Sasha (girl)

[ricecakeaddict]

Sasha has been our favourite name for years. However, now I'm pregnant I'm starting to doubt it. My main reason (which I realise is stupid) is because I don't think people will think it's very us and the rest of our name choices are very traditional.
My DH is still keen. Please could I have honest views on Sasha to test what I think?

[Journey]

Sasha is a lovely name.

[Tmh76]

It's a lovely name, but I'm biased as I have a Sasha

[shoobidoo]

I only know boys named Sasha. Normally short for Alexander but also as a standalone name.

[UriGeller]

It's normally a boys nickname, short for Alexander. (I have one!)

I suppose it could be short for AlexandRa.

[UriGeller]

[meditrina]

I don't like it on a girl, sorry. Very much a boys name to me.

It can be used on a girl, even in Russia, but its predominantly for boys, and in much of Europe the expectation is that the holder is a boy (though not eye-rollingly strange when it isn't).

[Sleepthief]

I think it the UK it's actually more common as a girl's name (have no statistics to back this up, obviously ). But as others have said, it works for both. Good name

[Sleepthief]

And isn't it usually Sacha for a boy? Or is that just French?

[Clargo55]

I like it, but think Saskia would be nicer. They feel like similar names to me.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I know it's a male name however I have only met women with this name.

I think one of Obama's daughters is an Alexandra nn Sasha? Or maybe she's a Natasha.

[BananaHammocks]

I've just checked on names.darkgreener.com/ and it's waaaay more popular for girls here.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Agree with clargo- I was going to suggest Saskia too

[shoobidoo]

Agree that Saskia (or Sarah) would be much nicer for a girl.

Sacha is the French version and Sascha the German one, by the way. All boys names imo.

[EdithWeston]

If you looked at Charlie, you'd see much higher popularity than you might expect for girls. And of course it's a girls nn too (Charlotte), but if saw the name, you'd expect a boy (Charles).

Sasha is like Charlie. It's predominantly a boys nn, and one that works across several European languages.

[squoosh]

I think Sasha is a gorgeous name. I prefer it for girls.

[steppemum]

Sasha is short for Alexandra and Alexander, so can be boys or girls.

I like it, but I also love the idea of the full name with sasha as short name

[ShowOfBloodyStumps]

I always think 'boy' too. I love it. But not on a girl. I think in Germany or somewhere you're not allowed to use it for a girl. I feel the same about Beau. It's a masculine but I've met a few female Beaus recently. Using it for a girl doesn't change my perception of it.

My French friend was v shocked when he heard it used for a girl. He said it was like calling a girl David.

[rachel234]

I too think boy. But then I know quite a few Saschas (German) and Sachas (French) and yes, in Germany it is only a boys name.

I prefer Saskia for a girl or how about Safia?

[steppemum]

well I have to point out that the op is asking about Sasha not Sascha!

In Russia it is a very common name, used as a short name for Alexander and Alexandra, totally both genders

My daughter (not russian, in uk) has a daughter called sasha

I actually think it is quite feminine sounding.

[steppemum]

actually that should be my FRIEND has a DAUGHTER

(would be surprised if dd had a daughter seeing as how she is only 8!)

[ShowOfBloodyStumps]

Sasha, Sacha and Sascha are all the same name though, just different spellings. See also Sasja, Sasa and other European variations.

"This name is especially common in Europe where it is used primarily by males as a diminutive of Alexander, although females may also use it as a diminutive of Alexandra. Despite its popularity in informal usage, the name is rarely recorded on birth certificates in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, as it is considered a diminutive and not a formal name. Exceptions are Serbia and Croatia"

It's still primarily a name for a boy and in a lot of European countries, there would be some surprise if it was used for a girl.

There's no reason not to use it for a girl if you want to. In America, they would expect a girl. It's just that in Europe a lot of people's natural reaction would be to expect a little boy on hearing the name.

[VeraLockski]

I like it.

I think it can be for a girl or a boy nowadays. I have a feeling it will seem like a girls name in UK.

Barack Obama's daughter is called Sascha (or Sasha?) - short for Natascha/Natasha I believe.

[ricecakeaddict]

Thanks all - v helpful feedback!
Hmmm, while I love the name, I'm doubting this too much. The boy / girl thing isn't an issue I had really thought about. I would prefer it to be a nn but we can't use Alexandra and, while I like Natasha, I don't think Tash is a great nn for a girl!
Right, back to our traditional Top 100 names then.
Thank you!