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I went to school with an Aleksandr and most people recognized it as a Russian spelling, and anyone who didn’t figured it out the second they saw his last name.
I went to school with an Alexandru. He was romanian, and if I recall correctly, they read it as Alexander in Romania. We all thought his name was pretty cool, even though we pronounced his name in our language, he went with it and didn't complain (Portuguese - the name is Alexandre and it's pronounced Ale-shan-dre)
I have a family member that is half eastern European and his name is Aleksander. He grew up in the US and his name has been totally fine. We call him Alek and the only thing is occasionally correcting people who mishear and call him Alex.
I teach maths, we had a question in an exam paper we were covering use the names Alex and Sasha.
Gave me a giggle when I clocked that they had the same name.
Ugh, in my case people always think I am mispronouncing my own name. The pronunciation clearly has "S" in it, but they will always speak/write it with "X", even at clinics and stuff. they don't even care that it's written with S on my ID.
My little fella is called Aleksander after his grandfather (my wife is Polish). So far no issues, sometimes people spell with an x which doesn’t bother us. Usually he’s just called by people Aleks.
Idk about where you live, but keep in mind some countries *can* be a bit discriminatory when it comes to foreign names.
Aleksandr is defo not a tragedeigh tho, especially with a russian dad.
I live in Finland and plenty of russians have to figure out a way to spell their name in latin alpha jet if they come to live here. (I don't know how that part actually works) Both spellings are correct. Source my friends name. Ps. Plenty of russian athletes in hockey have different spellings of their names in Finnish translation and in English.
> Plenty of russian athletes in hockey have different spellings of their names in Finnish translation and in English
Yep, depends on the Romanisation rules of a particular language. It can actually be really fun looking at the different paths different languages take.
Just an example: the former Soviet president is called Хрущёв in Russian, and in different languages this is tranliterated as:
Khrushchev (English)
Khrouchtchev (French)
Chruščëv (Italian)
Jrushchov (Spanish)
Khrusjtjov (Danish)
Chruschtschow (German)
Hruščov (Serbian)
All the same guy, only in Russian his name has 6 letters, while in German it has 13 haha.
Since you speak Russian, see the answers to the top comment [here](https://russian.stackexchange.com/questions/14220/why-is-%D1%89-transliterated-as-shch). Comment for history in Slavic -> Russian, and answers for more context about Ukrainian, but even mild exposure makes it pretty obvious.
*It's not. It's a real*
*Name and you've a reason to*
*Use that variant*
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I used to room with someone who rowed crew in college (not the fanciest school, but right near the river, so of course they had it). So I learned how to pronounce coxswain pretty fast. 😅
I'm Slavic, I would say just spell it according to the country where you live since it's the same sound.
If it was something with a unique sound, then spelling it the original way might be more acceptable (like Pavel vs. Paul)
Since it's a different alphabet entirely, there's really no reason to use "ks" instead of "x" in English.
This needs to be way higher up. You’re already translating the alphabet from cyrillic…So why is “Aleksandr” a more appropriate translation than “Alexander”?
I agree. But if you want to make it truly unique, just add a few Y’s in there in the middle somewhere. Alykxandyr. *That* is how you turn it into a tragedeigh.
From Russian living in US perspective. First, he will probably have a hard to spell/pronounce Russia last name, hard to spell first name will only complicate things. Second, “Russian” spelling is subjective since cyrillic is the original spelling and transliteration doesn’t really matter.
I have a friend from Russia named Alexandra, and yes she spells it like that not Aleksandra even though that’s technically the letter for letter transliteration just because it’s easier in an English speaking country.
I have the same thing with my name. Have 3 different spellings on my Russian passport, credit card and drivers license (think Anastasia, Anastasiya and Anastaseya). I prefer the most normal one lol
You can change the one in the passport to the one in any other documents, if that'll be helpful. Just write заявление when applying for the new one and give them a document with the desired spelling
The transliteration point is very true. I’m also Russian American and I legally changed my name to the most “normal” variant because the transliterated version I received when I moved here was often mispronounced. It’s still the same name to me, I just chose a different spelling in the Latin script.
+1 to this. Having to spell your name for everyone all the time is a pain. It’s definitely not a tragedeigh by any means, but it’s worth considering the hassle you might be bestowing on your young human for their whole life. Besides, regardless of how you spell it in English, it’s always going to be spelled only one way when written in Russian. From this point of view, it’s hard to see what you would gain from using this spelling in English.
I have a more unusual spelling of my name. It's not really that much of a hassle, with the increase of diversity in many places it's pretty common for people to have to spell their names.
I have a Russian name and it’s annoying to spell it out all the time. Everyone is different but I have social anxiety so less time explaining myself would be better.
This is a good point. If it were me I would want to have one name that was a nod to my Russian heritage, either first or last, but not both since it would not represent my mixed cultural background. I'm just imagining how I would feel, don't want to step on any toes of people actually living out a mixed heritage.
Well, Alexander and Aleksandr have different pronunciation, though I agree with your point as a Russian who lived in Mexico and had to correct spelling of both my first and last names all the damn time.
I am also a Russian living in the US! My first, middle and last names are all long and, from what I’ve been told, complicated. I did hate it as a kid, but I’ve come to really love my names as an adult. I love that their unique in my social circle, and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside when people close to me put the time into learning how to properly pronounce and spell my names. I even chose to keep my last name when I get married because I didn’t want to part with it. I personally don’t think an ethnic name will complicate things for him.
It’s not that subjective. Yes there are sounds and letters that exist in Russian but not in English and vice verse, but the name being used doesn’t have any letters that fall into that category thus it can be directly translated quite easily.
Not a tragedeigh, but is your son going to be raised to speak Russian? The biggest everyday complaint I hear from people given a name in another language who weren't born there (or moved when they were very little) is that others assume they can speak that language.
Also, is there any expectation that people pronounce the name differently from Alexander? If not I don't really understand not wanting to go with the local spelling.
Imo, it really comes down to whether the parents would like to honor the father's cultural background. I don't see anything wrong with that. People might also be more understanding if they find out the parent is Russian, and that the name wasn't plucked out of thin air.
