Etymology of Armenian First Names

[Siamanto]

Re: Etymology of Armenian First Names

The trailing 'a' is sometimes dropped even by Russians when say calling that person. The 'a' is indeed seen on almost all diminutive versions, but in Armenian, this is an optional thing.
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Another example I can think of would be taking the 'a' from Grisha, the popular Grish,

I have spent some time with some Russian friends/colleagues who explained the usage of the different "declinations" of a First Name in Russian - including dropping the trailing 'a.' The following is a brief summary of what I've learned - of course, it may or may not correspond to the usage in Armenia:
1. The different "declinations" or forms of a First Name reflect - and depend on - the relationships and the proper protocol to address the person; in other words, a person formally called "Vladimir" may be called "Volodya" in a casual professional relationship but, not in a formal professional relationship unless the person is comfortable with it or presents himself as "Volodya." In any case, a peron usually indicates that he/she accepts being called in a certain way.
A Vladimir may not be called "Vova" or "Vovochka" in a business environment, but only by close friends and relatives. In a business environment, it may be perceived as a form of contempt.

2. As for dropping the trailing 'a,' the following seems of interest:

It somehow implies confidential nature. You say "Dim" instead of "Dima" only in a private conversation and usually when you want to confide something or somehow solicit his honest but private opinion.
Can be used in professional relations also when you want to show closer relationship with that person in front of the others. .....

Serozh is just like any dropping of "a". If you have a very close relation with the gentlemen, you may use it...Otherwise it is a more of the term of contempt.

In other words, it is inaccurate to consider "Vova" or "Volodya" as First Names as they simply are different forms - "declinations" - to address a person with the First Name "Vladimir." Of course, the same applies to other First Names and its "declinations."

P.S.
By the way, I've been told that, less frequently, "Dima" may be used to address a Vadim or Vladimir.

In other words, Armenians are not required to abide by the Russian convention of having the 'a', even though they certainly know that it's the proper way.

I'm not sure what was meant, but "to be required to abide by" seems a very strong expression when it comes to such linguistic "habits" - foreign or not - that are not governed by strict grammatical rules; usually, they are reproduced or mimicked.
Furthermore, such linguistic habits do not evolve - or are adapted, either by Armenians or Russians - based on conscious and/or unanimous decisions: they just happen depending on usage and usage is conditioned by circumstances, social protocols, cultural values etc.

even Armenianizing it as Grishik.

For the record, the suffix "ik" is not necessarily Armenian; actually, Ukrainians use it as well, maybe others too??????

Another example: a very 'rabiz' version of Volodia is Volod. As in: "Ara en Volod@ Losic nor heta darcel, het@ karsun zuik koshika berel".

I don't know if "Volod" is a "rabiz?????" form of "Volodya," but it is the Ukrainian form of "Volodya" i.e. a diminutive of "Volodimir/Volodymyr." That was the feeling of the Russians and I used to have an Ukranian colleague, named "Volodymyr," that we called "Volod."




To conclude, I would simply add:
"Does the fact that "Serozh" is used in different cultures that are somehow connected make the Russian "trace" even more credible?"

That is my personal inclination; however, as we have seen with "Rafi/Raffi," all possible "traces" should be considered because "mono trace" - or origin - models are simplistic illusions, abandoned many centuries ago - the same applies to anything that "has a history" i.e. races, cultures, ideas etc.