Circassian Name Generator
Adyghe, Kabardian and Cherkess names from the Caucasus
Circassian given names, family names and full names from the North-West Caucasus and the diaspora: Astemir, Inal and Setenay, clan names like Natkho and Berzeg, Russian-style surnames like Shogenov and Kardanov, and Nart saga heroes such as Sosruko and Adiyukh.
About Circassian names
The Circassians call themselves Adyghe. In Russia they live mainly in three republics of the North-West Caucasus, as Adyghe in Adygea, Kabardians in Kabardino-Balkaria and Cherkess in Karachay-Cherkessia. After the Russo-Circassian War ended in 1864 most of the population was displaced to the Ottoman Empire, which is why the largest communities live in Turkey today, with smaller ones in Jordan, Syria and Israel.
Given names draw on three stocks: native names such as Nart, Gupse and Goshnag, Turkic and Arabic names in local forms such as Aslanbek, Dzhambulat and Fatimet, and names that spread in the Soviet years. Men's names often end in -biy or -bi (Nurbiy, Khasanbi), and many western women's names end in -et (Mariet, Zuriet, Nafset). The Nart sagas, with heroes such as Sosruko and Badinoko and the matriarch Satanay-Guasha, gave the everyday names Nart and Setenay.
Every family belongs to a clan, and the clan name is the surname. Russian record keeping added -ov or -ev to most of them, so Kanoko became Kanokov, while many families of Adygea kept the bare form: Natkho, Khagur, Tlekhas, Shazzo. By custom the clan name is said first. The 500 entries give men's and women's given names, western and eastern family names, full names, Nart names and diaspora spellings.
How to choose Circassian names
- Change a Russian-style surname for a woman and leave a clan-style one alone: the list has Bella Meretukova and Zalina Kardanova, but Setenay Natkho and not Natkhova.
- Match the name to the region. Nurbiy, Askerbiy, Zaurbiy, Fatimet and Asiet are western forms from Adygea, while Khasanbi, Barasbi, Fatimat and Asiyat are the eastern, Kabardian forms.
- For a traditional or historical setting put the clan name first, as Circassians do in their own language, so Tembot Khagur becomes Khagur Tembot.
- In Turkey families took Turkish surnames in the 1930s, so give a character there a Circassian given name such as Yinal, Canset or Nefin with a Turkish surname. In Jordan and Israel the clan name itself is the surname, as in Shurdom, Hakouz and Thawcho.
- Nart names suit fantasy and mythic settings. Sosruko and Pataraz are heroes, Tlepsh is the smith, and Adiyukh and Akuanda are heroines of the sagas.
Frequently asked questions
What are Circassian last names like?
They are clan names, passed down in the male line. In Adygea many keep their old shape, such as Natkho, Berzeg, Khagur, Mamiy, Zhane, Khut and Tuguz. In Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia nearly all carry a Russian ending, as in Shogenov, Kardanov, Keshokov and Kumykov.
Why do so many Circassian surnames end in -ov or -ev?
Imperial and Soviet officials wrote clan names down in the Russian pattern, adding -ov or -ev for men and -ova or -eva for women. The older name is often easy to see underneath: the ending -oko in Kanokov, Bitokov and Tarchokov goes back to the Circassian word for son, the same element that closes the hero names Sosruko and Badinoko. Families that kept the bare clan name, such as Tlekhas or Shazzo, use one form for men and women.
Which names come from the Nart sagas?
The Nart sagas are the heroic tales shared by the peoples of the North Caucasus, and the Circassian versions have their own cast. The list includes Sosruko, Pataraz, Badinoko and its western form Shebatnuko, the matriarch Satanay-Guasha, and the smith Tlepsh. Setenay, the everyday form of Satanay, is a popular girl's name, and Nart itself is given to boys.
Are these the names of real people?
The given names and family names are ones Circassians carry, and the full names, such as Astemir Kardanov, are fresh pairings. No entry is meant to name a particular person, and we tried to avoid the full names of public figures. A pairing can still match a private person by chance, so treat any match as a coincidence.
