Non-Canonical Names of the White Clergy in the History of the Russian Language

This study analyzes non-calendar and hypocoristic Christian names within the Russian white clergy. It identifies two active periods of name formation using Slavic hypocoristic suffixes: the 11th – 14th centuries (peaking in the 12th) and the 16th – 17th centuries.

The first period is tied to the general adoption of Christian names, where diminutive forms acted as an intermediate stage. While the clergy's naming practices showed some similarity to secular ones, key differences existed: usage among priests was less frequent and more irregular. Furthermore, these hypocoristics (e.g., Petrilo, Ivanko) correlated with a priest's low socio-legal status and carried a pejorative connotation.

The second period is linked to the development of official document styles. In the 16th – 17th centuries, the regular use of diminutives with the suffix -ishche (e. g., Ivanishche, Petrishche) became established in petitions (as a sign of self-deprecation) and in formal records where priests witnessed transactions, highlighting their auxiliary role. Nicknames also began to serve a similar pragmatic function.

The study refines the history of Russian anthroponymy, tracing the development of pejorative meanings in diminutive suffixes and clearly defining the specific social and stylistic contexts of their use for the white clergy.