Nikolaevich

Nikolaevich is a Slavic patronymic used in Russian and Ukrainian naming traditions. It literally means "son of Nikolai" and is formed from the given name Nikolai (Nicholas) plus the patronymic suffix -evich. The form Nikolaevich is common in English-language texts, with variants such as Nikolayevich and Nikolajevich; Ukrainian forms include Mykolayovych, with the feminine form Mykolayivna.

Etymology and forms: The name Nikolai derives from the Greek Nikolaos, and the patronymic suffix -evich signals paternal lineage. In Russian, the feminine equivalent is Nikolayevna. In Ukrainian, patronymics follow a similar pattern, producing forms like Mykolayovych for a son and Mykolayivna for a daughter.

Usage: In Russia and Ukraine, the patronymic is used in formal and respectful address together with the given name (for example, Ivan Nikolayevich). It indicates the father’s name and is distinct from a family surname. While it is primarily a middle name, it is not typically adopted as a surname; however, in some diaspora communities or Western contexts, it may appear as a family surname.

Variations and transliteration: Transliterations vary due to language and orthography, including Nikolaevich, Nikolayevich, and Nikolajevich. Ukrainian forms often render the root as Mykolayovych or Mykolayivna for the feminine.

See also: Nikolaev/Nikolayev, place- and surname-derived usages linked to the given name Nicholas.