Given names originating from the Slavic languages are most common in Slavic countries.
Types of native Slavic names include:
Two-base names, e.g., ending in mir/měr (Ostromir/měr, Tihomir/měr, Němir/měr), *voldъ (Vsevolod, Rogvolod), *pъlkъ (Svetopolk, Yaropolk), * slavъ (Vladislav, Dobroslav, Vseslav) and their derivatives (Dobrynya, Tishila, Ratisha, Putyata, etc.) Names from flora and fauna (Shchuka - pike, Yersh - ruffe, Zayac - hare, Wolk/Vuk - wolf, Orel - eagle) Names in order of birth (Pervusha - born first, Vtorusha/Vtorak - born second, Tretiusha/Tretyak - born third) Names according to human qualities (Hrabr - brave, Milana/Milena - beautiful, Milosh - beloved, Nadezhda - hope)
History In pre-Christian traditions, a child less than 7–10 years old would bear a "substitutional name", the purpose of which was to deflect attention from the child and thereby to protect it from the curiosity of evil powers. The practice was largely the result of the high mortality rate of young children at the time. A child who survived to 7–10 years was considered worthy of care and was granted adult status and a new adult name during a ritual first haircut.
Traditional names remained dominant until the Slavic nations converted to Christianity. Since then, however, baptismal names came into use, which were given after the patron saint of the newly baptized. Even after that, the traditional names persisted in everyday use, while in religious matters baptismal name was involved; thus, many persons had and used two names simultaneously. This is exemplified by how the Slavic saints of that time are referred to up to nowadays: e.g. St. Boris and Gleb, in holy baptism Roman and David. As the Slavic saints became more numerous, more traditional names entered the Church calendar; but more prominent was the overall decline in the number of people bearing traditional names. Finally, in 16th–17th century the traditional Slavic names which did not enter the calendar of either Orthodox or Catholic Church generally fell out of use. For Catholic Slavs, the decisive event was the Council of Trent (1545–63) decreed that every Catholic should have a Christian name instead of a native one.
Names in Poland
After the ban on native non-Christian names imposed by the Council of Trent, the Polish nobility (especially Protestants) attempted to preserve traditional names, such as Zbigniew and Jarosław. Ordinary people, however, tended to choose names solely from the Christian calendar, which contained only a handful of Slavic saints' names, in particular: Kazimierz (St. Casimir), Stanisław (St. Stanislaus), Wacław (St. Wenceslaus) and Władysław (St. Ladislaus). Slavic names that referred to God (e.g., Bogdan, Bogumił) were also permitted.
Names in Kievan Rus'
East Slavic names were based on common Slavic names such as Volodiměrŭ (Володимѣръ - "great ruler"), Svętopŭlkŭ (Свѧтопълкъ - "holy regiment"), Jęropŭlkŭ (Ѩропълкъ - "furious regiment"), Voislavŭ (Воиславъ - "glorious warrior"), Borislavŭ (Бориславъ - "glorious fighter"), Borisŭ (Борисъ - "fighter"), Liubomirŭ (Любомиръ - "loves the peace"), Ratiborŭ (Ратиборъ "war fighter"), Vadimŭ ("Вадимъ") or Badan (belonging to the wind spirit "Badan"), Jęroslavŭ (Ѩрославъ), Izęslavŭ (Изѧславъ "The one who took the glory"), Mstislavŭ (Мстиславъ "glorious revenge"), Vĭsevolodŭ (Вьсеволодъ "lord of everything"). In the 11th century, after the growing influence of the Christian Church, the tendency to use the names of saints of the Greek Church has increased and most pagan names were displaced by Christian names.
Names today
Since national revivals during 19th and 20th centuries, traditional names, especially of historical rulers and heroes, regained popularity. For example, in Poland many forgotten names were resurrected, such as Bronisław, Bolesław, Dobiesław, Dobrosław, Jarosław, Mirosław, Przemysław, Radosław, Sławomir, Wiesław, Zdzisław, and Zbigniew; and new ones created, such as Lechosław and Wieńczysław. Today, traditional Slavic names are accepted by the Christian Church and are given at a child's baptism.
