My husband mentioned that he absolutely is serious about this name and really wants us to use if for a son. My first association is [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] the Terrible…but I suppose that might not be an obvious thing anymore. Those who are familiar with my posts concerning my husband’s “nature of names” (he always jokes around and is hardly ever serious, but doesn’t really ever offer serious suggestions) might remember that I take his ‘serious’ suggestions seriously lol. So I want to warm up to this name. I’m not against it, but I am not head over heels over it. I much prefer [name_m]Ian[/name_m], which he isn’t too keen on.
What do you think of [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]? I looked it up on here and found a few negative comments concerning the pronunciation of the name…so, to make it clear, we’d be pronouncing it eye-van, which is what would pretty much be the norm in the States.
As a second question, what do you think about these possible combinations? This is a tentative list, using names that we already like.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u]: DH’s suggestion, but really only because [name_u]James[/name_u] is his own mn.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Moore[/name_m]: [name_m]Moore[/name_m] being after the town we met in
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Paul[/name_m]: [name_m]Paul[/name_m] has some family significance to me.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Dominic[/name_m]: [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] is a name we both really like and it has family ties to me.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m]: DH’s suggestion…[name_m]Henry[/name_m] is after his late grandpa
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Connor[/name_m]/[name_u]Conner[/name_u]: DH really, really wants to use [name_m]Connor[/name_m]/[name_u]Conner[/name_u] as a first name, but I think it clashes horribly with our last name…but it’s actually more tolerable as a mn.
It’s a bit of an “old man” name to me. I expect grandpa’s to be named [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] (no offense, just my personal taste). However, of your combinations I think [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] is handsome.
I am not a huge fan of [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]. [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] the Terrible is actually the first thing I think of, as well. haha I like [name_m]Ian[/name_m], though. It’s too bad your hubby does not.
Of your combos, I actually really like them all except [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the others.
I like [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] the best! I think once you know someone with the name it sounds softer and less “Terrible” I think it’s a great name!
I think [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] is a great name! Strong, striking, under-the-radar but instantly recognisable. I like [name_m]Ivor[/name_m]/[name_m]Ivar[/name_m], [name_m]Ivo[/name_m] and [name_m]Ives[/name_m] too. It’s a lovely sound.
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] is my favourite middle with it, and I really like [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] too. [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] is very handsome but [name_u]James[/name_u] seems to be every little boy’s middle at the moment, and increasing numbers of girls’ too!
I love the name! I knew an [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] in his twenties, he was dark, handsome, and very nice. [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] sounds adorable and flows nicely in my opinion!
Haha, no offense taken! [name_f]Every[/name_f] grandpa starts out somewhere though, so it doesn’t bug me I appreciate your feedback! Thank you! And yeah, [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] is really what my husband is pushing for…I think it is pretty handsome, too
Ugh, I know! Lol. I’ve been watching historical documentaries lately and many dealt with him. I told my husband and he went, “Well…he couldn’t have been that terrible though?” Then proceeded to tell me that he thought of [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] because of the [name_m]Power[/name_m] Rangers villain [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] Ooze facepalm but he just really likes the name. So I don’t know lol. Whatever the association, I guess at least he likes a name, finally. I so wish he preferred [name_m]Ian[/name_m], too! He actually does like the name, but now is obsessed with this one. Thank you for your feedback
Thank you I agree wholeheartedly! We actually don’t know any [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]'s, personally, but I do think that having a son by the name would make it more personable to us and others
Thanks so much! It certainly does seem strong! I think [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], and [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] will end up being our top middle name contenders for it. I agree about [name_u]James[/name_u], though! We work with 2, it’s our nephew’s first name (doesn’t bother anyone to have a repeat though), it’s my husband’s middle name, we know a few from church, and so on. It’s sooooooo common! I adore it despite that, but even I can’t shake the “filler” connotation it has.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] is not really my style, but I do like it objectively. [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] the Terrible is the biggest drawback, as you’ve said. I think it could be a really interesting, strong, and unusual choice, so it’s worth trying to get used to it. I like [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] the best.
I love the name [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]. It’s simple but strong. While some may associate it with [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] the terrible I don’t think many people would even know enough about history to think of that. I know a couple [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]'s and have even seen it spelled Eivan. I agree with your husband on [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u]. It’s a great combo.
I think [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] is great!! It is unusable for me because of an acquaintance, but I really like it! [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] is super handsome.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] is a gorgeous name. Strong, handsome, substantial . . . ticks all the right boxes for me. Nicknames if needed could be [name_m]Ivo[/name_m], [name_u]Van[/name_u], or the Russian diminutive [name_m]Vanya[/name_m].
Most of your mn suggestions go well. I like that both of you like [name_m]Connor[/name_m] and [name_m]Dominic[/name_m].
Other suggestions based on [name_m]Ivan[/name_m], [name_m]Dominic[/name_m], and [name_m]Connor[/name_m]:
@kpearl: Yeah, the Terrible thing is really hard for my mind to get over, even though that happened ages ago. Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad…not like he was alive this moment and I named my son after him. Thank you for your response [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] is definitely one of my top choices!
@namelover0711: [name_m]Ah[/name_m], yeah, this is one case where I would actually hope most people don’t know history too well lol. I love the simple but strong description of [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]…it definitely describes the name well and is actually the basic “hopes” that I would have in mind for my children’s names. As far as other spellings go, I actually know an Eivan (his parents wanted all of their sons to have E names, even going as far as to spell their other son’s name as Eian) and an Aivyn, but like the [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] spelling best. Also, my husband is really pleased to be gathering more support for [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] Thank you!
@oliveshoot: Thanks so much! It makes me really happy to see positive comments on the name
@amberdaydream: Thank you! I’m glad to hear that it would go with the other names in my signature! I had worried a bit that it would stand out.
@morning_glory: Awe, thank you! Thanks for listing some nicknames, too! As I warm up to the name, I find myself pondering over possible nicknames, even though I know that a nickname isn’t needed! I do like [name_m]Ivo[/name_m] and even [name_m]Vanya[/name_m] I like many of the names you’ve suggested!! Some are unusable for us for various reasons, but one that stands out in particular that I feel my husband might really like is [name_m]Connory[/name_m]! I’ve never seen that before! Aside for popularity, the main reason I don’t want to use [name_m]Connor[/name_m] itself is that it is a bit rhymey with our last name…but [name_m]Connory[/name_m] would solve that perfectly! Brilliant! Thank you!!