuměr,
Slavic names in Kashubia
- Feminine
Sławina, Sulësława, Witosława
- Masculine
Jaromir, Mscëwòj, Subisłôw, Swiãtopôłk
See also
- Eastern Slavic naming customs
- Ashkenazi Jewish name
- Slavic name suffixes
- Czech name
- Russian name
- Polish name
- Slovak name
- Ukrainian name
- Outline of Slavic history and culture
References
- ^ "Słowianie codziennie, imiona" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2010-03-02.
- ^ "Obrzędy związane z narodzinami" (in Polish).
- ^ "Imiona słowiańskie" (in Polish). 12 December 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Imiona Słowiańskie na ziemiach polskich" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2010-03-02.
- ^ "«Борис» в словаре М. Фасмера".
- ISBN 978-3-11-019086-1.
- ^ "Od Bolesława do Kosmacza" (in Polish). 15 August 2020.
- ^ folk etymological conflation of the Slavic mirŭ "peace/world" with the Gothic (Germanic) element měr, mir "great"
- ISBN 83-88731-23-8
- ISBN 83-7188-921-6
- ^ "Ukrainian Names of Slavic Origin". 2011.
- ^ a b "Russian names".
- ^ a b "Russian Names of Slavic Origin".
- ^ a b "Bulgarian names".
- ^ a b c d "Serbian and Croatian names".
- ^ a b "Czech and Slovak names".
- ^ a b "Czech and Slovak Names of Slavic Origin".
- ^ a b de:Diskussion:Obersorbische Vornamen#Obersorbische Vornamen .28Beispiele.29
Literature
- A.Cieślikowa (red.) Słownik etymologiczno-motywacyjny staropolskich nazw osobowych t.1, Kraków 2000, ISBN 83-87623-23-7(in Polish)
- A.Cieślikowa Derywacja paradygmatyczna w staropolskiej antroponimii, Kraków 1991, ISBN 83-900261-7-1(in Polish)
- A. Brückner Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego, Warszawa 1985 (in Polish)
- M. Malec Imię w polskiej antroponimii i kulturze, Kraków 2001, ISBN 83-87623-27-X(in Polish)
- M. Malec, Obraz rodziny w słowiańskich imionach złożonych, [w:] Rozprawy slawistyczne nr 16, * Słowiańskie composita antroponimiczne, Lublin 2000 (in Polish)
Notes
External links
- Slavic origin names
- Slavonic names for boys
- Slavonic names for girls
- Vladimíra Darvašová, Slovanská antroponymie v zrcadle etymologie, Bachelor thesis, Masaryk University 2008 (in Czech)
- Czech and Slovak given names of Slavic origin
- Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian names of Slavic origin
- Polish names of Slavic origin
- Encyklopedia staropolska (in Polish)
- Polish Slavic given names (in Polish)
- Slavic origin names (in Polish)
- Slavic First Names Explained (in Polish)
- Bulgarian names of Slavic origin
- Russian names of Slavic origin