Origin and Meaning of Zhivago

Alive or living

Origin: Russian - Derived from the Russian word 'жить' (zhit'), which means 'to live'. The name is famously associated with the literary character Yuri Zhivago from Boris Pasternak's novel.

• Zhivago is best known as the protagonist of Boris Pasternak's novel 'Doctor Zhivago,' which explores themes of love and survival during the Russian Revolution.
• The name gained international recognition through the 1965 film adaptation directed by David Lean, which won five Academy Awards and solidified the name in popular culture.
• Notable bearers of the name include the fictional character Yuri Zhivago, who has become an emblematic figure in literature and film, symbolizing the struggles of the Russian people.
• Despite its cultural significance, Zhivago is relatively rare as a personal name outside of literary contexts, mainly serving as a surname or a reference to the character.
• Variations and related names do not widely exist, but it may be linked to other Slavic names that derive from similar roots related to life, such as 'Vita' in Latin or 'Ziv' in Slavic.