Maksim?

[CommunistLegoBloc]

My parents are Russian, though I have always lived in England and DP is English so would like the baby to have a name which reflects my heritage, but is also able to be pronounced by all of the family / teachers / friends etc! He's due in a few weeks, so what does everyone think to Maksim? Or Maxim? I like that it can be shortened to an easily-pronounced 'Max / Maks' but is it a bit boring?

TIA!

I love Maxim

No to Maksim. Sorry, but that spelling is dire and, imho, it is totally unnecessary to make the name Maxim/Max "easily pronounced".

Yes to Maxim. Very classic name. I think it reflects your heritage too.

I think it's a great name!

Maxim is the usual anglicised version, but Maksim is so often encountered that it'll be unproblematic, and I think it's nice to show family heritage, in your case Russian lineage, in names through the generations.

Maksim is a legitimate Russian spelling, not just me trying to be yoonique

I think I prefer that spelling just because 'Maxim' reminds me of well...a maxim. I don't want people thinking I named my child after an element of speech. I may be slightly paranoid.

I know a Maxim. He's 60, and Welsh. Great name and it's not needed to change the spelling to Maksim.

If that's the Russian spelling then why the hell not? You're not changing the spelling, you're using a legitimate Russian spelling of a Russian name. You will be forever explaining that it's a Russian name and not 'creative naming' but there's no rule that every child born in England has to be called john

Sigh, I know you're right Hecate, but I really don't want to go have to go through life explaining I haven't just made up a spelling. Does it really look like it to 'English' eyes? I'm so used to seeing it written like that that it looks totally normal to me

John is obviously my back-up.

When I saw the thread title, I assumed it was just a name that was not english. But yes, there will be those who assume that a name that looks different is a made up one

But bugger them. Use a name you love and which means something to you. You may have to do a lot of "He's called Maksim, it's Russian" but so what?

fwiw, I think it looks a lot nicer than Maxim.

i did wonder, when i saw the thread title, if it was made up.

i really love Pasha. call him Pasha

or what about Alexander? then you could shorten to Sasha which is also fabulous

Not keen, sorry. For me, it will always be a man's magazine with lithe women pouting on the cover...

Oh FUCK. I'd forgotten about that bloody magazine. Just another example of porn wrecking a woman's life. Oh dear.

I guess if I choose is it'll have to be Maksim, otherwise people will expect him to be some sort of mini Hugh Hefner and I really haven't got the funds to provide him with many tiny cravats.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I found this

Thank you! Gosh, some of those are awful. Arseny, anyone?

The problem is, I have to really love it as I teach special needs and as soon as my children with ASD catch wind of the name (they are VERY excited about this baby) they will be repeating it. A lot. So it's still got to sound good after 60 round of echolalia every day

nothing is going to sound good after that.

(my children both have autism. I was ready for chucking myself off a bridge over the word "two" )

i also LOVE konstantin/constantine

i've just finished reading anna karenina and war and peace, which clearly makes me an expert on russian names. all the men in it seemed to be called Andrei/alexei

talking of which, how about Leo?

and can you put me out of my misery and tell me how to pronounce Seryozha?

Seh-ray-ow-zuh. Or thereabouts

I like Alexei but I'm not overly keen on Alex, which is what it would inevitably be shortened to.

I like Valentin too - is it too poncey?

Ahh hecate, if I hear the word 'potato' again I am probably going to have to retire. Very, very early.

Valentin is ace

and thank you!

Aha, I get it - 'ks' is the Russian x, yes? there is no single letter for the sound. I think people would find it odd, though, because you don't usually come across, say, Aleksander.

Personally, I can't see anything wrong with Maxim. I don't think its meaning as a phrase would be an immediate association for people, and I've never heard of the magazine. My first thought is the Paris restaurant.

One other possible association is the feminine version in the Harry Potter character, Madame Maxime.

I love it and am familiar with the spelling but I lived in Russia for a few years. It is also the Serbian spelling.

What about Roman - I worked with some Romans during my time in Russia.

Someone mentioned Pasha but I think that is a nickname for Pavel???

yeah Pasha is a nn for Pavel, but IMO it's great as a name on its own too (not as keen on Pavel)