Albert or Ivan?

[pluto]

This is our absolute shortlist for DC due in mid-Feb so please be sensitive! We would probably shorten Albert to Bertie (or Al as he gets older) for daily use. Ivan has been on our list for a long time - you may have seen a thread I had for this name several months ago now. We would possibly shorten to Van.

I'd love some feedback...Girl's names still not narrowed down enough yet but watch this space.

[Flihgtattendant]

I really approve of both of them, though not too sure about Van...

Good names Pluto!

Have you a middle name? That was decider for me. It had to sound right together.

[audley]

Both are great, Ivan is perhaps more off beat at the mo? So Ivan gets my vote!! Having said that I picture quite different people with these two names so perhaps this is one where you'll have to meet him before deciding. I imagine Ivan to be blonde, slender and clever and witty, Albert to be darker, chunkier, caring and cheerful!!!

[belgo]

Ivan is great, but do not shorten to Van please!

Albert is ok, prefer Alfred.

[SoupDragon]

I prefer Ivan of the 2 but not the shortening Van.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Albert

[MrsJohnCusack]

Ivan is FAB but not Van

[midnightexpress]

I like them both - and I like the shortening to Van (because it reminds me of Van Morrison). Is it to be pronounced EYE-van, or Ih-VAN? I prefer Bert to Bertie.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Ivan the better of the two IMO.

[pluto]

Thanks - our most positive gut reaction has been to Ivan for a long time but then Albert came into the mix recently and I've been a bit undecided. It's interesting that reactions to shortening to Van aren't so positive - my Dad loves Van Morrison so I can see it creeping in

[NorktasticNinja]

Both names are great! I prefer Ivan but I'd not shorten it to Van, surely Ivo would be a more logical shortening?

[blinks]

prefer Evan

[jellybeans]

I prefer just Bertie.

[girlandboy]

Love Albert, but I'm not sure about Ivan. I would worry that when he becomes of school age the old "Ivan the Terrible" might rear it's ugly head.

[bessmum]

Both great, go for Ivan as it is more unusual, and if you've had it in mind for a long time you might regret not using it.

[Thunderduck]

I don't like Albert but I love Ivan.

Why do you have to shorten it?

[ScummyMummy]

Ivan is a good name. I vaguely know a nice adult called Ivan. Agree that Van is not so good. Albert is alright.

[ScummyMummy]

Would have grave reservations about naming an imnnocent baby after Van Morrison! I mean he has some great songs an all but does come across as something of a tosser deluxe as a person, no?

[jeanjeannie]

Oh Ivan is a fab, fab name. That was always on my shortlist - but had two girls! I wouldn't shorten it though....sounds great as it is.

[lisalisa]

Goodness gracious audley - that's almost exactly what i'd pictured too - Ivan has to look nordic and albert is dark. that might be coloured by the fact that I know a dark albert who is an absolute sweetie. Don't like ivan though sorry.

[GrimmaTheNome]

My dear dad was an Albert and he was fair but "chunkier, caring and cheerful" is exactly right

Of course the most famous Albert had wild white hair but was pretty smart by all accounts.

Its a good name.

Ivan I'm afraid is... Terrible.

[TotalChaos]

vanya for short? I think Albert is better because Ivan makes me think of Ivan the Terrible.

[callmemamma]

Albert was my choice before I knew the gender and we have a little girl now.Being even half as smart as the most famous would be quite a bonus
I have a Portuguese friend and he's name is Ivo,sounds much better than Van...Vanya as TotalChaos suggested is short from it in original,Russian.I like both but would still go for Albert i guess...

[pluto]

We haven't really set out to definately choose a name that we could shorten - it's simply that DS has a shortened Scandinavian name (he is known as Gus but he's really Gustaf - which unfortunately a lot of Brits have difficulty pronouncing properly!) I prefer Ivan over Albert but do worry a bit about "the Terrible" creeping in - I am a teacher and know how these tags can fix themselves - a thread I started a while ago asked the very question "Ivan, is this terrible?" Albert is my Swedish great grandfather's name, although neither name is particularly Scandinavian I think they both go quite well with DS1's name. The whole Van thing is something I would prefer to avoid too - I like his music but he's a terrible grump!

Now all we need to do is settle on some middle names and sort out what the child will be called if she's a girl - definitely NOT Ivana !

[Scarfmaker]

Don't like Albert at all - as said about an old-fashioned girls name on this thread - 15 years down the line and a girl bumps into him and asks him his name!

Shortening to Al is even worse!

[Plonker]

I'm really not keen on either. Sorry.