Help Me Create an English Sounding Name!

Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 19:55
Last edited 06/02/2015 - 12:04 by 1 other user

Hi,

Inspired by the topic in this subforum, I would like your help and advice in creating a new, English sounding name for myself! See, I'm Russian-Australian and have this old, great and totally unpronounceable name KIRYL. Yeah. Dont try pronouncing it. The name meaning is the 'boss' and I love it and really used to it, but it's getting more and more annoying having to spell it to ererybody and anybody. So, please vote in the poll and let's help me get an easy saying name at once!

Oh. Don't ask me what my surname is. Just don't.

Poll Options expired

  • 19
    1. Cyril. At least keep your Russian origin!
  • 48
    2. Kyle. Starts with the same letter and easy to pronounce!
  • 7
    3. Keith. Good old Aussie name.
  • 6
    4. Carlos. Why not?
  • 233
    5. Keep your original name or Mother Russia won't ever forgive you!
Education & Work

Comments

  • scatman00 on 05/02/2015 - 20:02

    Is this a nick-name type situation or for use on things like a resume?

    How do you pronounce Kiryl? (the 'Ki' anyway, kite or kick or ??)

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 20:07
      +2

      Both really. I'm in a good government job right now, but thinking about going further in the company. Kiryl is pretty much pronounced the same as Cyril with a K.

      • scrimshaw on 05/02/2015 - 20:16
        +49

        Vladislav ?

        …Baby don't hurt me

      • Charity on 07/02/2015 - 19:22

        What about Boris? It is the universal ex-pat russian name

  • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 20:12

    Him, this can be important. I do look Australian(in a good way:) but I have an accent most people call French or Spanish, sometimes Serbian.

    • allegiance86 on 06/02/2015 - 21:38
      +5

      Assuming people pronounce it Ki-ril I think you should keep it, sounds cool! Not common at all here :)

    • syousef on 07/02/2015 - 18:47

      Keep it. Just tell people to feel free to call you Cyril if they prefer.

      Hey at least you don't get "randomly" picked out for security searches even though you have a Christian background and self-describe as an atheist.

      Oh and one of my nicknames in school was Useless.

    • centrelink on 09/02/2015 - 03:53

      How do you look Australian, when Australians is simply just a mix of every single race?

  • pointless martyr on 05/02/2015 - 20:12
    +43

    Max Power is the best english name

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 20:13

      Oh we do have an insider here:)

    • Max Power on 05/02/2015 - 20:17
      +35

      Yes, it is. :)

    • scatman00 on 05/02/2015 - 20:43
      +4

      Followed closely by Topham Hatt?

      • pointless martyr on 05/02/2015 - 20:45
        -1

        See my post below - there are better options for second place there

    • crfnx on 05/02/2015 - 21:29
      +9

      Did you get it off a hair dryer?

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2015 - 01:03
      +5

      He'll be the man with the name you want to touch, but you mustn't touch!

  • [Deactivated] on 05/02/2015 - 20:15
    +7

    Kyril sounds sexy :) I like it.

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 21:30
      +25

      :) thanks, and your number is?

      • [Deactivated] on 05/02/2015 - 23:43
        +6

        Don't take it personally Hermestri. She has this thing for men whose name starts with either 'k' or 'W' and are unpronounceable. If you have both , she'll marry you :b
        Like she did me :)

        • Hermestri on 06/02/2015 - 00:35
          +10

          Awkward:) its okay. I'm married already. And decent:)

        • strangeloops66 on 06/02/2015 - 14:09
          +6

          Your name starts with J (x2) and B, what drug are you on?

        • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2015 - 16:09
          +1

          @strangeloops66:

          what drug are you on?

          obviously none … I enjoy being erotomanic way too much to ever want to be cured of it :b

        • Scrooge McDuck on 06/02/2015 - 16:22

          @strangeloops66:

          I don't think that's his real name d00d.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2015 - 17:23

          @Hermestri :)

        • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2015 - 14:56
          +1

          @Jar Jar Binks: have you been watching Dr. Phil again? lol

        • edgar28 on 10/02/2015 - 11:23

          @Jar Jar Binks:
          Jar Jar only eat Cereal

  • pointless martyr on 05/02/2015 - 20:23
    +1

    This list is a good start - http://thechive.com/2010/06/25/parents-can-be-cruel-to-their…

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 21:31

      Wow, now these are so.. Cruel!

