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Russian names

In Russia there only a hand full of names that are used 80% of the time, as you probably already  noticed. When I was growing up among my girlfriends there were three Tanyas, two Svetas & several Elenas. But the same name can be modified in different ways. For example: my name is Elena. In official documents it is Elena (but none of my family, or friends would consider calling me that); For my family, friends & people I meet I am Lena; My grandmother affectionately called me - Alyona, or Alyonushka and I found it easier to introduce myself to foreigners as Helen. After coming to United States I've chosen to stay with Elena, as that what was on my official documents. Here are some more common names: first the "official" way they are written & then all other kinds of ways:

  • Anastasia, Nastasia - Nastya, Tasya, (Very affectionate - Nastusha, Nastenka, Nastushka, Tasusha, Tasechka).
  • Anna - Anya, Nura (Nuta, Nusha, Nusya); (Affectionate - Anechka, Anuta, Anutochka, Annushka, Nurochka)
  • Antonina - Tonya, Tosya (Affectionate - Tonechka.)
  • Valentina - Valya (Tina); (Affectionate - Valusha, Valechka, Valushenka).
  • Valeria - Valya, Lera; (Affectionate - Lerochka, Valerochka)
  • Varvara - Varya; (Affectionate - Varusha, Varenka, Varushenka)
  • Vera - Vera; (Affectionate - Verochka, Verusha, Verunya);
  • Veronika - Nika, Vera, Vika (Affectionate - Nikochka).
  • Galina - Galya (Affectionate - Galechka, Galochka, Galen'ka).
  • Daria - Dasha (Affectionate - Dashenka)
  • Eugenia - Jenya (Affectionate - Jenechka)
  • Ekaterina (Katerina) - Katya (Affectionate - Katusha, Katenka, Katushenka)
  • Elizaveta - Liza (Affectionate - Lizochka)
  • Zinaida - Zina (Affectionate - Zinochka, Zinulya)
  • Zoya - Zoya; (Affectionate - Zoenka, Zoechka);
  • Inna - Inna (Affectionate - Innochka, Inusya, Inulya).
  • Irina - Ira (Affectionate - Irochka, Irisha).
  • Ksenia - Ksusha, Ksenia (Asya) (Affectionate - Ksushenka, Asechka)
  • Larisa - Lara (Lora) (Affectionate - Larisochka, Larochka, Lorochka)
  • Lidiya - Lida (Affectionate - Lidochka)
  • Lubov - Luba (Affectionate - Lubochka, Lubushka, Lubasha)
  • Ludmila - Lusya, Mila, Luda (Affectionate - Lusenka, Milochla, Ludochka)
  • Margarita - Rita, Margo; (Affectionate - Ritochka, Ritulya);
  • Marina - Marina (Affectionate - Marinochka, Marisha).
  • Maria - Masha, Marusya, Manya (Affectionate - Mashenka, Marusenka, Manechka)
  • Nadejda - Nadya (Affectionate - Nadenka, Nadusha)
  • Natalia - Natasha (Affectionate - Natashenka)
  • Nelly - Nelya (Affectionate - Nelochka, Nelechka)
  • Nina - Nina (Affectionate - Ninochka)
  • Olga - Olya (Affectionate - Olechka, Olenka)
  • Polina - Polya (Affectionate - Polenka, Polechka);
  • Svetlana - Sveta (Affectionate - Svetochka, Svetik).
  • Tamara - Tamara (Affectionate - Tamarochka).
  • Tatyana - Tanya (Affectionate - Tanechka, Tanusha)
  • Ella - Ella (Affectionate - Ellochka)
  • Julia - Yulya (Affectionate - Yulechka, Yulenka)

These are the most common names. Names like Valeria, Viktoria, Snejana, Veronica, Angela do not change. 
One more thing: Russian names are usually just names, with no meaning. It is very unusual in Russia to name the baby June, or Angel. Babies are usually named after their aunts, grandmothers, popular singers, etc. Some funny names were given to babies during the 1917-1930, like Communa & Industria, but that was Communism. Anyway only three women's names in Russia mean something & here they are:
  • Lubov (Luba) - means "Love".
  • Nadejda (Nadya) - means "Hope".

  • Vera - means "Faith".

I hope this information was useful to you.