Ukrainian women's names: composition and origin

The names worn by Ukrainians are generally close to Russian and Byelorussian. However, they have their own specifics, which we will discuss below, detailing Ukrainian women's names.

The proximity of Ukrainian names to Russian and Belarusian

The fact that onomasticon of Ukraine is similar to Russian and Belarusian is not surprising. All three states are heirs of the common East Slavic pagan culture. In addition, they were equally influenced by Christianization with the prevailing importance of Eastern Orthodoxy. Together they were the USSR, whose cultural traditions also affected the names of all three countries.

Slavic pagan names

The first category of names is associated with the ancient national culture. These are primordial Slavic variants that were in use before Prince Vladimir initiated the policy of Christianization in Russia. These Ukrainian women's names consist of familiar roots and almost never require translation. They are distinguished by a special melody and national color, and that is why they are easily recognized from the general mass. Unfortunately, after Christianity became established in Russia, and paganism declined, many Slavic names came out of widespread use. Some of them are very rare, and others were completely lost.

Eastern Christian names

The political orientation of the principalities on whose territory modern Ukraine is located has led to the fact that it was the eastern Christian tradition that was established on their lands, that is, Orthodoxy, which is not in communion with Rome. With regard to the name-bearing, this was reflected in the fact that the inhabitants began to baptize with names, characteristic mainly for the Greeks. So, many Ukrainian female names represent adaptations of primordial Greek names. There are among them, however, Latin and Semitic variants.

Western Christian names

But by one Orthodoxy the religious life of Ukraine is not exhausted. Geographical location and neighborhood with other states made it a meeting point for a variety of cultural and religious traditions. Being throughout the history of its existence the arena of political games between Russia and neighboring Western European states, Ukraine has absorbed a considerable layer of Western European culture. Despite the dominant Orthodoxy, the influence of Catholicism in these lands has been and still is quite significant, and therefore, unlike Russia, Ukrainian women's names include many European ones - Latin, German and other variants.

History of names in Ukraine

Initially, many residents of Ukraine bore two names - Slavic pagan and Christian. This was especially popular during the period of the double faith, when people, adhering to paternal traditions, were already involved in the orbit of Christianity. The Christian name in the minds of people provided them with the protection and protection of the same-named saint - a kind of heavenly patron and patron. The pagan name likewise made it possible to count on the mercy and help of the gods. In addition, it served as a kind of amulet given by the parents, the essence of which was revealed in its meaning. With the passage of time, names of church saints became familiar and began to be perceived as relatives. Gradually, they almost completely replaced the ancestral forms.

Specificity of utterance

Accepting foreign names, the Ukrainians, however, often changed their sound, so they indeed were Ukrainianized. Ukrainian women's names were particularly affected by this process.

For example, the church and Jewish Anna began to pronounce as Ganna. Such processes always occurred when the name began with "a". This is due to the fact that in the Ukrainian language there is an ancient rule that does not allow the word to start with this sound. Therefore, they either began to anticipate the aspirant "g", or change it to "o". So, Alexandra became Olexandr. Although there are exceptions. For example, Antonina is most often used with "a", although the variant with "o" also exists, but it is extremely rare.

Another interesting point is that in ancient times there was no "f" sound in the Slavonic language . Because of this, the names that have it in their composition, began to sound in a new way.

Some Ukrainian female names and their meanings are correlated with other names from which they occur, but they are still independent forms. This was made possible by, for example, a diminutive suffix added to the original form. Thus, for example, the name Varka appeared, having its source the name of Varvara. But officially these are two different names.

Ukrainian women's names. List

Now let's give a small list of female names as an example. Of course, this list can not claim to be complete. It collects mostly the most rare Ukrainian women's names, as well as the most beautiful ones, in our opinion.

- Chaklun. This is an old name, which can be translated as "charming."

- Chernav. So girls were called, distinguished by dark hair. It, in fact, means "dark-haired".

- Feyions. This is a Slavic name, which literally means "the light of the sun." You can translate and simply as "solar".

- Lyubava. Means "beloved"

- Krasava. It does not require translation, because its meaning is so obvious - "beautiful".

- Radmila. Translated as "very nice."

- I was amazed. Again, it does not require clarification on the meaning.

- Luchezara. Translated as "radiant".

- I'm a lady. The name of the goddess Lada includes many ancient Ukrainian female names. Beautiful in sound, they differ and the depth of meaning, but because they are difficult to express in one word. You can translate this name as "merciful", and as "kind and sweet," and as "sweet and harmonious."

- Kindness. Means "carrying good."

- Oksana. This is a very popular name not only in Ukraine, but also in all CIS countries. It is a Ukrainianized form of the Greek name "Xenia", which translates as "hospitable".