Ukrainian names — pronunciation, meaning, origin

Ihor — Pronunciation, Meaning & Origin

Male Ukrainian name (Ігор)

Pronunciation

Pronunciation card for Ihor
/ˈi.ɦor/ · EE-hor
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Meaning

Ihor (Ukrainian: Ігор) is a male name of Scandinavian origin, traditionally interpreted as «warrior of Yngvi» (an Old Norse god of fertility and prosperity) or simply «warrior, one protected by the god».

Origin & History

The name derives from Old Norse Ingvarr, composed of the theonym Yngvi (one of the names of the god Freyr, patron of peace and harvest) and arr / herr («warrior, guardian»). It was brought to Rus by the Varangians as early as the 10th century. Among its most famous bearers are Kyivan Prince Ihor Rurikovych (c. 878–945) and later Ihor Svyatoslavych, the hero of «The Tale of Ihor's Campaign» (12th century) — a foundational text of Ukrainian and East Slavic literature. Thanks to its literary tradition and historical glory, Ihor is firmly rooted in the Ukrainian onomastic tradition.

Etymology & Roots

From Old Norse Ingvarr: Yngvi (theonym, name of the god Yngvi / Freyr) + arr / herr («warrior, guardian»).

International equivalents

Equivalents in other languages: Igor (Russian, Italian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, English, Portuguese), Ihar (Belarusian), Igors (Latvian), Ingvar / Yngvar (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic), Helge (Scandinavian).

Diminutives and short forms

Ігорюсик, Ігоряша, Ігоруша, Ігошенька, Гогочка.

Declension (Ukrainian)

NominativeІгор
GenitiveІгоря
DativeІгореві
AccusativeІгоря
InstrumentalІгорем
LocativeІгореві
VocativeІгоре

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