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Help[Opinions] Russian boys
I was reading this article in a magazine about a couple that adopted 4 boys from Russia, and one from the USA. The boys name's are:
Slava - age 16
Sergei -10
Kirill -16
Zhenya -16
and Lucas -2
The adoption agency told them that it would be best if they changed their names to more "American" names, and the boys got to choose so Slava changed his name to Joe, Sergei changed his to Reagan, Kirill changed his to Dan, and Zhenya's was changed to Douglas, but he still uses Zhenya. And Lucas's was never changed because he was given up for adoption when he was just a baby. The family is thinking about adopting another son or finding him another home. His name is Vitaly.
WDYT?
I really like Russian names for some reason, and I definitely want to adopt there someday.
We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:9
Slava - age 16
Sergei -10
Kirill -16
Zhenya -16
and Lucas -2
The adoption agency told them that it would be best if they changed their names to more "American" names, and the boys got to choose so Slava changed his name to Joe, Sergei changed his to Reagan, Kirill changed his to Dan, and Zhenya's was changed to Douglas, but he still uses Zhenya. And Lucas's was never changed because he was given up for adoption when he was just a baby. The family is thinking about adopting another son or finding him another home. His name is Vitaly.
WDYT?
I really like Russian names for some reason, and I definitely want to adopt there someday.
1 John 4:9
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
Changing from interesting to boring
Why should they have to change their names to more "American" names, since Americans come from many different countries. Is being from Russian something to be ashamed of?
I think Sergei is much better than Reagan. Kirill is a great name and of form of Cyril; Dan seems so dull in comparison. Douglas is better but I think Zhenya is a form of Yevgeny (Eugene), so Eugene, nn Zhenya, would have been more apt.
But I can see that Slava wanted to change his name, since it reminds too much of "slave". But why the generic Joe, why not something like Ivan?
Well, I guess only name nerds like me prefer standing out to blend in the crowd.
"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
Why should they have to change their names to more "American" names, since Americans come from many different countries. Is being from Russian something to be ashamed of?
I think Sergei is much better than Reagan. Kirill is a great name and of form of Cyril; Dan seems so dull in comparison. Douglas is better but I think Zhenya is a form of Yevgeny (Eugene), so Eugene, nn Zhenya, would have been more apt.
But I can see that Slava wanted to change his name, since it reminds too much of "slave". But why the generic Joe, why not something like Ivan?
Well, I guess only name nerds like me prefer standing out to blend in the crowd.
"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
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You bring me back to my romantic teen years, reading Tolstoy. *Sigh* Where are the Anatolys and Ippolytes of today?
I took Russian in high school (and then in college) because I loved Russian literature and names so much.
Slava has never really appealed to me. It's a Russian word, meaning "thanks." "Thank God" translates as "slava Bogu." (It's been a long time so forgive me if I'm rusty.) My point is that I can't get over the feeling that the name belongs on one of my vocabulary lists rather than a name.
Sergei (and the nn Seryozha) are infinitely better than trendoid Reagan. Ugh.
I'm glad Zhenya is still holding on to his name in some form. It's the nn for Yevgenii / Eugene. I think it's gorgeous. One of my favorite Russian names for a boy. I don't like Douglas at all.
Kirill is also very handsome when said in Russian (kee-REEL) and is equivalent to Cyril. I would have prefered Cyril, nn Cy, but I'm not the one making the huge cultural leap. I do love the name Daniel and Dan is an OK nn.
Lucas is a classic, if somewhat over done right now.
I took Russian in high school (and then in college) because I loved Russian literature and names so much.
Slava has never really appealed to me. It's a Russian word, meaning "thanks." "Thank God" translates as "slava Bogu." (It's been a long time so forgive me if I'm rusty.) My point is that I can't get over the feeling that the name belongs on one of my vocabulary lists rather than a name.
Sergei (and the nn Seryozha) are infinitely better than trendoid Reagan. Ugh.
I'm glad Zhenya is still holding on to his name in some form. It's the nn for Yevgenii / Eugene. I think it's gorgeous. One of my favorite Russian names for a boy. I don't like Douglas at all.
Kirill is also very handsome when said in Russian (kee-REEL) and is equivalent to Cyril. I would have prefered Cyril, nn Cy, but I'm not the one making the huge cultural leap. I do love the name Daniel and Dan is an OK nn.
Lucas is a classic, if somewhat over done right now.
This message was edited 6/10/2006, 11:52 AM
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It seems like a waste to me to change those boys' names. Don't you agree? I mean all of those names were very nice. I can't see me using them on my children but I do adore foreign names. Sergei is a nice name, as is Zhenya , and I love Vitaly and Slava! What a shame to have to change them to plain names like Joe and Dan just to fit in. (expecially since that might be the only thing they have to represnt their heritage)
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Aw, I love Russian names. Why change them? None of the names they chose appeal to me at all.
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I'm a lover of Russian names too...
... and I know I will consider adopting from Russia in the future.
But I don't think it was necessary for the children to change their names, because people will generally be able to pronounce them. I much prefer Slava to Joe, Sergei to Reagan, Kirill to Dan and Zhenya to Douglas (even though it sounds a bit feminine). Lucas is fine.
I love the name Vitaly, and he shouldn't have to change his name.
"A world where Sting asked if the Russians loved their children too and we knew the answer was yes" - Excerpt from Looking for Alibrandi.
... and I know I will consider adopting from Russia in the future.
But I don't think it was necessary for the children to change their names, because people will generally be able to pronounce them. I much prefer Slava to Joe, Sergei to Reagan, Kirill to Dan and Zhenya to Douglas (even though it sounds a bit feminine). Lucas is fine.
I love the name Vitaly, and he shouldn't have to change his name.
"A world where Sting asked if the Russians loved their children too and we knew the answer was yes" - Excerpt from Looking for Alibrandi.
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