Message: "Re: Alexis or Alexandra? (more)"

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Re: Alexis or Alexandra? (more)

by queenv

7/22/2017, 5:03 AM

I'm surprised Alexandra has left the top 100 already also, as I consider it in style and history identical to Victoria, and Victoria is hanging steady.

I far prefer Alexandra to Alexis. Alexandra is beautiful, elegant, and classic, and Alexis has always struck me as somewhat tacky. Also, since I've done a lot of reading on the last Russian royal family, and their son's name was Alexis, I have trouble seeing Alexis as a girls' name.

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- Myosotis +7

7/22/2017, 5:50 AM

I've always wondered whether his name was Alexei or Alexis? I know his father's name often gets changed to Nicholas, and even then I've seen Nikolai and Nikolay, so I've never been sure if the prince's name was altered too.

- queenv +6

7/22/2017, 5:54 AM

It was Alexei, but in "Nicholas and Alexandra" by Robert K. Massie, he's referred to as Alexis throughout. I guess that's an English translation, same as Nikolai / Nicholas.

- Myosotis

7/22/2017, 9:34 AM

Ah, that makes sense. I've only seen the names in textbooks.

- Perrine (Destry) +4

7/22/2017, 8:36 AM

I love reading about them too :) His name was Alexei as far as I know, I guess Alexis is the English translation as you wrote.

- Perrine (Destry) +3

7/22/2017, 8:45 AM

or wouldn't it be Alexander? I guess both would work but I know that Alexei is a very traditional name in Russia whereas I don't think Alexis has ever been as established for men in English speaking countries. I think it's an old classic in Greece. Maybe they translated it as Alexis because it is more similar in sound. I really like Alexei and I also love his sister's name Anastasia :) I like Tatiana, Nikolai and Maria too but never cared too much about the names Olga and Alexandra.

I agree that Alexandra and Victoria are both classics but Victoria seems much younger and nicer to me. I don't even know why. I noticed that unlike Victoria the name Alexandra wasn't even in the top 1000 until the 1915 then it fell out again and only returned to the top 1000 in the 1930s. Very surprising.

This message was edited 7/22/2017, 8:46 AM

- queenv

7/22/2017, 10:11 AM

This site says that Alexei is a variant transcription of Aleksey, and that Aleksey is a Russian form of Alexis, so it looks like Alexis is technically correct as a translation.

- Myosotis +1

7/22/2017, 9:37 AM

I would've thought it'd be Anglicised to Alexander as well. But I guess Alexis seems closer?

I'll admit I did eventually add Aleksy (I prefer the pronunciation), because of Alexei. I love Nikolai too, but not because of the Tsar. I feel like I should love Alexandra for her history, but I just don't quite feel it.

- basilisk (blaaarg)

7/23/2017, 11:35 AM

Aleksandr is a separate Russian name.

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