Russians respond in droves to Vladimir Putin’s request for suggestions for his new puppy’s name
Russians have responded in droves to Vladimir Putin's request for help choosing the name for his new puppy, which he received from the Bulgarian prime minister on a recent trip. In just the first few days, thousands of messages were sent to the prime minister's website.
There were many clever and creative entries, demonstrating both the great affection for the puppy in the country and the careful consideration of the participants.
The most popular suggestions were names related to Bulgaria, the puppy's homeland. Most of the names come from the people and things Russians most commonly associate with Bulgaria: Bratko, Shipka, Theodore (a Bulgarian tsar) and Perets ('perets' is the Russian word for pepper, and bell pepper is widely known in Russia as 'bolgarsky perets' – 'Bulgarian pepper'). Russian-Bulgarian relations were also a popular theme: Borus (a contraction of 'Bolgaria', the Russian spelling of Bulgaria, and Russia) and Brin (Bulgarian-Russian initiatives). However, the most popular name in this vein was Balkan.
Patriotic names were also common. Suggestions included Ros (Russia is called 'Rossiya' in Russian), Rus or Rossi. The author of the last suggestion explained that it was meant to suggest both the word 'Rossiya' and the name Carlo Rossi, the famous Italian architect whose works adorn St Petersburg and its suburbs. Another suggestion was Nabur, an acronym of the phrase 'nadezhda na budushchee Rossii' (which means 'hope for Russia's future').
Suggestions included popular dog names in foreign languages, including Bulgarian: Svyat ('world' in Bulgarian), Mahbub ('beloved' in Arabic), Kraft ('force' in German), Caro ('dear' in Italian) and Kuri, which, according to the author of the message, is an edible Japanese chestnut and a popular dog name in Japan.
There were also some unusual suggestions, like Plevako, an obscure reference to the history of the Russian law. "The prime minister already has a Koni, now he'll have a Plevako, too" the author wrote, alluding to Putin's black Labrador Retriever, Koni, a gift from Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu, as well as two prominent Russian lawyers – Anatoly Koni and Fyodor Plevako.
Some suggested names were based in everyday life. For example, one suggestion was Grek, an allusion to the Russian word 'grechka' (buckwheat) and a pointed reminder of the current shortage of buckwheat in the country.
New suggestions keep coming. Naturally, the dog's owner has final say on the name.
