Mis nime ma peaksin oma pojale andma? Kõige populaarsemad meestenimed Venemaal aastal 2023

In every culture and country, names are not just words. They reflect our times, the preferences of the people and create a portrait of the state. In Russia, this is especially relevant. Our state consists of many nationalities, religions. In addition, every year unusual and rare names gain popularity, new names are created and the choice in favor of traditional names is preserved. Together with the sociologist we discuss the rating of 2023 and the trends that are observed in different parts of our vast homeland.

Russian Field sociologist

“Christian names prevail in most regions of Russia, as the overwhelming population in them is Russian. At the same time, trends even in two neighboring regions can differ significantly. Why this happens is a complex question, to which the answer may differ in each region.”

Main trends

Based on the data of the Unified Register of Civil Registry Offices, we can say that the popularity of some traditional names in our country is declining. Parents’ attention is increasingly attracted to new and rare variants.

Ivan, Daniel, Dmitry, Kirill, Egor and Ilya are gradually going out of fashion. Artem, Fyodor and Roman hold their positions with a slight deviation in the direction of decline. The names Anton, Vadim, Eugene, Igor, Oleg, Vyacheslav and Stanislav have finally lost their relevance. Also Denis, who was in the 10th place in popularity, was on the 45th line. The situation is similar for Vitaly and Eduard. They are not included in the top 100 either.

Among the Russian names for boys that maintain stability in different periods of time, Alexander, Mikhail and Vladimir stand out. They are common not only in the present decade, but were also relevant in different decades of the last century. Dmitry, Ivan and Nicholas are less common, but also retain their rating.

In the top of the most fashionable male names are Leo, Mark, Matvey, Matvey, Miron and Muhammad. They sharply gained their popularity after 2000.

Foreign names

Today in Russia it is logical to talk about mixed trends. There is interest in both traditional and foreign names. However, the latter are more common among the female sex. Perhaps parents want to attract special attention to the girl and look “fashionable”. Often the choice of an unusual and rare name for a child is due to the desire to stand out, emphasize originality and not be like everyone else.

Newborn boys begin to call Russian, often originating from the Christian tradition of names. They sound solid and refer to the historical past of the country. Some of them have been forgotten and used very rarely. That is why they are not used to them in modern Russia. Makar, Leon, Platon, Saveliy, Demid, Luka, Savva lead the list of frequency. Adam, Bogdan, Miroslav are also gaining popularity. Klim, Gordey and Demyan rise in the rating by 1% per year.

Perhaps parents are trying to make the image of their sons more respectable, rooted in the national tradition. That is, from girls expect originality and “Western fashionability”, and from boys – something strong and stable.

Unusual names

In Russia, there is a noticeable interest in unusual and rare names. Parents are increasingly turning to unique meanings and associations. This can be associated with historical events, literary and cinematic characters. The official statistics was shared by Svetlana Ukhaneva, head of the Moscow Civil Registry Office.

In 2023, children were called by double or triple names: Albert Mercury, Arthur Lewis, Denis Adam, Alexander Michel Boris, Amaury Valentine Marie. Another trend is shortening. Shurik, Sasha, Gosha and Vlad were born in Moscow. Some parents turned to literary characters. So appeared Hamlet, Romeo, Harry.

The choice of a rare name for a boy often reflects several motivations and desires. In today’s world, individuality and self-expression play an important role. Creating a story, a special meaning is a way to emphasize the uniqueness of the child’s personality. Parents can thus show homage to family, cultural or religious traditions. They combine ancestral names with fashion trends.

Another reason is inspiration from literature or pop culture. Pseudonyms from favorite stories, movies or songs are chosen for the child. Historical characters, foreign languages can reflect the special meaning and dreams of parents regarding the children’s future. For example, a name that translates to “strong” or “wise” is chosen in the hope that the boy will master these qualities.

Each of these cases is a way for parents to integrate their values, beliefs and interests into their child’s identity and life path.

What are the trends in different regions?

Russia is home to a large number of different nationalities. For this reason, statistics differ in many regions. Traditions, customs, harmonious sounding with the surname and patronymic, language preferences – all these factors in one way or another affect the choice. Of course, culture and religion are of special importance. Usually parents are looking for familiar names for the environment in which the child will grow up. Orthodox families are also guided by the holy books.

In Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Muhammad became the most popular male name. In Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, Amir, Timur and Emir are the leaders. At the same time, Russian names for boys are also in the top.

In North Ossetia, preference is given to David and George, referring to Christianity. Also stand out Sarmat and Alan, indicating the peoples of the Sarmatians and Alans. Ossetians traditionally attribute their origin to them.

In Tyva, the most popular names for boys are Aldar, Dorzhu, Arslan, Damir, Arzylan. Yakutia, Magadan Oblast, Chukotka and Nenets Autonomous Okrug choose such traditional names as Lev, Maxim, Roman, Konstantin and Daniil.

Russian society, characterized by its multinational character, presents a unique selection. Choosing a male name in Russia 2023 is a complex process. Many factors are intertwined in it. It also depends not only on the personal preferences of parents and their desire to distinguish their child. Religious and cultural traditions inherent in different peoples dictate their own rules. A name can serve as a unique personal identifier, a symbol of heritage, cultural identity and family values.

In this context, it is important to emphasize the need for respect and tolerance towards any person. A name carries an echo of history, culture and beliefs. It reflects the diversity of the world in which we live. It is important to understand and appreciate this. Each person is part of a large and diverse society.

Parents, however, need to find a balance between their preferences and the future well-being of their children. A name should not only be beautiful and have a special meaning. With it, the child needs to feel comfortable in his social and cultural environment. This decision can affect his self-esteem and identity throughout his life.

Modern trends, religion, the desire for symbolism and many other factors influence the choice of a name. This process requires attention, patience and respect for the diversity of cultures and peoples that make up today’s Russian society.