How to Keep Russian Names Straight in Crime and Punishment

Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment opens in Saint Petersburg with a cast of characters whose names can blur together on first read — especially if you are new to Russian naming conventions. One chapter calls a man Raskolnikov; the next adds Rodion Romanovitch; his mother writes as Pulcheria Alexandrovna; and a detective goes by Porfiry Petrovitch.

This guide explains how those names connect, introduces the main figures you will meet early, and stays spoiler-free about what happens later in the novel. For chapter-by-chapter analysis, portraits, and relationship maps, see the full Crime and Punishment character guide on CharacterViz.

How Russian names work in this novel

Russian characters typically carry three parts:

Given name — what friends use (Rodion, Sofya, Dmitri)
Patronymic — derived from the father's name, often ending in -ovich or -ovna (Romanovitch = "son of Roman"; Alexandrovna = "daughter of Alexander")
Family name (surname) — shared by relatives (Raskolnikov, Raskolnikova for women)

Translators also vary spellings. You may see Razumihin or Razumikhin, Dounia or Dunya, Sonia or Sonya — same people, different editions.

When a character is addressed formally, all three parts appear: Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov. In conversation, only the given name or surname may be used. Keeping track of who shares a surname is often the fastest way to orient yourself.

Rodion Raskolnikov

The novel's central figure — a former law student living in poverty, withdrawn and restless, consumed by ideas that set him apart from ordinary life. Most of the story stays close to his perspective.

You will see him called Raskolnikov, Rodion, or Rodion Romanovitch depending on who is speaking and how formal the moment is.

Explore: Rodion Raskolnikov on CharacterViz

Dounia (Avdotya) Raskolnikova

Raskolnikov's younger sister — strong-willed, practical, and devoted to her family despite their hardship. Her full name is Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova; almost everyone calls her Dounia (or Dunya).

The shared surname Raskolnikova marks her as Rodion's sister. Watch for scenes where her name appears alongside Pulcheria Alexandrovna — that is usually the mother-and-daughter pair arriving from the provinces.

Explore: Dounia Raskolnikova on CharacterViz

Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikova

Rodion and Dounia's mother — gentle, anxious, and deeply faithful. Her patronymic Alexandrovna tells you she is "daughter of Alexander," not a separate family line.

Letters from Pulcheria Alexandrovna are among the first emotional anchors in the book. When you see that full three-part name, think: the mother.

Explore: Pulcheria Alexandrovna on CharacterViz

Razumihin (Dmitri Prokofitch)

Raskolnikov's loyal university friend — warm, energetic, and often disheveled, a sharp contrast to Rodion's cold isolation. His given name is Dmitri; Prokofitch is his patronymic ("son of Prokofiy").

Unlike the Raskolnikov family, Razumihin uses a different surname entirely, which makes him easy to spot in crowded scenes.

Explore: Razumihin on CharacterViz

Sonia (Sofya Semyonovna)

A young woman from a desperately poor family who supports those around her with quiet moral strength. Her formal name is Sofya Semyonovna; most characters shorten it to Sonia or Sonya.

Semyonovna means "daughter of Semyon" — a different family from the Raskolnikovs. Her surname is often omitted in dialogue, so Sonia alone is enough to identify her.

Explore: Sonia on CharacterViz

Porfiry Petrovitch

The investigating official whose manner seems casual but whose questions cut deep. Petrovitch is his patronymic, not his last name — a common source of confusion for first-time readers who assume it is a surname.

Do not mix him up with Ilya Petrovitch, a different police official with a harsher temperament. Same patronymic pattern, different given name, very different role.

Explore: Porfiry Petrovitch on CharacterViz

A quick reference: who shares what

| Name pattern | Who it usually means |

|---|---|

| Raskolnikov / Raskolnikova | Rodion (brother) or Dounia (sister) |

| Alexandrovna | Pulcheria (the mother) — "daughter of Alexander" |

| Romanovitch / Romanovna | Patronymic shared by all three Raskolnikovs — "son/daughter of Roman" |

| Razumihin | Dmitri, the loyal friend — separate family |

| Sonia / Sofya Semyonovna | The Marmeladov daughter — look for "Sonia" alone |

| Petrovitch (as middle name) | Patronymic for Porfiry or Ilya — check the first name |

How to read without spoilers

Crime and Punishment moves through feverish inner monologue, shifting alliances, and a police investigation that tightens chapter by chapter. CharacterViz gates every bio, chapter analysis, and relationship detail to your bookmark, so you only see what you have actually read.

Start here: Crime and Punishment on CharacterViz — set your bookmark to Part I, Chapter 1 and explore characters as you go.

CharacterViz is a spoiler-safe reading companion. Analysis for this title is grounded in the Constance Garnett public-domain translation.