Comments
Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
Impression
Other
In my opinion, Svetlana is a gorgeous name. I like its uniqueness (in the US), as you rarely see “s” and “v” next to each other. I also love its beautiful meaning: “Light.” Lastly, I appreciate its lovable (potential) nickname, Lana. Overall, I think Svetlana is a lovely name.
2
2
Since I was young, I've played a game where I chose a name for myself had I been from a different country, and the Russian name I chose was Svetlana. I have never met someone who dislikes this name, and hopefully I never will. "Light of the world" is such a strong and powerful meaning, a great name to bless a child with. I had a great-grandmother named Svetlana because my family is part-Slavic.
4
4
I think this is one of the prettiest Russian girls names ever. And I don’t think there would be too much of a pronunciation issue in English speaking countries. Lana is a cute nickname as well.
5
5
With 168178 bearers, Svetlana is the 10th most common feminine given name in Kazakhstan (2014 Data). With 9661 bearers, Svetlana is the 4th most common feminine given name in Estonia (2014 Data).
Source: https://forebears.io/forenames/svetlana
1
Source: https://forebears.io/forenames/svetlana
1
Svetlana is also used in Armenia and Georgia. Both countries were once part of the Soviet Union, and before that, of the Russian Empire. [noted -ed]
The name is written as Սվետլանա in Armenian and as სვეტლანა in Georgian.
Sources used:
- http://armenian.name/index.php?a=term&d=2&t=1510 (in English)
- http://armenian.name/index.php?a=term&d=4&t=1672 (in Armenian)
- see the entry for Svetlana: https://web.archive.org/web/20130130165826/http://name.interes.ge/dreams.php?action=search&by=%E1%83%A1&nr_page=2 (in Georgian; the entry's own page unfortunately was not archived)
- see the entry for Svetlana: http://www.geogen.ge/ge/wsearch/4321/ (in Georgian; this website copied the complete entry of the prior link)
- Svetlana Grigoryan (1930-2014), an Armenian actress: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Grigoryan (in English)
- Svetlana Navasardyan (b. 1946), an Armenian classical concert pianist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Navasardyan (in English)
- Svetlana Kudba (b. 1952), a Georgian lawyer and politician: https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%95%E1%83%94%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%90_%E1%83%99%E1%83%A3%E1%83%93%E1%83%91%E1%83%90 (in Georgian)
- Svetlana Mkrtchiani-Peikrishvili (b. 1961), a Georgian athlete: https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%95%E1%83%94%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%90_%E1%83%9B%E1%83%99%E1%83%A0%E1%83%A2%E1%83%A9%E1%83%98%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98-%E1%83%A4%E1%83%94%E1%83%98%E1%83%A5%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%A8%E1%83%95%E1%83%98%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98 (in Georgian)
- (general): https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/?first=Svetlana&last=&search=Zoeken
• https://am.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Svetlana/+/am-0-Armeni%C3%AB (lists only bearers living in Armenia)
• https://ge.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Svetlana/+/ge-0-Georgi%C3%AB (lists only bearers living in Georgia)
- https://www.facebook.com/search/people/?q=svetlana (best to search for bearers in the most populous cities of each country, such as Tbilisi for Georgia and Yerevan for Armenia)
4
The name is written as Սվետլանա in Armenian and as სვეტლანა in Georgian.
Sources used:
- http://armenian.name/index.php?a=term&d=2&t=1510 (in English)
- http://armenian.name/index.php?a=term&d=4&t=1672 (in Armenian)
- see the entry for Svetlana: https://web.archive.org/web/20130130165826/http://name.interes.ge/dreams.php?action=search&by=%E1%83%A1&nr_page=2 (in Georgian; the entry's own page unfortunately was not archived)
- see the entry for Svetlana: http://www.geogen.ge/ge/wsearch/4321/ (in Georgian; this website copied the complete entry of the prior link)
- Svetlana Grigoryan (1930-2014), an Armenian actress: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Grigoryan (in English)
- Svetlana Navasardyan (b. 1946), an Armenian classical concert pianist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Navasardyan (in English)
- Svetlana Kudba (b. 1952), a Georgian lawyer and politician: https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%95%E1%83%94%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%90_%E1%83%99%E1%83%A3%E1%83%93%E1%83%91%E1%83%90 (in Georgian)
- Svetlana Mkrtchiani-Peikrishvili (b. 1961), a Georgian athlete: https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%95%E1%83%94%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%90_%E1%83%9B%E1%83%99%E1%83%A0%E1%83%A2%E1%83%A9%E1%83%98%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98-%E1%83%A4%E1%83%94%E1%83%98%E1%83%A5%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%A8%E1%83%95%E1%83%98%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98 (in Georgian)
- (general): https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/?first=Svetlana&last=&search=Zoeken
• https://am.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Svetlana/+/am-0-Armeni%C3%AB (lists only bearers living in Armenia)
• https://ge.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Svetlana/+/ge-0-Georgi%C3%AB (lists only bearers living in Georgia)
- https://www.facebook.com/search/people/?q=svetlana (best to search for bearers in the most populous cities of each country, such as Tbilisi for Georgia and Yerevan for Armenia)
4
"Svet" in Russian has several meanings, but the name Svetlana is surely associated with "the light" (shining, pure, fair), not "the world". See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana.
