kirill

Kirill is a masculine given name used in Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia, and other Slavic regions. It is the Slavic form of Cyril, derived from the Greek Kyrillos, meaning “lord” or “master.” The name's form and spelling vary by language, with Kirill and Kiril common in Russian and Bulgarian contexts, Cyril in Latin-script usage, and Kyrylo or Kyryll appearing in Ukrainian and related languages.

Historically, the name is associated with Saint Cyril, one of the ninth-century missionaries who helped develop Slavic literacy and whose work gave rise to the Cyrillic script. The linkage to Cyril means the name has long-standing presence in Orthodox Christian communities, where the form Kirill remains common.

Notable people named Kirill include Kirill I of Moscow (born Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev in 1946), the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia since 2009; Kirill Kaprizov (born 1997), a Russian professional ice hockey left winger for the Minnesota Wild; and Kirill Serebrennikov (born 1969), a Russian theater and film director. The name is widely used across Slavic and post-Soviet societies and remains a common choice for boys in those regions.