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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boris?

57 replies

EssentialHummus · 06/01/2017 19:08

I want a Russian-ish name, but most seem really over-used (Ivan, Alexei, Sergey...).

I love the name Boris but will everyone hear it and think "... Johnson"? I wouldn't have minded pre-Brexit

If his father is anything to go by, he'll be blonde, loud and talkative Hmm

DH is Russian, I'm Jewish. Something that reflects both cultures would be great, but there are few cross-over names. Boris is a solid "Jewish intelligentsia" name in Russia (I'm told), plus I think it's not common without being too out there, and works in Russia and here in the UK.

Surname will be similar to Mikhailov.

Thoughts?

The other names I'm keen on are Nikolai and Mikhail. Lev would work well in both cultures, but the only Lev we know is a total ladypart and that's putting me off.

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littlepinkmouseofsugar · 13/01/2017 09:18

No to Boris! Really no. And yes to Sasha. I knew a gorgeous Sasha once.

Nikolai, Mikhail, Rudolf (after Nureyev?), anything is fine, but no to Boris!

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 13/01/2017 07:46

It's a bit of a comedy name.

Original poster
EssentialHummus · 13/01/2017 07:44

Oh gosh, that's looking pretty conclusive!

lizzie we like Roman very much but it's the name of DH's little nephew. Sasha/Alexander is on the table as a sort of "it's ok" option.

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lizzieoak · 13/01/2017 04:31

What about Sasha? Roman? Artem? Isak? Mark? Abram? Those are Russian names of kids we know (some Jewish).

Teapot13 · 13/01/2017 03:57

Johnson

Teapot13 · 13/01/2017 03:57

Johnson

Teapot13 · 13/01/2017 03:56

I really dislike it, nothing to do with Johnston.

Would you pronounce it the Russian way? I'm asking because your partner is Russian. No one in the west would get it right -- it would be a nightmare.

ironmanslady · 12/01/2017 23:55

It makes me think of the bad guy in men in black who was seriously creepy Confused obviously if you've never seen men in black it's fine WinkGrin

badg3r · 12/01/2017 23:18

Borislav nn Bobby?

MistressMolecules · 10/01/2017 23:29

I'm afraid I thought Boris Johnson when I saw your title on the homepage (without the baby name link). It is a shame as it is a nice name but he has ruined it.

I agree with the pps who said Nikolai - that is a strong name, I like it.

buttercup54321 · 10/01/2017 23:29

Awful. Prefer Maurice to that. Nikolai would be much better.

Purplebluebird · 10/01/2017 15:31

Sorry, Boris is Johnson to me as well. :( I like Nikolai

MitzyLeFrouf · 10/01/2017 15:30

And I love Niko for short. So cool.

Original poster
EssentialHummus · 10/01/2017 15:29

Thanks holding and mitzy. I saw BoJo on the news yesterday and thought, Really, this is the association people will have?. Am also going off it.

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TheNaze73 · 10/01/2017 15:26

Boris is a great name. Love it Grin

MitzyLeFrouf · 10/01/2017 15:22

I agree with Holding. Boris is a red faced, rotund man. Who pinches women's bums. Picture a horny Humpty Dumpty basically.

Nikolai is just the polar opposite of that. Gorgeous name. Mikhail is nice too.

anything but Boris

Holding · 10/01/2017 09:17

Another vote for Nikolai. Nikolai is tall, handsome and athletic; Boris is.... not.

Ohyesiam · 07/01/2017 14:19

My first to thought, Shagger Johnson....BUT it won't be for his peers.

Natsku · 07/01/2017 13:02

Got to agree it just makes me think of Johnson. Nikolai is lovely though. Or how about Maxim? Had a Russian friend called that and I thought it was a nice name.

Frazzled2207 · 07/01/2017 13:00

I also think Johnson too, and afraid it is not a positive connotation (for me).
Nikolai is ace.

Mamatallica · 07/01/2017 12:52

I like it, ignore the Boris Johnson comments, he won't be relevant in a few years and kids won't have a clue anyway. I'm sure your boy could make the name his own if you and your DH both love it, go for it.

Original poster
EssentialHummus · 07/01/2017 12:15

Boris was top name for DC1 but it didn't suit her.

Grin

Mikhail would gladden the heart of my granny, as my recently deceased DGF was a Michael. But I'm not sure about an MM alliterative name.

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MikeUniformMike · 07/01/2017 12:09

Boris was top name for DC1 but it didn't suit her. I like Oleg, Igor and Ivan too. Mikhail is a top name.

Ontopofthesunset · 07/01/2017 12:09

I don't like the name much regardless of Johnson, though that hasn't endeared it to me any more. Would he be known as Boris (which was the name of every spider in our house too!) or Borya or Borka?

I really like Nikolai and Mikhail and think Alexander is a great crossover name. Or Ivan?

Original poster
EssentialHummus · 07/01/2017 12:07

Cross post!

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