toly

Toly is a given-name form most commonly encountered as a diminutive of the male given name Anatoly in Russian and other Slavic-speaking communities. In English-language contexts, Toly is less common and often appears as a transliteration variant or a nickname adopted by speakers of Slavic languages.

The root name Anatoly derives from the Greek Anatolios, meaning "eastern" or "sunrise." Diminutive forms such as Tolya and Tolik are widely used in informal speech; Toly is a less common spelling variant that may appear in transliteration or personal choice.

As with many Russian diminutives, the use of Toly signals informality and affection and is typically used among family or friends. In formal or official writing, Anatoly would be used instead.

Toly should not be confused with the tolyl groups in organic chemistry, which refer to the aryl substituent derived from toluene. The names Tolya and Tolik are closely related diminutives of Anatoly.

See also: Anatoly; Tolya; Tolik.