Can you imagine having the 1st name of “Doughnut” on the birth certificate?
That’s exactly how the 1stname of “Донат” (Ukrainian spelling) sounds. We met this name when doing research on the Orthodox church books of the village of Tyliavka in Ternopil province, Ukraine. It originates from “Donatus” which means “presented by God” in Latin.
It looks like the locals had to bear some irregular names that were given to them by the local priest, Oleksandr Nazarkevych. Apparently, Father Oleksandr was quite strict about the tradition of choosing the names after the saints honored on the day of baptism or birth. Thus, he opened the so-called Menoligium which is a special service book that includes information on the holidays and church services and gave his parishioners such names as Kozdoya, Proskudiya, Lubym, and others. They did sound very strange then and they still do. Those who were born on St. Nicolas or St. Julianna’s Day were lucky.
Menoligium since 1799 printed in Vilnius. Photo Courtesy – Violity.
Were things the same in other villages in Ukraine? Definitely not. I get the impression that a lot depended on the priests and local traditions in particular areas or villages. We often see babies named after their grandparents when we do genealogy research in Galicia, Volyn, and Bukovyna. Another tradition was to name babies after their diseased siblings. We have even met the same 1stnames given to the siblings who were both living. The names given after parents were often believed to be a special charm that would protect the children in their lives.
Names are a huge topic and this is just an attempt to touch it. Our customers often ask questions that have to do with spellings, English versions of the 1st names as well as spellings and meanings of the family names of their Ukrainian and Polish ancestors. We have decided to create a chart that will include the most common first names. We will keep updating it with additional names that we’re asked about later on the way.
Please, note that this is just basic information and there are alternative explanations, variations, and meanings, as well as other information on the names’ origin.
If you have any questions about the names and family names of your ancestors, feel free to contact us. We will be glad to help.
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Andriy Dorosh
Female Names
Ukrainian
Trans literation from Ukrainian
Polish
Latin
English equivalent or trans
literation
Meaning
Марія
Mariya
Marja
Maria
Mary
“love; beloved”
Ганна
Hanna
Anna
Anna
Ann
“gracious, merciful”
Анастасія
Anastasiya
Anastazja
Anastasia
Anastasia
“resurrection”
Катерина
Kateryna
Katarzyna
Catharina
Catherine
“pure”
Антоніна
Antonina
Antonia
Antonina
Antonina
“priceless”
Ксенія
Ksenia, Oksana
Ksenia
Ksenia, Xenia
Xenia
“guest-friendship”
Параскева
Paraskeva
Paraskewa
Parascevia
Paraskeva
“preparation, Friday”
Марта
Marta
Marta
Martha
Martha
“lady”
Тетяна
Tetiana
Tacjana
Tatianna
Tetiana
“foundress”
Олена
Olena
Helena
Helena
Helen
“light”
Домнікія
Domnikiya
Dominika
Domnikia
Dominika
“lord”
Євдокія
Yevdokiya
Eudokia
Eudokia
Eudocia
“good fame”
Текля
Teklia
Tekla
Thecla
Tekla
“Glory Of God”
Агафія
Ahaphiya
Agata
Agatha
Agatha
“honorable”
Федора
Fedora
Teodora
Theodora
Teodora
“gift of God”
Male Names
Ukrainian
Trans literation from Ukrainian
Polish
Latin
English equivalent or trans literation
Meaning
Іван
Ivan
Jan
Joannes
John
“God is gracious”
Василь
Vasyl
Bazyli, Wasyl
Basilius
Basil
“royal”
Михайло
Mykhailo
Michal
Michaelis
Michael
“Who is like God?”
Микола
Mykola
Mikolaj
Nicolaus
Nicholas
“victory of the people”
Павло
Pavlo
Pawel
Paulus
Paul
“humble”
Степан
Stepan
Stefan
Stephanus
Stephen
“wreath, crown”
Йосип
Yosyp
Jozef
Josephus
Joseph
“God will give”
Яків
Yakiv
Jakub
Jacobus
Jacob
“supplanter”
Федір
Fedir
Teodor
Theodorus
Theodore
“gift of God”
Андрій
Andriy
Andrzej
Andreas
Andrew
“manly, strong and brave”
Данило
Danylo
Daniel
Danielis
Daniel
“God is my judge”
Семен
Semen
Szymon
Simeon
Simon
“to hear, be heard”
Антон
Anton
Antoni
Antonius
Anthony
“priceless”
Григорій
Hryhoriy
Grzegorz
Gregorius
Gregory
“watchful”
Георгій
Heorhiy
Jerzy
Georgius
George
“farmer”
Олексій
Oleksiy
Aleksy
Alexius
Alex
“protector of mankind”