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All 500 Circassian names
A: 68 names
- Abazov
- Abitov
- Abregov
- Abzakh
- Achmiz
- Adelgeriy
- Adiyukh
- Afaunov
- Agirov
- Aida
- Aidamir
- Akhokhov
- Akuanda
- Albina
- Albina Apsheva
- Aleg
- Alibek
- Alim
- Alim Didanov
- Alkhas
- Alkhas Berbekov
- Altudov
- Amerbiy
- Amerbiy Panesh
- Amina
- Aminat
- Aminet
- Aminet Panesh
- Amir
- Amirkhan
- Amirkhan Unezhev
- Amish
- Andemirkan
- Aniuar
A, continued
- Aniuar Tarchokov
- Anzaur
- Anzaur Beshtoev
- Anzhela
- Anzor
- Apazhev
- Apshev
- Arambiy
- Arambiy Tlyusten
- Arsen
- Ashamez
- Ashinov
- Asiet
- Asiet Khut
- Asiyat
- Asiyat Apazheva
- Askerbiy
- Askerbiy Shazzo
- Aslan
- Aslanbek
- Aslancheriy
- Aslancheriy Bzhasso
- Aslangeriy
- Aslanguash
- Astemir
- Astemir Kardanov
- Atazhukin
- Atmir
- Atmir Bitokov
- Autlev
- Azamat
- Azamat Khachemizov
- Azret
- Azret Shibzukhov
B: 27 names
- Badinoko
- Balkarov
- Barasbi
- Barasbi Bekulov
- Batraz
- Bekmurza
- Bekulov
- Bella
- Bella Meretukova
- Berbekov
- Beretar
- Bersirov
- Berzeg
- Beshtoev
- Beshtokov
- Beslan
- Betal
- Betal Gubzhokov
- Bifov
- Bislan
- Bislan Kuadzhe
- Bitokov
- Blaev
- Blyagoz
- Bogus
- Bolat
- Bzhasso
C: 6 names
- Canset
- Cherim
- Cherim Tlupov
- Chermit
- Chich
- Chuyako
D: 24 names
- Dakhanago
- Dana
- Dana Agirova
- Dariet
- Dariet Achmiz
- Daurov
- Debech
- Diana
- Diana Tarchokova
- Didanov
- Dokshokov
- Dovletbiy
- Dovletbiy Khuade
- Dumanov
- Dyshekov
- Dzamikhov
- Dzhambulat
- Dzhamilya
- Dzhamilya Abitova
- Dzhanet
- Dzhanet Khakunova
- Dzhankhot
- Dzharimov
- Dzhulyetta
E: 10 names
- Elbrus
- Elbrus Khamukov
- Eldar
- Eldar Emkuzhev
- Elmesov
- Elvira
- Elvira Tambieva
- Emizh
- Emkuzhev
- Emma
F: 6 names
- Fatimat
- Fatimat Karmokova
- Fatimet
- Fatimet Tuguz
- Fuza
- Fuza Bekulova
G: 14 names
- Gedgafov
- Gish
- Gissa
- Gissa Mamiy
- Gonezhuk
- Goshaney
- Goshefizh
- Goshnag
- Goshnag Khuade
- Gubzhokov
- Guchetl
- Guchev
- Gupse
- Gupse Berzeg
H: 3 names
- Haghandoqa
- Hakouz
- Hatukai
I: 11 names
- Idar
- Ilona
- Ilona Blaeva
- Inal
- Inal Bersirov
- Indira
- Indira Afaunova
- Islam
- Islam Mafedzev
- Ismel
- Ismel Gonezhuk
J: 2 names
- Janbek
- Janset
K: 80 names
- Kadirbech
- Kadirbech Nekhay
- Kagermazov
- Kalakutok
- Kambiev
- Kanbulat
- Kanokov
- Kantemir
- Kantemir Afaunov
- Kanzh
- Kaplan
- Kaplan Achmiz
- Kardanov
- Karmokov
- Kashezhev
- Kashif
- Kaytukin
- Kazbek
- Kazbek Unarokov
- Kazharov
- Kerashev
- Kerefov
- Kerim
- Kerim Maremukov
- Keshokov
- Khabas
- Khabas Apazhev
- Khachemizov
- Khachim
- Khachim Apshev
- Khadzhet
- Khadzhet Mamiy
- Khadzhimurat
- Khagazheev
- Khagur
- Khaishat
- Khaishat Kodzokova
- Khakuashev
- Khakunov
- Khalimat
K, continued
- Khalimat Akhokhova
- Khamukov
- Khanakhu
- Khanifa
- Khapay
- Kharaev
- Khasan
- Khasanbi
- Khatkov
- Khatokhshoko
- Khatsukov
- Khautiy
- Khazhismel
- Khazret
