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HelpRe: Ivan
in reply to a message by Ozma
I have a few issues with Ivan. It hasn't really attracted me at all and when I look at it, it makes sense why not.
First off, it's a "John" name. I don't tend to like male names in that family--not Johann, Johannes, Hans, Ian, Jack, and Ivan as well. They don't strike much of a chord with me. They're a little boring. It's kind of incredible how they manage to cross over as many languages as they do without any one jumping out more than the others to me. :-D
Also, the standard English pronunciation EYE-van is so incredibly dorky. But the Russian, etc. ee-VAHN sounds like (1) Yvonne when I say it and (2) I am affecting an understanding of or affinity for a language/culture/whatever else that I don't particularly have. Since EYE-van is so firmly established as an English pronunciation it's more awkward for me than with other non-English names to assert the more authentic one.
It's a very iconic sort of name and, I don't know, I guess I'm not at all a Russophile (although I know it's use is more varied than that). It's just not the feel I go for. I'll get into names from a variety of origins but if I want them to be ones that I use in combos, etc. it suits me better to have something more subtle.
On a similar note that's what was so hard about coming up with combos for Boris, my biggest cliche exception. I wanted a name that "fit" with it but not something that made it seem like I was trying to project RUSSIAN.
Hope that makes sense!
First off, it's a "John" name. I don't tend to like male names in that family--not Johann, Johannes, Hans, Ian, Jack, and Ivan as well. They don't strike much of a chord with me. They're a little boring. It's kind of incredible how they manage to cross over as many languages as they do without any one jumping out more than the others to me. :-D
Also, the standard English pronunciation EYE-van is so incredibly dorky. But the Russian, etc. ee-VAHN sounds like (1) Yvonne when I say it and (2) I am affecting an understanding of or affinity for a language/culture/whatever else that I don't particularly have. Since EYE-van is so firmly established as an English pronunciation it's more awkward for me than with other non-English names to assert the more authentic one.
It's a very iconic sort of name and, I don't know, I guess I'm not at all a Russophile (although I know it's use is more varied than that). It's just not the feel I go for. I'll get into names from a variety of origins but if I want them to be ones that I use in combos, etc. it suits me better to have something more subtle.
On a similar note that's what was so hard about coming up with combos for Boris, my biggest cliche exception. I wanted a name that "fit" with it but not something that made it seem like I was trying to project RUSSIAN.
Hope that makes sense!
This message was edited 6/8/2010, 8:50 PM
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