I'd say "svet" as "the world" is a secondary and a bit archaic meaning. "Белый свет" (literally "white light") means "whole world", but has a fairy-tale ring to it, one won't use it in everyday speech. Svet also may mean society, like "высший свет" (literally "highest light") meaning "high society". "Выйти в свет" (literaly "come out into the light") means "to be introduced to society" or "participate in a public social event". As with any language several meanings are kind of inseparable, still "the light" is the primary meaning, and the name is based on it.
Note that the name is not a historic name, it was invented as a slavic-like name in 19th century. There is no way to distinguish between "the light", "the world" and "the society" based on etymology, because all those meanings were already in use at the time.
6
I'd say "svet" as "the world" is a secondary and a bit archaic meaning. "Белый свет" (literally "white light") means "whole world", but has a fairy-tale ring to it, one won't use it in everyday speech. Svet also may mean society, like "высший свет" (literally "highest light") meaning "high society". "Выйти в свет" (literaly "come out into the light") means "to be introduced to society" or "participate in a public social event". As with any language several meanings are kind of inseparable, still "the light" is the primary meaning, and the name is based on it.
Note that the name is not a historic name, it was invented as a slavic-like name in 19th century. There is no way to distinguish between "the light", "the world" and "the society" based on etymology, because all those meanings were already in use at the time.
6
I like the meaning, not sure if I like the name so much. But it’s growing on me.
4
4
Great meaning, but sounds very close to Polish "śmietana" which means "sour milk".
3
3
Also Slovene: https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana
2
2
Also Moldovan: https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_C%C3%A2rstean
1
1
My name is Svetlana! I love it and it honors the fact I’m half Ukrainian. Expect to get called Svet or Lana (or Sveta, depending if the person is Slavic). It’s very pretty but I feel often mispronounced or spelled wrong, even though it’s easy. That’ll be the case for any Slavic name, though.
8
8
Sveht-LAN-ə and sveht-LAHN-ə in English.
1
1
Here's a haiku about this name:
That one Russian name
That doesn't sound quite pretty
But I still like it.
-6
That one Russian name
That doesn't sound quite pretty
But I still like it.
-6
Reminds me of Svetlana Yevgenivna from Shameless!
4
4
Svetlana Alliuyeva, the first daughter of Joseph Stalin, the dictator of the Soviet Union.
2
2
My mom is Svetlana. I love that name so much. My mama Lana.
8
8
A famous bearer is Svetlana Alexievich (b. 1948). Alexievich is a journalist and author from Belarus who is known for her investigative works like "Voices from Chernobyl", which documented oral histories of Chernobyl survivors, and "War's Unwomanly Face", which documented the lives of Soviet women during WWII. Alexievich won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2015.
2
2
Beautiful and elegant with an awesome meaning!
6
6
Svetlana Afanasyevna Svetlichnaya is a Soviet and Russian actress most famous for her role in The Diamond Arm. She was born in the city of Leninakan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union on May 15, 1940 to Afanasy Mikhailovich Svetlichnyi and Maria Feodorovna Zolotarёva. During World War II the family lived in the town of Kolomak in the Kharkiv Oblast, then moved to the city Okhtyrka in the Sumy Oblast. Her father was in the military, and the family followed her father to his place of service. They lived in Ukraine and Austria, and at the age of 10 Svetlana lived on the Baltic coast, in the city of Sovetsk in the Kaliningrad Oblast. When Svetlana graduated from high school, her mother sent her to Moscow by a train. There Svetlana went to the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography.
2
2
Another diminutive of this name is Svetka - my Russian relative by marriage is called Sveta or Svetka by her close friends. Lana is not a traditional pet form in Russia but has become widely used by Russian immigrants to the West.
2
2
No, I don't think any English speaker would have a problem pronouncing this name. It's pronounced the way it's spelled.
I think it's a pretty name. One of my favorite Russian names along with Nadezhda.
5
I think it's a pretty name. One of my favorite Russian names along with Nadezhda.
5
Sexy Russian female name.
1
1
Svetlana Ražnatović, known by her stage name Ceca is a Serbian turbo-folk singer, and one of the most popular singers in Serbia and the Balkans. She started her career as a folk singer in 1988.
3
3
I LOVE THIS NAME SO MUCH. Russian names have always appealed to me, and I'd rather have a unique name such as Evgeniya, Elizaveta, or Svetlana as opposed to my boring and common name: Hannah. This name is beautiful and strong to me, and though it might be common in Slavic countries, I'd prefer it over my name.
5
5
I really like this name. As a native English speaker, I don't think anyone would pronounce it sweat-lana except for maybe a child who has trouble with V's. This name seems like it's been used a lot in the movies for Russian spies (thanks a lot Hollywood). I don't think it's necessary to give a nickname either.
4
4
I love the way this name sounds.
7
7
The name Svetlana was given to 38 baby girls born in the US in 2012.
