The article deals with the hydronyms of the Kalmyk origin functioning on the territory of the South of Russia (Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov regions and Stavropol Krai), regions bordering with the Republic of Kalmykia. The authors carry out the lexical, semantic and derivational analysis of the Kalmyk names of water bodies (lakes, rivers and ravines), which are caused by settlement and development of the Kalmyk steppe of the Ural-Volga interfluve.

The article aims to study the sacred meaning of the Kalmyk toponyms with the component “arshan”, “tsagan” and “khar” in the linguoculturological aspect. It is stated that toponyms in the linguistic thinking of the Kalmyk are used in direct and indirect meanings.

There is described the influence of migration processes of the XIX century on the toponymy of the Kalmyk Republic and the South of Russia. There is carried out the lexical and semantic, quantitative analysis of the serial names of the Russian origins that reflect the positive features of the surroundings.