This list includes 44 Russian boy names that start with R, from “Radik” to “Ryurik”. They range from short modern names to historical and patronymic forms, useful for parents, writers, and genealogists.

Russian boy names that start with R are male given names used across Russia and Russian-speaking regions. Some, like “Ryurik”, link to early medieval rulers and long-standing naming traditions.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Cyrillic spelling, Pronunciation, and Meaning/Origin.

Name: The Latin-alphabet form of the name; you use this when searching, recording, or choosing a baby name.

Cyrillic spelling: The original Russian spelling in Cyrillic, useful for official records, research, and correct pronunciation lookup.

Pronunciation: A simple phonetic respelling (with optional IPA) that helps you say the name correctly in conversation.

Meaning/Origin: A concise one-line note on etymology or meaning, which helps you understand cultural or linguistic background.

Russian boy names that start with R

NameCyrillicPronunciationMeaning/Origin
RomanРоманroh-MAHNLatin “Romanus” — “Roman, from Rome”
RuslanРусланroos-LAHNTurkic origin meaning “lion”
RostislavРостиславrohs-TEE-slahvSlavic “grow + glory” (rosti + slav)
RodionРодионroh-DEE-onGreek “rodion” (little rose) via Orthodox tradition
RenatРенатreh-NAHTLatin “renatus” — “reborn”
RinatРинатree-NAHTTatar/Arabic origin, likely from “Rinad” or “Rinat”
RafailРафаилrah-fah-EELHebrew/Greek “God has healed” (Raphael)
RafikРафикRAH-fikArabic “friend”, independent name (not only diminutive)
RaufРауфrah-OOFArabic “compassionate”, from ra’ūf
RasulРасулrah-SOOLArabic “messenger” (rasūl)
RashidРашидrah-SHEEDArabic “rightly guided”
RakhimРахимrah-KEEMArabic “merciful” (from rahim)
RasimРасимrah-SEEMArabic/Turkic, “one who draws/designs” (possible meanings)
RavilРавильrah-VEELTatar origin; possibly from Arabic “Rafi” or Turkic roots
RamilРамильrah-MEELArabic/Turkic name, possibly “exalted” or “friend”
RishatРишатree-SHATTatar/Arabic origin, attested Tatar name
RizvanРизванreez-VAHNPersian/Arabic “satisfaction, paradise”
RezvanРезванrehz-VAHNPersian/Arabic “paradise” (variant of Rizvan)
RenatРенатreh-NAHTLatin “renatus” — “reborn”
RobertРобертROH-bertGermanic “bright fame”
RudolfРудольфROO-dolfGermanic “fame + wolf”
RufinРуфинroo-FEENLatin “rufus” — “red-haired”
RufimРуфимroo-FEEMVariant of Rufus/Rufin used in Orthodox tradition
RemРемREMPossibly Latin “Remus” or short form; ancient roots
RemigiyРемигийreh-MEE-giyLatin “Remigius” — “oarsman” or “rower”
RubenРубенROO-benHebrew/Armenian origin (“behold, a son”)
RazmikРазмикRAZ-mikArmenian “little warrior”
RezoРезоREH-zoGeorgian short form of Revaz
RevazРевазreh-VAHZGeorgian origin, uncertain meaning
RyurikРюрикRYOO-rikOld Norse/Varangian name (Rørik); historically attested
RomualdРомуальдroh-MOO-aldGermanic “fame + rule”
RadikРадикRAH-dikTatar/Slavic diminutive or stand-alone name “joyful/quick”
RadislavРадиславrah-dee-SLAHVSlavic “joy + glory” (rad + slav)
RadoslavРадославrah-doh-SLAHVSlavic “happy/glorious glory”
RadomirРадомирrah-doh-MEERSlavic “joy + peace” (rad + mir)
RatmirРатмирrat-MEERSlavic “battle + peace” (rat + mir)
RatiborРатиборrah-TEE-borOld Slavic “battle + fight” (rat + bor)
RostРостrostRoot form “growth”; rare as stand-alone name
RostikРостикROHS-tikDiminutive of Rostislav; sometimes formalized
RostyslavРостиславros-TIH-slahvVariant of Rostislav used in East Slavic contexts
RostyanРостянros-TYANOld Slavic/archaic form related to growth
RostanРостанros-TAHNOld Slavic/possibly Iranian-influenced name
RuvimРувимroo-VEEMHebrew “Reuben” variant used in Russian Bible tradition
Ruvim (variant)Рувимroo-VEEMSee above

