Is Katya acceptable for our baby without Russian heritage?

[isabelie]

Hi all, expecting our first baby girl. DH and I adore the name Katya, we mentioned this to a friend today and she said it is strange to use the name since neither of us have any Russian or Eastern European heritage (we have French, English and Italian heritage).
Is she right or does it not really matter?

I don't see that it's a problem. FWIW, I have Eastern European heritage.

Go for it.

People name their children all sorts of names for all sorts of reasons.

I know two Katyas. One is German and one is Scottish 🤷‍♂️

It’s a nice name. I have an Irish name an no Irish heritage. There aren’t any rules, so ignore your friend.

Beautiful name. Lots of Gaelic. Irish Scandinavian names in use for years now throughout the world. Choose the name you love. Always best not to tell family or friends the names you like until baby born. Congratulations

I really like it. The one I know is Russian (but I don’t think it matters that you’re not). Hers is short for Katerina, which I like too.

Well my name is a Norse name, and my DD's is Hebrew. We're neither Scandinavian nor Jewish; both names are just "normal" names.

It’s a lovely name. Had no idea it was Russian, I thought it was German.

If you both like it, use it.

It’s fine. Gorgeous name op 💛

The one I know is Ukrainian.

It's a lovely name. Go for it.

It’s fine but you will get people asking you and then her about any relevant heritage. I get ‘where’s your name from’ all the time as someone living in England with a ‘foreign name’ from grandparents

I would avoid anything that could have a Russian connotation tbh. Not only because of the war and Putin but I just haven't met any Russian who's been civil and polite. And I have met some travelling in Europe.

Its a beautiful name.go for.it.

I never get why some get.stuck on x name being of Y heritage but names like Claire are seen as normal abd acceptable

Because Clare is a saint's name and has been a British name for a long time. The Claire spelling is French.

The only Katya I know is Danish. I think she spells it Katja though.

Claire is a french name. It has just become inserted into British culture as "norm" but at one point it would have been seen as weird and exotic. Much like Sharon was when that was first used.

WTAF.

Clara pronounced Claira has been around for centuries. There were Clares before the 1960s.

If you have Italian heritage you could consider spelling it Catia and then you have a ‘reason’ if you feel like you need one

It's absolutely fine to use it. I've known two people with the name, one was English and the other was Dutch. It is a really beautiful name.

I know a couple of Katya’s - both are English. They have never mentioned being asked about the heritage. There are many so different names now, I don’t think most people are bothered about the heritage.
if you like the name , go for it

Such a lovely name, definitely use it!

The only Katya I’ve ever met was French.