Alexander, NN Sasha

[Corvuscorone]

Ds is due in early April and we are struggling to make a definite decision on a name. We both like Alexander but I have known so many people called Alex, both male and female and I'm just not keen on it. Dh and I travelled in Russia for our honeymoon and had a lovely male guide called Sasha but I'm concerned that it is seen as much more of a female name here in the UK. Is it inevitable that Alexander would end up an Alex?

[originalmavis]

Could be a zander, al or sandy.

[NameAgeLocation]

I know a boy Sacha which is the more common male spelling.

I think Naomi Watts has a son Sasha for Alexander.

[zazie7]

I don't think it's inevitable. I've known Alexanders who have gone by the full name or by Xander. Sasha is a lovely unusual nickname and if people are introduced to him as Sasha then that is what they will call him.

However if you really dislike Alex I wouldn't choose it as your son may well decide he wants to go by it at some stage.

[originalmavis]

We've got a few (male, Russian) Sashas at DS's school. I've not met many Alexandra's in aong time.

[Corvuscorone]

Really don't like Zander/Xander or Al and Dh isn't keen on Sandy.

[AuntJane]

Sacha is also a diminutive for Alexandre in France

[originalmavis]

You could end up with a completely random and unrelated nickname anyway (like DS).

Alexander - Zander - Zan - Zanno - Zed -Zeb - Zebedee - Z - E - Eyore - Piglet etc etc etc.

[Corvuscorone]

If he were to decide to be Alex when he is older I would accept that. I don't dislike it to that degree. Thanks for your replies, I feel slightly encouraged!

[Jw35]

Personally I love the name Alex and it's my boy name if this ones a boy! I'm trying to decide whether to use Alexander or just have Alex! Anyway to answer your question, I think Sasha is a girls name and he might get teased. I also woul never imagine it as a nn for Alexander in this country.

[originalmavis]

I've not met a female Sasha, just boys. We're in London.

[AuntieStella]

Because there are so many possible nicknames for Alexander, I think people do (usually) listen to which one you are using.

Sasha is a great nn, and is usually spelt that way by Russians and other Eastern Europeans, and there are one or two in each of my DC's year groups. No teasing, I wouldn't expect it any more than a Charles known as Charlie would be teased because some Charlottes use it.

PS: recommend spelling Xander if you go for that nn, as Zander is a fish.

[EssentialHummus]

Possibly a different Russian name? Many have great NNs.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Don't do it.

I wanted Alexendar NN Xander and got cold feet at the last minute.

19 years later, Xander would have been impossible. Alexander's are just Al or Alex.

I've been aware for years now as 'what if', and it just wouldnt have happened..

[KaraokeQueenOfTheNorth]

Ive never heard Sasha on a girl, only boys. I know two Sashas (both Alexander) and one boy with Sasha as a middle name

[Wardrobespierre]

Love Sasha. Definitely a boy's name. In Germany you aren't allowed to use it for girls. Spelling differences are geographical as opposed to indicative of sex. Sacha is French iirc.

[HarlettOScara]

I have an Alexandra known as Sasha. If she'd been a boy, she would have been Alexander and I would have liked to still use the nn Sacha but where I live it's pretty much exclusively a girl's name so would most likely have used Alex and I'm not keen on Zander or Sandy either.

[SueTrinder]

Alexander is a family name, we have an Allie, Alex, Sandy etc but no Sasha. I think it's great and would think of it as a boys name not a girls name. Agree that when he's little most other adults will use the name you use but when he starts school who knows what will happen. Or maybe he will want to be an Alexander (my brother was always called a short form of his name in the family but uses his 'proper' name professionally and has done since he started Uni).

[Artandco]

I would just use Sascha on its own if you like it. It's a lovely name. That way Alex/ Alexander doesn't even come into it

[DontKillMyVibe]

I went to primary school many years ago with a girl called Sasha so I've always associated it as a female name especially with that spelling. Sacha is the male spelling I think? I always thought both were a name in their own right and wouldn't think of them as being a nn and it's certainly not a nn that I would automatically pair with Alexander

[Parsley1234]

I've got a Sacha middle name Valentine and I still love it 12 years later , only met one other Sacha in that time so not overused. It means helper of mankind, no one ever forgets his name, it's very cool and will carry him well through life strong and positive I think

[Zhabr]

My dad is Sasha (aka Shurik). Personally I would not choose a name ending with "a", as it is indeed seen as a female name. I know a teenage Russian boy called Nikita ( very popular name in Russia for many years now), and he hates his name and insists that he is "Nick".

[PotOfYoghurt]

I know a woman whose name is Alexandra but goes by Sasha.

[AssembleTheMinions]

Lex is a very common nickname for Alexander round these parts.

[Janek]

My dd2 would have been Sacha, if she'd been a boy. As it is, her teddy got the name. It suits him...

[Sophronia]

I love Alexander nn Sasha, but my favourite nn for it is Alec.