2
2
In English it's more likely to be pronounced sweat-lana or they just look at the paper blankly and you tell them "just call me Lana".
-4
-4
English pronunciation is "svyet-LAH-nah".
0
0
The origin of the name is wrong. It derives from 'svetlo' meaning 'light' not 'svet' meaning 'world'. Similar looking but different words. The name means "she who is light" not literally 'light'.
Ps. One of the most beautiful and gracious names on the planet.
2
Ps. One of the most beautiful and gracious names on the planet.
2
I love this name, but I also prefer the Croatian version- Svjetlana. Serbian pronunciation is SVET-la-nah, and Russian svet-LAH-nah. Pronunciation of Svjetlana is SVYET-la-nah.
1
1
Svetlana is really interesting and beautiful, and the meaning's also interesting-- light.
8
8
Svetlana Nazarova is a key character of Sergei Lukyanenko's novels: Night Watch, Day Watch, Twilight Watch and Final Watch.
1
1
Svetlana Savitskaya, the second Soviet woman-astronaut. In Saint-Petersburg (Russia) there is the big factory named Svetlana.
2
2
Ukrainian form is Svitlana. [noted -ed]
3
3
'Svet' in Serbian means 'world' but 'svetlo' means light in Serbian and 'sveto' means 'holy'. Similarly 'mir' in Serbian means 'peace' but its obsolete meaning is 'world'. In Russian for example 'mir' still means 'world' or 'planet'.
1
1
Nickname: Lana.
4
4
The most common nickname to Svetlana, is Sveta. Or Svetik. I don't know any Svetlanas with Svety as a nickname. My name is Svetlana but everyone I know calls me Sveta.
4
4
Please correct your entry:
Derived from Slavic svet meaning "light".
To read:
Derived from Slavic svetlo, or svetla, meaning "light".
PS: svet means "world" in some Slavic languages (Serbian).
5
Derived from Slavic svet meaning "light".
To read:
Derived from Slavic svetlo, or svetla, meaning "light".
PS: svet means "world" in some Slavic languages (Serbian).
5
Svetlana Zakharova, born in 1979, principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow.
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova, born in 1985, Russian professional tennis player.
Svetlana Boguinskaia, born in 1973, World and Olympic champion gymnast.
Svetlana Khorkina, born in 1979, World and European Champion gymnast.
Svetlana Stević, singer of Serbian traditional music .
2
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova, born in 1985, Russian professional tennis player.
Svetlana Boguinskaia, born in 1973, World and Olympic champion gymnast.
Svetlana Khorkina, born in 1979, World and European Champion gymnast.
Svetlana Stević, singer of Serbian traditional music .
2
Slovak pronunciation is "SVEHT-LAH-nah".
2
2
Also a feminine name in Slovenia.
4
4
A famous bearer is Czech actress Světlana Nálepková. She was born 2nd July 1960 Praha, Czechia.
2
2
Pronounced as "Sviet-lah-nah". Světlana´s pet forms are Světla, Svetty, Světka, Lana.
1
1
The origin of this name's Slavic! I read this in babynames. I love this name!
2
2
Svetlana's a really beautiful name, it's also my friend's name, she's Russian and Greek. It fits her perfect, she's funny, beautiful, nice, I would middle name my daughter this when I have her (in like 15 years!)
3
3
Josef Stalin's youngest child and only daughter, Svetlana Stalina, who defected to the United States in 1967. She now lives in a retirement home in Minnesota. I have always thought this name was very seductive and glamorous.
5
5
This is my name! I love it! All Svetlanas are cute! =)
4
4
"Svet" means "world" in Russian, and the meaning of "light" comes from the Bulgarian word "svetlina".
1
1
Other pet forms of Svetlana are Svetla or Svetle.
2
2
Svetlana from The Real World Key West is a famous bearer.
1
1
This is a VERY popular name in Russia - like the equivilant to Brittany here in America. A pet form is Svety. It isn't so well-thought of in most other places because people think it sounds harsh, and Svety reminds them of Sweaty. I LOVE it though! It's so pretty! :D.
3
3
Svetlana Khorkina was a famous Russian gymnast. She was very graceful and beautiful to watch.
2
2
The correct pronunciation of Svetlana is svet-LAH-nah.
5
5
Svet means "world". It is derived from "svetlo" meaning "light".
3
3
I never heard of any "svet-" meaning world, what is the origin of that?
My mother's name is Svetlana and svet means light in Russian. In English, she commonly uses "Lana."
3
My mother's name is Svetlana and svet means light in Russian. In English, she commonly uses "Lana."
3
"Svet" is Serbian word meaning "World". This is from Wikipedia: Boris Rybakov argued for identification of the faces with the gods Perun, Svarog, Lada and Mokosh (c.f. Zbruch idol). Joined together, they see all four sides of the world. This gave rise to a false etymology of the name of the god as "worldseer" (svet = "world", vid = "sight"; Svetovid = "worldseer").
2
2
The Ukrainian version of this name is Svitlana, with the same meaning as Svetlana.
3
3
Very beautiful name! Means LIGHT!
9
9
Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy.