Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Ivan (is this terrible?)

27 replies

pluto · 09/10/2008 17:50

I was thinking of Ivan - shorten to Van (as in the Man). I like it - but I know it's probably not to everyone's taste...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
JuneBugJen · 09/10/2008 17:51

Heard nicer, Heard worse...

LadyOfWaffleIsScaryEnough · 09/10/2008 17:51

boom boom

Anna8888 · 09/10/2008 17:59

No. There was an Ivan in my class at school c.1980 - terrible memories.

Molivan · 09/10/2008 18:20

Fantastic name. We chose it and got a few strange looks at first but we're still glad we did (14 years later). It's unusual but not a "made up" name and is good for a little boy and a grown up. He's also never had to have his initial tagged on the end of his name like all the Daniels and Thomases he's been to school with. Go for it!!!

lou33 · 09/10/2008 18:21

i know an adult ivan, he is a party animal

tortoiseshellWasMusicaYearsAgo · 09/10/2008 18:22

My cousin is Ivan and I think it is a GREAT name.

But Molivan, my Daniel has always been the only Daniel too!

tortoiseshellWasMusicaYearsAgo · 09/10/2008 18:22

lou - that might be my cousin!

lou33 · 09/10/2008 18:23

does he live in sw surrey?

lou33 · 09/10/2008 18:24

as an aside tortoiseshell, you are one of hte few namechangers whose name i remember from before

Liffey · 09/10/2008 18:32

I also have a cousin called Ivan.. Are we all related. Mine would be about 39 I think.

Liffey · 09/10/2008 18:33

It's a nice name more importantly. I prefer it to Evan which I've come across in young children a bit lately.

lou33 · 09/10/2008 18:34

oh this one ios late 30's early 40's

does he have a toddler son and live in sw surrey?

branflake81 · 09/10/2008 18:34

Actually, I quite like it. Have not really considered it before but I do.

lou33 · 09/10/2008 18:38

the one i know is a dj as well, he's a good bloke tho parties maybe a tad too hard

Liffey · 09/10/2008 18:38

different one. So the names rare but not unique. Taht's good.

OrmIrian · 09/10/2008 18:39

I like it. I know twins called Ivan and Fraser and TBH I've always thought that Fraser was the odd name, not Ivan.

Molivan · 09/10/2008 18:47

Sorry Tortoiseshell, no offence meant, but Daniels are considerably thicker on the ground round here than Ivans. Honest

NosfeRaahhTu · 09/10/2008 19:46

i read the title and thought it was a joke, because ofIvan the terrible!

But I do actually really like the name. (Does depend on the pronunciation ,though)

nickytwoooohtimes · 09/10/2008 19:48

Ivan is a fab name! And I am quite conservative with names.

Original poster
pluto · 09/10/2008 20:02

Oooo - I'm glad the response is generally positive as I really thought I'd be shouted down. Our other DS has a fairly unusual name (think of Holst, Klimpt etc) so it seems in keeping to give this one (if it's a boy) something that "goes" ifyswim. He would have to put up with the "terrible" tag though, wouldn't he?

OP posts:
bessmum · 09/10/2008 20:03

Great name, go for it

jeanjeannie · 09/10/2008 20:43

Fab name - was on our shortlist but had two girls! Wasn't so keen on Ivana!

tortoiseshellWasMusicaYearsAgo · 11/10/2008 20:14

lou, just returned to the thread - no, must be different Ivan. But my cousin is VERY cool and Very into parties!

lolianja · 12/10/2008 19:52

Love it. It's being considered for ours.

misspollysdolly · 12/10/2008 20:49

I like the name Ivan. There's a little boy called Ivan at our Toddlers - he's lovely and I have never associated it with 'the terrible. Please don't shorten it to Van though...that's just silly...sorry!