Nikita (given name)

Nikita (Russian: Никита [nʲɪˈkʲitə]) is a common masculine name in Eastern Europe. The Russian variant originated as a masculine Greek name, and subsequently Russian name. The Ukrainian and Belarusian variants are Mykyta (Микита [mɪˈkɪtɐ]),[1] and Mikita (Мікіта [mʲiˈkʲita]), respectively (but Nikita (Нiкiта) is also in use in both countries). The Romanian variant is Nichita. The name is derived from the Greek Nicetas (Νικήτας, meaning "victor"). The Greek name entered Slavic onomastics by way of the veneration of Saint Nicetas the Goth (died 372) in the Russian Orthodox Church.

Since the later 20th century, the name Nikita has been adopted as a feminine name in some countries such as France. This development was presumably inspired by Elton John's song Nikita (whose music video portrayed a female Russian border guard, presumably the Nikita of the song), and the French film La Femme Nikita.

The Indian feminine name Niketā निकेता, Nikitā निकिता is unrelated. It comes from a Sanskrit word nikita निकेत, niketana निकेतन meaning "house, habitation; temple"