Russian last names are so descriptive, reflecting family history and heritage. The most common Russian family names denote occupations, male lineage, and habitational links.
Many Russian surnames come from ancient Slavic, but other family names have a surprising link to Hebrew and Greek. Russian names have become popular across the globe since the fall of the Soviet Union, especially in Western countries looking for more exotic titles for their kids.
Let’s run through the best 142 Russian last names to make your search easier.
142 Outstanding Russian Surnames
Let’s dive right in and discover awesome Russian family names worthy of your attention.
- Abakumov – this patronymic last name starting with A means “son of Abakum.”
- Adamovich – meaning “wealth and ruler,” this distinguished name derives from the Hebrew word “adama,” meaning “earth.”
- Agapov – this uncommon Russian surname has an angelic meaning of “love.”
- Agin – for illegitimate children and possibly not the kindest Russian surname, meaning “son of Elagin.”
- Alekseev – this popular Russian surname means “son of Alexei.”
- Alexandrov – a common surname in Bulgaria and Russia, this derivative means “defender of men.”
- Alexeyev – is derived from the Greek name Alexander, meaning “defender.”
- Angeloff – is of Bulgarian and Russian origin, meaning “graceful and great companion.”
- Antonoff – a Bulgarian/Russian patronymic name meaning “of Anton.”
- Asimov – derived from the Turkish name Azim, this patronymic name means “winter grain.”
- Babin – from the nickname “Baba,” meaning “grandmother or old woman.”
- Babinski – a long form of Babin, this matronymic name has the same meaning.
- Bardin – possibly from the Germanic nickname “Barda,” meaning “distillery refuse” in Russian.
- Barkov – a masculine version of a popular Russian surname, meaning “powerful, innovative, and sacrifice.”
- Baryshev – if you want your child to prosper, this name, meaning “profit,” is ideal.
- Belinsky – this habitational Russian surname means “from Belin” in Ukraine.
- Belkin – a Russian patronymic name meaning “squirrel.”
- Belov – this Slovak/Russian name means “white and pale.”
- Belsky – a habitational name for someone from the city of “Bielsk.”
- Berezin – from the Rusian “bereza,” this topographical name refers to “someone living by a birch tree.”
- Bobko – meaning “grandmother” and “old woman,” this female Russian name derives from “Baba.”
- Bodrov – a celebrated Russian film director, Bodrov means “fresh and well-rested.”
- Bolotin – this Russian and Jewish name is perfect for “someone living near a swamp or marsh.”
- Bolshov – is a Slavic surname that means “great companion and graceful.”
- Borin – is either Slovenian for “pine tree” or a pet name for Boris.
- Brezhnev – the legendary leader of the Soviet Union, meaning “independence, courage, and determination.”
- Bunin – from the Russian word “bunet,” meaning “to drone,” it’s the perfect name for a boring person.
- Burdin – a Russian nickname for a “loutish” person.
- Bychkov – meaning “bull,” this name denotes a strong and powerful family.
- Chaban – a unique male name with an unpopular meaning of “bad man.”
- Chernoff – a “dark-haired or dark-skinned” person, this Jewish/Russian name is an alternative to Chernov.
- Davidoff – a patronymic name meaning “son of David” or “of David.”
- Davydov – an alternative spelling of Davidoff, with the same meaning.
- Devin – from the Russian “deva,” meaning “girl,” typically attributed to illegitimate children.
- Dmitriev – is of Greek origin, derived from the Russian name Dmitri.
- Dobrow – possibly a habitational Ukrainian name, or it means “good” in Russian.
- Dorosh – a Ukrainian and Belarussian name from the Greek Dorotheos, meaning “gift of God.”
- Dragunov – this cool Russian name has an even cooler meaning of “son of a dragon.”
- Drozdov – a rare Russian surname meaning “blackbird.”
- Duboff – a Russian/Jewish name derived from “dub,” meaning “oak.”
- Dubow – a variation of Duboff, with the same Russian/Jewish meaning.
- Duskin – meaning “soul,” this Yiddish/Czech and Bulgarian name has a Slavic twist.
- Egorov – this classic Russian occupational name means “farmer.”
