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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Russian names

63 replies

Muira · 18/12/2010 17:45

We have family connections to Russia and, although we live in the UK, hope to give future DC a Russian name. Something easily pronounced in both countries would be great. We are stuck on boys names, really. Just TTC and playing with ideas, not actually pregnant. So far we've thought of:

Girls
Anastasia
Nadejda
Tatiana

Boys
Pavel
Alexei

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anonymosity · 20/12/2010 03:26

I like Natalyia and Anastasia, Alexi and Alexa, Sascha (for either). Ivan is a great name but I cannot help think of Ivan the terrible (the original one and the nazi one).

PracticallyImperfectInEveryWay · 20/12/2010 01:22

I love Anya! I would love to have used it but unfortunately here in Australia I fear it would have been pronounced An-ya instead of Ar-nya iyswim.

chivers1977 · 19/12/2010 23:31

my middle name is swetlana with the pronounciation svetlana!

Original poster
Muira · 19/12/2010 23:24

These are amazing! I want to have many, many DCs and use all the names. Keep 'em coming!

OP posts:
Ghostcat · 19/12/2010 23:14

Pasha for a boy!

mathanxiety · 19/12/2010 23:14

Valentina
Florentina
Sofia
Tamara
Ksenia

Anatoly
Stanislav
Roman
Vitaly
Konstantin
Ignat(y)
Lev
Leonid
Marat
And I love Vladimir

Ghostcat · 19/12/2010 23:08

I love Alexander but I would say as it is dh's name. Dh works with a few Russians and one of them is Sergey which I like the sound of.

Ghostcat · 19/12/2010 23:02

Dd1 go's to school with an Arkady which I love.

sooz28 · 19/12/2010 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

plupervert · 19/12/2010 21:39

Oh, yes, indiechick, Kiril/Kirill is lovely. Soooo much better than the English variant, which is Cyril.

CupcakesHay · 19/12/2010 21:17

I was in moscow for a bit, and I hate the name Pavel (sorry knew a couple of horrid ones!). but love Ivan and Maxim, and Artem. I like Katya and Tatianya - which can be shortened to Tanya. I also love Alexander (nn Sascha). And Alla's pretty too.

Oblomov · 19/12/2010 20:29

Am loving all the suggestions.

DanZZZenAroundTheTreeAgain · 19/12/2010 20:20

Larisa and Maxim

BikeRunSki · 19/12/2010 20:18

Tanya

Avocadoes · 19/12/2010 20:15

Nina?

indiechick · 19/12/2010 20:12

Kiril - fav name ever.

darleneconnor · 19/12/2010 13:37

what about natalia?

anushka
katya
anya
elena
kira
lara

oh I love Russian girls names, cant think of any boys ones #I like, though

Original poster
Muira · 19/12/2010 00:39

plu, you're right about over-use of Natasha and 'Tash' makes my teeth itch.

Kolya is lovely!

You guys are great at this.

OP posts:
plupervert · 18/12/2010 23:32

Don't use Natasha. It's been over-used in Russia, and as a result of that, it's become shorthand (among some people) for "Russian girls" (of the easy/ gold-digging variety). Of course the people who are doing this are unpleasant, but best not to attract the attention of the unpleasant ones.

Zinaida is lovely, and I adore "Irina" and "Daria/Darya".

As for boys, there's always:

Roman (first syllable scarcely pronounced, and second syllable more stressed than in the English term "Roman")

Vitaly

Dmitri

and others I can;t bring to mind at the moment, but what fun to experiment with names across cultures! Hope you are enjoying this stage.

PressureDrop · 18/12/2010 23:15

I know a guy called Nikolai, nn Kolya. Love that name.

GetOrfMoiLand · 18/12/2010 23:03

OOh Zinaida is a lovely name also.

I also know a Zaphia, though that is Polish I believe.

I used to work with a Nadege (russian-french version of the name I was told)

Original poster
Muira · 18/12/2010 22:04

Ooh Zinaida is really beautiful, thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Muira · 18/12/2010 22:03

Thank you guys so much, this stage is such dreamy fun!

GetOrf - it is bloody fabulous, isn't it?!

Both DH and I are loving for a girl Nadejda (spelt that way after a friend) and for a boy Ilya.

Keep the suggestions coming, they are ace.

OP posts:
MarianneM · 18/12/2010 20:59

And Zinaida.

GetOrfMoiLand · 18/12/2010 20:57

I bloody love Nadezda.

Ludmilla is also lovely.