Russian Dog Names

It might be a good idea to give your new puppy a Russian dog name. If your puppy is of the Russian dog breed it is quite natural to give it the name of the Russian origin. Even if it's not, it can still be cool because Russian names for dogs sound unusual and attract attention.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Male Russian Dog Names
• Female Russian Dog Names
• Russian Dog Naming Traditions
• Russian Dog Names FAQ

Choosing the right Russian puppy name is very important. Most of them have their meanings and may sound inappropriate for your pet if translated from Russian. The name you choose will always tell people how you view your dog and how you treat him.

The name of your new puppy should match its appearance and personality. It would be strange to give the same name to the savage Caucasian Dog and to the Russian Toy.

Of course, you can call your Russian puppy just "Sobaka" which means dog in Russian. But it's much better to use our website for a creative and successful selection of the proper Russian dog name.

Photo Credit: Fil.Al/Flickr CC

Male Russian Dog Names List (capitals for stress)

(Go to Female Russian Dog Names List instead)

Russian Mail Dog Names from A to L

A

Afonya (a-FO-nya) – hypocorism for Afanasiy

Alyi (A-lyj) - scarlet

Alyosha (a-LYO-sha) – Russian name

Amur (a-MOOR) – Siberian river

Ataman (ata-MAN) – ataman, the Cossack chief

Azhur (a-ZHOOR) – lace

B

Baikal (baj-KAL) – lake in Siberia

Balhash (bal-HASH) - lake in Siberia

Barhat (BAR-hat) – velvet

Baron (ba-RON) - baron

Bars (BARS) – snow leopard

Bimka (BEEM-ka) – pet’s name

Bolik (BO-lik) – pet name

Bolshoi (bol-SHOI) – big, name of the famous theater

Bonya (BO-nja) - hypocorism for Bogdan

Boris (bo-RIS) - Russian name

Boyarin (boja-RIN) – aristocrat in medieval Russia

Buka (BOO-ka) - surly

Buyan (bu-JAN) – brawler

C

Chekhov (CHE-khov) – Russian writer

Chernouh (tcherno-OOH) – black eared

Chernysh (cher-NYSH) – blackie

Chingiz (chin-GIZ) – oriental name

Chum (CHOOM) – tent of skins

D

Danya (DA-nja) – hypocorism for Daniel

Dezik (DE-zik) – pet name

Don (DON) – Russian river

Drug (DROOG) - friend

Druzhok (dru-ZHOK) – buddy

E

Elisei (eli-SEJ) – Russian name

Elizar (eli-ZAR) – Russian name

Enisei (Eni-SEJ) – Siberian river

F

Filya (FI-lja) – clumsy, or hypocorism for Philemon

Frant (FRANT) - dandy

Funtik (FOON-tik) – hypocorism for pound

Fyodor (FJO-dor) – Russian name

G

Gagarin (ga-GA-rin) – the family name of the first man in space.

Gordyi (GOR-dyj) - proud

Gosha (GO-sha) - hypocorism for Georgiy

Graf (GRAF) – count

Grom (GROM) - thunder

Groznyi (GROZ-nyj) - terrible

H

Han – (HAN) - khan

I

Ilya (i-LYA) – Russian name

Ilyusha (i-LJOO-sha) – hypocorism for Ilya

Indus (in-DOOS) – Hindu man

Irtysh (ir-TYSH) – lake in Siberia

Ivan (ee-VAN) – Russian name

Izyum (ee-ZYUM) – raisins

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Male Russian Dog Names from K to P

