Nikita (Russian: Ники́та [nʲɪˈkʲitə]) is a common name in Eastern Europe and Greece. The Russian variant originated as a Greek name, and subsequently Russian name. The Ukrainian and Belarusian variants are Mykyta (Мики́та [mɪˈkɪtɐ]),^[1] and Mikita (Мікіта [mʲiˈkʲita]), respectively (but Nikita (Нiкíта) 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.

The Indian feminine name Niketā निकेता, Nikitā निकिता is unrelated. It comes from a Sanskrit word nikita निकेत, niketana निकेतन meaning "house, habitation; temple".^[2]

Notable people with the name

Pseudonyms

• Nikita, former ring name of Katarina Waters, British professional wrestler
• Nikita (swimmer) (born 1947), João Reynaldo Costa Lima Neto, Brazilian swimmer

Fictional characters

• Nikita the Tanner, character in East Slavic folklore
• Nikita, the main character in the 1990 action thriller film La Femme Nikita,
  • The main character in the television series La Femme Nikita, adapted from the above film
  • Nikita Mears, the main character in the television series Nikita, adapted from the above film
• Nikita Dragovich, the main antagonist in Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Nikki (the shortened version of Nikita) is the name of the fourth child of the Singh family in Best of Luck Nikki, the Indian adaptation of Disney's American sitcom Good Luck Charlie
• Nikita Reizner, character in the VOCALOID song series Parties are for Losers

See also

• Mykyta
• Mikita
• Nikita (disambiguation)
• Nikkita
• Nichita
• Nechita
• Nikica
• Nicodemus

References