Russian name for a nonRussian boy these days

I know a Sergei. He’s actually Serhiy, and is Ukrainian. Everyone calls him Serge (as in Gainsbourg). I have a Slav first name, that is very popular in Eastern Europe (less so in Poland where the diminutive means something unpleasant) and is known as a Russian name (as in if you asked most people where it was from, they would immediately say it was Russian. I don’t think it’s a problem.

Honestly as the vast majority of people would associate Sergei with the meerkats, I don't think bullying because of the link with Russia should be your primary concern

Alexander (Sasha) ?

Like another poster my DD has a name very popular in Russia/Eastern Europe. It's something that has crossed my mind very recently but I love it and would never regret calling her such a beautiful name (IMHO )

As long as it isn’t boris …..

As for Vladimir, it is also Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Croatian and an insanely common name in many countries

I went to school with someone called Vladimir - his parents were from what was then Yugoslavia. So even though Vladimir Putin has obviously been the best-known Vladimir for quite a few years now, I still don't particularly associate that name with Russia.

But the name in this case is not Vladimir.

I don't think the chosen name will cause any problems but if they want to be extra clear about it, all they need to do is introduce him in the UK by saying "his name's Sergei, after one of his [nationality] ancestors" - it pre-empts the question and the word will soon get around.

What is happening right now is terrible and wrong but we shouldn't use it as an excuse to discriminate against Russian people or Russian culture. How would you feel if your president/prime minister did something really awful and other people were mean to you because of that or encouraged you to hide your heritage or nationality?
I know you mean well, but it's not the right thing to do. Let them choose the name they love. Maybe they'd want to add a more international middle name in case he wants to switch later on but Russian culture is not the same as politics so not using Russian names even though you love them is kind of sad.

As for Vladimir, it is also Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Croatian and an insanely common name in many countries so I don't even think that name will cause huge problems as it has many associations. I've met at least five people named that.

Anything apart from Putin would probably be just fine.

Vladimir isn't specifically Russian, although I can't say I find it a particularly nice sounding name.

My DD has a friend called Vladimir, because his dad is Russian. It’s not a problem. He’s a small child living in the UK, no one is making the connection with a dictator. Or if they are, they could do with getting a grip.

It’s ludicrous to suggest Vladimir is akin to Adolf, particularly when Volodymyr (as in Zelensky) is the Ukrainian version of the same name.

lol seriously? Leave them and baby Ilia alone.

Are you anti Zelensky?

The irony is that two of them are similar in more ways than just their name.

My DD has an East European name that’s very popular in Russia. I don’t expect it to cause her any problems. I’m pretty sure that many “Russian” names are of Greek origin, anyway.

The name Sergei does remind me of the meerkat, but that association might not last more than a few years.

Unfortunately a lot of innocent people will suffer, including children, from bullying and discrimination based on something they can’t change. You can’t choose where you were born.

My favourite girl's name is Russian so this question just makes me sad. If someone's harassing a person just for having a Russian name then they're a bigot, plain and simple. I would hope that people have enough intelligence to know that having a Russian name doesn't imply support for Putin's actions, just like how having an Arabic name doesn't imply support for Islamist terrorism.

The meaning of Sergei is the ‘servant’. This name is a variant form of the Bulgarian given name Sergey. The name takes its meaning from the Latin word ‘sergius’, meaning ‘servant’. It refers to a person who does a duty or a task for others and is known for their loyalty.

Sounds good.

The US and Britain have got up to some pretty fucking rum stuff over the years and our names seem to have got away with it. I would definitely also be more concerned about that —bastard— meerkat.

Having lived in a city that had a huge multi cultural population and of those a huge number of Eastern Europeans, I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid. I worked with a Vlad and no-one said anything about his name. in fact he was the one who made a joke about it (whether that was due to comments elsewhere of course I can't say). The most I ever said to some was,' make sure I say it right, or make sure I spell it right' and that was only once when I was unsure. Lots of names we think are 'English' aren't really, so I would just say nothing.

Why on earth would anyone discriminate against a child for having a Russian name? 😲 I have many Russian friends, I don't discriminate against them? I don't judge them for a war they had nothing to do with?! The UK is a multicultural society, people surely aren't this ignorant nowadays.

This. One, most Russians (esp outside Russia) are horrified by what's going on. Then there's the fact that in most multi-cultural cities you'll have kids with names from Carter to Muhammad; no one blinks an eye. Then there's the fact that lots of Russian names aren't glaringly Russian (Anton, Alexander, Tanya, Julia).

Just don't call him Ivan; you're setting yourself up for a fall come the toddler years .

But more generally - do we live in a world where being Russian (or whatever other nationality) is a perceived cause for shame and stigma? Is that what you want to teach your kids? A huge problem at the mo is that the propaganda within Russia perpetuates the idea that the west is hostile to Russia, that ordinary Russians aren't welcome, "us against the world". With the obvious consequences of driving them further towards nationalism. Please don't contribute to this.

He isn't growing up right now though - he isn't even born. Worrying about how his name will be perceived in light of current events, is over the top .

I live in London and here it is very very common for children to have foreign names including Eastern European. I work with a lot of Eastern Europeans who have moved here and brought their children up with dual nationalities and given them names from their home country.

A lot of Russian names are also names in other Eastern European countries so it would be very hard for somebody to identify the exact country of origin unless they are familiar with the names.

Why on earth would anyone discriminate against a child for having a Russian name? 😲 I have many Russian friends, I don't discriminate against them? I don't judge them for a war they had nothing to do with?! The UK is a multicultural society, people surely aren't this ignorant nowadays.

You're being ridiculous, OP. Keep out of it!

But unless it’s Vladimir, or Boris, I wouldn’t worry about it. However you are perfectly at liberty to say maybe use the Russian name as a middle name - just say if casually and only once.

To not call your baby of Eastern European parentage Sergei because of the current situation with Russia would be ridiculous. Pretty sure it’s a standard name in other Eastern European countries too (my great grandfather was Sergei and was from E Europe not Russia). I think it’s completely fine.

I also think you definitely shouldn’t offer an opinion in any case - I know you’ve said you don’t want comments on that but…