I’ve got a question about names in [name_f]Russia[/name_f]. My book isn’t set in [name_f]Russia[/name_f], exactly, but on a fictional island where they speak Russian. My main character is called [name_f]Anna[/name_f], she has a little brother called [name_m]Aleksandr[/name_m], a cousin called [name_f]Natalya[/name_f] and a best friend named [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m]. I’ve given them the nicknames [name_f]Anya[/name_f], [name_u]Sasha[/name_u], [name_f]Natasha[/name_f] and [name_m]Kolya[/name_m]. I hope these are right, otherwise I’m in COMPLETELY the wrong place 
So, I’ve got three questions. 1. Something for [name_f]Anya[/name_f] to call [name_m]Kolya[/name_m]. The two are very close but are not romantically involved, more like siblings. [name_f]Anya[/name_f] is sixteen and [name_m]Kolya[/name_m] is seventeen. I gather that Kolen’ka is a diminutive of [name_m]Kolya[/name_m], but I’m not sure if it has romantic undertones? Like I said, the two are in no way lovers. I also saw on another website that Kol’ka is suitable for friends, but can also be very condescending. I’m a little confused?! 2. Something for [name_m]Kolya[/name_m] to call [name_f]Anya[/name_f]. He’s a little more free with the diminutives, calling her malyshka, lapushka, Annechka. Again, I don’t think these have romantic connections. He thinks of her as his little sister. I also wondered if olenenok would work. I gather that it means fawn, and I haven’t heard it used as a term of endearment, but I think it could work. So long as it hasn’t got any other associations. 3. Lastly, something for the grandmother to call her grandchildren. Despite [name_m]Kolya[/name_m] not being related, she thinks of him as her elder grandson. She grew up in very high society in the 1920s, and I read somewhere that she could call [name_m]Kolya[/name_m] “Koka”. I hope this is right. Are there similar nicknames for the rest of her grandchildren? Thank you very much in advance, I hope I haven’t been too long-winded 
[name_m]Nikolai[/name_m]?
Oooh,yes,diminutives for [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m]-I have no idea where to start.Well,[name_m]Kolya[/name_m] is very normal,but Kolyun is a variant that isn’t too common,and is more of a modern coinage,and is often used to refer to boys named [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] amongst younger friends that are close to one another.If you’d like something even more unusual,here’s a little list I made;
Kolyunya,Nikolasha,Nikasha,Kokonka,Nikolenka,Kolyushka,[name_f]Nika[/name_f],Nikolka,and my favorite,Kolyunyushka.
Most of these are uncommon and considered a little odd,but when used,are normally for close friends.
As for the grandma,I think Koka would work-if I’m not mistaken,it’s considered to be a bit childish,and I think it’d make sense for and older person to refer to him by a youthful sounding diminutive,especially if he were to be embarrassed by it.
Although my opinion on it probably isn’t wanted,I can’t help but to feel that your characters names are a little stereotypical;I don’t mean to be offensive,but that’s how I feel.
Well,anyway,hope I helped and good luck!
[name_m]Mikhail[/name_m] is a good one