Say My Name! Popular Russian Names and What They Mean
Names are often the first words kids learn to recognize and in Russian, names come with rich meanings and fun sounds that make language learning even more personal.
Familiar and Fun Russian Names
Here are some popular Russian names kids might hear in stories, cartoons, or even on a trip:
- Саша (Sasha) – a short form of Александр (Aleksandr) or Александра (Aleksandra), meaning protector
- Маша (Masha) – short for Мария (Maria), meaning beloved or rebellious
- Катя (Katya) – short for Екатерина (Yekaterina), meaning pure
- Дима (Dima) – short for Дмитрий (Dmitriy), meaning earth-lover
- Иван (Ivan) – meaning God is gracious
- Оля (Olya) – short for Ольга (Olga), meaning holy or blessed
Kids love hearing which Russian name might sound like theirs—or picking one they’d like to use while learning the language!
Why Learn Names?
Learning names teaches pronunciation, letter recognition, and cultural connection. It also helps children relate to characters in books, cartoons, and games.
On Dinolingo, many characters in the Russian course have names like Миша or Наташа, helping learners feel like they’re making friends as they study.
Creative Activities to Try
What’s Your Russian Name?
Look up the Russian version of your child’s name, or let them choose a favorite from a list. Practice writing it in Cyrillic!
Name Match Game
Print cards with Russian names on one side and their meanings or character traits on the other. Match them together while practicing pronunciation.
Learning names connects kids to people, stories, and identity and makes learning Russian feel friendly and fun.
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