Angels and mermaids come to Siberian region

Religion, legend and fantasy were driving forces behind some of the names given to babies born in the southern Siberian region last year. The most popular names of 2013 were Daria, Viktoria and Anastasia for girls, with Artyom, Alexander and Ivan for boys, the civil registry office in Kemerovo.

No surprise so far. But one girl was named Germiona, evidently in honour of Hermione Granger, the character from the Harry Potter series.

There was also a boy called Angel, while another name to emerge was Rusalka - or Mermaid.

'Other names unusual for Russia included Minuta - or Minute, Yevangeliya (from 'Yevangeliye' or gospel), mythology-inspired Aristarkh, and Vladlen - a once-popular portmanteau formulation from the names of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin,' reported RIA Novosti.