Westernization vs Russification and Pan-Slavism

[dracona]

Hi,
    I wrote a story about a Russian family some time ago, and I'm going through and making it more realistic and doing some general editing.
     One of the characters names it Tatiana, for short they called her Tati, because I didn't know that Tanya would be the nickname, do you think I should change it or is it acceptable?
    Also there is another Russian family by the name of  Gheringer, I found this in a book on the IF so I figured it's Russian, is it? and if it is how would you write the feminine version, (Hendrikov=Hendrikova).
Thanks

[Mike]

Short names for Tatiana should be Tanya, Tanyusha or (rarely) Tata. Tati doesn't sound Russian.

Gheringer is a German-origin name, so it has no feminine form, e.g.: Pavel Ivanov --> Natalya Ivanova, but Sergey Gheringer --> Olga Gheringer.

[Macedonsky]

One of the characters names it Tatiana, for short they called her Tati, because I didn't know that Tanya would be the nickname, do you think I should change it or is it acceptable?

The only possible nickname for Tatiana is Tanya. Tati should be replaced. By the way Tata is nickname for Natalia.

Also there is another Russian family by the name of  Gheringer, I found this in a book on the IF so I figured it's Russian, is it?

Gheringer sounds German. If you need Russian surname without any meaning use derived by Christina name: Ivanov/Ivanova, Petrov/Petrova, Nikolaev/Nikolaeva, Stepanov/Stepanova etc. Also popular are surnames from birds: Orlov/Orlova, Sokolov/Sokolova, or from animals: Medvedev/Medvedeva, Volkov/Volkova, Draconov/Draconova :-).

[Macedonsky]

Short names for Tatiana should be Tanya, Tanyusha or (rarely) Tata.

Then it should be explained the difference in usage of Tanya (as  can call every young Tatiana) and Tanyusha, Tanechka, Tan'ka etc used only by closes.

[olga]

One of the characters names it Tatiana, for short they called her Tati, because I didn't know that Tanya would be the nickname, do you think I should change it or is it acceptable?

No! Not Tati. It's like calling an Anastasia 'Ana.' Shudder.........

Also there is another Russian family by the name of  Gheringer, I found this in a book on the IF so I figured it's Russian, is it? and if it is how would you write the feminine version, (Hendrikov=Hendrikova).
 Thanks

Is this family German in origin?

[Mike]

By the way Tata is nickname for Natalia.

Also for Tatiana.

[dracona]

Thanks everyone,
          Duely noted, Tati will become Tanya, and Gheringer will probably become Volkov, I only recently found out that the name I used for someone's daughter (Lutka) was a boy's name so major overhauls are to be expected, thanks.

[dracona]

Another question guys,
     the feminine name of  Ginechka, how would you shorten it, I got it off the the dictionary of period russian names, and it might have one but its a little hard to decifer.

[olga]

Ginechka is an affectionate version of another name, I'm not sure what the full version would be. But probably the maybe the everyday one would be Gina or Ginya.

[Mike]

the feminine name of  Ginechka

I've never heard or read this name. Probably it's dimunitive from Agniya - quite rare but at least existing.

[olga]

German.

[dracona]

HELL AND DAMNATION! HELL AND DAMNATION! HELL AND DAMNATION! (screaming and stomping around my bedroom floor, ready to smash the computer) Can anything do right?
   

Thank you Darth Olga.

[Mike]

Kolchak is Russian of Turcic origin. There's no feminine form - e.g. Maria Kolchak.

[matushka]

Wartenburg sounds very german. Ginechka? I never heard that. Perhaps you made a confusion with Janechka (from Janna) or Genia (Evgeny or Evgenia)?

[olga]

HELL AND DAMNATION! HELL AND DAMNATION! HELL AND DAMNATION! (screaming and stomping around my bedroom floor, ready to smash the computer) Can anything do right?

Are you alright?