Alexei, Aleksey

[MaddyJH]

My partner and I are having a boy, and are thinking of naming him Alexei or Aleksey. Neither of us are Russian or Bulgarian, so we were wondering if choosing such a name is OK?

He will spend his life answering questions. Or he will just call himself Alex. Don't.

Alexei is fine if a bit of an odd choice if you have no Eastern European connections.
I don’t like the other spelling. I’ve never seen it before and it looks wrong to me.
He will probably end up being called Alex a lot.

People will ask "and how do you spell that" for ANY name, unless it's like "Joe". And they WILL misspell any name, also Joe (Jo, Joy, Joanne even). You might consider Latin/Greek form of Alexius as well then.

Personally OP, I wouldn’t use either. If neither of you are from Eastern European backgrounds, I think it will look/sound strange. Each to their own though. He will probably get Alex throughout his life. It’s a lovely name and much simpler.

I know an Alexsey and he is Ukranian

I think it's an odd choice. And could potentially lead to discrimination when he is older. I know it shouldn't happen but... there is no guarantee when applying for jobs that it won't happen

I like it a lot but people would probably assume you'd chosen it due to his heritage.

No. Just call him Alex.

I'd assume one or both his parents had Russian or Bulgarian heritage... strange otherwise

I think I’d go for Alexander nn Alexei because then he has choices. The other spelling is v unusual so I wouldn’t.

No.

Fgs spell it right

...people would probably assume you'd chosen it due to his heritage.
That doesn't seem to be a problem with other names, such as Francesca, which people in the UK often choose over Frances.
Fgs spell it right
Alexsei/Alekcei/Alexsey is transliterated from a language with a Cyrillic alphabet so there isn't one right way to spell it.

Don't set him up for a lifetime of problems.
Alex
Alexander
Alistair
Alan

Lovely name, which is still European sounding.

I know a couple of French people who called their children after Russian writers or book characters - as in Vladimir (after Nabokov) for example - and the children don't seem to have any problems with discrimination, even in the current climate.

The only suggestion is to use 'Aleksey' spelling as this is more common.

I am Russian and I wouldn't do it.

I think I’d go for Alexander nn Alexei because then he has choices. The other spelling is v unusual so I wouldn’t.

In Cyrillic cultures these are two entirely different names - Alexander nn Sasha, and Alexei nn Lyosha. So this suggestion is something like "I think I'd go for Robert, nn John".

I think it depends really, but this is a name still strongly associated with its culture so I'm not sure it'd be a great thing to do to your son. If you do, I think the spelling above is better than Aleksey, which is sometimes going to be pronounced Alek-see.

Alexander is time less, and there are options for a shorter name if the person chooses to. Alex, xander, Al, Ally, or your choices if they like them.

I like it, I think there's a nice (Russian) character in Stranger Things with that name.

It sounds nice and I think it would suit a little boy of any nationality.

I'd spell it Alexei.

Alexis is a unisex name and I think it's really nice on a boy. Is that an option? I know one who gets called Lex for short.

Otherwise I reckon it's Ok to get away with Alexei even without the heritage. You could just say, it's like "Alexei Sayle".

Looks like most of the people who commented would be exactly the ones giving your son problems, should you choose that name, or some other… It’s pure discrimination against a culture whose history has many centuries, not just the past few years. Some people are just narrow-minded. There will always be such people, no matter the name. I am sure you chose the best name eventually 😊

@CallieQ Both spellings are fine

@Chypre "People will ask "and how do you spell that" for ANY name,"

They won't, you know. My children have never been asked in the UK, which is where we live.

My honest opinion, absolutely not. Neither.

I personally prefer the Aleksey spelling as it emphasises the correct pronunciation.