Meanings
Old Slavic names were built with one or two lexemes:
Single-lexeme names Single-lexeme names were derived from ordinary or adjectival words and were usually, though not always, borne by peasants, e.g.: Baran (ram), Szydło (awl), Kąkol (cockle), Broda (beard, chin), Żyła (vein), Uchacz (ear-man), Łopata (shovel), Żaba (frog), Rus (Ruthenian/Russian man), Cich (silent man), etc. Many names of this kind are used today, for example:
Feminine Duša (soul) Jagoda (berry, strawberry) Jasna (clear, bright) Lada (cadent;or: girl, maid) Ljuba, Luba, Lyubov (love) Mila (grace, favor) Mira (peace) Nada, Nadia, Nadezhda (hope) Slava (fame, glory) Snežana, Snježana (snow woman) Svetlana (bright, light or holy, strong) Vera (faith) Vesna (spring) Zlata (golden) Zora (dawn)
Masculine Bratan, Bratko (brother) Darko (gift) Dušan, Duško (soul) Goran (highlander) Lech Leszek Lubo, Ljuba (love) Miloš (kind) Miro, Mirko (peace) Mladen (young) Ognjen (fire) Plamen (flame) Prodan (sold) Slava (fame, glory) Slavo Tvrtko (hard) Veselin (happy) Vlad (ruler) Vuk (wolf) Yasen (clear, bright) Zdravko (health) Živan, Živko (lively)
Dithematic names
Dithematic names are built with two lexemes. Kaleta 1995 notes that "In the case of Old Germanic and Old Slavic personal names, the dithematic name form contained a wish for the new-born child. These wishes pertained to the values that obtained in these early times". In Poland alone, over 600 masculine names, 120 feminine names and 150 different affixes (lexemes) are known. These have been reconstructed from place names and the (scarce) written sources such as the Bull of Gniezno. Certain names were reserved for monarchs (e.g. in Poland: Kazimierz, Władysław, Bolesław). Examples are listed below. As an example of the pattern: Władysław contains the prefix wład (to rule, ruler) and the suffix sław (fame, glory). Note that feminine equivalents usually end in a (e.g. Bogusław - Bogusława).
Prefix or suffix MeaningExamples blag, błog, blah, blaž gentle, kind, blessedBlahoslav, Blažena bog, bóg, boh, boż God, rich, fate Bohumil, Boguslav, Bohdan, Bożena, Bogusław, Bogdan, Bogna, Božidar, Božidarka, Bożydar, Modliboga, Falibog, Boguwola, Božetjeh, Bogosav, Bogoljub, Bogomil bole great, more, large Bolesław, Boleslav, Bolemir, Boleczest, Bolelut bor war, fight Boris, Borzysław, Borislav, Dalibor, Sambor, Lutobor, Myślibora, Strogobor, Borisav, Borislav; brat, bata brother Bratislav, Bratumił, Bratoljub bron, bran to protect, to defend Bronisław, Branislav, Bronimir, Bronisąd, Srbobran, Częstobrona, bude, budzi to beBudimír, Budimir, Budislav 'Ča, 'Če', 'ce', 'Cha'/'Chay'.to await Časlav, Czesław, Nechay, Nečajko, Čajek choti, chocieto wantChociemir, Chciebor, Chociebąd, Chotimíra chwał, fal, hval to praise, to glorify Boguchwał, Chwalibog, Chwalimir, Falibor, Hvalimir, tech, ciech, tješ, teš happy, comfort, consolle Ciechosław, Wojciech, Sieciech, Techomir, Dobrociech, Božetech, Tješimir, Sławociech, Tešimir, Těšimir dobo, dobie, appropriate, brave Dobiesław, Dobiegniew cze, cti, ča, če honour Czesław, Ctibor, Czedrog, Čestmír, Česlav, Ctirad, Čedomir, Častimir dar, dan gift, receiveDan, Božidar, Božidarka dobro good, goodness Dobrosław, Dobromir, Dobroniega, Dobrogost, Dobromil, Dobrożyźń, Dobroslav domhouseDomarad, Domosław, Domagoj, Domamir, Domoľub, Domawit, Domabor drag, drog, drah, drag precious, beloved Dragoslav, Dragomir, Dragoljub, Drogodziej, Drogoradz, Wieledrog, Predrag, Drohobysz, Miłodrog, Miodrag, dzierż, drži to have, to rule, to keepDzierżysław, Dzierżykraj, Dzirżyterg, Držislav gniew, hněv angry, furious Zbigniew, Gniewomir, Mścigniew, Wojgniew, Dobiegniew, Ostrogniew, Zbyhněv god appropriateGodemir, Godzimir, Godzisławagost, host