Russian names. Female names. Part 1

Usually Russian names are known from the most famous novels. It's great that the names like Natasha Rostova or Jury Zhivago are familiar. But still in RUssia we have much more beautiful names. Let's learn some of them. Besides, in Russia we have a nice traditions to use millions of short and tender names instead of the official one. A name may have up to 15 variants, which are often used. Once I was told a story when a guy could not understand a Russian novel just because instead of a 'main' official name , the hero was called in other ways, more 'domestic' and tender. so poor guy thought 'oh, how many people are there in the novel?!'  That's why here we will also tell you most common short and spoken variants of Russian names. 

photo by Evgeniy Potaninfrom www.500px.com 
Female names, part 1
Ð�ЛЕКСÐ�Ð�ДРÐ� - ALEXANDRA– Ð�ЛЕКСÐ�Ð�ДРÐ�. Helpful, reliable(Greek). Spoken variants – Sasha -Саша, Shura -Шура, Sachenka -СашенькаÐ�ЛЛÐ� -   ALLA. Other (gothic). Bright, "invincible." Spoken variants: Alia Ð�лÑ�Ð�Ð�Ð�СТÐ�СИЯ   ANASTASIA. Resurrection (Greek). Spoken variants: Ð�аÑ�Ñ‚Ñ�, Ð�Ñ�Ñ�
Ð�Ð�Ð�Ð� ANNA. Gracious (Hebr). Spoken variants: Ania, Anuta, Nura, Annushka
Ð�Ð�ТОÐ�ИÐ�Ð� - ANTONINAExtensive (Latin). Spoken variants: Tonia, Tosia
Ð’Ð�ЛЕÐ�ТИÐ�Ð� -  VALENTINA.Strong (Latin). Spoken variants: Valia, Valusha
Ð’Ð�РВÐ�РÐ� - VARVARA- Barbara. Spoken variants: Varia, VarushaÐ’Ð�СИЛИСÐ� - VASSILISSA. Regal (Greek). Idol. Spoken variants: Vasia
ВЕРÐ� - VERA.Means Faith. Spoken variants: Verochka
ВИКТОРИЯ -  VICTORIA. The winner (Latin). Spoken variants: Vika, Vikulia
ГÐ�ЛИÐ�Ð� - GALINAClarity (Greek). Spoken variants: Galia
ДÐ�РЬЯ -  DARIA. Great Fire (Persian). Short variant: Dasha
ЕВГЕÐ�ИЯ -  EUGENIE. Noble (Greek). Zhenya, Zhenechka
ЕКÐ�ТЕРИÐ�Ð� -   CATHERINE. Hope the real,ever-pure (Greek). Short variants: Katia, Katyusha, Katenka
ЕЛЕÐ�Ð� -  ELENA. Solar (Greek). Short variant: Lena, Alyona, AlyonkaЕЛИЗÐ�ВЕТÐ� - ELIZABETH. Revering God (Hebr). Short and spoken variants: Лиза,ЛизонькаЗИÐ�Ð�ИДÐ� -  ZINAIDA. Divine (Greek). Short and spo ken variants:Zina, ZinochkaЗОЯ -   ZOYA. Life (Greek). Short and spoken variants: Зоечка,ЗоюшаIRINA. peace (Greek). Short and spoken variants: Ира,Ириша, Ирочка
КИРÐ� -  CYRUS. Mistress (Greek). Short and spoken variants: Кира,Кирочка
КСЕÐ�ИЯ - Xenia. Wanderer (Greek). Short and spoken variants: КÑ�енÑ�,КÑ�юша


to be continued