Avdey (Russian: Авде́й) is an uncommon[1] Russian male first name.[2] The Russian language borrowed the name from Byzantine Christianity in the form of Avdiy (А́вдий or Авди́й[3]), but in the colloquial usage it transformed into "Avdey".[1] "Avdiy" continued to be a form used by the Russian Orthodox Church, having replaced an earlier form Audiy (Ауди́й).[3] The name derives either from the Biblical Hebrew obadyā (abdiyāhu), meaning god's slave, god's servant, or from Greek audēis, meaning sonorous, melodious—from the Biblical prophet Obadiah.[2]
The diminutives of "Avdey" include Ava (А́ва) and Deya (Де́я),[2] as well as Avdeyka (Авде́йка), Avdya (А́вдя), Avda (А́вда), Avdyukha (Авдю́ха), Avdyusha (Авдю́ша), Avdasha (Авда́ша), Avdyunya (Авдю́ня), Avdusya (Авду́ся), Avdyusya (Авдю́ся), and Adya (А́дя).[4]
The patronymics derived from "Avdey" are "Авде́евич" (Avdeyevich; masculine) and its colloquial form "Авде́ич" (Avdeich), and "Авде́евна" (Avdeyevna; feminine).[4]
Last names Avdonin, Avdokhin, Avdoshin, Avdyunin, and Avdyushin all derive from this first name.[5]