  • scatman00 on 05/02/2015 - 20:38

    "Oh. Don't ask me what my surname is. Just don't." ….. What if i guess?

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 21:32

      I'd rather you didn't, but in any case I won't confirm nor deny it.

      • sillyguy on 07/02/2015 - 17:24
        +9

        Putin?

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 05/02/2015 - 20:51
    +5

    I think you should call yourself "Jake-the-Snake Roberts". Then you'd command respect anywhere you went. Either that, or a good strong masculine name, like "Nigel", or "Eugene".

    What's your surname, by the way? We really need to know that, so we can assess how the first name we're recommending goes with it. For example, if your surname is "Ics", then maybe Eugene would not be good.

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 21:33

      Those are good examples, if a bit macho for me. Lol

  • [Deactivated] on 05/02/2015 - 21:16
    +2

    According to the Super Mario Wiki, your English name should be Cristo ;)

    I'd personally really like to hear how your real name is properly pronounced. To hell with our inability to pronounce things more exotic than 'Keith' lol.

    My doctor is Russian (rather easy to pronounce though - Sazhin). I love his accent. Is sexy.

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 21:36

      Well, when I tell people how my name is really pronounced, I encounter blank look and extreme confusion followed be 'what?'. Must be due to the accents being in different places.

      And your doctors name - I'm afraid it's a first time I heard it! I'm religious and Christo sounds too blasphemous to me, ha:)

  • Ughhh on 05/02/2015 - 21:31
    +3

    I vote for Kirby

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 21:37

      Is it actually a name?..

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 05/02/2015 - 21:45
        +1

        It's an Irish surname, popular with leprechauns. You'll get no respect with such a name. Now, if you don't like Jake-the-Snake Roberts, which you've been strangely reticent about, how about "Drago"? Are you 7-foot high, fair-featured and ripped as a MF by any chance? Assuming you are, then Drago's the ticket mate. Totes.

        • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 23:31
          +1

          I hear ya brah

      • Ughhh on 06/02/2015 - 06:13

        Google Kirby.

        • GnarlyKnuckles on 06/02/2015 - 18:18

          Google "leprechaun kirby"; it returns 96,000 hits. Everything from cute little teddy bears to cartoon characters…

        • scrimshaw on 07/02/2015 - 01:59
          +5

          Screw Kirby.

          Let's go with Zangief. Wear red underpants. Might also help if you grow some chest hair, a beard and some mutton chops.

    • SlartiBartFozz on 06/02/2015 - 23:03

      reminds me of the famous brit vacuum cleaner range

  • blitz on 05/02/2015 - 22:24
    +24

    Kiryl is a bloody excellent name and you are absolutely mistaken if you think you need to change it.

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 23:32

      Thanks man, I appreciate it!! I always felt uneasy about having this name in Australia.

      • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2015 - 12:14
        +2

        I have a foreign sounding name. I will never betray my family heritage by changing it. I just go straight into giving the spelling by default before being asked and learnt not too be offended that nobody gets it right if they try to say it or spell it themselves. No big deal. Plenty of us around with strange names

        • Hermestri on 07/02/2015 - 01:10

          I think the way Australians say my name right now is already betraying my heritage…

      • Pizdets on 06/02/2015 - 17:37
        -1

        No way, my Russian name is even worse!

        • Hermestri on 07/02/2015 - 01:09

          Well if this is your real name I am really full of tears.

    • Peck on 06/02/2015 - 13:14

      Yeh! Tell people that your name is Cyril. Only if they need to know, then tell them that it is a different spelling. Many common names have a variety of spelling possibilities.
      According to wikipedia it is derived from the Greek name Κύριλλος (Kyrillos) meaning "Lordly, Masterful"

      • Hermestri on 07/02/2015 - 01:12

        Yeah, I have been thinking about that.. It just sounds so different from what I'm used to when saying my real name..

  • JoyVee on 05/02/2015 - 23:27
    +1

    Peoople will be intrigued and interested in how to spell it. You will become unforgetable with Kiryl. Keep it.

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 23:32
      +1

      Good point, looks like majority agrees too!

  • [Deactivated] on 05/02/2015 - 23:32
    +2

    Don't change your name just to fit in… because those who mind, don't matter and those who matter, won't mind :)

    I mostly use my middle name , Kairan , which believe it or not, is actually easier to pronounce than my first name.

