Thread: Russian Nicknames/Diminutives

Originally Posted by Hanna

Crazy example of Russians and their nicknames!
The girl is called Alexandra. How could her nickname be Marussi?

Marusya is short for Mariya (Маруся <- Мария), and indeed it has nothing to do with Alexandra. The girl was just acting out a little. When Gosha stayed unfazed, accepting this false "nickname", she made a vaguely snide remark about calling him "Vasya" then, which is also a diminutive for the "wrong" name - Vasily (Вася <- Василий).

And what is the deal with Shura, Goga, Gosha..... etc! His actual name is given as Georgi.

That's true, Zhora, Goga and Gosha (Жора/Гога/Гоша) are pretty common nicknames for Georgi/Giorgi. Yuri (Юрий)as a diminutive for Georgi is a bit crazy, I guess it was mentioned as an example of weird nicknames people give him.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Marusya is short for Mariya (Маруся <- Мария), and indeed it has nothing to do with Alexandra. The girl was just acting out a little. When Gosha stayed unfazed, accepting this false "nickname", she made a vaguely snide remark about calling him "Vasya" then, which is also a diminutive for the "wrong" name - Vasily (Вася <- Василий).

When I lived in Russia, Vasya was a common nickname for cats!!!

Originally Posted by Deborski

When I lived in Russia, Vasya was a common nickname for cats!!!

It still is. Try googling "кот Васька".

)))

LOL Awesome

FYI "аська" is a slang word for ICQ messenger

The girl is called Alexandra. How could her nickname be Marussi?
And what is the deal with Shura, Goga, Gosha..... etc! His actual name is given as Georgi.

Юра, Жора, Гоша, Гога. Юра от Юрий, но Юрий происходит от Георгий. Георгий - Гюргий - Юрий.

Is there a masculine or feminine name based on алый?

Originally Posted by Seraph

Is there a masculine or feminine name based on алый?

no
But there are names which may sound close
Алла, Аля - feminine name
Алина - feminine name
Алия - feminine name (not very common in Russia, Arabic name)

Thank you. Maybe I should ask the question I'm really interested in: is there a Russian name that means red, scarlet, or similar, masculine, and feminine. I know there is one based on rose (feminine, probably flower). Any others? Thanks.

Well "Rosa" exists as a name in Russia, I believe, although it might be imported.

Maybe these ones are close enough in spirit, since they have to do with a splendid kind of light & colour: Анатолий и Аврора. Thank you for replies.