International-sounding name for a Russian baby girl

[JuliaEf]

Hello, everyone!
I need your advice.
We live in Russia and are choosing a name for our baby girl who is soon to come.
We certainly have some typically Russian names on the list, but also consider more international-sounding names.
What do you think of the names below:

1. Leoncia
   
2. Leontia (almost the same like No.1, but more Russian version of it)
   
3. Silvia
   
4. Emilia (in Russian, it is Emilia, not Emily)
   

Do you have any negative associations with any of these names?
Maybe they sound funny or outdated? Would you be surprised if you met a typical Russian girl with such a name?
Thank you for your contributions!

[handonhip]

Oh crabb, I love Veronica!!

JuliaEf, Leontia is my favourite and I think it would travel well. Also love many of the names you've ruled out--Marina, Aleksandra, Larissa, Victoria. Silvia is nice. Good luck choosing!

[Natsku]

I'm always going to vote for Natasha as I'm one (Natsku being the Finnish diminutive) but also like Katya and Valentina.

Emilia, Silvia and Vera would all work fine, but if you prefer Leoncia/Leontia then go for it, don't let fear of mispronunciation stop you from using a name you love.

[JaneA1]

Anna or Alexandra?

[JuliaEf]

Dear all, thank you so much for your opinions! I believe I now have a clearer picture in my head. The important point from our discussion for me is that it is almost an impossible task to find a "one-size-fits-all" name that would sound absolutely identical, easy and beautiful throughout the world and would be liked by everyone. This way or that, you need to tell people how your name should be pronounced correctly. Good example is my simple and wide-spread name Julia. In Russia it is Yuliya, in Spain they pronounce it like Hooliya, in the English-speaking world - ʹdʒu:ljə. Already at least 3 variants!
So I hope we will make up our minds quite soon. If anybody cares or interested, I may write what we have chosen in about 1 month's time:)

[Kr1stina]

The most international names are the ones you have ruled out already because they are too popular or you have relatives with that name.

You are trying to find a name which travels well AND is very unusual. I think these things are mutually exclusive so you need to choose one or the other. Which is more important to you ? Or perhaps the question is - which will matter more to your daughter ?

[Trollspoopglitter]

I don't like svetlana shortened to sveta because in some Eastern European languages that means female form of "blessed". And it would sound wrong and confusing, like if you called a girl "blessed"... Blessed is happy. Blessed is hugry.

Russian diminutive for Helena can be Lena but what about Ilka? Pronounced same soft L like in Ilya? I knew a lady called that but it was a dialect, not "proper" Russian, so I'm not sure how common that diminutive is where you live.

[EduCated]

I think you should go with Leontia as well. I think it would travel, even if it's not already well known internationally.

[Mrsknackered]

Please don't go with Tatiana like PP's have suggested! It means something very different to a lot of young people now.
Russian girls with lovely (translatable) names have been:
Katarina (Katya)
Alexandra (Sasha)
Anya (but she used to go by Anna mostly)
I think these are all really pretty but I like your first and second suggestions too.
Emilia is very boring in my honest opinion.

[Secretspillernamechange]

I think you should go with Sylvia or Vera. I love Svetlana but would worry about teasing.

[originalmavis]

How would you pronounce Vera? Ages ago I worked with a man whose Latvian wife was a Vera and it sounded lovely the way he said it (but I can't remember how he said it!).

[Holding]

My vote is for Vera or Nadia.

[Natsku]

Just remembered that someone at school used to call me Svetlana, said I looked like a Svetlana, whatever they look like.

[Laquila]

I LOVE Nadezhda!

[MycatsaPirate]

I was going to suggest Natalia but I see you have a female relative with the name already so it's a no-no.

I love Sylvia. I think it's a beautiful, timeless name.

[SavageBeauty73]

I love Lara.

[Chatelherault]

Katya
Marta
Katerina

[FearandLoathinginLasVegas]

I love Sylvie and Sylvia.

[dodgydonkeysdoodah]

A friend of mine (English with German husband) picked Anna for the simple fact it works in most European languages.

[CantHelpDancingWithTheDevil]

I like Lenka

[mathanxiety]

I love Polina and Ksenia.
Silvia is also very nice in my opinion.

Valentina would go down very well internationally. So would Vera, and actually I know two little Veras - it seems to be having a moment of popularity where I am. I suspect it is an alternative to Cora for people who liked Downton Abbey but didn't want to copy directly.

Other names that would go well internationally:
Antonina
Dina
Veronika
Evgeniya
Zinaida
Izolda
Lidiya
Tamara
Roza or Rosa
Rozalina
Margarita
Maya
Anzhelika/ Angelika
Emma

[mathanxiety]

Also, I love Nadezhda - however it is very Russian, same as Svetlana.

Emilia is a bit over popular imo.

[Autumnsweater]

Sonia
Anna
Natasha
Vera

All translate internationally nicely I think

[beautyandthebump]

Vera is lovely. Also Elena which another poster suggested.

[StrawbRhi]

Vera is absolutely lovely.
The two little Russian girls I've met recently with the most beautiful names were Valeriya (Valerie would be more international though) and Heronika. I love the way Heronika flows off the tongue and can also be shortened to Hero.