[Jim_in_PA]

Primary was they are the names that the girls have been called for 6 and 10 years respectively. I would not change names in a non-infant situation beyond "Englishization" (my word) unless a) the child requests it and/or b) the name would be very difficult to deal with in our culture for any number of reasons.

[kimber413]

The only way I would change an older child's name is if they wanted to change. Some kids do, as they want to leave their old life behind and begin a new one.

Kaitlin was one that DH and I could agree on. I wanted something that would be cute if shortened to a nickname (Katie), and he just wanted something that would go with his last name, which isn't much. Her original first name was kept as a middle name so she could keep a part of her past.

[kimber413]

Originally Posted by gnealey

Hi everyone I am new to this. I was wondering if you could share your experiences with me reguarding anything that you have experienced. We are in the process of adopting. We are interested in an 11 yr old girl. We have 3 sons biological. BUt know this is what we need to do. LOve someone else that does not feel that love.


We are open to hear what ever you have to let us know what to expect would be great.

Gail

Gail, welcome! You really should start your own thread ("new thread" in the top left corner) with some specific questions. Posted inside another thread like this, it could easily get looked over, and is kind of off topic for comments.

[waitinginnj]

I chose a name I liked for a long time. I also found the meaning important to me. My daughter's name means Song of Joy. Part of my reason for adoption was to add more joy to my life.

My daughter's middle name is her grandmother's name. I knew it would mean a lot to my mom and I announced it at my shower - she was shocked.

I kept the option of retaining her Russian name, if it was adaptable. But, I didn't feel that it was. It would have been hard to pronounce and to me doesn't sound Russian. Also, I felt more comfortable making that decision, when I realized what her Russian nickname was and that this was the only name that she ever really heard. It certainly wouldn't have made it on the playground or in business as an adult.

I think I did okay. She seems very proud of her name and hates it when she meets someone with the same name.

[Max'sMommy]

We had everything planned out to be Henry, needless to say our plan was changed by God.
We kept his given name, MAXIM. We have no idea who gave him the precious name but we loved it so much. We felt that since he was a gift from God, some special angel named him and so we kept his name.

We changed his middle name because that is usually the paternal last name. That is what we were told at the baby house. We gave him the middle name of Henry because my DH grandfather was an orphan and came to America by himself when he was 16 from Germany. Some one took him in and he produced a wonderful family.

[gafan]

My DH did not want a junior and thought it would be fun to name a boy after me. For this reason, we always planned to name a son Michael (boy version of Michele) Then my SIL named her son Michael. When we decided to adopt from Russia Mikhail fit because it is the Russian Michael and reflects the baby's culture. I've also always had a thing for Mikhail Baryshnikov I can't wait to find out if it fits our referral's personality.

[Vicki H]

We chose Alex's name after hearing his full name, his first name was Andrey and didn't seem to fit him. His middle name was Alexyvich (Alexei) . Alexei just sounded more like a girls name in America so we went with Alexander. Alex really fits him well.
His middle name is Kyle, which is my dh name. Kyle was my all time favorite name and of course the name I always wanted to name a boy, needless to say I married a Kyle and really didn't want a Jr. so we incorporated it as his middle name. Should some day he choose to stay with Alex or go by A. Kyle it is up to him.

[charles2004]

Our Son was named after my DH's grandfather who was a very inspiration person in my DH's life!

Also My Husband's middle name is the same as his Grandfather's and our son's!!

Charles Russell


Tami

[Ktates]

I guess for us it was
4) The name that "fits" my child perfectly.

We had picked a few Russian names we liked, which actually turned out to be the name on the referral. When we found out that no effort went into choosing that name to begin with we decided that we should give her the first name (the orphanage just gave her the name of her birthmom).

The first names that we agreed on didn't fit her at all when we met her. So we went with my number one choice. It seemed to fit and it also had a meaning that was appropriate. Her full name is a reflection of mine, hers and DH's heritage so I think that's good - hopefully she agrees!

[cathvash]

I did not know my daughter's Russian name until I met her, and was not expecting to have to commit to a new name by the next day...

My last name is Russian, and my daughter's first name was also very ethnic, so I wanted to tone down the ethnicity a bit, but thought I could "save" the name she was accustomed to by retaining it as her middle name. On the other hand, her middle name Alexandrova was similar to an old family name of ours, Alexandra... So I switched Alexandra to the first name.

The next day, the Russians gave me strange looks and shook their heads over the Russian-sounding but not Russian mix of Alexandra Irina. Didn't understand how the name confused them until later -someone told me that in Russia the middle name is always a feminization of a masculine paternal name, and there is no male name for Irina! To make matters worse, with a Russian last name, it all sounded especially strange to them...

[tbristow]

#6.
After meeting him and hearing his story, we kept his Russian name for his second middle name.

We've already picked for the next child if we ever do it again.

[nungesser]

Originally Posted by Shay

When deciding on a name for your child, what is most important to you?

1) The name reflects his/her cultural background.
2) The name is one that I've liked for a long time.
3) The name signifies a new beginning with his/her adoption.
4) The name that "fits" my child perfectly.
5) you wanted to incorporate a family name
6) had to be something we both agreed on

Ashton Beauregard was 1, 2, and 6.

On #1, O.K., some of you all are thinking, what part of Ashton and Beuaregard is Russian? Is there some Russian part of the French Quarterin New Orleans I was too drunk to notice the times I was there? Nothing Russian about either. But my last name is Russian so AB got the Russian part of his last name courtsey of Dad and Mom.

I always liked the name "Beauregard". I was astonished that DW did not recoil from it and said that shee to liked it. That covers #2 and #6. The last part was selecting his first name. The criteria was....something that sounds good in front of Beauregard. Ashton fit the bill.

[DebiP]

For us Griffin was a name that sounded Great with Spencer and I am less likely to mix them up.....right Andrey was his name given at birth. SO I guess he is a 1, 2,and 7 works well with my other child.


DebiP

Originally Posted by Shay

When deciding on a name for your child, what is most important to you?

1) The name reflects his/her cultural background.
2) The name is one that I've liked for a long time.
3) The name signifies a new beginning with his/her adoption.
4) The name that "fits" my child perfectly.
5) you wanted to incorporate a family name
6) had to be something we both agreed on

[nungesser]

Originally Posted by Jim_in_PA

Primary was they are the names that the girls have been called for 6 and 10 years respectively. I would not change names in a non-infant situation beyond "Englishization" (my word) unless a) the child requests it and/or b) the name would be very difficult to deal with in our culture for any number of reasons.

"Anglicization" is the word I think you're looking for Jim. It means "to make English in quality or characteristics" according to Merriam-Webster's Colliage Dictionary (10th Ed.).

I know what you mean about those names tha don't translate well into English. "F&%$er" is a not uncommon surname in Austria. And I once had an Israeli pen-pal whose first name was "Nimrod". Imagine going through second grade in PA with one, or both, of those names!

[Mom4Girls]

"I would not change names in a non-infant situation beyond "Englishization"

I did change older names for another good reason. Both children had the same name in Russia! :-) All of my children have their Russian name as a second middle name. Each of their first middle names is after a family member. All of their first names are Celtic surnames, spelled to be three syllables and ending in -ie. I like the names, they do honor the girls' heritage and they are after family members. I thought naming the girls was one of the most fun parts of the adoption. Sure beat all the things that were out of our control! :-)