K

Kagor (ka-GOR) – sort of vine

Kalif (ka-LIF) - caliph

Kapitan (ka-pi-TAN) - captain

Kashmir (kash-MIR) - Kashmir

Kazak (ka-ZAK) - Cossack

Kazbek (kaz-BEK) – Caucasian mountain

Klim (KLIM) – Russian name

Korzhik (KOR-zhik) - cracker

Koshmarik (kosh-MA-rik) – little nightmare

Kosmos (KOS-mos) – outer space

Kubik (KOO-bik) – little cube

Kesha (KE-sha) - hypocorism for Innokentiy

L

Lev (LEV) - lion

Lihodei (leeho-DEJ) - evildoer

Lizun (lee-ZUN) – smooch

Lyutyi (LYOO-tyj) - fierce

M

Maksim (ma-KSIM) – Russian name

Malysh (ma-LYSH) – little one

Mamsik (MAM-sik) - infant

Milash (mee-LASH) - nicie

Miron (mee-RON) – Russian name

Monya (MO-nja) – pet name

Mordash (mor-DUSH) – big faced

Muhtar (MOOH-tar) – oriental name

N

Neman (NE-man) – Russian river

Nestor (NES-tor) – Russian name

O

Ohotnik (o-HOT-nik) – hunter

Ovchar (ov-CHAR) - shepherd

P

Patron (pa-TRON) - cartridge (for a gun)

Pirs (PIRS) - pier

Plyushik (PLYOO-shik) - plushy

Pocelui (potse-LOOJ) – a kiss

Polkan (pol-KAN) – Russian centaur

Ponchik (PON-chik) - donut

Priboi (pri-BOJ) - breakers

Prohor (PRO-hor) – Russian name

Puf (POOF) – pouf (a seat)

Pushkin (POOSH-kin) – Russian poet

Pushok (poo-SHOK) – fluff,

Pusik (POO-sik) – pet name

Puzan – (poo-ZAN) – paunchy

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Russian Boy Dog Names from R to Z

