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ArchivesRe: Pondering female Russian names
in reply to a message by Lillian
The only one I can think of is Lyubov (stands for 'love').
The reason is quite simple: the majority of Russian feminine nouns end in A, no wonder the story's the same with fem. names.
The tendency is to make anything that is feminine end in A. When it comes to foreign women, we still add an A wherever missing, otherwise it would not sound feminine to us. Napoleon's wife was named Josephine, and she's widely known as Josephina in Russia.
Coming back to Lyubov, the nn is Lyuba, with the A!
By the way, the two names you mentioned are out of use nowadays. Esfir is old-fashioned; Ninel used to be popular, but not anymore. Thus, Lyubov is the only Russian female name without the A that is still widely popular.
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Pureness rules the world
The reason is quite simple: the majority of Russian feminine nouns end in A, no wonder the story's the same with fem. names.
The tendency is to make anything that is feminine end in A. When it comes to foreign women, we still add an A wherever missing, otherwise it would not sound feminine to us. Napoleon's wife was named Josephine, and she's widely known as Josephina in Russia.
Coming back to Lyubov, the nn is Lyuba, with the A!
By the way, the two names you mentioned are out of use nowadays. Esfir is old-fashioned; Ninel used to be popular, but not anymore. Thus, Lyubov is the only Russian female name without the A that is still widely popular.
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Pureness rules the world
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Replies
No, not anymore, although... wait a minute...My grandmother has friend named Stalina! Well, no surprise, as she was born in the 1930s. What is more surprising, I have met a girl of my age named Vladlena! I can find no explanation to that unless... her parents simply did not realise what it meant. Quite possible.
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Pureness rules the world
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Pureness rules the world
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Well, it sounds OK after all...but it's not a name I would consider, despite being left-wing...Lenin was a bit extreme.
Surrealism is the magical surprise of finding a lion in a wardrobe where you were sure of finding shirts - Frida Kahlo
Surrealism is the magical surprise of finding a lion in a wardrobe where you were sure of finding shirts - Frida Kahlo
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Thank you very much for that
And just to say, Irina, you have a lovely name. Beautiful artwork on your profile, too. Very nice to meet you, and thanks again for the information.
~Lillian~
Proud daughter of Ann and John
Proud sister of Lauren and Leah
Proud wife of David
Proud mother of Alexander, Scarlett, Sophia, and Gideon
And just to say, Irina, you have a lovely name. Beautiful artwork on your profile, too. Very nice to meet you, and thanks again for the information.
~Lillian~
Proud daughter of Ann and John
Proud sister of Lauren and Leah
Proud wife of David
Proud mother of Alexander, Scarlett, Sophia, and Gideon
1