Need name help

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

OK these aren't for babies, or even real life people; but names are names. They are for characters in my stories, and it's driving me crazy because I'm a total perfectionist with character names.

So here goes, would you be so kind as to ...

A) finish this sibset...
boy
Nicolai Felixovich Yusupov
boy
Felix Felixovich Yusupov

(Felixovich is part of a Russian naming convention, meaning 'son of Felix' [yup Felix is a juniour, guess they ran out of names]. Yusupov is their surname)
It's for a historical novel, based on real people. So in keeping with the story's setting they have to be traditional names that are well used in Russia. Might be nice if they had nicknames too.
Trust me I have researched high and low and found no record of these brothers names, so have resorted to making them up.

B) A middle name for Madeline [mad-uh-lane]
* surname is Donaghue
* Family is French/Irish (want to represent that in her name)
* They're fairly catholic too, so a saints name might be nice.
* Elder brother is Alexander Patrick [Patrick is their father's name]

C) Does Magnolia May Jones a good combo?
She gets teasingly called Maggie May, so got thinking May might be good as middle name. If it doesn't work then could you suggest something else? (then Maggie May can just be because of the song)

Thank you :)

Comments

[ifancylust.livejournal.com]

i like the way you're pronouncing madeline..but people would probably pronounce it mad-uh-lyne. i would suggest spelling it madelaine.

[cleddy.livejournal.com]

i like Madeline Patrice (it is actually on my short list for real baby names! hehe)

[wolf-shadow.livejournal.com]

What period are you writing A for? Common male names used over the last 200 years or so include:
Aleksandr (Sasha)
Nikolai (Kolya)
Konstantin (Kostya)
Anatoli
Ivan (Vanya)
Anton (Tonya/ Tosya)
Pavel (Pasha)
Mikhail (Misha)

Use this (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/paul/) for good evidence on medieval Russian names.

X doesn't exist in Russian, it's more accurate to use 'ks', thus Feliksovich, Aleksandr. C=K too.

I've assumed you know about standard short forms/ nicknames in Russian...

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

It's set around 1916, but the characters would have been born in the late 19th century.

Oh didn't really realise that, I can't read Russian, so only seen English texts and the names have been spelt with Xs.

Yeah do know a fair bit, and can easily research more if needed.

[wolf-shadow.livejournal.com]

*bows* Glad to be of service! Yell if you want any more help on Russian stuff (Use my LJ e-mail if you like)

[quiet-recluse.livejournal.com]

B) Madeline Aisling Donaghue
Or like, just look here: http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bj333/HomePage.boys.html

[kati-d.livejournal.com]

Madeline Cecelia, Madeline Kathleen, Madeline Patrice, Madeline Margaret

[ciara-belle.livejournal.com]

Mary (and all its variations) is extremely popular among Catholic families, from what I've noticed. I believe Mary is also seen as an especial patron of Ireland, so that might be a good choice.

Brigid (or a variation) might work too, as St. Brigid is a well-known Irish saint.

[babyhoyt.livejournal.com]

b) I would spell it Madeleine to make it proper french.
Madeleine Kathleen, Madeleine Catherine

c) where is this magnolia may ones from? what sort of family background? the names makes me think of middle class southern

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

She is southern (from Georgia), African American, and I guess her family are fairly middle class.

[babyhoyt.livejournal.com]

ooh. am I good at this game or what?? If you spell May as Mae, it might seem more natural, and less chance it didn't cross the mother's mind about Maggie May when she named her baby. And I hope she gets the full Magnolia Mae Jones! thing when she gets in trouble!

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

Ooh I like that :)
Her family have always called her Nollie for short, so yeah guess it's feasible they wouldn't have twigged.
Shall have to do that.

[ericaamericka.livejournal.com]

Okay...one tip...If the name your using is intended to be read you need to spell the name like you want it pronounced. If you spell a name Madeline, people are either going to pronounce it Mad-uh-lyne or Mad-uh-lynn, not Mad-uh-lane. I don't mean to be offensive, but it's the truth.

In reference to Magnolia May...I think it depends on the ammount of people that call her Maggie May. If everyone does, I'd make her middle name May, but if it's just like, one or two people, like her parents, or something like that then it would be cuter to use something different, like Magnolia Anna Jones, or something of the sort.

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

It doesn't really bother me how people pronounce it. That's just the way I would say it.

Not sure yet how many people will call her that. One friend starts it off, then it might catch on later in the story. Just thought it might be kinda funny if she has to admit May is her middle name.

[ericaamericka.livejournal.com]

I think it sounds cute. :)

[peach-rose-girl.livejournal.com]

Fyodor
Grigory

Madeleine is my preferred spelling, but if it's pronounced like Madalaine, spell it that way. For that, I think you could go with Brigid (patron saint of ireland), Irene, Patricia, Maureen, Christine, Mara, Belle, Colette, Elise, Margot, Nanette, Bonnie, Caitlin, Catherine, Iona, Kathleen, Kirstie, Logan, Maura, Maeve, Mona, Megan, Nimue, Nora, Reese, Shauna.

Magnolia Mae is my favorite. :-) Mae is my middle name, and I love Magnolia, because it's the name of a character from Showboat, which is one of my favorite musicals. It sounds very southern.

[tearsmist.livejournal.com]

I always loved the name Nicolai ;) I have a close friend who spells it Nicholie :) I always loved his name
Nicholie Xavier