Meaning & History
Avgust is the Slovene and Russian form of Augustus, a Latin name meaning "exalted, venerable" from the verb augeo ("to increase"). The original name was a title bestowed upon the first Roman emperor, Augustus (born Octavian), in 26 BC, and later served as a title for successive emperors.
Etymology and Historical Context
In Russian, Avgust (А́вгуст or Авгу́ст) is a male given name whose feminine forms include Avgusta and Avgustina. The Latin root augustus derives from augur, a priest who interpreted divine will by observing bird flight. The Russian name includes diminutives such as Ava (А́ва), Gutya (Гу́тя), Gusta (Гу́ста), and Gustya (Гу́стя).
Historically, Avgust appeared in various handwritten church calendars during the 17th–19th centuries but was excluded from the official Synodal Menologium of the Russian Orthodox Church at the end of the 19th century. Later, during the Soviet period (1924–1930), Avgust was included in newly created Soviet calendars that promoted revolutionary names and a break from ecclesiastical naming traditions.
Related Names and Variants
Related names include the feminine form Avgusta, used in Russian, and a host of cognates in other languages: Augustus (Dutch), August (Swedish), Gust (Dutch), Guus (Dutch), Augie (English), and Gus 1 (English). The name is also historically associated with three kings of Poland, called August in Polish, after the title Augustus.
In Slovene, Avgust is the direct form of Augustus, used both as a given name and, historically, as a noble title.
- Meaning: Exalted, venerable (from Latin augustus)
- Origin: Latin, via Russian and Slovene
- Type: Given name (masculine)
- Usage Regions: Russia, Slovenia, and other Slavic-influenced areas
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Avgust