Please choose from these "Russlish" names (names that work in both Russian and English)

Question

My husband and I are looking for names that work well in both Russian and English (or at least have a reasonable Russian nickname that his side of the family can use). 
If it's a boy, middle name will be Aleksey/Aleksei (after my husband's brother).  
If it is a girl, middle name will be either Alexis or Kathrine (this spelling, after my mother).
My other children are Anastasia (Stacey/Stasya) and Maria Veronica.

Please comment, and choose your favourites.

GIRLS:
Kristina
Natalia      (Russian nn Natasha -- VERY common is Russia!)
Genevieve (use Russian nn Zhenya, which is really for Evgenia)
Julia         (spelled  "Yuliya" in Russian, with nn Yulya)
Nadia       (it's actually a nn for Nadezhda)

BOYS:
Nikolai      (Russian nn Kolya, English nn Cole?)
Eduard     (Russian nn Edik)
Victor
Donovan   (we'd use Russian nn Vanya, as this isn't a Russian name)
Roman
Leo          (Lev in Russian)
Alexander (nn Sasha)
Ruslan     (pronounced "roos-LAHN")

peppercorn · Accepted Answer

Genevieve, or Nadia. I really like Nadezhda and its short forms in Russian,  but I prefer Genevieve in English. Julia is always a safe bet.

As for boys... probably Leo, although I do have a friend who just goes by Lev in English too.

I would not recommend: Roman (know someone who was made fun of through high school for it), Ruslan (better to stick with an easily anglicized name - my sister Ksenia has had lots of name issues in school)

Cedwick C · Answer

How pretty!   I need some Russian names, since it is my ancestory, but we never knew anybody there, I want to get it back by using a Russian name for my child and I have a Russian last name, thanks for giving me ideas...now...Kristina and Natalia I could not use because I am Jewish but I can say that Julia is my favorite of yours, and I love the nickname Jules, VERY modern, American nickname...if you like nicknames 

I LOVE sasha, but why not for a girl?  that is a GREAT name for either!, I really like Ruslan because it sounds so Russian, Leo is GREAT because I LOVE Leonardo Dicaprio...finally Nikolai is pretty good and those are my favs..but I don't like Roman, it sounds like a soap opera name, I don't think Victor is nice, and Eduard actually looks like it is french, there are a lot of french Canadians with this name, and since you like English names, that is kind of contradicted, but Edward is more English

Aoife · Answer

Girl: Natalia Kathrine
Boy: Nikolai Aleksei

KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid · Answer

Well, I'd go with Alexander or Alexandra in a heartbeat - I LOVE Sasha.  

Otherwise, I'd do Natalia, which is beautiful!  And for the boy I'd choose Leo.

Very nice choices!  Good luck picking one!

~BlackCat~ · Answer

For girls I like Kristina Natalia and Genevieve and for boys I like Nikolai and Alexander.

Anonymous · Answer

My favorites are:
Julia Kathrine
Donovan Aleksey - English NN can be "Van"

Lovely Tragedy · Answer

For a girl I like:
Natalia and Genevieve.

For a boy I like:
Nikolai and Roman.

Hannah · Answer

I love natalia and donovan. mildly unique names, even just new spins on old classics are great. my sister's unique name is Chava (pornounced Hava)

Vonny · Answer

for the girls i  love Genevieve. it is really pretty.

for the boys i like Leo

x-94-x · Answer

i like Kristina and Natalia, but HATE Genevieve sorry..

Alexander and Victor are nice :)

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Please choose from these "Russlish" names (names that work in both Russian and English)

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