This list includes 30 Russian boy names that start with I, from “Ibragim” to “Ivan”. These names range from familiar saints’ names to regional and historical forms used across Russia.
Russian boy names that start with I are male given names used in Russia and Russian-speaking regions. Many come from Greek, Slavic, or Turkic roots, and “Ivan” is a long-standing national favorite.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Cyrillic, Pronunciation and Meaning/Origin.
Name: The Latin-alphabet form used for each name, helpful when you choose, record, or search for the name in English contexts.
Cyrillic: The original Russian spelling, so you see how the name appears in official documents and native-language records.
Pronunciation: A simple phonetic respelling and optional IPA guide to help you pronounce the name correctly and confidently.
Meaning/Origin: A concise one-line note on the name’s meaning or root, helping you understand cultural and linguistic background.
Russian boy names that start with I
| Name (transliteration: BGN/PCGN) | Cyrillic | Pronunciation | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivan | Иван | ee-VAHN [iˈvan] | Russian form of John, “God is gracious” | The single most common Russian male name; medieval princes, many saints; diminutives Vanya, Vanechka. Widely used historically and today. |
| Igor | Игорь | EE-gor [ˈiɡorʲ] | Old Norse origin, related to god Ing and ‘warrior’ | Early medieval (Varangian) origin; popular in Slavic lands; familiar diminutive Igorek. Common and culturally well-known. |
| Ilya | Илья | IL-ya [ˈilʲə] | From Hebrew Elijah, “my God is Yahweh” | Strong biblical/Orthodox name; very common in Russia; affectionate diminutives Ilyusha, Ilya. Regular in literature and daily use. |
| Iosif | Иосиф | ee-OH-seef [iɐˈsʲif] | From Hebrew Joseph, “he will add” | Traditional Orthodox and biblical name; used in church and civil registers; diminutive Osya occasionally used. |
| Innokentiy | Иннокентий | in-no-KEN-tee [ɪnəˈkʲentʲij] | From Latin Innocentius, “innocent” | Church name (several saints and popes); formal and old-fashioned; rare as modern everyday name. |
| Ippolit | Ипполит | ip-POH-lit [ɪpˈpolʲit] | From Greek Hippolytus, “freer of horses” | Literary and historical use (appears in 19th-century fiction); uncommon today; diminutive Ipposha rarely used. |
| Ioann | Иоанн | ee-OH-ahn [iɐˈan] | Greek form of John, “God is gracious” | Formal/church form of Ivan; appears in liturgical and official contexts; less used informally. |
| Ioakim | Иоаким | ee-oh-AH-keem [iɐɐˈakim] | From Hebrew Joachim, “raised by God” | Biblical/Orthodox name; uncommon in modern civil usage, mainly ecclesiastical or historical. |
| Ioasaf | Иоасаф | ee-oh-AH-saf [iɐɐˈasaf] | From medieval Christian form of Bodhisattva | Archaic church name (St. Ioasaf); rare, appears in hagiography and older literature. |
| Ieremiy | Иеремия | ye-reh-MEE-ya [jɪrʲeˈmʲija] | Hebrew Jeremiah, “Yahweh will exalt” | Biblical prophet’s name in Orthodox calendar; uncommon as a contemporary given name. |
| Ieronim | Иероним | ye-roh-NIM [jɪrɐˈnʲim] | From Greek Hieronymus, “sacred name” | Historical and ecclesiastical use; rare in modern Russia but found in church documents. |
| Ierofey | Иерофей | ye-ROH-fey [jɪrəˈfʲej] | From Greek, meaning related to “sacred” | Old Orthodox name; rare today; appears in historical texts and saints’ lists. |
| Ilarion | Иларион | ih-LAH-ree-on [ɪlɐˈrʲon] | From Greek Hilarion, “cheerful, joyful” | Church name with several saints; uncommon but recognized; formal usage mostly. |
| Isidor | Исидор | iss-ih-DOR [isʲiˈdor] | From Greek Isidoros, “gift of Isis” | Traditional Christian name; historical usage common; diminutives rare in modern Russian. |
| Isaak | Исаак | ee-SA-ak [iˈsaak] | From Hebrew Isaac, “he will laugh” | Biblical name used in Orthodox and civil registers; moderate modern use; formal and dignified. |
| Isay | Исай | ee-SAHY [iˈsaj] | Russian form of Isaiah, “Yahweh is salvation” | Biblical/prophetic name; archaic but attested in church calendars and literature. |
| Isaiya | Исаия | ee-sah-EE-ya [iˈsajija] | Variant of Isaiah, “Yahweh is salvation” | Liturgical/biblical form; rare in everyday use, found in church texts and older records. |
| Irakliy | Ираклий | ee-RAHK-lee [irakˈlʲij] | From Greek Heraclius, “glory of the hero” | Rare; used historically and among Georgians in Russian contexts; appears in saints’ lists. |
| Iskander | Искандер | iss-KAN-der [iskanˈdʲer] | Persian/Arabic form of Alexander | Borrowed name common in Caucasus and Central Asia; used among various ethnic groups in Russia. |
| Ibragim | Ибрагим | ee-brah-GEEM [ibrɐˈɡim] | Arabic Ibrahim (Abraham), “father of nations” | Widely used in Muslim communities across Russia; appears in civil registries and regional usage. |
| Idris | Идрис | ih-DRISS [iˈdris] | Arabic name (prophetic), linked to Enoch | Used mainly by Muslim populations in Russia; documented in name dictionaries. |
| Iustin | Иустин | yoo-STIN [juˈstʲin] | From Latin Justinus, “just, righteous” | Church name found in Orthodox calendars; rare but historically attested. |
| Iulian | Иулиан | yoo-LYAHN [juˈlʲan] | From Latin/Greek Julianus, “youthful” | Present in church and secular use; sometimes anglicized as Julian. |
| Ingvar | Ингвар | ING-var [ˈiŋvar] | Old Norse, “Ing’s warrior” | Scandinavian-origin name found among Russians; uncommon but historically attested. |
| Iriney | Ириней | ih-ree-NAY [iˈrʲinʲej] | From Greek Irenaeus, “peaceful” | Ecclesiastical name (saints); uncommon today, mostly liturgical or historical. |
| Irinarh | Иринарх | ih-ree-NARKH [irʲɪˈnarx] | From Greek, “peaceful ruler” | Very rare, archaic ecclesiastical name found in hagiographies and old records. |
| Iona | Иона | YO-na [ˈjonə] | From Hebrew Jonah, “dove” | Biblical prophet’s name; used in church contexts and literature; short and recognizable. |
| Ipaty | Ипатий | ee-PAH-tee [iˈpatʲij] | From Greek Hypatius, “most high” | Ancient/Orthodox name (Hypatian monastery ties); very rare as modern given name. |
| Ismail | Исмаил | iss-mah-EEL [isˈmail] | From Arabic Ishmael, “God will hear” | Common in Muslim-majority regions of Russia; recorded in civil registries. |
| Iuda | Иуда | yoo-DAH [iˈuda] | From Hebrew Judah, “praised” | Biblical apostle Jude (Orthodox saint); historically attested but seldom used today due to associations. |
Descriptions
Ivan
Igor
Ilya
Iosif
Innokentiy
Ippolit
Ioann
Ioakim
Ioasaf
Ieremiy
Ieronim
Ierofey
Ilarion
Isidor
Isaak
Isay
Isaiya
Irakliy
Iskander
Ibragim
Idris
Iustin
Iulian
Ingvar
Iriney
Irinarh
Iona
Ipaty
Ismail
Iuda