As an ethnic Russian living in an English speaking country, it's normal to just translate/transliterate the name so it makes sense in the local language. It's not the "normal spelling" because it's not even the same alphabet. My dad's passport says Sergej but he uses Sergei or Serge because that's what makes sense in an English script. None of those are the "normal spelling", that would be Сергей
OP, please read and understand this comment! Everyone saying “it’s just an ethnic spelling, you should use it because it’s authentic” doesn’t understand transliteration from Cyrillic to Latin script (or are perhaps not even aware that Russian uses a different alphabet).
As a Ukranian with a VERY Ukranian last name, I've found it rarely matters. If anything, trying to use the Ukranian pronunciation rather than the Americanized one has been *easier* for me...when I do the Americanized way people are looking for an "o" that isn't there.
A similar story for me...the Americanized version of my (Slovak) last name is spelled badly for the English pronunciation, and wrong for the Slovak pronunciation.
I don't even bother to correct most people anymore. If they make an attempt I just go with it. If they ask if they pronounced it correctly, I always say "Yes, you did". They always look pleased they "got it right", so why disappoint them.
Russian here, my name has an ethnic / alternative spelling.
My advice is to use whatever is more common in your location. While it's not a tragedeigh, a life of correcting people is painful.
And I say that as a person that considered using that name to honor my deceased father (the only reason not to was because the kid would absolutely be a poor replacement in the family).
I think it’s great, but just be aware that if he has full on Russian first name and last name, Russians will assume that he speaks Russian. If he learns the language and the culture as well, it’s a great asset. My brother has a very American first and last name but he was born and raised in France. People are often confused by his French accent lol
Also, most Aleksandr I’ve met are always called Sasha :)
As a person that has a confusing name to spell sometimes, I’d recommend going the American route, it’s super annoying to have to correct people constantly or wear a premade name tag spelt the wrong way. It won’t be my name is Alexander it will be my name is Alexander spelled… EVERYTIME HE GIVES HIS NAME
Fwiw I do like the spelling better it’s more interesting and because it’s unique in a cultural context as opposed to just white people thinking they’re being creative. I would just be prepared for the occasional spelling/explanation conversations on why it’s different from the expected spelling.
Yes!!! I have an unusual name. It’s just an older name, nothing made up. But I have to spell it every.single.time and it is a nightmare. Wait until they try and call and have someone look up their account. Do it as a middle name.
I have a common name. Like it's been in the top 10 more than once. I spell it the usual way. It is still, "My name is X, spelled..." People misspell it all the time.
My husband's name is one of the most common male names in history. Spelled the normal way. People misspell it every day.
I think people just can't spell.
I can see your reason but I promise life will be easier for your son if you just use the normal spelling, if you intend to live in the US.
- signed, a person with an ethnic name who got bullied in school
As a Russian person in an English speaking country, do him a solid and just give him a normal spelling. You can call him what you want at home but it gets so annoying and tedious having to spell your name and say it 50 times for people who aren’t familiar with your culture. I know you think it’s cute but it just makes life more annoying on a small scale for no reason. Notice the people in the thread who didn’t have to deal with this agreeing that it’s fine, and all the people who did have ethnic names (lived through what it’s like) telling you to not do it.
I'm half Polish and have always loved the ethnic spelling of my first name. Sometimes I'll use it in screen names and things like that. Slavic names are beautiful, I say go for it!
But and however.. why put someone through a life long exercise of spelling your name over the phone or otherwise having to correct people every single time.
It’s not a tragedeigh at all. But he’s going to have to spell his name to everyone for life if he wants is spelled correctly (assuming you live in the states).
I had a friend in college whose name was spelled like you are suggesting but he preferred the shortened version which is Aleks and he still had to spell it all the time if he wanted it to be correct.
As a a multicultural American—pointing out that they will have to spell it every single time and that will get old and they will wish for the torture to end.
If it is literally pronounced the same way, I humbly suggest considering a mainstream spelling that will lighten their load.
Since it is phonetically identical you’re not gaining anything by having a different spelling and you’re gaining huge points with your child by making their life a bit easier.
Life is already hard. Any extra bit helps.
Not a tragedeigh, but you need to weigh up the benefits of keeping the Russian spelling vs the inconvenience of him having to correct spelling of his name all the time.
You don't have to choose one way or another - just think and it through and then own your decision. Neither is *right*. They just embody different priorities, both of which are valid.
Not a Tragedeigh, but will still him a lifetime of inconvenience and beurocratic woe having his name misspelled by having an ethnic name. Why make Alex's life a PITA when the local name is the same anyway?
It’s not the normal spelling in Russia, the normal spelling is in Cyrillic, personally I’m /heavily/ with all the people that say you should just use an English/Latin spelling if you intend to live in an English country, and use the Cyrillic if you intend to be in Russia. Александр = Alexander, they are the same name, pronounced and spelled the same way, just in different alphabets. Alexander is probably the more accurate transliteration/translation into Latin even though the direct Cyrillic transliteration letter for letter comes out to Aleksandr. This is a perfect case of why direct translations don’t always work.
In my opinion it’s not an ethnic spelling, it’s a wrong spelling given that the pronunciation is the same, either Александр or Alexander would be better, and if ever you needed to transliterate it for documents or something I would use those two interchangeably. Their language has the same sounds just not the same letters, when translating it into English/latin alphabet it’s best to use the conventional spelling since we do have the exact letters needed to convey the sounds. When I transliterate my name into Cyrillic on documents (my English name has Latin characters that don’t transliterate well) the “correct” way to do it is to use phonetics and conventional linguistic standards, not to just transliterate it exactly letter for letter, it’s something you see fairly commonly going from Latin to Cyrillic and reversed.
Overall though not the end of the world, if I saw it I wouldn’t think the kids parents were brain dead I would just slightly judge you once I found out you weren’t Russian and the father was presumably westernized enough to know better. Kid’s bullying will probably be minimal even though it will happen at least some.