    My first name is african and starts with a 'W'. It means "the messiah /the saviour of the people" O.O Didn't think I could live up to that one, so I went with Kairan, meaning "the little dark one" or "blacky" in irish :)

    It could have been worse. I'm often reminded by the irish side of the family , that the proper spelling of my name is 'Ciarán' :O

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 23:46
      +2

      Thanks man for kind words:) I like your name, easy to say and sounds exotic. Just wanted to mention, Carlos is on the poll due to my second heritage, which is Cuban.

      • parisienne on 06/02/2015 - 12:03
        +1

        DEAR LORD….so you are Russian (tallish,built AND fair hair/skin/eyes with accent that could be lied down next to and listened to all night….not quite as much so as French or Italian,but up there,AND have a Cuban..so can seriously get your sexy on from those hot Latin genes)
        GET OUT,just call yourself Yves or Marco (to add the aforementioned French/Italian mix)or yes,Carlos(again with that sexy Latin stuff)and just become the type of guy women would dream up in a lab experiment(no,no…don't shatter any of that fantasy by adding the truth to it,just stay the perfect image of sex god that you are).MAJOR points go to you for also mentioning
        A:the wife
        B:being a decent guy who doesn't blaspheme AND
        C:You are Russian,yet have a sense of humour.
        Now,if you'll excuse me whilst i go fight off the worlds women to get to a cold shower and put on some Barry White.HAHAHAHAHAHA.

        • GaryQ on 06/02/2015 - 12:37
          +1

          Santiago Pandemonium

        • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2015 - 14:08
          +1

          I get the feeling you like our friend Hermestri a little bit, no?

        • Hermestri on 07/02/2015 - 01:16

          @waterlogged turnip:

          It's nice to read that stuff there, but I really have no idea where the myth of 'tall blonde Russians with blue eyes' is coming from.. It is quite far from the truth, unless the Russian population changed drastically in the last 10 years.

  • altomic on 05/02/2015 - 23:43

    English Sounding Name

    • Hermestri on 05/02/2015 - 23:47

      Wow, wonder how no one else noticed it? Was typing on my phone.

    • altomic on 06/02/2015 - 00:41

      to the person who negged me : read the posts title

  • altomic on 05/02/2015 - 23:45

    Vestan Pance

    • Hermestri on 07/02/2015 - 01:17

      Lovely name! Especially good when spoken with russian accent:)

  • zrach on 06/02/2015 - 00:00

    I feel you. My name is 'Rachelle' which I pronounce as 'rayshel'. Pretty simple. Whenever I say this to people though, they can't get it. They have this confused look and ask me to repeat it. So what I did was I just pronounce it as Rachel and they get it right away.

    Another problem was that when they read my nameplate, they would pronounce it as 'ra shel' and ask 'is that how you say it?'. And I always say yes coz I can't be bothered.

    So to cut out all these unnecessary chitchat, I just say 'Rachel' and don't wear my name plate. Saves a lot of time. But then again it's not too far off anyway.

    So I guess, keep your original name if you have the patience to deal with people.

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2015 - 00:11
      +1

      so the first syllable of your name is in english and the second in french ?

      • zrach on 06/02/2015 - 00:20
        +1

        Haha I don't even know anymore man. I never had a problem with it back in my country before. But I don't really care too much about it. I just want to eliminate the process of asking questions about the name so we can get straight to the point.

        • GnarlyKnuckles on 06/02/2015 - 00:46

          I reckon you should adopt "Z-Rach" (I assume it's pronounced "Zed Rack") as your name in real life. It's a name stacked with confidence.

    • Speckled Jim on 06/02/2015 - 09:42

      I once worked with someone of the same name. She'd label her stationery with "Rash".

      • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2015 - 14:21
        +5

        You sure that wasn't to stop people from using her stationery? o_O

        • Speckled Jim on 08/02/2015 - 12:26

          I still have one of her yellow highlighters somewhere!

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2015 - 14:20
      +1

      I've known several Rachelles, all pronounced it as 'ra-shell'. Interesting! Any ideas on the origins of the name… is there an actual right/wrong way to say it? I guess I would've assumed yours would have been pronounced 'ra-shell' too based on my previous experiences. In which case, I apologise in advance. Just in case I ever happen to meet you. lol.

