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Baby names

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

Original poster

Russian boys' names

68 replies

Goostacean · 21/06/2019 18:37

I'm looking for some options that reflect Russian heritage in the family. Really struggling to find anything that doesn't seem ugly in English and has a nice nickname/shortening.

Alexander, Nikolai and Andrei are all out for family reasons. I like Constantin, Valentin, Stepan, Stefan... But they don't have nice shortenings, IMO. Really like Leo, but it's too popular for my liking. Front runner is probably Anton.

Any ideas or opinions please?

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Original poster
Goostacean · 22/06/2019 20:29

I'm really like Fyodor/Freddie and Mikhail/Misha!

OP posts:
BillyAndTheSillies · 22/06/2019 15:27

The Fyodor I know is Freddie as a nn which I love.
Russian names are gorgeous.

KatharinaRosalie · 22/06/2019 15:27

Vladimir - shortens to Vova
Stanislav - Slava

Ellmau · 22/06/2019 15:23

Kirill?

HypatiaCade · 22/06/2019 11:54

We use anglicised versions in English and the Russian version with family.

All biblical names have a Russian version.
David
Samuel
Paul/Pavil

Vladimir/Wally/Walter
Alexander (Sasha)
Piotr/Peter
Mikhail
Igor
Gregory/Grigori
Victor
Eugene/Yevgeni
Yuri

Alex/Sasha and Vladimir/Wally were the most common in our community.

JustTheCrowsAndTheBeef · 22/06/2019 11:29

I love Dimitri.

Depending on how close the family member names Alexander is, could you use Alexander and go by Sasha?

Teaandabiscuitplease · 22/06/2019 10:32

Also in my family we use Russian names at home etc but the Anglicised version in public etc - is that an option? I much prefer being called e.g. Anna instead of AnurSTAYSHAAAA and a family member goes by Nicholas/Nick but we call him Nicolai.

whirlwinds · 22/06/2019 09:06

Know two Nikita's, one a man using Nick as a nickname who is a Russian. The boy is part Russian and uses the full name as is. Aleksandr -Alex is another. Sacha. Piotr_Peter

daisypond · 22/06/2019 08:59

Georgiy - with a hard G
I like Basil - Vasiliy - a lot too.
Rudolf?

MonstranceClock · 22/06/2019 07:50

Yevgeny is always popular too! I like Veleri, but obviusly pronounced the russian way, probably not wise to give a boy that name growing up in England!

Original poster
Goostacean · 21/06/2019 21:20

Thanks everyone, so many suggestions!

I like Nikita but I've only ever met two and they were both Indian girls, funnily enough.

I like Artyom but it seems clunky in English vs the elegant Russian pronunciation. Artem looks better written down but you'll have a fight trying to teach people to pronounce it based on the spelling.

I like Maxim/Maksim but I once volunteered with a very very difficult child called Max, so the association isn't amazing! Will put it on the list though...

Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming! So pleased at such positive responses Smile

OP posts:
Reythelastjedi · 21/06/2019 21:18

Kiril. My fav name ever.

AverageMummy · 21/06/2019 21:17

Leo is really lovely

TheHandsOfNeilBuchanan · 21/06/2019 21:01

I know a constantin NN con or tanti , I really like it

Nearlyalmost50 · 21/06/2019 20:59

What's wrong with Vladimir?! (good enough for Putin). Little Vlad...

More seriously, I like Anton, Artem, Yuri.

I think the spelling isn't set in stone as they would originally be in Cyrillic anyway.

Bishalisha · 21/06/2019 20:50

I love Sergei and Dmitri

swoons

DottieLottie1 · 21/06/2019 20:45

Another Roman!

PatoPotato · 21/06/2019 20:31

Viktor, Max, Abram, Dimitri, Adrian, Gregory, Mark, Isaak, Albert, Ivan

MiraculousMarinette · 21/06/2019 20:14

Kanga83 those are Ukrainian spellings rather than Russian

MiraculousMarinette · 21/06/2019 20:12

If I ever had a boy I'd call him Stanislav. Can be shortened to Stan.

SilverySurfer · 21/06/2019 20:11

I have a Russian friend, his name is Nikita which I like.

CatsLikeCoffeeToo · 21/06/2019 19:47

Artur
Artem (Artyom)
Eduard
Igor
Georgiy
Yegor
Grigoriy
Oleg

NottonightJosepheen · 21/06/2019 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MercedesDeMonteChristo · 21/06/2019 19:41

I love Ilya and Yuri. Love them.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 21/06/2019 19:41

I knew a (very lovely) Constantin once upon a time. Everyone called him Tantin.

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