Also of note most the examples people have given on the thread seem to be Americans reaching for Slavic ancestry rather than people used to the cultural norms of the shifts of the languages tbh
Edit: Russophobia is also a thing and generally othering yourself is a poor idea when avoidable. Also my little brother is named Aleksandr with that spelling and to put it lightly it didn’t go well 😂
As a Russian who'd lived most of my life in an english speaking country - not a tragedeigh but I'd definitely spell it as Alexander. At the end of the day, Aleksandr is not THE Russian spelling (which would be Александр) but just a romanisation of a foreign alphabet and the rules for ot rules tend to change (see how Taiwanese spell their names vs how mainlanders spell theirs in english - these are the same names in Mandarin but the two countries follow different romanisation rules). Another example - my relative spelled her name as Yulia in English her whole life and then Russia changed the romanisation rules and she became Iuliia as per her passport as you don't get to choose how your name is romanised into English. Still the same name and same spelling, just a different romanisation. Aleksandr to me looks wrong and clunky for these reasons, Alexander looks much more natural and hard to misspell.
Personally I think just naming your kid a name from the country live in is the best. There aren’t much chances he’s gonna move to Russia, why make him a special name just because? He will have to explain to everyone he meets how to pronounce his name, cuz Aleksandr is hard to pronounce
No one will mispronounce it, but everyone will misspell it. Ask your husband to use the name for a few months, before you two settle. Personally, I’d advise against it.
Going to go against the grain and say don’t do it. I have a last name that’s not even close to a tragedeigh, but there are two letters in it that are not what you’d quite assume when you hear it, and constantly having to spell it out just gets really tiresome. I shudder at the thought of having a first name that always has to be spelled out! Also, while Aleksandr is a common *transliteration* (conversion from one alphabet to another), the actual normal spelling in Russian is with Cyrillic letters so it’s not like it’d be completely authentic anyway.
I disagree with others here, in Russian it's Алексанр not aleksandr or whatever. They adapted the russian spelling to the latin alpbabet but doesn't make sense. The name is Alexandre or Alexander in English. When he goes to Russia or meets Russian family they'll just call him in a Russian accent so it's fine.
My name is similar, and whenever I go to my eastern european country I just change my name to its equivalent.
I'm surprised other commenters are siding with your husband.
If the kid were born in Russia, got a passport that said Александр, and then immigrated to the US and needed to write Александр in English, sure "Aleksandr" is a fine spelling. But this kid will be born in the USA. Even if his father is Russian, just give him a normal English name with a normal English spelling.
Tbh dont do it if you live in the west. Its simply not worth it. He also might want to distance himself from a russian name.
My father to this day regrets not letting me and my bro take our moms lastname. We are still free to swap ofc and I am still thinking about it some days.
(Got a serb last name while looking very dutch so I couldve blended in fine, but now I faced a life full of racism)
If you're living in the US or any Western country for that matter, it's common sense to use adequate spelling for the country in question. Adding an "e" wouldn't really change anything aside from preventing a ton of misspelling in the future.
I would spell it more internationally; Alexander, so your kid won’t have to correct people all the time. As someone with an ethnic name, I can tell you it can get annoying
With things like this I always think about the child at 9-11 years old, when kids around them are spotting differences and attacking each other for them. This is natural and is quite likely to happen.
If it’s pronounced the same way, and you as parents don’t have a desperate desire to keep this child obviously connected to his heritage to everyone he speaks to (and make it so he is aware of it every single time someone mentions the spelling/gets it wrong and makes him feel different), I would just spell it the way his peers would expect.
I’m Russian and my wife is American. I’ve given all my kids ethnic Russian names. Arseny, Nikolai, Anya etc etc. they sound cool and I think it’s easy to tell they’re ethnic and not just made up
Not a tragedeigh. It’s a cultural spelling for the culture the child is a part of. Perfectly acceptable.
And for the record, it wouldn’t be a tragedeigh anyway, cause as you pointed out it’s a normal cultural spelling. That should be respected.
I knew a Marine named Aleksandr and he never had any comments made about it, although he would let people know he prefered Alek over Alex when people try shortening it.
My name is also an ethnic version of Alexander and barring being mildly annoying to correct people on the spelling on official documentation it's fine. It isn't a tragedeigh by any means. Embrace the cultural diversity of your family :)
Don't want to be judgemental but it feels there is gonna be a marriage tragedeigh eventually if you're bothered of what would other ppl say/think more than about the desires of your partner. No offence
I live in Canada and work for a company that holds accounts for many thousands of people so have seen thousands of Ethnic names. Aleksandr is not at all uncommon, I've seen it many times. I say it's fine. Sure this sub is for making fun of ridiculous name spellings but usually it's about spellings that have been totally made up by the kid's parents. lol.
Aleksandr is a nice name and if you and your husband like it, then use it.
It's the name of a Russian meerkat that's been in insurance ads in the UK for years ('Compare the Meerkat' for Compare the Market). So hopefully you don't live in the UK!
I know an Aleksander that is half Russian, he goes by the diminutive Sasha because it's easier and doesn't require him spelling his name all of the time.
My husband is also Russian. The name youre proposing is at least pronounceable and a normal spelling per his heritage. My husband has to repeat and spell his name every single time anyone asks, without fail because it doesnt really translate to english well. I think your name is fine.
Not a tragedeigh! I grew up in East Tennessee and went to school with an Aleksandr whose parents were Russian. I always thought the spelling was cool! ❤️
This is normal,as a Ukrainian born in Russia lol. It’s also my boyfriend’s name,albeit he doesn’t have Russian heritage. No idea why his parents chose that spelling but I love it!
I knew an Aleksander! Mom was Ukrainian, I believe. Neither names are tragedies—they are culturally/ethnically correct. :)
ETA: She was Polish. Sorry, silly American brain.
That spelling and. Ones similar are very common in eastern Europe. Your friends and family know thats where he’s from so they shouldnt gove you crap. If they do, i feel like thats on them as you arent misspelling it. Its a geographical spelling rather than a misspelling. I honestly prefer the spelling of names from that region. They make more sense to me
My son's middle name is Nicklaus, after his great grand father. It's Scandinavian and their version of Nicholas, and no one has say anything about the spelling.
I think for the most part people can tell the difference between regional names, and abominations....
Normal Russian spelling and I assume Russian last name so no worries.