      That must be a pain :(

      I hate my boring, older generation, bland name. But I guess it does make life easy in some ways. Though some people still manage to get it wrong - I don't bother correcting them though. Kinda makes life a little more interesting when they mess it up lol. "Huh? That's not my na… oh heck, sure, I'll be that for the day.."

      • Wampus on 06/02/2015 - 19:49

        My name is Matt. Some people call me Max. I'm not that old. How many Maxes do you know versus how many Matts?

        • mskeggs on 08/02/2015 - 17:22

          Max is v popular in little boys now.

      • zrach on 06/02/2015 - 22:36

        Yeah it is interesting how the different Rachelles of the world prefer different pronunciations. I do know some prefer ra-shell so idk!

        I don't bother correcting people too though. But then I also hope that person doesn't hear a friend or someone who knows me pronounce it the other way. Then they'd be thinking why I didn't correct them lol

    • Hermestri on 07/02/2015 - 01:20

      Haha, yes I got so fed up with having to repeat my name numerous times, I just said one day call me Kyle! And people do so without any hesitation, but to me Irish name like this is a little…unnatural?

  • AMLagonda on 06/02/2015 - 01:05

    I often think its silly that a lot of asians change thier name to a "more English" sounding name. Personally I dont think its necessary, but Humans like to fit in with the rest of the crowd. But I can understand when their name sometimes doesn't work/pronounce right in the english language.

    • scrimshaw on 06/02/2015 - 01:08
      +2

      It's for employment reasons. They (name changers) think most people can't help but discriminate a little when we see an non-English name in a resume and then preferring to hire an Anglo-saxon (or someone of the same race as you) because of stereotypes.

      • Sage on 06/02/2015 - 01:57

        Huh? but they can just discriminate them after they see them at the job interview.

        • scrimshaw on 06/02/2015 - 02:17
          +3

          There's still a resume screening process. Not everyone gets to have a face to face interview.

        • riley94 on 06/02/2015 - 11:07
          +2

          Having a more English sounding name may help them get the job interview in the first place.

          People who read resumes have a lot to sift through, and so they're picky. Some employers may discriminate on names due to assumptions they may have about the person's ability to speak English fluently etc. Actually meeting in person will mean that the person has a chance to prove the prejudices wrong.

    • Astro551 on 06/02/2015 - 02:36
      +1

      And then you get the Asians who do what they want, here's to all the "Pony's" and "Fly's" out there.

    • GnarlyKnuckles on 06/02/2015 - 18:25
      +4

      "I often think its silly that a lot of Asians change their name to a "more English" sounding name."

      What about this woman:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Dikshit

      If i had her name and moved to Straya, I'd be tempted to change my name to… well… ANYTHING ELSE.

    • kaz09 on 08/02/2015 - 23:30
      +2

      the reason why my mum uses a english first name is because its confusing. Not sure if this is a rare situation or anything but her surname is Yu and her first name is Yu Cheng and that equats to Yu Yu Cheng so when she has to sign up for things they often get mixed up. now she uses Jenny.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 10/02/2015 - 12:08

        Alice: Who did this?

        Bob: Yu did it.

        Yu: …

        Alice: I did not!

  • altomic on 06/02/2015 - 08:05
    +6

    The name meaning is the 'boss'

    Your new English name is Bruce Springsteen

    • Hermestri on 07/02/2015 - 01:23

      Never heard of this guy, time to check out some of his work.

  • backpaqer on 06/02/2015 - 08:27

    Bruce Springsteen was also known as "The Boss"…so go with Bruce.

  • xyron on 06/02/2015 - 09:19
    +1

    why not just leave your name as it is but pronounce it "karl" if anyone asks?

    I have a bit of a weird (to Australians, anyway) name but people I meet get it right eventually. If they don't, its a useful way of confirming that person isn't someone I want anything to do with anyway (because theyre either xenophobic or tone-deaf :p )

    • Hermestri on 07/02/2015 - 01:24

      Karl sounds so pompous and just doesn't suit me at all..

      • Joshman5k on 08/02/2015 - 07:52

        To me Karl sounds much like a name of the people!

        I thought Karl as well.

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 06/02/2015 - 09:26
    +5

    Al Kader?

    • altomic on 08/02/2015 - 21:21

      Terry Wrist

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join