Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Nikita, Mischa or something else?

31 replies

Janoschi · 12/02/2011 00:13

Opinions and ideas welcome! Just can't settle on a name. We've decided we want something either German or Russian (family connections) but that is pronouncable in the UK.

Also, there's a slim chance that our baby girl might end up being a baby boy, so ideas for this scenario are also gratefully received!

Surname is 2 syllables and is obviously German.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Firawla · 14/02/2011 20:05

I like Nikita, didn't realise it was even a boy's name, it makes me think of the series (where nikita is a girl) so definitely sounds female to me, and has a cool sound to it imo

SilkStalkings · 14/02/2011 19:38

Kurt
Lorenz

LOVE Nina!

lilly13 · 14/02/2011 17:29

Nikita and Mikhail/Michael (nickname: Misha) are both male names... How about Andre (without an I/Y at the end), Daniel (Danila), Gabriel (Gavril), Matthew (Matvei, Mattie) or Stephen (Stepan) for a boy?

Girls names:
Lydia
Vera
Sofia
Daria
Xenia
Polina
Ekaterina
Valentina
Larissa
Nina
Tamara

Hedwig3 · 14/02/2011 14:02

I meant 'England' (am not a footie fanatic Blush)

Hedwig3 · 14/02/2011 14:01

Would Mica (with accent under the c) pronounced meesha work for you?

I know a beautiful teenage girl in Engaland with this name.

mathanxiety · 14/02/2011 05:12

I have three extended family members who were always referred to as Moley, Ratty and Toady Smile

MrsDeidreIppy · 13/02/2011 22:56

Love Anya and Lena (sp)

Original poster
Janoschi · 13/02/2011 20:07

Well, I grew up near 3 hippy brothers called Muffin, Mouse and Moley. It was the 70's...!

OP posts:
MrsSchadenfreude · 13/02/2011 20:02

Myschka means "mouse". Why would you call a child "mouse"? Hmm

Original poster
Janoschi · 13/02/2011 19:40

I like Claudio too but I worked with a battleaxe called Claudia while in Germany so I think I'd rather use something else!

Thanks again for the opinions!

OP posts:
LittlePushka · 12/02/2011 23:53

Love Nikita and Mischa for boy and girl. also like Sascha for boy or girl.

Ruthie32 · 12/02/2011 23:39

I really like Beate (be-art-er) or Claudia (pronounced like loud not lord)

What about Florian for a boy?

HeartShapedValium · 12/02/2011 22:38

Mischa like Mischa Barton! That's not a weird name is it??

Nikita I don't like. I knew a man called it.

tammy234 · 12/02/2011 21:10

Nikita sounds more feminine of the two in my opinion and Niki/Kiki are cute nicknames for a little girl.

Mischa, on the other hand, sounds like a nickname for Michael.

Original poster
Janoschi · 12/02/2011 21:05

Thanks for the opinions! No, I know they aren't unisex in their 'proper' countries. Just the UK has a strange issue with boys names ending in A, so they end up a bit unisex over here in my opinion.... oh it's all so difficult naming babies, isn't it? Grin

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 12/02/2011 21:02

Otto
Fabian

alternative boys' names.

I think of Nikita and Mischa as boys' names and would wonder if the parents were unaware of Nikita Khruschev or Russian names in general if I met a girl named either Nikita or Mischa.

Russian and German names tend not to be unisex in either Germany or Russia.

misfitmum · 12/02/2011 14:43

Hi, don't worry about people thinking its weird or a boys name...both those names are on my list, among other similar ones...for girls. I agree they sound very feminine in UK for boys. I know plenty Nikita's and Nakita's in South Africa where I grew up and everybody has heard of Mischa Barton, so no worries there. I also like Mishka and Sashka. Everybody you know will either love or learn to love those names on your child. Why choose a more readily acceptible name just so that 'others' are happy with it...really! If you went with what the majority like, you'd call her Sophie, Isabelle or Chloe - and you'd end up regretting not going with the name you really love. Good Luck!

Original poster
Janoschi · 12/02/2011 13:17

Thanks for this. Yes we know they're both unisex at best! The problem is they sound a bit too feminine to be boys names in the UK, though they are definitely used for boys in Germany and Russia. We kind of thought maybe a girl could carry a traditionally male name better than a boy with a girly name? Ie: Robin, Evelyn etc....?

We just like Nikita, I guess. Niki or Kiki for short....

OP posts:
Wattinger · 12/02/2011 10:22

Lara
Eleni/ Elina
Anastasia
Lydia
Mara
Mira
Anya
Katia

jollyma · 12/02/2011 10:20

My husband wanted Masha for a girl.

diddl · 12/02/2011 10:17

Inge/a?

Sabine/a?

diddl · 12/02/2011 10:14

Mischa is a boy´s name in Germany, & isn´t Nikita a boy´s name in Russia?

Like both-but for boys!

Mascha?

KangarooCaught · 12/02/2011 10:12

If you name her Nikita, get used to that song. Mischa is a boys name, no?

Anja
Natalya (or variants)
Natasha
Sophia/Sofia
Lenora
Tatyana
Xenia Wink

duchesse · 12/02/2011 10:12

"Our" Myshka is pronounced Mish-ka.

Georgimama · 12/02/2011 10:11

Please don't call your child Nikita. Really, really don't.