- Khimish
- Khokonov
- Khuade
- Khuazhev
- Khudimizh
- Khunagov
- Khupsergenov
- Khurma
- Khusen
- Khut
- Kizbech
- Koblev
- Kodzokov
- Kokov
- Kuadzhe
- Kuashev
- Kuchuk
- Kuek
- Kumakhov
- Kumpilov
- Kumykov
- Kunizhev
- Kurgoko
- Kushkhov
- Kushu
- Kutas
L: 6 names
- Lampezhev
- Lashyn
- Laura
- Liana
- Liuan
- Liuan Abazov
M: 42 names
- Madina
- Mafedzev
- Makoev
- Malbakhov
- Malechipkh
- Mamiy
- Maremukov
- Marianna
- Mariet
- Mariet Tlekhas
- Marshenkulov
- Maryana
- Maryana Dyshekova
- Marzhan
- Marzhan Bersirova
- Mashbash
- Masirat
- Masirat Bitokova
- Mazloev
- Medzhid
- Medzhid Sheudzhen
- Meremkulov
- Meretukov
- Meshvez
- Mezitkha
- Milana
- Milana Tlupova
- Misost
- Misostov
- Mos
- Mos Zhane
- Muaed
- Muaed Vorokov
- Mugu
- Mukhadin
- Mukhadin Dyshekov
- Mukhamed
- Mukharbi
- Mulidat
- Mulidat Shovgenova
- Murat
- Murat Zafesov
N: 27 names
- Nafisat
- Nafisat Zafesova
- Nafset
- Nafset Khagur
- Nagoy
- Nakhushev
- Nalbiy
- Nalbiy Chermit
- Nalmes
- Naloev
- Napso
- Naptsok
- Nart
- Nartan
- Nasren-Zhache
- Natho
- Natkho
- Nazir
- Nefin
- Neguch
- Nekhay
- Nogmov
- Nurbiy
- Nurbiy Tlekhas
- Nuriet
- Nuriet Tlyusten
- Nurzhan
O: 1 name
- Oksana
P: 10 names
- Pachev
- Pago
- Panesh
- Pataraz
- Psatha
- Pshigotyzhev
- Pshikan
- Pshimaf
- Pshimaf Tuguz
- Pshizov
Q: 1 name
- Quandour
R: 20 names
- Rabiat
- Rabiat Altudova
- Ramazan
- Ramazan Khakunov
- Rameta
- Rameta Beshtoeva
- Rashid
- Rashid Siyukhov
- Ratmir
- Ratmir Blaev
- Raziet
- Raziet Bzhasso
- Rezuan
- Rezuan Abitov
- Rimma
- Ruslan
- Rustam
- Rustam Shovgenov
- Ruzana
- Ruzana Kumykova
S: 48 names
- Safarbiy
- Safarbiy Altudov
- Safiet
- Safiet Sheudzhen
- Saida
- Saida Unarokova
- Saniyat
- Saniyat Chermit
- Saret
- Saret Nekhay
- Satanay-Guasha
- Seferbiy
- Setenay
- Setenay Natkho
- Seteney
- Shabsogh
- Shamset
- Shamset Gonezhuk
- Shauey
- Shazzo
- Shebatnuko
- Shebzukhov
- Sheudzhen
- Shhaltough
- Shible
- Shibzukhov
- Shidov
- Shkhalakhov
- Shogenov
- Shogentsukov
- Shomakhov
- Shora
- Shortanov
- Shovgenov
- Shumaf
- Shumaf Khut
- Shurdom
- Siyukhov
- Skhalyakho
- Skhatbiy
- Skhatbiy Meretukov
- Sofiat
- Sokhrokov
- Sosruko
- Sovmen
- Sultan
- Susanna
- Susanna Zhane
T: 41 names
- Talostan
- Talostan Akhokhov
- Tamara
- Tambiev
- Tamerlan
- Tamila
- Taov
- Tarchokov
- Tauzhan
- Tauzhan Gubzhokova
- Tembot
- Tembot Khagur
- Temirkan
- Temirkan Khatsukov
- Temirkanov
- Temryuk
- Thagaledj
- Thawcho
- Timbora
- Timur
- Timur Agirov
- Tkhabisimov
- Tkhagalegov
- Tkhagapso
- Tkhakushinov
- Tkhamokov
- Tkharkakhov
- Tkhazaplizhev
- Tlekhas
- Tlekhuray
- Tlepsh
- Tleuzh
- Tlish
- Tlupov
- Tlyachev
- Tlyusten
- Totresh
- Tsipinov
- Tsutsa
- Tuguz
- Tuko
U: 3 names
- Udychak
- Unarokov
- Unezhev
V: 1 name
- Vorokov
W: 3 names
- Wardam
- Warzameg
- Wezyrmes
Y: 7 names
- Yakhtanigov
- Yakhutl
- Yeminezh
- Yimis
- Yinal
- Yunus
- Yunus Lampezhev