What’s in a name????

You guys are full of questions! In particular, a number of you have asked about the name Masha, and why we sometimes call her Mariya, but more often Masha. I wish there was a really clever story behind it (maybe you all can help us invent one??), but really, the answer is pretty simple. Just as many names in the English language have common nicknames, so do many names in Russian. Where an American named Robert might go by Bob or Bobby, a Russian (or Ukranian) named Mariya is often called Masha. Not all names have a nickname, but many do…and just as in English, some are straightforward, and some make no sense at all!!

When adopting from overseas, many parents change their children’s names when they bring them back to America. For most, it’s a matter of practicality; some of these names are very difficult to spell and pronounce, and would likely cause great difficulty for the kids in school. When older children are adopted, many want to change their name as a “fresh start.”

We think that Mariya is a beautiful name, and since it’s pronounced “Maria,” it’s a common enough English name that she wouldn’t have any real problems. Further, “Mary” is a name common to my family, so we aren’t in a hurry to change her name. We will talk to her about it, however, and if she wants to change her name when she comes to America, we will consider it. If she chooses to not change it, we will introduce her as Mariya, but will probably still call her Masha at home (just like my parents still often call me Chris – and don’t ANYONE else get any ideas!!!).