Daniil

Meaning of Daniil

As a masculine given name with roots in Eastern Orthodox tradition, Daniil (Russian: /dʊˈniːl/ duh-NEEL; Ukrainian: /dʊˈnɪl/ duh-NYIL) originates as a Cyrillic transliteration of the Hebrew Daniel—“God is my judge”—and functions as both a marker of Slavic heritage and a testament to enduring biblical nomenclature. Its formal adoption in ecclesiastical registers and secular records alike underscores a dual heritage: the ascetic devotion exemplified by St. Daniil the Stylite of Kiev and the modern intellectual contributions of figures such as the avant-garde writer Daniil Kharms and the chess grandmaster Daniil Dubov. The preserved phonetic correspondence between the Cyrillic spelling and its Latin-script representation ensures an accurate transmission of cultural and linguistic identity, while its gradual integration into Anglo-American naming conventions reflects broader diasporic dynamics and affirms the name’s capacity to convey both historical depth and contemporary relevance.