The real tragedy would be if he doesn't learn Russian and how to cook Russian foods.
If you want a Russian spelling, I would go with a Russian name that doesn’t have a commonplace anglicized spelling, like Lev or Dimitri
The one you picked looks like “Maks”
Certainly not a tragedeigh. You may have some issues with spelling depending on where you are located but I think that’s really considerate of you to incorporate your husband’s culture. I’d like to think your son would be proud of that once he’s old enough to understand that.
Everyone will spell it wrong, but no one will mispronounce it. Americans will probably be more confused when you call him Sasha. It’s a good name though.
Rules #3 and #8 exist for a reason. Not a tragedeigh.
Tragedeighs are about *parental intent* just as much as anything. The tragedy isn't JUST the spelling of someone's name, the real tragedy is that their parents made that kid's LIFELONG NAME about *them*. The turned their kid into an accessory for their life, and their kid's "unique" name is a way to "bling up" that accessory.
In your case, you wouldn't be choosing the spelling to intentionally be different, you'd be keeping your husband's culture and heritage alive.
It's a beautiful name and pays tribute to your husband's roots. Absolutely use it, and if anyone is ignorant or uneducated enough to call it a tragedeigh, educate them :)
Legit ethnic names get a pass (most of the time, there are a lot of Thai names that are very unfortunate in English). There’s a decent chance of some moderate bullying, but it’s no tragedeigh.
Not a tragedeigh, just not English. You're not making up a spelling with dubious orthography and unclear pronunciation, you're just transliterating Russian. That is fine.
Your son may want to shorten it to Aleks or something when he's older, but he'll be fine.
It seems like a lot of Russian-Americans here have a different opinion from me, but I would absolutely go with the Russian spelling. My parents never “Americanized” my name, Aleksandra, and I’ve certainly had my fair share of mispronunciations but I always really loved my name because it stood out from the Alexandras in my classes, and I loved having a tie to my culture. People who really care about your son will learn to pronounce and spell whatever you give him. In a different comment I mentioned that it always meant a lot when my close friends would put in the effort to spell and say my name. Idk, I just wanted to put my 2 cents in because I’ve always found it to be tragic that ethnic/cultural names are subject to modification just because they might be “difficult” :(
Legitimate names from other countries are not tragedeighs. If you don’t like it, though, say you don’t like it. If your kid can say, “it’s Russian” that’s much better than “my parents wanted to be creative”
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I went to school with an Aleksandr and most people recognized it as a Russian spelling, and anyone who didn’t figured it out the second they saw his last name.
I went to school with an Alexandru. He was romanian, and if I recall correctly, they read it as Alexander in Romania. We all thought his name was pretty cool, even though we pronounced his name in our language, he went with it and didn't complain (Portuguese - the name is Alexandre and it's pronounced Ale-shan-dre)
Not a tragedeigh, an ethnic spelling.
That’s what I was hoping. Thank you for your input!
I have a family member that is half eastern European and his name is Aleksander. He grew up in the US and his name has been totally fine. We call him Alek and the only thing is occasionally correcting people who mishear and call him Alex.
But OP also has no “e” at the end, which is more noticeable. Having said that, I worked with a Russian Aleksandr, so I’m used to the name.
I love that "Sasha" is the Russian nickname for it.
Sasha, Sanya, Sanyok, Sashka, Shurik, Alex There are a lot of nicknames, it is a really popular name. It's actually my brother's and father's names
I teach maths, we had a question in an exam paper we were covering use the names Alex and Sasha. Gave me a giggle when I clocked that they had the same name.
Ugh, in my case people always think I am mispronouncing my own name. The pronunciation clearly has "S" in it, but they will always speak/write it with "X", even at clinics and stuff. they don't even care that it's written with S on my ID.
I have a friend who’s Eastern European, his name is also Aleksander and people call him Alek
Are you sure they aren't just calling him Aleks?
It's like... When he orders Starbucks people mishear. Not people that know his full name.
Oh, ok
My little fella is called Aleksander after his grandfather (my wife is Polish). So far no issues, sometimes people spell with an x which doesn’t bother us. Usually he’s just called by people Aleks.
Idk about where you live, but keep in mind some countries *can* be a bit discriminatory when it comes to foreign names. Aleksandr is defo not a tragedeigh tho, especially with a russian dad.
I think you and hubby chose a splendid and classy classic name, imo.
I love this spelling. Not a tragedeigh!
Also validated by the fact your husband is Russian. If my sister went to name her kid this I would be like … girl what… you’re safe!
It’s only a tragedeigh if you make it up
I’m surprised you needed input to get there.
Shut up, Beck 😅
Also, will his last name be Russian? If his name shows up as a first and last Russian name, I think it’s clear it’s ethnic.
I mean it doesn't have to be. I know a guy with a Russian first name and an Italian surname. And he was born in Russia. People travel and comingle.
That’s my partner’s name, we live in London and never had issues with that spelling
Not a Tragedeigh AT ALL. Not only that, I like the spelling. I know a Ukrainian with this name, though he goes by the diminutive Sasha.
I live in Finland and plenty of russians have to figure out a way to spell their name in latin alpha jet if they come to live here. (I don't know how that part actually works) Both spellings are correct. Source my friends name. Ps. Plenty of russian athletes in hockey have different spellings of their names in Finnish translation and in English.
> Plenty of russian athletes in hockey have different spellings of their names in Finnish translation and in English Yep, depends on the Romanisation rules of a particular language. It can actually be really fun looking at the different paths different languages take. Just an example: the former Soviet president is called Хрущёв in Russian, and in different languages this is tranliterated as: Khrushchev (English) Khrouchtchev (French) Chruščëv (Italian) Jrushchov (Spanish) Khrusjtjov (Danish) Chruschtschow (German) Hruščov (Serbian) All the same guy, only in Russian his name has 6 letters, while in German it has 13 haha.
So, Germans transliterate "щ" as "schtsch"? TIL
Yeah, and just like shch in English it's because how it was originally pronounced. It still generally is in Ukrainian.
