Svetlana
Svetlana is a Christian girl name of Slavic origin, meaning “Light, bright”.
| Meaning | Light, bright |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Slavic |
| Written as | Светлана |
| Pronunciation | svyet-LAH-nah |
| Tradition | Christian, Modern & Classic |
| Used in | Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria |
Meaning and origin of Svetlana
Svetlana comes from the Slavic svet, 'light', and means 'bright' or 'luminous'. It was rare until the poet Vasily Zhukovsky published his ballad Svetlana in 1813, after which it spread widely. The Russian Orthodox Church later accepted it as an equivalent of the Greek Photini, 'light'. Notable bearers include the Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2015.
Is Svetlana a Christian name?
Svetlana is a Slavic name rather than a biblical one, but Orthodox Christians link it with Saint Photini, the Samaritan woman at the well, whose Greek name also means light.
How popular is Svetlana?
Very common among Russian and Eastern European women born in the twentieth century, less so for babies today.
Gifts with the name Svetlana
- Svetlana name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Svetlana baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Svetlana
Names similar to Svetlana
More Christian girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Svetlana mean?
Svetlana means 'Light, bright'. It is of Slavic origin.
Is Svetlana a Christian name?
Svetlana is a Slavic name rather than a biblical one, but Orthodox Christians link it with Saint Photini, the Samaritan woman at the well, whose Greek name also means light.
How do you pronounce Svetlana?
Svetlana is pronounced svyet-LAH-nah.
Is Svetlana a boy or girl name?
Svetlana is usually a girl name.