Vodnoye

Vodnoye is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia and some other post-Soviet states. The toponym is derived from the Russian word voda meaning “water” and the suffix -noye, signifying a relation to water, often indicating proximity to a body of water or damp ground.

In Russia, there are multiple rural settlements named Vodnoye, appearing in different federal subjects. These places are typically small, with populations ranging from dozens to a few hundred residents, and are commonly classified as villages (selo) or settlements within a district or rural municipality. Their economies usually rely on agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, or seasonal resource use, depending on local geography.

In some cases, Vodnoye names in neighboring countries reflect shared linguistic roots of Russian and local languages, and may refer to historical villages that have undergone administrative changes, renaming, or amalgamation.

Because Vodnoye is not a unique location, precise identification requires specifying the region and country. A standard reference includes the federal subject, district, and sometimes the municipal formation.

Etymology and distribution notes: The multiplicity of Vodnoye localities illustrates a common practice of using geographic descriptors in toponymy in the region.