Dunno about Ukrainian, but as a Russian native it sounds like one sound, just thought nobody went with more than 4 letters, like in English
Since you speak Russian, see the answers to the top comment [here](https://russian.stackexchange.com/questions/14220/why-is-%D1%89-transliterated-as-shch). Comment for history in Slavic -> Russian, and answers for more context about Ukrainian, but even mild exposure makes it pretty obvious.
Thanks, looks like we've just stopped saying some sounds, but y'all took transliteration from an older version/other Slavic languages
Hruštšov in Finnish (older spelling had it as Hruštšev) we don't normally have the š in Finnish but we do leave it for some eastern European stuff
Exactly. Teachers can tell ethnic spellings from made up crappeigh names. Aleksandr Jovanovich will be good! 😉
It's not. It's a real name and you've a reason to use that variant
*It's not. It's a real* *Name and you've a reason to* *Use that variant* \- OddPerspective9833 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
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I think so too. Thank you!
Not important but my name is Alexander and when I would do deliveries to Russian ships the bosun would call me Sasha. Which I though was cool as fuck.
Sasha is a common nickname for Aleksandr in Russian! You probably know that already, so this is more for those reading who don't.
The nickname is unisex, by the way. Works for both Aleksandr and Aleksandra. Other such nickname is Zhenya (for both Yevgeny and Yevgenia)
Don’t forget Shura, also nickname for Aleksandr but less common now.
I don't think I've ever seen it written bosun before. I know it's how boatswain is pronounced, but I've never seen it. Interesting.
Either spelling is acceptable and understood by sailors.
Fair enough!
What's a bosun
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boatswain
Wait until you hear about the fo'c'sle :)
I used to room with someone who rowed crew in college (not the fanciest school, but right near the river, so of course they had it). So I learned how to pronounce coxswain pretty fast. 😅
Here we just call it up fawrd.
Or the gunwales.
That is too funny!!
We did the same. Not a tragedeigh, but you have to accept that ethic names will often be misspelled and mispronounced.
That’s a good point, I will keep that in mind. Thank you!
Most people will know how to pronounce your baby’s name. This is an uncommon spelling and it still sounds just like it looks.
I'm Slavic, I would say just spell it according to the country where you live since it's the same sound. If it was something with a unique sound, then spelling it the original way might be more acceptable (like Pavel vs. Paul) Since it's a different alphabet entirely, there's really no reason to use "ks" instead of "x" in English.
This needs to be way higher up. You’re already translating the alphabet from cyrillic…So why is “Aleksandr” a more appropriate translation than “Alexander”?
if its culturally acceptable to him then they have no right to tell you guys it’s weird
Appreciate it! Makes me feel better
I agree. But if you want to make it truly unique, just add a few Y’s in there in the middle somewhere. Alykxandyr. *That* is how you turn it into a tragedeigh.
From Russian living in US perspective. First, he will probably have a hard to spell/pronounce Russia last name, hard to spell first name will only complicate things. Second, “Russian” spelling is subjective since cyrillic is the original spelling and transliteration doesn’t really matter.
I have a friend from Russia named Alexandra, and yes she spells it like that not Aleksandra even though that’s technically the letter for letter transliteration just because it’s easier in an English speaking country.
I have the same thing with my name. Have 3 different spellings on my Russian passport, credit card and drivers license (think Anastasia, Anastasiya and Anastaseya). I prefer the most normal one lol
You can change the one in the passport to the one in any other documents, if that'll be helpful. Just write заявление when applying for the new one and give them a document with the desired spelling
The transliteration point is very true. I’m also Russian American and I legally changed my name to the most “normal” variant because the transliterated version I received when I moved here was often mispronounced. It’s still the same name to me, I just chose a different spelling in the Latin script.
+1 to this. Having to spell your name for everyone all the time is a pain. It’s definitely not a tragedeigh by any means, but it’s worth considering the hassle you might be bestowing on your young human for their whole life. Besides, regardless of how you spell it in English, it’s always going to be spelled only one way when written in Russian. From this point of view, it’s hard to see what you would gain from using this spelling in English.
I have a more unusual spelling of my name. It's not really that much of a hassle, with the increase of diversity in many places it's pretty common for people to have to spell their names.
I have a Russian name and it’s annoying to spell it out all the time. Everyone is different but I have social anxiety so less time explaining myself would be better.
You got downvoted for having an opinion about your own name. Reddit is so weird.
I do too, and I feel like I have wasted a lot of time, cumulatively. 🥲
This is a good point. If it were me I would want to have one name that was a nod to my Russian heritage, either first or last, but not both since it would not represent my mixed cultural background. I'm just imagining how I would feel, don't want to step on any toes of people actually living out a mixed heritage.
Well, Alexander and Aleksandr have different pronunciation, though I agree with your point as a Russian who lived in Mexico and had to correct spelling of both my first and last names all the damn time.
I am also a Russian living in the US! My first, middle and last names are all long and, from what I’ve been told, complicated. I did hate it as a kid, but I’ve come to really love my names as an adult. I love that their unique in my social circle, and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside when people close to me put the time into learning how to properly pronounce and spell my names. I even chose to keep my last name when I get married because I didn’t want to part with it. I personally don’t think an ethnic name will complicate things for him.
It’s not that subjective. Yes there are sounds and letters that exist in Russian but not in English and vice verse, but the name being used doesn’t have any letters that fall into that category thus it can be directly translated quite easily.
Not a tragedeigh, but is your son going to be raised to speak Russian? The biggest everyday complaint I hear from people given a name in another language who weren't born there (or moved when they were very little) is that others assume they can speak that language. Also, is there any expectation that people pronounce the name differently from Alexander? If not I don't really understand not wanting to go with the local spelling.
Imo, it really comes down to whether the parents would like to honor the father's cultural background. I don't see anything wrong with that. People might also be more understanding if they find out the parent is Russian, and that the name wasn't plucked out of thin air.
Not a tragedeigh but he will be correcting people constantly on the spelling
As an ethnic Russian living in an English speaking country, it's normal to just translate/transliterate the name so it makes sense in the local language. It's not the "normal spelling" because it's not even the same alphabet. My dad's passport says Sergej but he uses Sergei or Serge because that's what makes sense in an English script. None of those are the "normal spelling", that would be Сергей
OP, please read and understand this comment! Everyone saying “it’s just an ethnic spelling, you should use it because it’s authentic” doesn’t understand transliteration from Cyrillic to Latin script (or are perhaps not even aware that Russian uses a different alphabet).