R

Rad (RAD) – Russian name

Radzha (ra-DZHA) - rajah

Rasputin (ras-POO-tin) – lover of the Russian queen

Rasstegai (ras-ste-GAJ) – Russian pastry

Ratimir (rati-MIR) – Russian name

Rebus (RE-bus) - puzzle

Romka (ROM-ka) - hypocorism for Roman

Ryzhik (RY-zhik) – ginger

Photo Credit: Ferlinka Borzoi (Deb West)/Flickr CC

S

Sasha (SA-sha) - hypocorism for Aleksandr

Seva (SJE-va) - hypocorism for Vsevolod

Shah (SHAH) - shah

Shaman (sha-MAN) - shaman

Sharik (SHA-rik) – little ball

Shmel (SHMEL’) - bumblebee

Slava (SLA-va) - hypocorism for Vyacheslav

Snezhok (sne-ZHOK) - snowball

Sultan (sool-TAN) – sultan

T

Tigrash (tee-GRASH) - tigery

Timur (tee-MUR) – oriental name

Tolstoy (tol-STOJ) – Russian writer

Tolstyak (tol-STJAK) - fatty

Tosha (TO-sha) - hypocorism for Anton

Toshka (TOSH-ka) - hypocorism for Anton

Totoshka (to-TOSH-ka) – pet name

Trubach (troo-batch) – trumpet player

Tsar (TSAR’) – Russian king

Tsygan (tsy-GAN) - Gypsy

Tuman (too-MAN) - fog

Tuzik (TOO-zik) – pet name

U

Ugolyok (oogo-LYOK) – small piece of coal

Ugryum (oo-GRYOOM) - gloomy

Ural (oo-RAL) Russian mountains

V

Varyag (va-RYAG) – Scandinavian man

Vaska (VAS’-ka) - hypocorism for Vasiliy

Vasya (VA-sja) - hypocorism for Vasiliy

Velikan (velee-KAN) - giant

Venets (ve-NETS) - crown

Vernyi (VJER-nyj) - faithful

Veterok (vete-ROK) - slight wind

Vityaz (vee-TYAZ’) - knight

Vladmir (vla-DEE-mir) – Russian name

Valdai (val-DAJ) – lake in Russia

Volnyi (vol-NYJ) - free

Vozhak (vo-ZHAK) – leader

Vulkan (vul-KAN) - volcano

Vyun (VJOON) - fidget

Y

Yanychar (ya-ny-CHAR) – a Turkish soldier

Yaromir (ja-ro-MIR) – Russian name

Yaryi (JA-ryj) - violent

Z

Zahar (za-KHAR) – Russian name

Zhigan (zhee-GAN) - swindler

Zigzag (zig-ZAG) - zigzag

Zver (ZVER’) - beast

Zvezdochet (zvezdo-TCHJOT) – stargazer

***Please feel free to submit other Russian male dog names to this list.

Female Russian Dog Names List (capitals for stress)

(Go to Male Russian Male Dog Names List instead)

Russian Female Dog Names from A to L

A

Agafya (a-GA-fja) – Russian name

Agasha (a-GA-sha) - hypocorism for Agafya

Aiva (aj-VA) – quince

Albina (al-BEE-na) - female name

Anastasiya (ana-sta-SEEJA) – Russian name

Angara (an-ga-RA) – Siberian river

Anna (AN-na) – Russian name

Annushka (an-NOOSH-ka) - hypocorism for Anna

Anya (A-nja) - hypocorism for Anna

Asya (A-sja) – Russian name

B

Bagira (ba-GEE-ra) – panther

Bagryanka (ba-GRJAN-ka) - crimson

Baltika (BAL-teeka) – Baltic sea

Barabul'ka (ba-ra-BOOL’-ka) – small fish

Barynya (BA-ry-nja) - mistress

Baryshnya (BA-rysh-nja) – young lady

Belka (BEL-ka) - whitie, the famous space dog; also squirrel

Bella (BEL-la) – Russian name

Biryuza (bee-rju-ZA)) - turquoise

Boyarynya (bo-JA-ry-nja) – boyar’s wife

C

Chaika (CHAJ-ka) - seagull

Changa (CHAN-ga) – pet name

Charodeika (cha-ro-DEJ-ka) - charmer

Chernushka (cher-NOOSH-ka) - blackie

Chita (chee-TA) – city in Siberia

Chuchundra (choo-CHOON-dra) – pet name

D

Dama (DA-ma) - lady, dame

Damka (DAM-ka) - "king" in checkers

Darya (DA-rja) – Russian name

Dasha (DA-sha) - hypocorism for Darya

Desna (djes-NA) – Russian river

Duma (DOO-ma) – Russian parliament

Dunya (DOO-nja) - hypocorism for Avdotya

Dusha (doo-SHA) - soul

Dusya (DOO-sja) - hypocorism for Anastasiya

E

Ekaterina (eka-te-REENA) – Russian name

F

Faina (fa-EE-na) - Russian name

Frosya (FRO-sja) - hypocorism for Afrosinya

G

Galina (ga-LI-na) – Russian name

Glafira (gla-FEE-ra) – Russian name

Grafinya (gra-FEE-nja) – countess

Grusha (GROO-sha) - pear, also hypocorism for Glaphira

H

Hurma (hoor-MA) – sort of fruit

I

Irina (ee-REE-na) – Russian name.

Iriska (ee-REES-ka) – toffee

Female Russian Dog Names from K to P

K

Kalinka (ka-LEEN-ka) – arrow wood

Kaluga (ka-LOO-ga) – city in Russia

Kama (KA-ma) – Russian river

Kasha (KA-sha) - kasha (porridge, soft food)

