This list includes 19 Russian boy names that start with Z, from “Zakhar” to “Zvenislav”. They are mostly traditional Slavic and Orthodox names, useful for parents, writers, and genealogists.
Russian boy names that start with Z are male given names used in Russia and Russian-speaking regions. Many trace back to Old Slavic roots or Orthodox saints, with “Zakhar” as a common biblical-derived example.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Cyrillic, Pronunciation, Meaning/Origin, and Notes.
Name: The Latin transliteration you see; use it when searching, speaking, or entering names in international forms.
Cyrillic: The original Russian spelling in Cyrillic letters, helpful when you check records or communicate locally.
Pronunciation: A simple respelling helps you say the name correctly, and offers optional IPA for precision.
Meaning/Origin: A concise one-line explanation of the name’s meaning and linguistic or cultural origin.
Notes: Contextual details like diminutives, historical usage, and modern popularity to guide your selection.
Arabic/Albanian/Slavic origins; “song” or “for peace”
Zvenislav
Звенислав
zveh-nee-SLAV
Slavic: “sound”+”glory” (famed for sound)
Zlatan
Златан
ZLAH-tan
South Slavic: “golden” (from zlatо)
Zenoniy
Зеноний
zeh-NOH-nee
Greek derivative related to Zenon/Zenobius
Descriptions
Zakhar
Common Russian biblical name; familiar and modern-sounding, used in literature and official records. Diminutives include Zakharka and Zakharik. Transliteration follows BGN/PCGN.
Zakhariy
Church Slavonic/formal variant of Zakhar; appears in Orthodox calendars and historical records; used as a legal name, rarer in everyday use.
Zakhariya
Church-style Russian form found in Orthodox liturgical texts and older records; sometimes used in formal or religious contexts.
Zenon
Ancient Greek saint name kept in Orthodox calendars; uncommon today but attested in Russian name dictionaries and ecclesiastical lists.
Zenobiy
Historic/saintly name recorded in onomastic sources; rare modern usage but appears in older church lists and literary works.
Zinoviy
Historic Russian name found in literature and records; variants include Zinovy and Zinovi. Diminutives: Zin, Zina (rare for men).
Zosima
Orthodox saint’s name (famous in Dostoevsky); archaic but well attested in religious and literary sources.
Zot
Very rare, archaic saint name; appears in Orthodox calendars and historical registries.
Zotik
Historical male name attested in older records; rare today but recorded as a legal given name in some sources.
Zaven
Common Armenian male name used in Russia among Armenian families; appears in civil registries and name dictionaries of multiethnic Russia.
Zhores
Soviet-era adoption popularized by notable figures (e.g., Zhores Alferov); attested in Russian biographical and onomastic sources.
Zavulon
Biblical/Orthodox form (Zebulun); appears in church calendars and historical lists; rare in modern civil registries.
Zaur
Widespread in the North Caucasus and among Russian residents from that region; regularly recorded in civil registries and popular locally.
Zakir
Common in Muslim communities in Russia (Tatars, Bashkirs, Caucasus); frequently found in contemporary civil records.
Zulfikar
Used among Muslim populations within Russia; attested in regional registries and cultural anthologies.
Zamir
Used in Muslim and some Slavic contexts in Russia; appears in modern civil registries, especially in diverse regions.
Zvenislav
Old Slavic compound name attested in historical onomastic sources and rare modern registrations; stylistically archaic but documented.
Zlatan
Balkan-origin name borne by Slavic minorities and migrants in Russia; appears in modern registries and sports/literary references.
Zenoniy
Lesser-used ecclesiastical variant attested in church calendars and academic name lists; rare in everyday use.
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