Go with your initial choice. As someone with an uncommon first name, people get used to it and you get used to correcting, adjusting, etc. Plus, even without Dimitri as a fun, if your last name has a bunch of i's as well, he'll end up spelling that anyway.
I love Demetri! I'm Greek also and that was one of the names we considered. Also, my brother's name is just Alex (not Alexander). My parents felt the same... Why name him Alexander when we'd just call him Alex? I do like Alexander as the MN though. Honestly you can't go wrong with any of those combinations but my fave would be Demetri Alexander.
Dimitri is the most familiar spelling in the US. Go with that if you use it as a first name.
If you compulsively nickname, though, what will you use for Dimitri? Dim? Meaty? Tree? I like Dimitri in theory, but as another compulsive nickname person, it gives me pause.
I've got an Alexander, nn Xander (also because Alex is unisex to me.) If a different nickname suits him better when he's older, he'll use another nickname.
Dimitri is the most familiar spelling in the US. Go with that if you use it as a first name.
If you compulsively nickname, though, what will you use for Dimitri? Dim? Meaty? Tree? I like Dimitri in theory, but as another compulsive nickname person, it gives me pause.
I've got an Alexander, nn Xander (also because Alex is unisex to me.) If a different nickname suits him better when he's older, he'll use another nickname.
@ladymouse Yes this is a big problem for us with Dimitri/Demetri as a FN. DH's uncle goes by Mimis or Mimi as a NN but I think that might sound a bit weird in the US. I've also heard Dimi/Demi, Dimo and Mitri. Not sure what we will do but at least Dimitri/Demetri as a FN is a little shorter than Alexander.
The -met- and -mit- syllables are likely to be pronounced differently, so for that one, pick whichever better represents the pronunciation you are going for.
The most common Russian spelling is actually Dmitriy/Dmitri/Dmitry (transliterated from Дмитрий) with no vowel after the D.
Re: Name spelling / Name order
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
Demetri Alexander
Xander: November 30, 2010
Ramona: June 14, 2013
Ursula: November 1, 2014
IF, 5 losses, 1 son, 1 on the way.