Wrong name, wrong time?

[TarnishedPenny]

Working on a story for the second Mike Hammer event, a sequel to one I did for the original. My problem is that a modestly secondary character in #1 has a bigger rôle in #2 and his name is Vladimir. Not Russian, not Ukrainian (and how coincidental is it that to opposing presidents in real life have the same name, albeit with different spellings?), just a name I chose at random last year. How much of a problem do you see this being, given the current war?

 

[KeithD]

None. Who needs readers who would be that anal retentive?

 

[Bramblethorn]

Not very. It's a very common name in the Slavic-speaking world.

 

[lovecraft68]

I wouldn't worry about it, I don't think people are as hypersensitive as everyone seems to feel they are. But I don't know, maybe in the sequel refer to him as "Vlad" which people always associate with Vlad Tepes and the original Dracula legends...or maybe that's just me.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Something that might be useful: Slavic names change form according to how they're being used. So for instance, one of my characters from Loss Function is "Nadezhda" in academic correspondence, "Nadja" to her friends, "Nadjusenka" to her lover, and "Nadka" when somebody's angry with her.

If you wanted to get away from "Vladimir" without breaking continuity, it'd be reasonable for his friends to call him Volodya or Vova, in the same kind of way that "Elizabeth" becomes "Betty" or "Liz".

 

[ElectricBlue]

Something that might be useful: Slavic names change form according to how they're being used. So for instance, one of my characters from Loss Function is "Nadezhda" in academic correspondence, "Nadja" to her friends, "Nadjusenka" to her lover, and "Nadka" when somebody's angry with her.

If you wanted to get away from "Vladimir" without breaking continuity, it'd be reasonable for his friends to call him Volodya or Vova, in the same kind of way that "Elizabeth" becomes "Betty" or "Liz".

That would be my solution - use a diminutive or introduce a nickname. No point baiting the bear when a subtle change can resolve a problem - if there might be a problem

Just don't call him Vlad the Lad (like I do ).

Hold on, there's a knock on the door...

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't see any problem at all. It's a common enough name with enough associations that it should pose no problem.

There are relatively few names that I would shy away from. I wouldn't write an erotic story with a character named "Adolf" or "Hitler" unless it had a satiric or political purpose directed at the historic character. I wouldn't write a story named "My Boyfriend Pol Pot." But these are exceptions. There's nothing wrong with "Vladimir."

 

[Mal_Bey]

Thanks to all who have been posting. I dropped by the AH to ask a similar question about my own story. Mine was more an inadvertent violation of "Woke" political theory than war related. But the answer is the same. As long as you are not being a blatant dumbass, and as long as you are not expecting universal acclaim, you will be fine. Thanks to the community for helping to remind myself of that.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Thanks all. OK, 'Vlad' stays.

Thanks, all. A special thanks to Mal_Bey for a beginning post! Speaking up can be a challenge.

 

[Rebooting]

If you wanted to get away from "Vladimir" without breaking continuity, it'd be reasonable for his friends to call him Volodya or Vova, in the same kind of way that "Elizabeth" becomes "Betty" or "Liz".

"Yo, Vodka... uh Vulva... Aw, fuck it, Vlad..."

 

[LexxRuthless]

If the story is set a few years in the past, nobody would give the name a second thought. Hopefully this war will be over soon and the reference about which you are concerned right now will be a distant memory to readers who happen across your story in the future. I think of the really good professional hockey players named Vlad or Vladimir -- not one of those guys is changing his name because of the association with Putin. Just sayin'. Seems to me like you're over-thinking this issue.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

overthinking is what I tend to do, Lexi. Thanks.

 

[LexxRuthless]

overthinking is what I tend to do, Lexi. Thanks.

You and I both. That's why I recognize it when I see it.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Is Dima ever a shortening of Vladimir? Or only for Dmitri or some other names?