Russian name for a nonRussian boy these days

[Lactosan83]

Hi all, am writing regarding concern I have for my future nephew.

My sis has a husband of Eastern European heritage, and they live internationally, with plans to spend some time in UK in the near future.
They are expecting a baby boy (yey!!), and plan to give him an Eastern European name to honour his father's roots. All peachy and great.

However, I am worried as they seem to have settled on a name that sounds specifically very "Russian". I am afraid what that will do to a baby boy growing up in current political circumstances, and who has no relationship with Russia (his father is Eastern European, but not Russian).
Will he be bullied / discriminated? Will he need to spend his days explaining that he's not really Russian etc?

I believe that confusion is best to be avoided, and hope they can find another EE name that doesn't ring "Russia" to everyone who hears it. Am I wrong? Am I over the top?

Wanted to check with you before I say anything to them. Any input is appreciated.

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.

@gogohm

Anything but Vladimir is fine.

That's Zelensky's name (Vladimir = volodymyr in Ukrainian)

Are you anti Zelensky?

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

lol seriously? Leave them and baby Ilia alone.

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.

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.

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.

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.

As long as it isn’t boris …..

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 )

Alexander (Sasha) ?

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

@WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe

Don’t be so ridiculous and keep your thoughts to yourself!

This!

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.