- Elin – is possibly of Greek and Hebrew origin, meaning “bright light” or “sun ray.”
- Eline – a variant of Elin with the same meaning.
- Evanoff – an alternative spelling of Ivanov, meaning “kind, handsome, and entertainer.”
- Falin – is derived from the Latin word “feline,” meaning “cat-like.”
- Federoff – comes from the Russian “Feodor,” meaning “God’s gift.”
- Gagarin – meaning “diving bird,” this surname belongs to the first man in space.
- Galkin – a habitational name for a Belarussian village, meaning “jackdaw.”
- Garin – from the Latin word “gardinus,” meaning “garden, guardian, and guard.”
- Genrich – derived from the German name Heinrich, this Russianized version means “influencer and house ruler.”
- Glazastov – the perfect Russian name for “sharp-eyed” kids.
- Gorbachev – the former head of the USSR, referring to a “hunchback.”
- Gorky – after the famous Russian writer, meaning “extremely bitter.”
- Gribanov – an unusual pick among Russian surnames meaning “inventive and elegant.”
- Gurin – some Russian family names are habitational, like Gurin (a village in Belarus).
- Gurkin – a patronymic Russian version of Yuri, meaning “successful, joyful, and freedom lover.”
- Ismaylov – a prominent noble Russian family name derived from ”Ismail,” meaning “God will hear.”
- Ivanoff – of Russian, Belarussian, and Bulgarian origin, meaning “warrior, innovative, and handsome.”
- Ivanov – an alternative spelling of Ivanoff, with the same meaning.
- Ivashin – this Georgian/Russian name means “independent, enthusiasm, and admirer.”
- Kalashnik – this Ukranian occupational name means “breadmaker.”
- Kandisky – meaning “intelligence and confidence,” and is a celebrated Russian artist.
- Kapranov – this masculine Russian surname means “lovingness.”
- Kazak – a Jewish and Belarussian version of “Kozak,” which means “cossack.”
- Khorkina – this is the ideal name for children who like “responsibility.”
- Komarov – a “mosquito” is not the nicest meaning of a Russian surname.
- Koskov – a typical Russian surname meaning “social, great companion, and graceful.”
- Koslov – some Russian last names relate to animals, like this one meaning “goat.”
- Krasnoff – meaning “beautiful,” this patronymic name is cool.
- Kravchuk – an occupational surname referring to a “tailor.”
- Kravtsov – a Ukranian/Russian occupational name meaning “tailor” or “one who stitches.”
- Kristoff – from the Greek Christophoros, this badass name means “bearing Christ.”
- Kuznetzov – Russian girl last names, like Kuznetzov, means “blacksmith.”
- Lagunov – another Russian occupational name meaning “water barrel.”
- Laskin – derived from the word “laska,” meaning “favor,” this Belarussian name means “weasel.”
- Lebedev – another Russian surname connected to animals, meaning “swan.”
- Lenin – is a famous Russian last name for boys, meaning “one who belongs to the River Lena.”
- Levin – derived from the Hebrew name Levi, meaning “heart, joining, and dear friend.”
- Levitsky – this old Belarussian and Ukrainian name means “Levitical.”
- Lipovsky – possibly a Jewish habitational name meaning “lime tree.”
- Litvin – a derivative of Litvinov, referring to a “Lithuanian person.”
- Lopatin – means “shovel” in Slavic, a habitational Ukrainian name meaning “Jewish and Russian.”
- Lukin – is a derivative of Luca, meaning “mankind, friendly, and energetic.”
- Makarov – this Patronymic name derives from the Greek name Macarius and means “blessed.”
- Markoff – this Russian and Bulgarian surname means “knowledgeful, inventive, and elegant.”
- Markov – a variant of the patronymic name Markoff, with the same meaning.
- Markow – this Russian American version of Markov is the short form of the Slavic name Mark.
- Maslow – possibly a Russian occupational name meaning “butter.”
- Medvedev – after the high-ranking Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev, meaning “bear.”
- Melnikoff – of Russian Jewish origin, meaning “miller” or “son of a miller.”
- Minsky – means “from Minsk,” but this Russian name also means “independence, courage, and innovation.”
