Testing the opinion pool

[lumineaux]

So, I have a guy who wants a Russian name.  I pointed him at Wickenden's Dictionary and let him do his own leg work.  Here's what he came up with:

Dalek Bolotnikov

Both perfectly period names; within 100 years of each other per Wickenden. 

However . . .

This is an informal poll to see if anyone has a trouble with this perfectly good period Russian name harshing his or her medieval mellow, as it were.  Does this drag you inevitably back into the modern day? 
 

Comments

[greenness.livejournal.com]

Not in my case, but my knowledge of if as a Russian name predates the associated geekiness. ;)

[bds-duncan.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Not being a herald and of insufficient geekness to know whether the surname has modern associations or not, I don't find it too harsh on my ears. Certainly no stranger that those names originating from Tolkien or the Legends of King Arthur.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

The problem is not the surname ;-)

Names originating from Tolkien haven't been registerable for at least 15+ years.
People in period actually did name their kids after characters from the King Arthur legend -- the English and French records are full of Lancelots -- so those names are registerable under an entirely different logic.

[bds-duncan.livejournal.com]

I was thinking not so much of names that are registered or registerable, but names that people will think up on their own; the sort who drive herald to distraction with insufficient documentation and endless variations, but who go by something Tolkienesque in the interim. And while Arthurian names enjoyed a recurring vogue in certain points in period, to find them supported by byname can be jarring.

[fencerm2.livejournal.com]

I LOVE this name! It is made of awesome. To hell with anyone claiming a harshing to their medieval mellow!

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

He's a Swampie (our Exchequer), so you will have the opportunity to tell him so to his face. Even cooler (in my opinion) is that Bolotnikov is Russian for "swamp-dweller."

[fencerm2.livejournal.com]

The Dalek swamp-dweller. Better and better! Brilliant!

[anastasiav.livejournal.com]

Documented is documented. If anyone complains, they can be educated.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, that's not the rule. If a perfectly good documented name nonetheless is considered sufficient to pull someone forcibly out of the medieval ambiance, it can be rejected. "John Quest" is a perfectly documentable medieval English name, but it got shot down for just this reason.

[math5.livejournal.com]

If Margarita Martini was registered, why would that name have a problem?

[mariedeblois.livejournal.com]

Because most folks don't know when drinks originated, but do recognize a cartoon character from the last decade or two?

[ursula]

Is this guy a Dr. Who fan?

If he's not, I'd warn him to test the name out before registering it. I don't find it intrinsically jarring, but if it were my name I think I might get tired of people shouting EXTERMINATE! at me.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

He's testing it out at Pennsic. But I wanted to warn him of the potential problem (if it exists) before he falls in love with it.

[alphawench.livejournal.com]

I like it, too, but agree with Ursule.

[evilnicola.livejournal.com]

Is he pronouncing it the same way as the evil things from dr who?

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

Affirmative ;-)

[artisticphoenix.livejournal.com]

Given my heritage (Just ask my daughter who said that we were Russian :-)) it doesn't harsh my medieval mellow. I love more Russian names and well, that it is period and geeky at the same time for the win. I would be interested the general populace reaction is to it. He may find it isn't worth the bother or annoyance level. There are plenty of names that are far more screamingly modern or bodice-ripper/science fiction rip offs that aren't even close to period that I would, well, exterminate. :-)

[fosveny.livejournal.com]

Is he planning on fighting or fencing? I recall one gentle who always had his household stand next to the field and yell "OH MY GOD! HE KILLED KENNY!" whenever he lost.

I can just imagine the shouts of "Exterminate!" when lay on is called.

(This doesn't mean he shouldn't do it, just that he should know that it's going to happen)

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

He ought to know what is going to happen.

I'm against it, because there is a false logic that says "if it is documented it is OK". Does he know that some people (who feel this is obtrusive modernity, no matter how ruled) will dislike the name? Can he deal with the exacerbation of the "fun v authenticist" divide from the varying reactions?

Even if one plays a truly authentic game, it is done within a modern context. Does he really need to have a name that is going to highlight that absurdity every time it is said?

[nomadmwe.livejournal.com]

Ooh. Ooh.

It's documented and awesome and all, but wooooooooooow.

Wow.

I think the recommendation of him playground testing it is a good one. If he can handle whatever amount of jokes occur, well, cool beans on him and paperwork away.

[laughingzombie.livejournal.com]

As long as he doesn't try fighting shield and plunger, it should be good.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

I think that name is TOTALLY COOL and wonder why someone hasn't done an April Fool's submission on it.

So long as the rest of the name doesn't have references to doctors, whos, or extermination, I don't find it obtrusive, and I'm a big Who fan.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

Dalek Robotin will be on the next Eastern April 1st LoI

[rlg.livejournal.com]

sounds like a hard worker.

[industrialblues.livejournal.com]

Terminate.
Terminate!
TERMINATE!!!!

[zevabe.livejournal.com]

I would say not to allow it, but still only a new herald.