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Baby names

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

Original poster

Advice needed re: choice of name for a boy

32 replies

E11a · 05/05/2010 14:22

Hello,
I am expecting my first child very soon. We still haven't decided on the name for him.
I am thinking of naming him Vladimir but my parents fear that he would get bullied at school with such a name and would rather I gave him an English name.
We live in London and I think it might not be such a problem as so many children have foreign names here anyway. Please let me know what do you think of this name.
By the way, the short version of Vladimir is not "Vlad", but 'Vova' or 'Volodya'.

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alarkaspree · 05/05/2010 15:10

I think you'd have to be prepared for it to be shortened to 'Vlad' at school, yes. Children, boys especially, don't usually get to choose their own familiar names ime.

Original poster
E11a · 05/05/2010 15:06

P.S. Although we are thinking of a Russian name, but English name would be equally appropriate as the child is half English/half Russian.

OP posts:
Original poster
E11a · 05/05/2010 15:04

Thank you very much for your replies!This name has been in my family for generations,so nothing to do with Putin!
I would probably call the child 'Vova' for short though - would he automatically abbreviated to 'Vlad' at school? How does 'Vova' sound to the English ear(that's how Russians call their Vladimirs at home)? Vlad is actually short for a different name: Vladislav.

Our other options are: Timofei/Timothy or possibly George or Edwin.

OP posts:
twosofar · 05/05/2010 14:59

Is a wicked name! Don't try to blend in to sound more English...epecially if you are in London.
I would estimate that 50% of the kids in DS1's pre school have foreign/exotic/unusual names (Essien, Buster, Marius, Spike, Loveday to name but a few)

No-one will bat an eye

sonniboo · 05/05/2010 14:39

Vladimir is fine - and much more interesting/relevant to you than if you were to name him Jack or Charlie or similar.

Some mumsnetters seem to think that any name that is too 'chav', too 'posh' or too foreign sounding will be teaseworthy. No, children couldn't care less about their friends' names (unless, as previous poster said a name is really silly, like poopoohead or willy or something ).

Go for Vladimir!

bigbluebump · 05/05/2010 14:29

Vladimir is a great name, especially if it relates to your ds's heritage.

We are also in London and hear so many different names, reflecting the huge cultural diversity here.

In my experience children rarely get bullied solely because of their name, unless the name is really silly e.g. Willy or similar. But Vladimir sounds like a perfectly normal name to me.

daftpunksConscience · 05/05/2010 14:28

Vladimir would be okay in some parts of the country. My ds has a Baldizar in his class...noone says a thing.

Although Putin.