guestMiłogost, Radogost, Uniegost, Hostirad, Hostimil, Hostisvit, Lubgost, Gościsław gwiazd, hvezd, zvezdstarHviezdoslav, Hviezdomir, Zvezdan, Zvezdana jar, yar strong, severe, fierce Yaroslav, Jaropełk, Jaromir, Jarogniew, Jarmila kazto tell, to showKazimierz, Casimir, Kazimir, Skaziczest krasi, kreši, krzesibeautyKrzesimir, Krešimir, Krzesisław, Kresivoje, KrasimirakvetflowerKvetoslava lud, ljud peopleĽudmila, Ľudovít, Ljudevit, Ljudemisl lut severe, ruthlessLutosław, Lutobor, Lutogniew, Lutomir, Zbylut, Lutomysł lyub, lub, l'ubloveLubomir, Ljubomir, Lubosław, Lubov, Lubor, Ľubica, Ľubor, mil, mił love, to like, favour, graced Vlastimil, Tomiła, Milica, Miłowit, Milomir, Miloslav, Milivoje, Ludmila, Radmila, Jarmila, mir, měr, mierz, myr peace, world, prestigefolk etymological conflation of the Slavic mirŭ "peace/world" with the Gothic (Germanic) element měr, mir "great" Chociemir, Mirogod, Miroslav, Damir, Casimir, Kazimierz, Ostromir, Mezamir, Radomír, Jaromír, Jezdimir, Kanimir, Bratomira, Mojmir, Uniemir, Vitomir, Vladimir, Krešimir, Krasimir, Godzimir, Rastimir, Ratimir, Želimir, Branimir, Zvonimir, Jaczemir msti, mści vengeanceMstislav, Mścisław, Mściwoj, Mstivoj, Mszczuj mysl, mysł thinkPřemysl, Myslivoj, Mislavnieg delightDobroniega, Njegomir, Mironieg, Niegodoma, Niegosław ne, nienegativeNevzor, Nekras, Nezhdan, Niedamir, Nenad, Nebojša, Niedalic, Niesuł, Nemanja ostro sharp Ostromir, Ostrogniew, Ostríkpluk regimentYaropolk, Jaropluk, Sviatopolk, Svätopluk, Świętopełkrast, rost, rósc, grow, demand, usurpRastislav, Rościsław, Rościgniew, Rostimira rad counselRadovan, Radomír, Radoslav rati, raci war, fight, to do (vocal change from radi to rati) Ratibor, Racisława, Racimir, Ratimir, Racigniew, Gnieratsiem, ziem, zem, family, landSiemowit, Siemomysł, Siemił, Ziemowit, Siemysław sobie, sobě usurp, for me Soběslav, Sobierad, Sobiemir, Sobiebor slav, sław glory, fame Mstislav, Stanisław, Rostislav, Sławomir, Vladislav, Izyaslav, Vyacheslav, Sviatoslav, Miroslav, Boguslav, Borislav, Sławobor, Gościsław. Jaroslav, Slavena, Wiesław, Kvetoslav, Tomislav, Věroslav, Soběslav, Slavoljub, Srboslav, Rastislav spyci, spyti pointless, unnecessary Spytihněv stan to become Stanimir, Stanislav, Stanisław, Stanibor, Stanimir, Staniša sud, sąd, sand to judge Sudomir, Sudislav, Sędzimir, Sędziwoj, Bogusąd, Sędowin, Krzywosąd suli to promise, better Sulisław, Sulibor, Sulimir, Sulirad, Sulich, Radsuł svet, sviat, święt, svat light, strong Sviatoslav, Svetoslav, Svetlana, Światopełk, Swiãtopôłk, Świętomir, Svätobor, Svetozar, Svatoboj, Svetomir, Świętożyźń, svo, sve, świe, sav all, every, always Świedrag, Svorad, Świegniew, Dragosav, Milosav unie better Uniedrog, Uniebog, Uniesław veli, vyache, więce, više great, more, large Vaclav, Vyacheslav, Wenzel, Vjenceslav, Veleslava, Wielimir, Velimir, Więcerad, Višeslavvest, wieść to know, to leadBlagovest, Dobrowieść vit, wit to rule, to lead Sviatovit, Vitomir, Dobrovit, Witosław, Uniewit, Gościwit, vlad, wład, volod, włod, lad to rule, ruler Vladimir, Władysław, Volodymyr, Włodzimierz, Vladislav, Laszlo, Ladislav, Vsevolod, Vladena, Vladan, Władmiła, Vladivoj vlast, włość homeland Vlastimil, Włościwoj, Vlastimir, Vlastislavvratbring backVratislav voj, woj fighter, warrior, war Wojsław, Częstowoj, Vojislav, Wojciech, Borivoj, Vladivoj, Vojnomir, Radivoj, Wojbor, Milivoj, Dobrivoje, Kresivoje, Ljubivojewol, vol to preferWolebor, Wolimir, Wolisław vse, vše, wsze allVseslav zby to dispel, to get rid ofZbigniew, Zbylut zde, zdzie, sede, Sdě to do, make Zdzisław, Zdziwoj, Sedemir, Zdeslav, Zderad, Zdziemił, Sděmir, Sdivoj želi, żeli want, desire Żelibrat, Żelimysł, Żelisław, Želimíra, Želibor, Želimir, Želimirka, Želmír zlat, złot, zlato gold Zlatomíra, Zlatimir, Zlatibor, Zlatan, Zlatko
Participle-built names