If Botkin reinvented himself in Kinbote then transforming his first name ‘Vseslav’ into Charles Beloved makes sense. Vselslav is Russian royal name by origin (e.g. Vseslav of Polotsk). Russian ‘vse’ mean all, ‘slava’ - fame. Origin of invented first name ‘Charles’ is “manly, full grown”. No royal first name in English matches Vseslav, so nickname (Beloved) had to be used. “Manly, full grown” Charles suited Botkin who refers to himself in Foreword as ‘clumsy giant’, with his ‘manly customs’. If one were to find the first name / nickname match for royal Vseslav then Charles Beloved makes the cut. Kinbote last name is almost secondary.

 

- George