In Russian is it more appropriate to refer to someone by their full name?

Question

I've been watching a television show with scenes in Russian and I notice that several of the characters keep calling each other by their full names (first name and middle or surname), where in English they would've just used first names, title, or salutation + surname.

Here is an example from Season 2 Episode 7 (while practicing beating a polygraph):

Igor: Do you live and work at the Soviet embassy?

Nina: Yes.

Igor: Do you trust me Nina Sergeevna?

Nina: No.

Next episode, the Russian Rezident (Ambassador) is speaking to his 3rd in command on stealing Stealth bomber plans:

Arkady: And how do we know if it will fall out of the sky?

Igor: I don't think we will know, Arkady Ivanovich.

Is this an accurate reflection of how names are commonly used in Russian?

Update: I believe they are using the first name and middle name, not first name and last name

Answer 1

Referring for someone close by a last name is something that happens quite often - especially if these are romantic relations (but not necessarily).

For instance, wife can tell her husband: "Что-то ты, Будников, юлишь". A boy can tell a girl: "Клинкова, а пойдём в кино вечером".

From your question though it seems not to be the case, using first name plus last name in a casual speech sounds unnatural, so @notChosen is not wrong.

Nobody says: "Иван Никифоров, приходи ко мне на день рождения". Also, no offense but American TV series is the last source I'd recommend as a Russian-learning resource.

UPD: OK, now when exact excerpts are provided it's obvious that it's not about surname but rather than about using first name + patronymic.

Then answer is actually yes, it's an okay usage. This is quite common way to politely refer to somebody.

Answer 2

There are number of ways of addressing people, and they are all appropriate in different situations.

1. FIRST NAME only - "Иван, подойди сюда" - not formal, very common form of address between people with some familiarity - relatives, friends, colleagues. Does not imply respect or disrespect;
2. LAST NAME only - "Иванов, подойди сюда" - more formal, common form of address in larger groups (class, military unit, etc.). Implies formality and NO particular respect. To imply respect, one has to use rank/position with the last name ("Капитан Иванов", "Токарь Петров"). There are also niche uses - for example between kids in a class, or sometimes even between spouses. In those niches, Last Name Only form is informal and respect-neutral;
3. LAST NAME + FIRST NAME - "Сидоров Иван, ваша очередь" - Very formal, traditional. This is not like people are usually addressed, but this is how names typically appear in lists. Does not imply respect or disrespect;
4. FIRST NAME + LAST NAME - "Иван Сидоров, подойдите сюда" - formal, but not very formal. This is how people usually present themselves. Often used in larger groups when first name is not sufficient and last name has to be added to it;
5. FIRST NAME + PATRONYMIC - "Иван Иванович, подойдите сюда" - very traditional, not formal, implies respect. Common to address older people, or people with seniority (supervisor, teacher). This form is virtually never used between younger people. It is usually happens that the younger speaker would address older one as "FN + P", but the older one would call the younger one by the first name only;
6. FIRST NAME + PATRONYMIC + LAST NAME - "Иван Иванович Сидоров, ваша очередь" - traditional, respectful, even somewhat ceremonial. People would not call each other like that in a dialogue, but when speaking about a lesser known third person, would use this form;
7. LAST NAME + FIRST NAME + PATRONYMIC - "Сидоров Иван Иванович, ваша очередь" - less used variation of #6 (FN + P + LN). Typical for official use, in lists and documents, this form of address is never used in common conversation;
8. DIMINUTIVE FIRST NAME - "Ваня, подойди сюда" - typical form of address for children, relatives and close friends. Never used in official language (unless diminutive form is the legal name), and if used outside the appropriate range of use (to address a lesser known colleague, for example), can be considered offensive. Autocratic bosses may have a tendency to call their subordinates by DFN;
9. PATRONYMIC only - "Иваныч, подойди сюда" - informal, familiar, appropriate form for older people to address each other, but only well-known ones and not close relatives. Never used officially. Also it is important to notice that in this case shortened patronymics are used: "Иваныч", not "Иванович".

Answer 3

No, it's not. The most common way to call each other in Russian is by name only. If person is older and/or you want to (have to) be polite (with your teacher, your boss, customer), you must use their name + middle name (father's name). But it's not necessary if other person is okay with name only.

And about show. It's hard to say why they're using full names, it depends on the situation.

Answer 4

Like it was answered above, if the person is older or you want to be polite you should use Name + Middle Name. In common cases we use just Name. But it's really noticed many times that in non-russian TV shows or movies etc there is Name + Family Name (i.e. full name) used for so called russian characters what does sound really strange to native russian speakers :)

Answer 5

По имени (Пётр) и отчеству (Иванович) мы обращаемся к более старшим по возрасту, должности, к малознакомым людям. Это можно наблюдать в образовательных учреждениях, при обращении ученика к учителю. По полному имени (Пётр) обращаются к человеку крайне редко, приоритетнее по имени и отчеству (Пётр Иванович). По краткому имени (Петя) мы обращаемся к родным (но маму, папу и бабушку называем мамой, папой и бабушкой, а не по имени), к близким, друзьям, младшим по возрасту.

Answer 6

Most Russians address their friends by using only first names (Dmitriy, Ivan), but in their short forms (Dima, Vanya respectively). When calling their name, a special form equal to the plural genitive form is frequently used as "vocative case" (Дим, Вань). It is never appropriate to use this form in official documents or when addressing someone who you don't know very well.

If addressing someone officially, you should use the full form of the first name plus patronymic (Vasiliy Ivanovich), and it is very official as of now.

A less official way is to address someone by only the full form of the first name (Dmitriy, Vasiliy, Ivan). This can be used, for example, when calling your insurance company, or when talking to your colleague that you don't know well.

Quite an archaic way to address someone is to just call their last name (Serov, Vertinskiy), but it is not actively used right now. Normally it is impolite to call someone by their last name, it cannot be used with someone of higher position than you.

Same can be done with just the patronymic: "*А я ему и говорю ― совсем ты, Иваныч, спятил, сбрендил на старости лет, ― сказала Светка, вытаскивая из пачки длинную тонкую сигарету*". Анна Сапегина, «Галатея», 2012 г. It is very informal.

All of the forms can actually be used in jest by friends: someone I know for 25 years can suddenly address me as "Dmitriy Vladimirovich", but it does not make this a usual way to address friends.