Novikova is the feminine form of the Russian surname Novikov, derived from the Russian word новать. The root meaning points to новый (novy), meaning "new," a name historically given to a newcomer to a village. As one of the most common Russian surnames, Novikov has a rich history tied to a class of young nobles or warriors called "noviki"—teenagers from noble, boyar, or Cossack families who began military service in 16th-18th century Russia. This origin distinctively marks the surname as indicative of a military or adolescent status, and by extension a family's historical connection to the service class.