Character Names: List #3 — Slavic

It's been a while since I've done a new character names list, but as I'm in the middle of research for my next post on female characters, I figured this was the perfect opportunity to create another one.

I've recently come up with a new story idea, and a few of the characters have a Slavic background. My mind has been a little obsessed with the idea, so here is a list of Slavic-derived names. Perhaps you too shall consider adding a little Slavic history to a character in your story?

**All of these names come from The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, Second Edition. If you don't own this book, go buy it. It's literally an essential for any writer!**


FEMALE:


Ana - meaning : One who will be reborn;  origin : Russian (form of Anastasia)

Dana - meaning : God is my judge; origin : Czechoslovakian (form of Daniel)

Eliska - meaning : Truthful ; origin : Czechoslovakian

Irena/Irina - meaning : Peace ; origin : Russian (form of Irene)

Ivana - meaning : Gracious God ; origin : both Russian and Czechoslovakian (form of John)

Jarka - meaning : Spring ; origin : Slavic

Krasava - meaning : Beautiful ; origin : Czechoslovakian

Lilia - meaning : Mauve ; origin : Slavic

Marya/Marika - meaning : Bitter ; origin : Slavic (form of Mary)

Milena - meaning : Favored; origin : Czechoslovakian

Natasha - meaning : Born on Christmas ; origin : Russian (form of Natalie)

Nesha - meaning : Pure ; origin : Russian (form of Agnes)

Varya - meaning : Stranger ; origin : Russian

Zenya - meaning : Well-born ; origin : Russian  (form of Eugene)



MALE:


Adam - meaning : Of the red earth;  origin : Czechoslovakian

Adrik - meaning : Dark ; origin : Russian

Casimir - meaning : Destroys peace ; origin : Slavic

Cestmir - meaning : Forest; origin : Czechoslovakian

Dimitri - meaning : Spring ; origin : Russian (from Demeter)

Karel/Karol - meaning : Manly ; origin : Slavic (form of Charles)

Miklos - meaning : Victory of the people; origin : Czechoslovakian (form of Nicholas)

Misha - meaning : Who is like God ; origin : Russian (form of Michael)

Reznik - meaning : Butcher; origin : Czechoslovakian

Stefan - meaning : Crowned in victory ; origin : Russian (form of Stephen)

Viktor - meaning : Victorious ; origin : Czechoslovakian

Vilem - meaning : Resolute protector ; origin : Czechoslovakian (form of William)

Yakov - meaning : Supplanter ; origin : Russian  (form of Jacob)

Ziven/Zivon - meaning : Lively ; origin : Russian