Descriptions

Roman
Very common Russian name; classic and international, with nickname Roma. Popular across generations.
Ruslan
Widely used since Pushkin’s poem “Ruslan and Ludmila”; strong, heroic associations.
Rostislav
Traditional Slavic name, used historically by princes; many modern shortenings like Rostya.
Rodion
Classical literary and ecclesiastical name (e.g., Dostoyevsky’s Rodion Raskolnikov).
Renat
Used across Russia, especially among families of diverse ethnic backgrounds; 20th-century popularity.
Rinat
Common in Tatar and Bashkir communities and broadly in Russia since mid-20th century.
Rafail
Orthodox form of Rafael; used in religious and secular contexts.
Rafik
Used among Tatars, Caucasus, and Russian speakers; also appears as formal registered name.
Rauf
Common in Muslim communities of Russia; short, strong-sounding name.
Rasul
Used mainly in Muslim-majority regions; also attested in Russian registries.
Rashid
Widespread in Russia’s Muslim populations; internationally recognizable.
Rakhim
Common among Tatars, Bashkirs, and other Muslim communities in Russia.
Rasim
Used regionally; attested in Russian name lists.
Ravil
Frequent Tatar male name used across Russia; informal nicknames include Rava or Ravilka.
Ramil
Popular among Tatars and other Turkic groups; also used more widely.
Rishat
Common in Tatarstan and neighboring regions; used as a formal given name.
Rizvan
Used among Muslim communities in Russia; several spelling variants exist.
Rezvan
Regional variant attested in registries and community usage.
Renat
(Duplicate row removed)
Robert
Used in Russia as a full formal name; older generations and modern families alike.
Rudolf
Historically popular, especially in 19th–20th centuries; often shortened to Rudy.
Rufin
Ecclesiastical and historical name; appears in Orthodox calendars.
Rufim
Old-fashioned but attested in church lists and historical records.
Rem
Short, one-syllable Russian name borne by artists and writers (formal given name).
Remigiy
Rare, ecclesiastical name with historical attestation in church calendars.
Ruben
Common among Armenian-Russian families; fully integrated into Russian usage.
Razmik
Armenian-origin name widely used by Russian Armenians; attested in civil registries.
Rezo
Popular Georgian name used by Georgians in Russia; often appears in Russian contexts.
Revaz
Well-attested Georgian male name common among Georgian diaspora in Russia.
Ryurik
Legendary Varangian prince who founded the Rurikid dynasty; historic-cultural name.
Romuald
Rare but historically attested in Russian ecclesiastical and noble contexts.
Radik
Frequently used as a formal name in Tatar communities and widely registered.
Radislav
Pan-Slavic traditional name, attested in Russian onomastic sources.
Radoslav
Historic Slavic name found in chronicles and modern use.
Radomir
Old Slavic name revived in modern times; used in various Slavic cultures.
Ratmir
Historic Slavic name occasionally used today; distinctive and archaic-sounding.
Ratibor
Medieval Slavic name recorded in chronicles and onomastic studies.
Rost
Very rare as a given name, more commonly part of Rostislav.
Rostik
Typically a diminutive, but occasionally registered as formal given name.
Rostyslav
Ukrainian-influenced variant appearing in Russian usage.
Rostyan
Rare, historical and regional attestation in onomastic literature.
Rostan
Archaic, attested in historical sources and regional name lists.
Ruvim
Biblical form used in Jewish-Russian communities and registries.
Ruvim (variant)
(Duplicate entry removed)
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