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.
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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
(Go to Female Russian Dog Names List instead)
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
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
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
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.
(Go to Male Russian Male Dog Names List instead)
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
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
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
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.
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:
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.
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