What’s In a Name?

By Walter Kish

I’ve always liked my name, Volodymyr, at least in its Ukrainian form.  Unfortunately, within the Cyrillic challenged Canadian environment, it usually got transformed into Walter, something I’ve never been particularly fond of.  I have gotten used to it of course, however, the older I get the more it seems to grate on me, to the point where I am now seriously considering changing the by-line above this column to read Volodymyr Kish. For the record, in Ukrainian my real name is Volodymyr Osip Ihor Kish, though regrettably, my birth certificate reads Walter Joseph Harold Kish.

I am sure many of you have faced a similar dilemma.  My sister also has a fine Ukrainian name - Odarka, which for most of her early life became Audrey, until she put her foot down and insisted on the original.  If you know my sister, you will also know that you cross her at your peril, so the change has stuck. 

As for all those of you out there with good Ukrainian names that have been changed into Anglo form, I feel your pain.  All too often, Taras became Terry, Fedir became Fred, Ivan became John, Semen became Sam, Yakim became James, Wasyl became Bill, Osip became Joseph, Bohdan became Bob, Yaroslav became Jerry, Lubomyr became Lou, Hryhoriy became Greg, and Yevhen became Eugene.

I find the female name transformations even harder to bear.  Lesia usually became Elizabeth or Lisa, Olya became Olga, Hanya became Ann, Halyna became Helen, Maryna became Mary, Svitlana became Lana, Parasia became Pearl and Yevdokia became Eve.  Somehow, the Ukrainian forms are far more melodic and flowing than their anglicised relatives.

My name Volodymyr is a grand historical Ukrainian name derived from the greatest of the Kyivan Rus princes who ruled some thousand years ago.  It is one of the more popular and common Ukrainian male names, as are the names of some of the other ancient Rus princes, namely Yaroslav, Svyatoslav, Lev and Danylo.  However, for some reason, other names that were quite popular in those times are seldom to be found today, names such as Mstyslav, Vsevolod, Izyaslav, Rostyslav, Hlib, Ryuryk and Yaropolk.  When was the last time you met someone with the name of Yaropolk?

There are also many names that used to be common in Ukraine as recently as a generation back that never made their way into the Diaspora.  Women’s names such as Pelagia, Yevdokia, Motria, Horpyna, Teklya, Vasylyna, Solomia, Raissa, Ahapia, Valentyna, Evstakhia and Pavlyna are hardly to be found amongst the younger generations of Canadian or American Ukrainians. Men’s names that didn’t make the immigration cut include Ostap, Yukhim, Kostyantyn, Opanas, Hnat, Yakiv, Bohuslav, Havrylo, Khoma, Porfiriy, Sydir, Zakhar, Khodor, Severyn, Klymentiy, Teofil, Samuil, Teofan, Trokhim, Panteleimon, Illarion and Illya.

So why did we keep some names and forget others?  Part of the reason no doubt stems from the strong assimilation pressures imposed on new immigrants.  Parents tried to give names to their kids that would not center them out in the schools or with their Anglo or French friends.  The schoolyard can be a cruel place and making fun of kids with unfamiliar foreign sounding names was quite prevalent through most of twentieth century Canada.  It has only been in recent decades when Canadians have become a lot more understanding and accepting of the multicultural nature of this country that foreign names are no longer the subject of ridicule.  In fact, even the non-ethnics in Canada have taken to giving their kids exotic, distinctive names.

It is encouraging that second and third generation born Ukrainian Canadians are starting to rediscover the vast treasury of traditional Ukrainian names and we are seeing more Kalynas, Zenias, Demians and Zakhars out there.  We should encourage the trend and honour our history and ancestors by resurrecting these colourful and interesting names.

I will make my contribution by changing my by-line.  Starting next week Walter is out and Volodymyr is in!