Russian names generally consist of three parts: the first name, the patronymic, and the last name. The patronymic is created by taking the given name of a person’s father and adding a suffix to it. This suffix means “son of” or “daughter of.” The most common masculine suffixes are -ovich or -evich while the most common feminine suffixes are -ovna or -evna. Russians often call each other by their first name and patronymic. For example, in his notes Stanislavsky refers to Chekhov as “Anton Pavlovich,” Irina calls Chebutykin “Ivan Romanich,” and Vershinin calls Masha “Maria Sergeevna.” Using the first name and patronymic is comparable to adding the title Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss/Mx. when addressing someone. When using the masculine patronymic, it's also common to shorten the patronymic by removing the "v" sound. For example, referring to Andrey as "Andrey Sergeeich" instead of "Andrey Sergeevich" or Chebutykin as "Ivan Romanich" instead of "Ivan Romanovich."

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Russians often also address each other using shortened (or lengthened) nicknames to show familiarity. “Natasha” and “Masha” are nicknames for Natalya and Maria. Irina calls Olga “Olya,” the sisters call Andrey “Andryusha,” and Anfisa calls Masha “Mashenka” and Irina “Irinushka.” While professing his love to Irina, Solyony calls her “Irinushka,” trying to emphasize the familiarity and intimacy he believes they share.

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The way you address someone is hugely important in Russian culture, especially because there are so many options. Names can help showcase the relationships between people. For example, both Anfisa and Solyony call Irina “Irinushka;” however, the word is received differently because Anfisa has been a motherly figure to Irina, whereas Solyony uses it almost aggressively. In that scene, Irina responds to Solyony’s advances by addressing him as “Vassili Vassilievich,” using the more formal form to politely emphasize that they don’t have a close relationship.

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Андрей Сергеевич Прозоров

Andrey Sergeevich Prozorov

ahn-drEI ser-gEI-eh-vich prO-zor-ov

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Наталья Ивановна - Наташа

Natalya Ivanovna - Natasha

na-tAHl-ya ih-vAHn-ov-nuh - nah-tAH-shuh

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Ольга Сергеевна

Olga Sergeevna

ohl-guh sair-gEI-ehv-na

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Маша Сергеевна

Masha Sergeevna

mah-shuh sair-gEI-ehv-na

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Ирина Сергеевна

Irina Sergeevna

ih-rEE-nuh sair-gEI-ehv-na

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Фёдор Ильич Кулыгин

Fyodor Ilyich Kulygin

fYO-door ihl-y'IHch kul-EE-gin

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Александр Игнатьевич Вершинин

Alexander Ignateyevich Vershinin

ah-leck-sAHn-der ig-nAH-tey-eh-vich ver-shEE-nin

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Николай Львович Тузенбах

Nikolai Lvovich Tuzenbach

nih-koh-lAI lh-vOH-vich too-zen-bAHk

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Василий Васильевич Солёный

Vassili Vassilievich Solyony

vah-sIH-lee vah-sIH-lee-ay-vich sol-YO-nee

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Иван Романович Чебутыкин

Ivan Romanovich Chebutykin

ih-vAHn roh-mAHn-uh-vich cheh-boo-tEE-kin

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Федотик

Fedotik

feh-dOH-tik​

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Родэ

Rode

roh-dEH​

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Ферапонт Спиридонович

Ferapont Spiridonovich

f​ai-ruh-pAHnt spee-ri-dAHn-uh-vich

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Анфиса

Anfisa

an-fEE-sa​

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