Ivan?

[Rivergypsyy]

What’s everyone’s opinion on this name? Would be little brother to Miriam

Strangely I think I like it when paired with Miriam

I like it as a name but it’s very odd alongside Miriam.

@daisypond

I like it as a name but it’s very odd alongside Miriam.

Why?

I immediately thought of Ivan the Terrible

I love it!

Miriam is also a lot name (on the list for current DC2!)

Not bothered about Ivan the terrible, I’m early 20s and never heard of him neither have any of my friends so I don’t think it’ll be an issue

I think it is lovely. Very in line with Miriam in that it is a very under used but well known name. I'm a teacher and have never taught an Ivan (or a miriam but do have a friend with that name).

Ivan is famously a Russian name, and Miriam is famously Old Testament Jewish, so they’re an odd mix to me. But I like both names.

How can you not have heard of Ivan the Terrible? It doesn’t matter how old you are. He’s famous/infamous, like Hitler and Stalin.

@daisypond

Ivan is famously a Russian name, and Miriam is famously Old Testament Jewish, so they’re an odd mix to me. But I like both names.

How can you not have heard of Ivan the Terrible? It doesn’t matter how old you are. He’s famous/infamous, like Hitler and Stalin.

We wouldn’t want to go for another Old Testament name though as we chose the name Miriam because we liked it, not because of the Bible and we wouldn’t want to start a theme.

I just never heard of him, and as I say, neither have any of my friends. We were taught about Hitler/Stalin but not about Ivan the Terrible.

Are you pronouncing it eye-van or ee-van. I don't like the former at all but the latter is OK.

@Thefartingsofaofdenmarkstreet

Are you pronouncing it eye-van or ee-van. I don't like the former at all but the latter is OK.

Eye-van

I think they go nicely together. They might have quite different origins, but to me they suit sonically - hard, simple, strong sounding names.

I would wonder if Ivans parents had some sort of Eastern European heritage, but that's not a bad thing, and it's not as strong as Vladmir where I would be very surprised to for parents with no connection to use it.

Eye-Van would be the pronunciation I would assume.

I wouldn't worry about Ivan the Terrible reference that PP have mentioned, the use of the name is quite common throughout history which somewhat dilutes the connection. A PP mentions Stalin and Hitler - this is actually a great example of this, Joseph isn't a name people avoid despite it being Stalins name, but Adolf is 100% ubiquitous with Hitler. I think Ivan is more towards the Joseph end of the spectrum.

Ivan is very useable, despite Ivan the Terrible. I know one in his early 20s. No Russian or East European heritage.

Goes well with miriam. Older generations may think Ivan the engine. Is a variation of john

@Guineaguinea

Goes well with miriam. Older generations may think Ivan the engine. Is a variation of john

That was Ivor the engine

@daisypond

Ivan is famously a Russian name, and Miriam is famously Old Testament Jewish, so they’re an odd mix to me. But I like both names.

How can you not have heard of Ivan the Terrible? It doesn’t matter how old you are. He’s famous/infamous, like Hitler and Stalin.

Why would you think names have to have a similar origin to be used for siblings?

Unless the choice is cultural surely it's irrelevant?

I like it. I also like the similar Ivo. Just an alternative for you!

@girlmom21
They don’t have to have a similar origin, but I do think it’s odd to have names of a radically different style.

I like it. It's a name used in my family.

I like Evan too.