Entry № 0340 · Russian, Greek origin

Polina Polina — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ pol-LEE-nah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Russian, Greek
Meaning
"Small; sun"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Medieval (Russian)

A name that means "small; sun".

Polina is the Russian form of Paulina — from the Latin paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." Some scholars also link it to the Greek Apollonia, derived from the sun god Apollo — making it potentially "belonging to Apollo, the sun."

Polina is one of the most popular girl's names in Russia, Ukraine, and across Eastern Europe. It is rising in Western records as families bring it forward.

Small in Latin. Sun in Greek. A Russian classic.

The name in its native script.

Полина
Transliteration
Polina
Pronunciation
/ pɐˈliː.nə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Polina stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Polina · last year
287 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Polinas before her.

Real people
Polina Edmunds
American figure skater.
born 1998
Polina Gagarina
Russian singer.
born 1987
In fiction
Polina
Common contemporary character name.

Names connected to Polina.

The number behind Polina.

9

The Humanitarian

Polina reduces to nine — the number of gentle humility.

Why families chose this name.

"My mother is Pauline. Polina was how we honoured her while staying Russian."
Anya · Mother of one · St Petersburg