Thread: Russian Names

Thanks Kudesnik.

It's getting a little complicated for my liking!

To maybe help me get my head around it can you explain these Russians for me and how there name is constructed (i.e. what is patronym and what is surname):

Joseph Stalin
Anna Kournikova
Vasili Zaitsev
Andrey Arshavin

Are they Anglicised names? Or are they forename/surname or forename/patronym?

I want to be able to use the Russian names in as much of an English way as possible (for readers to understand and follow) but keep some Russian authenticism. So, for example, "Ah Joseph how nice to see you" or "Pleased to meet you Mr Stalin"

Is this possible?

Regarding Joseph Stalin, Joseph is an Anglicized name. In Russian, first name + patronimic name + surname was:

Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin (so, his father's name was Vissarion).

I guess only Churchill and Roosevelt would call him "Mr Stalin", "comrade Stalin" or "tovarishtch Stalin" would be more proper.

Originally Posted by 1.zer0

Joseph Stalin
Anna Kournikova
Vasili Zaitsev
Andrey Arshavin

Maybe this will help.
Joseph Stalin had a patronymic name Vissarionovich (Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin) his father's name was Vissarion.

There is goes:
Anna Sergeevna Kournikova (Her father's name was Sergey)
Vasili Grigoryevich Zaitsev (His father's name was Grigoriy)
Andrey Sergeevich Arshavin (His father's name was also Sergey)