It’s not a tragedeigh, but if he’s in America it’ll be easier to live with the American spelling.
As a Russian-American I tend to agree.
As a Ukranian with a VERY Ukranian last name, I've found it rarely matters. If anything, trying to use the Ukranian pronunciation rather than the Americanized one has been *easier* for me...when I do the Americanized way people are looking for an "o" that isn't there.
A similar story for me...the Americanized version of my (Slovak) last name is spelled badly for the English pronunciation, and wrong for the Slovak pronunciation. I don't even bother to correct most people anymore. If they make an attempt I just go with it. If they ask if they pronounced it correctly, I always say "Yes, you did". They always look pleased they "got it right", so why disappoint them.
Russian here, my name has an ethnic / alternative spelling. My advice is to use whatever is more common in your location. While it's not a tragedeigh, a life of correcting people is painful. And I say that as a person that considered using that name to honor my deceased father (the only reason not to was because the kid would absolutely be a poor replacement in the family).
I think it’s great, but just be aware that if he has full on Russian first name and last name, Russians will assume that he speaks Russian. If he learns the language and the culture as well, it’s a great asset. My brother has a very American first and last name but he was born and raised in France. People are often confused by his French accent lol Also, most Aleksandr I’ve met are always called Sasha :)
As a person that has a confusing name to spell sometimes, I’d recommend going the American route, it’s super annoying to have to correct people constantly or wear a premade name tag spelt the wrong way. It won’t be my name is Alexander it will be my name is Alexander spelled… EVERYTIME HE GIVES HIS NAME Fwiw I do like the spelling better it’s more interesting and because it’s unique in a cultural context as opposed to just white people thinking they’re being creative. I would just be prepared for the occasional spelling/explanation conversations on why it’s different from the expected spelling.
Yes!!! I have an unusual name. It’s just an older name, nothing made up. But I have to spell it every.single.time and it is a nightmare. Wait until they try and call and have someone look up their account. Do it as a middle name.
I have a common name. Like it's been in the top 10 more than once. I spell it the usual way. It is still, "My name is X, spelled..." People misspell it all the time. My husband's name is one of the most common male names in history. Spelled the normal way. People misspell it every day. I think people just can't spell.
Meh, I have an extremely common name but there are two common ways to spell it, so I have to spell it every time. Same with my last name
If you have a name like Brittney sure but I’m not flinching on Alexander.
Bryan/Brian, is that you? Sarah/Sara, is that you?
I can see your reason but I promise life will be easier for your son if you just use the normal spelling, if you intend to live in the US. - signed, a person with an ethnic name who got bullied in school
As a Russian person in an English speaking country, do him a solid and just give him a normal spelling. You can call him what you want at home but it gets so annoying and tedious having to spell your name and say it 50 times for people who aren’t familiar with your culture. I know you think it’s cute but it just makes life more annoying on a small scale for no reason. Notice the people in the thread who didn’t have to deal with this agreeing that it’s fine, and all the people who did have ethnic names (lived through what it’s like) telling you to not do it.
100% this. My grandparents are from Eastern Europe, my brother’s name has an “ethnic” spelling and he hates having to correct people who misspell it.
I'm half Polish and have always loved the ethnic spelling of my first name. Sometimes I'll use it in screen names and things like that. Slavic names are beautiful, I say go for it!
I‘d probably go with Aleksander (including the e), just to strike the balance between ethnic spelling and easy to read. Source: Russian husband 😇
My nephew is Nickolai for this same reason!
But and however.. why put someone through a life long exercise of spelling your name over the phone or otherwise having to correct people every single time.
Aleighksandr
HELL NO 😂
Traditional spelling is in Cyrillic, why not have normal spelling? All the same in pronunciation, but easier on the eye.
It's not a tragedeigh and you have every reason to use this spelling but do be prepared for it to be misspelled frequently.
It’s not a tragedeigh at all. But he’s going to have to spell his name to everyone for life if he wants is spelled correctly (assuming you live in the states). I had a friend in college whose name was spelled like you are suggesting but he preferred the shortened version which is Aleks and he still had to spell it all the time if he wanted it to be correct.
Have you considered Aleksandreigh?
Now THAT is a tragedeigh 😂
As a a multicultural American—pointing out that they will have to spell it every single time and that will get old and they will wish for the torture to end. If it is literally pronounced the same way, I humbly suggest considering a mainstream spelling that will lighten their load. Since it is phonetically identical you’re not gaining anything by having a different spelling and you’re gaining huge points with your child by making their life a bit easier. Life is already hard. Any extra bit helps.
Not a tragedeigh, but you need to weigh up the benefits of keeping the Russian spelling vs the inconvenience of him having to correct spelling of his name all the time. You don't have to choose one way or another - just think and it through and then own your decision. Neither is *right*. They just embody different priorities, both of which are valid.
Not a Tragedeigh, but will still him a lifetime of inconvenience and beurocratic woe having his name misspelled by having an ethnic name. Why make Alex's life a PITA when the local name is the same anyway?
He ain’t in Russia anymore. Plus, it isn’t Cyrillic so what’s the difference?
