Nikolayevich

Nikolayevich is a Russian masculine patronymic derived from the given name Nikolai (Nicholas). In traditional Slavic naming, the patronymic indicates lineage, meaning "son of Nikolai," and it serves as a middle name in formal contexts.

Etymology and variants: It is formed by adding the patronymic suffix -evich to Nikolai. Transliteration varies, yielding forms such as Nikolayevich, Nikolayevych, Nikolajevich, or Nikolayevitch. The feminine form used by daughters is Nikolayevna.

Usage: In Russia and much of the former Russian Empire, a person's full name consists of given name, patronymic, and surname. The patronymic is used in formal address and official documents, and it reflects the father's name at the time of the person's birth. It is not a surname and is not passed down as a family name.

Cross-cultural forms: Ukrainian, Belarusian, and other Slavic languages render the patronymic with local spellings, such as Mykolayovych or Nikolayevych, while preserving the same meaning.

Notable notes: The existence of a Nikolayevich in a name indicates that the person's father was named Nikolai. The term itself is not a standalone given name in standard usage, but may appear as part of longer names in historical records.