Nikolai Vasilyevich Birillo (10.09.1923, v. Skvortsy, Dzerzhinsk district, Minsk region – 01.10.1992), linguist. Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (1977; corresponding member since 1972), Doctor of Philological Sciences (1969), Professor (1971). Honored Scientist of the BSSR (1978). Member of the partisan movement in Belarus during the Great Patriotic War.

The main research works on the Belarusian dialectology, the modern Belarusian literary language and the culture of speech. He created a series of works devoted to the problems of the Belarusian and Slavic onomastics.

Published more than 110 scientific papers, incl. 8 monographs and dictionaries.

State Prize of the USSR in 1971 for participation in the complex of works on Belarusian linguogeography.

Awarded with the Order of the Badge of Honor (1976), medals.

Major papers:

1. Беларуская антрапанiмiя. т.1-3. Мн., 1966-1982.
2. Анамастычныя словаўтваральныя элементы ва ўсходне- i заходнеславянскiх мовах. Мн., 1973 (совм. с В.П. Лемтюговой).
3. Нацiск назоўнiкаў у сучаснай беларускай мове. Мн., 1986.