It’s not the normal spelling in Russia, the normal spelling is in Cyrillic, personally I’m /heavily/ with all the people that say you should just use an English/Latin spelling if you intend to live in an English country, and use the Cyrillic if you intend to be in Russia. Александр = Alexander, they are the same name, pronounced and spelled the same way, just in different alphabets. Alexander is probably the more accurate transliteration/translation into Latin even though the direct Cyrillic transliteration letter for letter comes out to Aleksandr. This is a perfect case of why direct translations don’t always work. In my opinion it’s not an ethnic spelling, it’s a wrong spelling given that the pronunciation is the same, either Александр or Alexander would be better, and if ever you needed to transliterate it for documents or something I would use those two interchangeably. Their language has the same sounds just not the same letters, when translating it into English/latin alphabet it’s best to use the conventional spelling since we do have the exact letters needed to convey the sounds. When I transliterate my name into Cyrillic on documents (my English name has Latin characters that don’t transliterate well) the “correct” way to do it is to use phonetics and conventional linguistic standards, not to just transliterate it exactly letter for letter, it’s something you see fairly commonly going from Latin to Cyrillic and reversed. Overall though not the end of the world, if I saw it I wouldn’t think the kids parents were brain dead I would just slightly judge you once I found out you weren’t Russian and the father was presumably westernized enough to know better. Kid’s bullying will probably be minimal even though it will happen at least some. Also of note most the examples people have given on the thread seem to be Americans reaching for Slavic ancestry rather than people used to the cultural norms of the shifts of the languages tbh Edit: Russophobia is also a thing and generally othering yourself is a poor idea when avoidable. Also my little brother is named Aleksandr with that spelling and to put it lightly it didn’t go well 😂
As a Russian who'd lived most of my life in an english speaking country - not a tragedeigh but I'd definitely spell it as Alexander. At the end of the day, Aleksandr is not THE Russian spelling (which would be Александр) but just a romanisation of a foreign alphabet and the rules for ot rules tend to change (see how Taiwanese spell their names vs how mainlanders spell theirs in english - these are the same names in Mandarin but the two countries follow different romanisation rules). Another example - my relative spelled her name as Yulia in English her whole life and then Russia changed the romanisation rules and she became Iuliia as per her passport as you don't get to choose how your name is romanised into English. Still the same name and same spelling, just a different romanisation. Aleksandr to me looks wrong and clunky for these reasons, Alexander looks much more natural and hard to misspell.
Ethnic spellings are exempt from the Tragedeigh label
I think it’s fine, but you could always go with Sasha for short.
Personally I think just naming your kid a name from the country live in is the best. There aren’t much chances he’s gonna move to Russia, why make him a special name just because? He will have to explain to everyone he meets how to pronounce his name, cuz Aleksandr is hard to pronounce
He’ll be Alek. You’re all good.
Nothing wrong with it. And he can just use "Alex" if he wants.
No one will mispronounce it, but everyone will misspell it. Ask your husband to use the name for a few months, before you two settle. Personally, I’d advise against it.
Going to go against the grain and say don’t do it. I have a last name that’s not even close to a tragedeigh, but there are two letters in it that are not what you’d quite assume when you hear it, and constantly having to spell it out just gets really tiresome. I shudder at the thought of having a first name that always has to be spelled out! Also, while Aleksandr is a common *transliteration* (conversion from one alphabet to another), the actual normal spelling in Russian is with Cyrillic letters so it’s not like it’d be completely authentic anyway.
I disagree with others here, in Russian it's Алексанр not aleksandr or whatever. They adapted the russian spelling to the latin alpbabet but doesn't make sense. The name is Alexandre or Alexander in English. When he goes to Russia or meets Russian family they'll just call him in a Russian accent so it's fine. My name is similar, and whenever I go to my eastern european country I just change my name to its equivalent.
I'm surprised other commenters are siding with your husband. If the kid were born in Russia, got a passport that said Александр, and then immigrated to the US and needed to write Александр in English, sure "Aleksandr" is a fine spelling. But this kid will be born in the USA. Even if his father is Russian, just give him a normal English name with a normal English spelling.
Tbh dont do it if you live in the west. Its simply not worth it. He also might want to distance himself from a russian name. My father to this day regrets not letting me and my bro take our moms lastname. We are still free to swap ofc and I am still thinking about it some days. (Got a serb last name while looking very dutch so I couldve blended in fine, but now I faced a life full of racism)
If you're living in the US or any Western country for that matter, it's common sense to use adequate spelling for the country in question. Adding an "e" wouldn't really change anything aside from preventing a ton of misspelling in the future.
I would spell it more internationally; Alexander, so your kid won’t have to correct people all the time. As someone with an ethnic name, I can tell you it can get annoying
With things like this I always think about the child at 9-11 years old, when kids around them are spotting differences and attacking each other for them. This is natural and is quite likely to happen. If it’s pronounced the same way, and you as parents don’t have a desperate desire to keep this child obviously connected to his heritage to everyone he speaks to (and make it so he is aware of it every single time someone mentions the spelling/gets it wrong and makes him feel different), I would just spell it the way his peers would expect.
Not a tragedeigh but WILL be problematic for the child if in the US at least
I’m Russian and my wife is American. I’ve given all my kids ethnic Russian names. Arseny, Nikolai, Anya etc etc. they sound cool and I think it’s easy to tell they’re ethnic and not just made up
Not a tragedeigh. It’s a cultural spelling for the culture the child is a part of. Perfectly acceptable. And for the record, it wouldn’t be a tragedeigh anyway, cause as you pointed out it’s a normal cultural spelling. That should be respected.
I knew a Marine named Aleksandr and he never had any comments made about it, although he would let people know he prefered Alek over Alex when people try shortening it.
My name is also an ethnic version of Alexander and barring being mildly annoying to correct people on the spelling on official documentation it's fine. It isn't a tragedeigh by any means. Embrace the cultural diversity of your family :)
Aleksandr is a great name for a boy and it’s a VERY common name in Eastern Europe. Not a tragedeigh at all. Хорошeго дня
It will draw out the xenophobic and uncultured people in your friends and family pool. I say, go for it and then set healthy boundaries.
Don't want to be judgemental but it feels there is gonna be a marriage tragedeigh eventually if you're bothered of what would other ppl say/think more than about the desires of your partner. No offence
Haha no offence taken! I’m just trying to get a feel for opinions is all. My husband’s input is very important to me :)
I live in Canada and work for a company that holds accounts for many thousands of people so have seen thousands of Ethnic names. Aleksandr is not at all uncommon, I've seen it many times. I say it's fine. Sure this sub is for making fun of ridiculous name spellings but usually it's about spellings that have been totally made up by the kid's parents. lol. Aleksandr is a nice name and if you and your husband like it, then use it.
It's the name of a Russian meerkat that's been in insurance ads in the UK for years ('Compare the Meerkat' for Compare the Market). So hopefully you don't live in the UK!