- Mishkin – the Yiddish equivalent of Moses or Michael, meaning “who is like God.”
- Molchalin – the perfect Russian name for quiet kids, meaning “silent.”
- Molotov – means “hammer,” but it has dark meanings thanks to the infamous cocktail.
- Morazov – this rare surname means “bitter cold.”
- Morein – is based on the Hebrew word “morenu,” meaning “our teacher.”
- Novikoff – a habitational name from the village of Noviki, also means “newcomer” in Russian.
- Nuriev – after the famous and popular ballet dancer Rudolph Nuriev, meaning “light.”
- Orloff – from the Slavic word “orel,” this noble name means “eagle” in Russian.
- Orlov – a version of Orloff with the same meaning.
- Orlovsky – a symbol of the rich and powerful, Orlovsky means “eagle” in Russian.
- Ostrovsky – after the famous Russian playwright, meaning “island.”
- Ovechkin – another animal surname meaning “little sheep.”
- Pavlov – a common Czech name meaning “son of Paul.”
- Petroff – a Russian form of the Greek name Petros (AKA Peter), meaning “rock.”
- Petrov – is an alternative spelling of Petroff, also meaning “rock.”
- Plotnikov – this occupational name refers to “someone working with wood” or a “carpenter.”
- Polakoff – a Westernized version of Polyakoff, meaning “leader, sensitivity, compassion.”
- Poletov – the perfect Russian surname for “fast” and “quick” children.
- Polyakov – a variation of Polakoff with the same meaning.
- Popov – a patronymic name derived from the Greek Pappas, meaning “son of a priest.”
- Pushkin – after the famous Russian poet, it could mean “cannon” or “artilleryman.”
- Putin – a surname of modern political aristocracy, meaning “one who travels along the road.”
- Radovich – an Americanized form of the Serbian name Radovic, meaning “merry and joyful.”
- Rasputin – the name of the famous monk, meaning “crossroads” in Russian.
- Rodin – derived from the Greek “hērodiōn,” it means “morning sun.”
- Romanoff – meaning “Romanus” (a citizen of Rome), Romanoff was the surname of the Russian royal family.
- Samarin – a habitational name for someone “from the city of Samara.”
- Savin – many Russian last names for boys come from Latin, like Savin, meaning “Sabine.”
- Shubin – from the Russian and Belarussian word “shuba,” meaning “fur coat.”
- Smirnov – a variation of the famous vodka brand, meaning “tranquil” or “still.”
- Sokalov – an alternative spelling of Sokaloff, derived from the Russian word “sokol,” meaning “falcon.”
- Sokoloff – a common Cossack name meaning “falcon.”
- Solkov – meaning “mankind, friendly and energetic,” this Russian name is pretty.
- Sorokin – derived from the pretty Russian nickname “soroka,” meaning “magpie.”
- Trotsky – the architect of the Russian Revolution and a Siberian inmate, meaning “enlightenment.”
- Turgenev – meaning “fast or quick,” and is the surname of a famous Russian novelist.
- Ustrashkin – this scary Russian verb means “to frighten or intimidate.”
- Vasnetsov – is the surname of a celebrated Russian artist with an unknown meaning.
- Vershinin – meaning “virtue,” this masculine Russian surname is pretty.
- Vikhrov – an impressive Russian surname meaning “honesty, sacrificer, and admirer.”
- Volkov – this cool Russian surname means “wolf” or “child of someone called Wolf.”
- Volodin – this powerful Russian name meaning “Volodya’s” refers to a “universal ruler” in Slavic.
- Yeltsin – means “fir tree” in Russian and belonged to the first Russian President.
- Yevstigneyev – this long Russian surname translates as “son of Yevstigney’s.”
- Zharkov – a common Russian surname meaning “keen, inventive, and reliable.”
- Zherdev – a stereotypical Russian surname meaning “knowledge, fairness, and leadership.”
- Zhilin – is the first Chinese/Russian surname to make the list, meaning “counselor, perfectionist, and compassion.”
- Zolotov – derived from Slavic, this masculine surname means “gold.”
- Zubarev – a patronymic name derived from the Russian word “zub,” meaning “teeth.”