Katya (KA-tja) - hypocorism for Ekaterina

Kiska (KEES-ka) - pussy

Kyra (KI-ra) - Russian name

Knyazhna (KNJAZH-na) - princess

Knopka (KNOP-ka) - button

Kolyma (ko-LY-ma) – Russian river

Krasa (kra-SA) - beauty

Krasavka (kra-SAV-ka) - little beauty

Kroha (KRO-ha) – little one

Ksyusha (KSJU-sha) - hypocorism for Kseniya

Kukla (KOOK-la) – doll

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L

Lada (LA-da) - beloved, Slavic name

Laika (LAJ-ka) - barker, the name of the first dog in space

Lapa (LA-pa) - darling

Lapochka (LA-poch-ka) - hypocorism for Lapa

Laska (LAS-ka) - caress

Lastochka (LAS-toch-ka) - swallow

Lavra (LAV-ra) – Russian name

Lena (LJE-na) - hypocorism for Elena

Lesya (LE-sja) - hypocorism for Olesya

Lisa (lee-SA) - fox

Lisichka (lee-SICH-ka) - small fox

Lizka (LIZ-ka) - hypocorism for Elizaveta

Ludmila (LJUD-mee-la) – Russian name

Lusha (LOO-sha) - hypocorism for Lukerya

M

Maksyuta (mak-SJOO-ta) - hypocorism for Maxim

Malyshka (ma-LYSH-ka) - little one

Masya (MA-sja) - little one

Masyanya (ma-SJA-nja) - little one

Mavra (MAV-ra) – Russian name

Mechta (mje-CHTA) - dream

Metel (mje-TJEL’) - snowstorm

Mila (MEE-la) - hypocorism for Lyudmila

Molniya (MOL-nee-ja) - lightning

Monetka (mo-NJET-ka) – small coin

Muha (MOO-ha) - fly

Mushka (MOOSH-ka) – little fly

Musya (MOO-sja) – pet name

Photo Credit: vendicatorre/Flickr CC

N

Nevelichka (nje-ve-LICH-ka) – not big

Nina (NEE-na)– Russian name

Niva (NEE-va) – grain field

Nochka (NOCH-ka) – night

O

Oka (o-KA) – Russian river

Oksana (ok-SA-na) – Russian name

Otvazhnaya (ot-VAZH-naya) - brave

P

Pampushka (pam-PUSH-ka) - fatty

Pchyolka (PCHYOL-ka) - little bee

Plyushka (PLJUSH-ka) - bun

Podushka (po-DUSH-ka) - pillow

Polya (PO-lja) - hypocorism for Polina

Polyushka (PO-ljush-ka) - hypocorism for Polina

Pushinka (pu-SHIN-ka) - bit of fluff, the name of a Russian puppy presented to the Kennedys by the Soviet leader Khrushchev

Pyshka (PYSH-ka) - puff

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Russian Girl Dog Names from R to Z

R

Rada (RA-da) – Russian name

Razluka (raz-LOO-ka) - parting

Rifma (REEF-ma) – rhyme

S

Samara (sa-MA-ra) – city in Russia

Shahinya (sha-HEE-nja) – shah’s wife

Shalunya (sha-LOO-nja) – playful girl

Shelma (SHEL’-ma) - foxy, rascal

Shumka (SHOOM-ka) - noisy

Shusha (SHOO-sha) – pet name

Shushara (shoo-SHA-ra) – pet name

Shvabra (SHVAB-ra) - mop

Siren (see-REN’) - lilac

Skazka (SKAZ-ka) – fairy tale

Smelaya (SME-laya) - fearless

Snezhinka (sne-ZHEEN-ka) - snowflake

Sol'ka (SOL’-ka) – little sun

Solya (SO-lja) - little sun

Sonya (SO-nja) – Russian name

Stesha (STE-sha) - hypocorism for Stepanida

Strela (stre-LA) - arrow

Strelka (STREL-ka) - little arrow, famous space dog

Svetlana (svet-LA-na) – Russian name

T

Tanya (TA-nja) hypocorism for Tatyana

Tigra – (TEEG-ra) - tiger

Tonya (TO-nya) - hypocorism for Antonina

Troika (TROJ-ka) – group of three

Tsaritsa (TSA-ree-tsa) – Russian queen

Tsvetok (tsve-TOK) - flower

Tsyganka (tsy-GAN-ka) - Gypsy girl

Tsypa (TSY-pa) - chick

Tula (TOO-la) – city in Russia

Tusya (TOO-sja) – pet name

U

Uslada (oo-SLA-da) – delight

V

Vaksa (VAK-sa) - blacking

Varvara (var-VA-ra) – Russian name

Varya (VA-rja) - hypocorism for Varvara

Vasilisa (va-see-LEE-sa) – Russian name

Vedma (VYED’-ma) - witch

Vega (VE-ga) – Vega (star)

