Hello again!
Like I said in a previous post, I believe that you should select the name that you deeply love and admire for your daughter. Go with your heart! That’s the only way you will not regret your decision later.
I don’t like in the UK or even in an English-speaking country. However, I have a good friend named Anast@siya. Her name is beautiful! At first, people may have some difficulties with the spelling but they get used to it. I also knew a [name_m]Mikhail[/name_m], a [name_f]Sofiya[/name_f], a [name_m]Yuri[/name_m], a [name_m]Vitali[/name_m], a [name_f]Natasha[/name_f], and a [name_f]Veronika[/name_f], for example.
I believe you should embrace your culture and give your daughter a name that is important to you.
Honestly, your neighbour made a really unpleasant and unhappy comment. Quite rude, in my opinion. You’re not [name_f]English[/name_f], so you don’t have to select an [name_f]English[/name_f] name… Most of the times, when people make that type of comments, it is because they aren’t very receptive to immigrants, different cultures or even new ideas…
When people from English-speaking countries emigrate to non-English-speaking countries, most of them give their children [name_f]English[/name_f] or international names, so why can’t you choose a Russian name in the UK?
I have family, friends, and colleagues who live or have lived in the UK, and as far as I know, they don’t have/didn’t have problems with their names. Some of their names are [name_f]Inês[/name_f], [name_f]Lúcia[/name_f], [name_m]Nelson[/name_m], [name_f]Isabel[/name_f], [name_m]Márcio[/name_m], Nádia, [name_f]Carmen[/name_f], [name_f]Andreia[/name_f], [name_f]Madalena[/name_f], [name_m]Joel[/name_m] and [name_m]Tiago[/name_m]. Of course the pronounciation is different in [name_f]English[/name_f], but the names don’t become unusable…
Many countries and cities in Europe are multicultural. There are so many places rich in different cultures, with citizens from all around the world. I think that is wonderful! Sharing your culture and traditions is amazing.
Your sons’ names are wonderful! Your list for your baby girl is gorgeous.
The names [name_f]Maria[/name_f] and [name_f]Tatiana[/name_f] are used in more that 15 languages! [name_f]Irina[/name_f] and [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] are also easily recognized everywhere, in my opinion. [name_f]Irina[/name_f] Shayk really made the name stand out in the last decades. However, there are many more talented Irina’s out there! I have encountered Irinas from distinct nationalities and ethnicities. [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] has multiple namesakes in popular culture. If you click on the name here on Nameberry, you will find more that 30 famous women named [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] (members of royal families, gymnasts, dancers, singers, actresses, etc.).
[name_f]Xenia[/name_f], [name_f]Aleksandra[/name_f] and [name_f]Yekaterina[/name_f] are a little less intuitive to pronounce and spell. However, if you love them and if you feel that your daughter’s name is one of these 3 options, go with it! [name_f]Xenia[/name_f] has a magnificent meaning. [name_m]Perfect[/name_m] for your daughter, actually! I think “hospitable, welcoming” sounds great for a baby born abroad. It’s a really nice ancient greek name, loaded with history. [name_f]Aleksandra[/name_f] and [name_f]Yekaterina[/name_f] are also lovely versions of [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and Katherine/Catherine. They’re timeless, classic, well-established names that have been used for centuries. They’re absolutely wonderful!