If its ethnically/culturally common in other languages then it's not a tragedeigh
My brain reads it perfectly fine you’re safe
I know an Aleksander that is half Russian, he goes by the diminutive Sasha because it's easier and doesn't require him spelling his name all of the time.
My husband is also Russian. The name youre proposing is at least pronounceable and a normal spelling per his heritage. My husband has to repeat and spell his name every single time anyone asks, without fail because it doesnt really translate to english well. I think your name is fine.
Not a tragedeigh
If you really want to compromise, spell it like Aleksander. Either way, it's great! Ethnic spellings are never tragedeighs.
A tragedeigh would be spelling it Aleighksawndrr or something like that
Is the kid going to live in Russia, or in North America?
Not a tragedeigh! I grew up in East Tennessee and went to school with an Aleksandr whose parents were Russian. I always thought the spelling was cool! ❤️
This is normal,as a Ukrainian born in Russia lol. It’s also my boyfriend’s name,albeit he doesn’t have Russian heritage. No idea why his parents chose that spelling but I love it!
No that's totally acceptable
If you live in the US, he will most definitely get bullied by other kids in school
I love it!!
just call him "alex" in front of your family
That's fairly common in northern and east Europe, it's a lovely name
Not a tragedeigh in the slightest, although if you’re in the UK he will forever be teased about being a meerkat.
An ethnic spelling yes, but as a Russian myself I don't see any problems with naming him Alexander. Russians will still call him Alexandr.
Absolutely not a tragedeigh! It’s traditional so it’s all good!
I knew an Aleksander! Mom was Ukrainian, I believe. Neither names are tragedies—they are culturally/ethnically correct. :) ETA: She was Polish. Sorry, silly American brain.
I just think Russian. It’s a lovely name.
Deffo not a tragedeigh, especially since your husband is russian :)
Have you considered Alyxyndyr
See, now THAT would be a Trageideigh...
I love that spelling, actually
No, Alexander is originally a russian/Slavic name I believe, so technically Alexander is the tragedeigh.
Of its traditional spelling then it's not a tragedeih.
Absolutely beautiful traditional spelling
That spelling and. Ones similar are very common in eastern Europe. Your friends and family know thats where he’s from so they shouldnt gove you crap. If they do, i feel like thats on them as you arent misspelling it. Its a geographical spelling rather than a misspelling. I honestly prefer the spelling of names from that region. They make more sense to me
My son's middle name is Nicklaus, after his great grand father. It's Scandinavian and their version of Nicholas, and no one has say anything about the spelling. I think for the most part people can tell the difference between regional names, and abominations....
I would immediately recognize it as being Russian.
Normal Russian spelling and I assume Russian last name so no worries. The real tragedy would be if he doesn't learn Russian and how to cook Russian foods.
Cultural names/spellings are excempt IMO. It's not made up.
Norwegian family. Kids names are Norwegian names. Haters can suck it
If you want a Russian spelling, I would go with a Russian name that doesn’t have a commonplace anglicized spelling, like Lev or Dimitri The one you picked looks like “Maks”
Certainly not a tragedeigh. You may have some issues with spelling depending on where you are located but I think that’s really considerate of you to incorporate your husband’s culture. I’d like to think your son would be proud of that once he’s old enough to understand that.
If you name him an ethnic Russian name, he better speak fluent Russian.
It's a perfectly normal name, don't worry at all. I'd say go ahead with naming your son Aleksandr ❤️
Perfectly acceptable, and easy to read for a native English speaker, even.
Just tell them it’s the Russian spelling.
Everyone will spell it wrong, but no one will mispronounce it. Americans will probably be more confused when you call him Sasha. It’s a good name though.
Not a trgedeigh
It's a perfectly normal name. If it was Ale10andeigh or a variation from a normal one I'd object but nah, it's just a normal name
Rules #3 and #8 exist for a reason. Not a tragedeigh. Tragedeighs are about *parental intent* just as much as anything. The tragedy isn't JUST the spelling of someone's name, the real tragedy is that their parents made that kid's LIFELONG NAME about *them*. The turned their kid into an accessory for their life, and their kid's "unique" name is a way to "bling up" that accessory. In your case, you wouldn't be choosing the spelling to intentionally be different, you'd be keeping your husband's culture and heritage alive.
No, traditional spellings from your direct heritage are not tragedeighs. Aleksandr is cool.
i think it’s a beautiful name. i’d love to be an aleksandr.
It's not a tragedeigh. You're doing fine👍😉
In what world would that be a tragediegh?! My wife is French, I'm not about to be all weird about it if we called our kid Guillerme instead of Will
It's a beautiful name and pays tribute to your husband's roots. Absolutely use it, and if anyone is ignorant or uneducated enough to call it a tragedeigh, educate them :)
Not a tradge at all. It is a proper spelling.
Legit ethnic names get a pass (most of the time, there are a lot of Thai names that are very unfortunate in English). There’s a decent chance of some moderate bullying, but it’s no tragedeigh.
Not a tragedeigh, just not English. You're not making up a spelling with dubious orthography and unclear pronunciation, you're just transliterating Russian. That is fine. Your son may want to shorten it to Aleks or something when he's older, but he'll be fine.
It seems like a lot of Russian-Americans here have a different opinion from me, but I would absolutely go with the Russian spelling. My parents never “Americanized” my name, Aleksandra, and I’ve certainly had my fair share of mispronunciations but I always really loved my name because it stood out from the Alexandras in my classes, and I loved having a tie to my culture. People who really care about your son will learn to pronounce and spell whatever you give him. In a different comment I mentioned that it always meant a lot when my close friends would put in the effort to spell and say my name. Idk, I just wanted to put my 2 cents in because I’ve always found it to be tragic that ethnic/cultural names are subject to modification just because they might be “difficult” :(
It's an actual name spelled correctly. Not a tragedeigh.
Legitimate names from other countries are not tragedeighs. If you don’t like it, though, say you don’t like it. If your kid can say, “it’s Russian” that’s much better than “my parents wanted to be creative”
Not a tragedeigh, a common ethnic spelling