Category Archives: Slavic

Oxana

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Gender: Feminine

Origin: Greek

Meaning: “Hospitality.”

Pronunciation: (ahks-AH-nah)

Nicknames: Ox, Oxi, Oka, Xana, Xani

Ukrainian form of the Greek Xenia, meaning “hospitality “.

Xenia was a 5th century saint.

Female Variations:

  • Aksinya (Russian)
  • Ksenia (Polish)
  • Ksenija (Slovene, Croatian)
  • Oksana (Ukrainian, Russian)
  • Oxana (Ukrainian, Russian)
  • Senja (Finnish)
  • Xena (Modern)
  • Xene (Greek)
  • Xenia (Greek)
  • Zena (English)
  • Zenia (English)

Olga

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Gender: Feminine

Origin: Norse

Meaning: “Holy, blessed.”

Pronunciation: (OL-gah); (AWL-gah)

Nicknames: Oli, Ola, Olgi, Olya

Details: Russian form of Helga. From the from Old Norse name Helgi, derived from heilagr meaning “holy, blessed”.

The 10th-century Saint Olga was the wife of Igor I.

Zorya

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A girl plays with a tame wolf in the village of Nadbiarezha

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Ukrainian

Meaning: “Rising star.”

Pronunciation: (ZOHR-yah)

Nicknames: Zori, Zor, Zora, Zoro

Detail: The future of our universe rests in the hands of three young women, the Zorya. The most important task of these heavenly Slavic stunners is to guard over the doomsday dog who tries to eat the constellation Ursa Minor (the little bear). If the dog ever breaks free from the chain, the universe will end.

In ancient Slavic mythology, the Zorya are the guardian goddesses of sky and light. There was the morning star (Utrennyaya); the evening star (Vechernyaya); and the midnight Zorya (Polunochnaya).

Avdotya

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Gender: Feminine

Origin: Russian from Greek

Meaning: “Pleasure; delight; to seem well.”

Pronunciation: (ahv-DOHT-yah)

Nicknames: Ava, Avda; Duni

Detail: Russian variation of the Greek Eudokia.

Dunja is a diminutive form of Avdotya.

Dunja also means “quince” in the South Slavic languages, a quince being a type of fruit.

In Crime and Punishment, Avdotya is as clever, proud, and beautiful as her brother Rodion, the protagonist, but she is also ethical and kindhearted. She is called Dunya (DOON-yah), Dounia or Dunechka for short.

Alena

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Gender: Feminine

Origin: Czech / Gaelic Meaning: “Rock.”

Origin: French Meaning: “Bird; Hazelnut.”

Origin: Greek Meaning: “Bright one; shining one; defender of men.”

Pronunciation: (ah-LEY-nah)

Nicknames: Ala, Ali, Lena, Leni

Detail: Saint Alena was a Belgian martyr.

Variations:

  • Ailina
  • Aleena (English)
  • Alena
  • Alene (English and Czech)
  • Aleni
  • Alenia
  • Alenka (English, Russian, and Slavic)
  • Alenna
  • Alenya
  • Alyna (Russian)

Apolline

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Saint Apollonia by James Christensen

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Greek

Meaning: “Strength; to destroy.”

Pronunciation: Eng (ap-oll-LINE); Fre (ap-oll-EEN)

Detail: St. Apollonia was martyred for not renouncing her faith during the reign of Emperor Philip. Apollonia had all her teeth knocked out after being hit in the face by a Christian persecutor under the reign of Emperor Philip. After she was threatened with fire unless she renounced her faith, Apollonia jumped into the flames voluntarily. She is considered the patron of dental diseases and is often invoked by those with toothaches. Ancient art depicts her with a golden tooth at the end of her necklace. Also in art, she is seen with pincers holding a tooth.

Apolline was the mother of Fleur Delacour in the Harry Potter series.

In Greek mythology, Apollo was the great Olympian god of prophecy and oracles, healing, plague and disease, music, song and poetry, archery, and the protection of the young. Later he also became the god of the sun and light. Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin of Artemis.

Nicknames: Apple, Lena, Lona, Polly

Variations:

  • Abelone (Scandinavian)
  • Apolena (Czech and Slavic)
  • Apolline (French)
  • Apolonia (Polish)
  • Apolonija (Slavic)
  • Lona (German short form)