Vesna (ves-NA) - spring

Vestalka (VJE-stal-ka) – vestal virgin

Veya (VE-ja) – Russian name

Vodka (VOD-ka) - Russian national drink

Volga (VOL-ga) – Russian river

Volna (vol-NA) - wave

Volya (VO-lja) - freedom

Y

Yagodka (YA-god-ka) – small berry

Yagoza (ya-go-ZA) - fidget

Yuna (JOO-na) – young

Z

Zajka (ZAJ-ka) – little hare

Zarya (za-RJA) - dawn

Zateika (za-TEJ-ka) – playful girl

Zhar-Ptitsa (ZHAR-PTI-tsa) – the firebird

Zhritsa (ZHREE-tsa) - priestess

Zhuzha – (ZHOO-zha) - murmur

Zimushka (ZEE-mush-ka) - winter

Zina (ZEE-na) – Russian name

Zlata (ZLA-ta) - goldie

Zlyuka (ZLJOO-ka) – bad-tempered woman

Zvyozdochka (ZVYOZ-dochka) - little star

Zor'ka (ZOR’-ka) - dawn

Zoya (ZO-ja) – Russian name

***Please feel free to submit other Russian female dog names to this list.

Russian Dog Naming Traditions

In Russia, there are some historical traditions in naming dogs. The mongrels were usually given diminutive names like "Zhuchka" (beetle) and "Druzhok" (buddy), whereas the purebred Russian dogs were given names depending on their breed and employment.

The names of the Russian Wolfhounds, the Borsois, were telling about their great abilities ("Bystryj" - swift, "Lovkij" - agile, "Zorkij" - sharp-sighted) or their character ("Smelyj" - brave, "Lyutyj" - fierce). Quite often they were named after birds ("Berkut" - golden eagle, "Sokol" - falcon) or by imperative verbs ("Dogonyaj" - run down, «Hvataj" - catch).

Caucasian dogs and Central Asian dogs were traditionally given oriental or relating to the Orient names like "Shah" (shah), "Sultan" (sultan), "Batyr" (brave man), or «Ajsha" (female name).

Russian hounds' names were related to their hunting activities. They were frequently given names that specified their bays ("Pevun" - songster, "Organ" - organ, "Buben" - tambourine).

Today those Borzois' and Russian hounds' names are mostly used by hunters, whereas other owners prefer regular Russian dog names which are less specific and easier to pronounce.

It's up to you whether to follow Russian traditions in naming your new puppy, or to choose any nice male or female name from our lists of Russian names for dogs:

• Russian Male Dog Names
• Russian Female Dog Names

Russian Dog Names FAQ

Are Russian dog names easy to pronounce?

Most of the Russian dog names are not difficult, many of them sound familiar because of TV, movies, Russian literature. We provide audio and pronunciation hints as well.

What is a powerful name for a male Caucasian Ovcharka?

Following Russian traditions, it could be an Orient-related name like Han (khan), Shaman (shaman), Kazbek (mountain), Shah (shah), Radzha (rajah), Shaitan (Shaitan).

What would be a good “Siberian” name for my Husky girl?

A name associating with Siberian climate and geography would be Taiga (taiga), Purga (blizzard), Vjyuga (snowstorm), Angara (river), Belka (whitie), Snezhinka (snowflake).

Attention Russian Puppies Owners!
If you want to name your Russian puppy by a certain Russian word please feel free to send us this word in English and we will find the best-sounding Russian translation for it.