Baby boy name - help choose!!! :)

Boy Names
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone,

Me and my wife are trying to name our baby boy.

She wants to give him a Russian name, Artyom (pronounced [name_m]Art[/name_m]-ium). It’s a bit hard to pronounce for folks here, so I’m not entirely convinced… I’d prefer [name_m]Austin[/name_m] or [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] to make it easier for others to pronounce (so that he’s not the odd kid with a weird name no one can pronounce).

Though, her argument is that Artyom is unique and can be easily shortened. A shortened version (not nickname) could be [name_m]Art[/name_m] or [name_m]Artie[/name_m]. I myself prefer [name_m]Art[/name_m] if we do go with Artyom as [name_m]Artie[/name_m] sounds like a pet name for [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]. My concern with the shortened name is that [name_m]Art[/name_m] or [name_m]Artie[/name_m] might sound a bit strange as names used in a professional setting…

If you’re at a cocktail party and a guy introduces himself as “[name_m]Hi[/name_m], I’m [name_m]Art[/name_m], what’s your name?” would you be:

“Oh that’s actually your name (too short/strange)? :oops:” or “that’s a uniquely awesome name! :cool:” (or something of the sort :slight_smile:

What’s your first impression of the name/any associations?

Thanks!!!

2

I’ve know of several professional [name_m]Art[/name_m]'s. I think Artyom is a great unique choice. Please don’t name him [name_u]Aidan[/name_u]. There are oodles of them out there. Is your wife Russian? If so, I also love [name_m]Lev[/name_m] and [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]. Artyom gets my vote!

3

[name_m]Art[/name_m] seems a little old fashioned to me, but not in a bad way. I would probably, being the nosey thing I am, ask if it was short for anything and as soon as I heard Artyom I would develop a very healthy respect for his parents (you). That is a lovely and uniquely beautiful name! Although, my vote is for [name_m]Art[/name_m] instead of [name_m]Artie[/name_m] as I have the same association you do, plus it reminds me of artery.

4

Thank you for your opinions! I’m definitely considering Artyom, and it’s reassuring that you think that [name_m]Art[/name_m] doesn’t sound strange. Yes my wife is Russian, and [name_m]Lev[/name_m] and [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] is also good boyandgirl, though we’re aiming for naming our boy with a name that begins with “A” so that everyone in our family has a name that starts with an A :slight_smile: Yeah, we’re silly. Thanks [name_f]Julia[/name_f] for your input, I love the “develop a healthy respect for his parents” part, makes me want to name him Artyom! :slight_smile:

5

[name_m]Art[/name_m] is definitely a professional sounding name. I say go for it!

6

Congratulations!

On the one hand, I see your point–I think a lot of people I know would look at Artyom and just go, “Uhhh… [name_m]Artie[/name_m]… I’m sorry, I’m just going to butcher that.” ([name_m]Even[/name_m] with the healthy number of Russian and Slavic people in the area. There’s not a ton, but I know a rather large Belarusian family, and they seem to always have Russian-speaking friends tagging along! I think some might be north a state or so, though.) On the other hand, it seems like Artyom is pronounced just like it looks.

If you don’t want to go for Artyom, and want to stick to an “A” name, I don’t think you need to swing to the opposite end of the spectrum and go with a trendy (and, in the opinion of some, overused and tired) name like [name_m]Austin[/name_m] or [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] that your wife probably struggles to relate to culturally. Personally, I’m an American mutt, but if I married into a family with strong ties to another nationality, I would TOTALLY embrace that for our children’s names, although that is probably because I have a huge thing for names from other cultures! :wink: Have you looked at other Russian “A” alternatives? So far I’ve come across [name_m]Abram[/name_m] (which is said differently than in English, but still very cool, and not too hard to enforce. It’s also very hip/stylish right now, and the nns [name_m]Abe[/name_m] and [name_m]Bram[/name_m] are very vogue, as well!), [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] (timeless!), [name_m]Alexei[/name_m] (le swoon!), [name_m]Anatoly[/name_m], [name_m]Andrei[/name_m] (I know a Romanian [name_m]Andrei[/name_m], and he seemed to do just fine with it!), [name_m]Artur[/name_m] (and [name_m]Artie[/name_m]/[name_m]Art[/name_m] would work here, as well), [name_m]Anton[/name_m], [name_m]Arkady[/name_m], Avgustin, [name_m]Avel[/name_m] (which I assume is the Russian form of [name_m]Abel[/name_m], which is super hot right now, but I am not 100% sure), etc. It seems like quite a lot of those would bridge the gap well between her Russian culture and maybe something a little bit easier for your family (and English-speaking friends/acquaintances) to pronounce/accept.

For what it’s worth, I see no problem in introducing oneself as [name_m]Art[/name_m]. “[name_m]Hi[/name_m], I’m [name_m]Art[/name_m].” Why not? I know an [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] who probably does the same thing, and I don’t think most people would freak out about just [name_m]Art[/name_m]? They may ask, “Oh, is that short for anything?” but most people seem to do that when people introduce themselves by a nn. :slight_smile:

Good luck!

7

I really like the name Artyom! It’s very unique but easy to pronounce. I personally like it a lot more than [name_m]Art[/name_m] and it wouldn’t need to be shortened. But [name_m]Art[/name_m] is a perfectly professional sounding name if so. [name_m]Ty[/name_m] could also be a nn for Artyom.

8

Thanks everyone for your input! :slight_smile: [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], thanks for the name suggestions, I really like [name_m]Abram[/name_m]/[name_m]Abel[/name_m]. Though the general consensus seems to be that Artyom is good, and [name_m]Art[/name_m] is a good shortened version/nick name. We’ll probably stick with it, as others have also suggested to go with Artyom, it’s a strong name. The only thing, unless you see it written out it’s a bit hard to pronounce and not as instantly memorable as names that fall in the middle of the English/Russian name spectrum (like [name_m]Abram[/name_m] for example). [name_f]Imagine[/name_f] if you meet a guy and he introduces himself as “Artyom”, would you remember his name? I myself have a strange name (by Canadian standards) which sounds like an English-speaking name but is slightly different, which makes people confused and call me by strange variations of the name until I correct them… I don’t want my son to have the same (extremely) annoying problem, so that’s why I’m looking at similar but more “normal” names common in the [name_u]West[/name_u]. If anyone has more suggestions, please chime in!

9

[name_m]Art[/name_m] certainly isn’t a strange name or nickname. I think that most people will probably just assume his full name is [name_m]Arthur[/name_m].

10

I really like Artyom! It’s interesting, and [name_m]Art[/name_m] is a cute nickname.