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Many Ukrainian children have been born since the invasion of the Russian armed forces. Their parents were surprisingly inspired by the war and Ukrainian history when choosing a name for their newborn.
Ukraine: when the history of a country influences the choice of a first name
The Ukrainian Ministry of Justice recently published the list of first names given to children born in 2022 in the country, as reported by the online daily Ukrainska Pravda. We discover that many parents have chosen the tradition by calling their toddler Sofia, Maria, Mark or Artem. Others preferred Maksym, Oleksandr, Viktoria or even Anna, names that are just as classic.
Many Ukrainians have drawn inspiration from their country’s national history before baptizing their child. Many have been tempted by Kyi, an old name that refers to one of the four legendary co-founders of the city of kyiv.
References to war and weapons
Djavelina/Djavelin are also among the most popular names for Ukrainian newborns last year. They evoke the portable anti-tank missile Javelin, one of the first American military equipment sent to the Ukrainians, even before the beginning of the war against Russia. This weapon allowed the Ukrainian army to modernize, as did the Bayraktar TB2 armed drones. This Turkish armament inflicted such damage on several Russian convoys that a song in his name has become popular throughout Ukraine. It is therefore not surprising that Ukrainians have chosen to name their babies this way.
If military names are popular in the country, the Ministry of Justice recommends that parents choose carefully how they will name their child. “Be as responsible as possible when choosing your child’s name. Remember that the first name affects a person’s destiny”he said in a statement that was able to consult Ukraïnska Pravda.
Unlike some countries like Spain and Iceland, Ukraine gives parents a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing what they will name their baby. They can choose any first name they like, no matter how special. If they change their mind, they can legally change it at any time, according to the online daily. Children can also modify it without the consent of their parents, from the age of 16.
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