Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Aleks or Maks?

120 replies

Chilly1987 · 11/04/2017 14:13

Would be Aleksander / Maksymilian on the BC.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
NameyMcNamerson83 · 11/04/2017 15:59

I like Aleks, I would know straight away this this spelling was due to eastern European heritage. Don't worry!

MyBeloved · 11/04/2017 15:58

Re-read chilly's post, Bertrand.

ArseyTussle · 11/04/2017 15:57

Kuba for me, I've never heard it before and I like the sound. Maks and Aleks both sound the same as v popular boys names.

I suppose you could get people thinking you've yooneekly spelled Cuba, but if you have a Polish surname I think it would be clearer that you haven't.

Original poster
Chilly1987 · 11/04/2017 15:53

But I've already explained how the conversation goes.

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 11/04/2017 15:53

Oh, and bollocks to the "little Englander" crap.

BertrandRussell · 11/04/2017 15:52

Really? So someone says their name is Max and you say "How do you spell that?" I think not.

alltouchedout · 11/04/2017 15:50

People do ask Bertrand. Especially when the surname is obviously Polish.
I had a lot of this little England weirdness about my dc's awful foreign names when I lived in a shit hole in Fenland but then we moved to a very diverse city elsewhere in the UK and it hasn't been an issue at all.

hellooooooomama · 11/04/2017 15:49

I never realised they were Polish spellings, I would have assumed the parents were just trying to be 'different'. Sorry.

alltouchedout · 11/04/2017 15:44

Both strike me as made up by somebody that can't spell. Maks is very wrong
Confused

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 11/04/2017 15:43

I like them both to be honest, and they will both work in the UK. It makes sense now, as you're picking culturally appropriate names as opposed to someone adopting fashionable spellings! :-)

alltouchedout · 11/04/2017 15:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WyfOfBathe · 11/04/2017 15:26

I like Aleks best, and Maks is nice as well.

I'm not keen on Kuba since to an English eye it looks like an alternative spelling of Cuba, whereas Aleksander / Maksymilian are clearly Eastern European names.

AllllGooone · 11/04/2017 15:23

I really like aleksander. A nice nod to polish heritage and easy to pronounce in English too Smile

Original poster
Chilly1987 · 11/04/2017 15:19

I have a Polish name (I've lived in the UK since I was 11) and I've never had an issue BertrandRussell. The conversation normally goes: "what's your name?" "Aleksandra, but it's spelt the Polish way" "how's the Polish way spelt?" "there is a ks instead of an x" "thank you" and that's it. Aleksandra isn't my name though!

OP posts:
MyBeloved · 11/04/2017 15:18

Oblomov, they are the polish spellings - parents are polish Hmm

Oblomov17 · 11/04/2017 15:15

Alexander or Maximilian are both fabulous names. But the spellings of both yours I really hate.

BertrandRussell · 11/04/2017 15:15

"kids don't bat an eyelid at unusual names "

Of course they don't. But Alex and Max are not unusual names. So it won't cross anyone's mind not to spell them that way. Hence a lifetime of correcting. I know. Welcome to my life!

steppemum · 11/04/2017 15:14

I think people quickly get used to it, and spell it your way.

MammyNeedsASpaDay · 11/04/2017 15:14

Since you are polish I would argue either.

If it were me just going with a weird spelling I could not carry this off but you can x

Cataline · 11/04/2017 15:12

I used to teach a boy called Kuba. He was a delightful child and so I associate that name with loveliness. Grin
The other two names are really lovely too though!

MyBeloved · 11/04/2017 15:11

There are many beautiful names from all over the world on our schools these days. Whatever you decide to name your little one, they will not have to spend their life having to explain it to everyone.

I think choosing a name from your native Poland is a great idea and he Will not be the only one - rest assured.

BertrandRussell · 11/04/2017 15:11

"Bert they aren't originally English names though are they? So it's no different..."

I know they aren't. It's just the practicalities of it. They will be spelled wrong every single time because no one will think to ask.

FartnissEverbeans · 11/04/2017 15:10

He won't spend a lot of time explaining. British schools are extremely diverse these days and kids don't bat an eyelid at unusual names (neither do teachers). I've taught several kids with both names and I'm currently teaching a Kuba. They're all great but I think Kuba is particularly lovely.

JayJayW · 11/04/2017 15:07

I like them both

Bert they aren't originally English names though are they? So it's no different...

FamilySpartan · 11/04/2017 15:05

I know Kuba is a very popular abbreviation of Jakub but be aware, in my experience, people in the UK will most likely pronounce if Cue-ba and not Koo-ba. Would this bother you?

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.