Anastasia

[Rockaby]

What are people's thoughts on this name please?

[SuperBeagle]

Lovely, but people will likely assume Russian or Greek heritage, if that bothers you.

[floraeasy]

Very pretty IMO.

[floraeasy]

People might shorten it to "Anna" so be prepared for that, if you don't want it shortened.

[EverythingEverywhere1234]

It's lovely, and I love 'Anna/Ana' too. I know an Anastasia who goes by Stassi (no idea how to spell it, literally said sta-si) which I also think is quite pretty

[attilathehamster]

One in DC class whose parents are from Romania, I certainly think it's more widespread in E & SE Europe. And would you say an-a-STAY-sia or an-a-STAR-sia? In continental Europe it's the latter.

I think it's pretty but could be a bit of a mouthful in combination with a surname of more than 2 syllables?

[PaintingOwls]

I love it but it gets mispronounced by English people which grates on me massively. They say Anastaysha when it's meant to be more like Ana-stah-sia.

[Bumpsadaisie]

Tassie as a nn?

Greek boys named Anastasios always get called Tassos.

[AntiHop]

I really like it.

[Rockaby]

Love Anna or Stassi as a nn. I think in Russia the nn is Nastya but that doesn't sound great in English!

I have no Greek or Russian heritage to speak of btw. Would it be weird to use this anyway?

We would use the Ana-stah-sia pronunciation, not Anna-stay-sia.

I only know one irl, who is Ukrainian. She is lovely, which hasn't made me love the name even more.

[Rockaby]

Obviously that^^ should say "...has made me love the name even more". Autocorrect is bizarre.

[CakeRattleandRoll]

I really like it, very elegant. Personally I wouldn't think it odd that you didn't have Eastern European heritage.

[DramaAlpaca]

I've always liked the name.

[Rockaby]

Thanks cake. To me, it's one of those names which has already crossed into U.K. culture a bit, so hopefully not too weird..?

[SleepFreeZone]

I like it and it would be in my list with Ana for short.

[Sophronia]

I used to like it until 50 shades of grey happened.

[Rockaby]

Oh god was it in 50 shades of gray?

I genuinely didn't know that. Balls.

[Oblomov17]

I have always loved it. I like the :
Anna-stay-zee-ya
pronunciation.

[Oysterbabe]

I thought 50 shades too.

[georgieee]

Anastasia Steele.

OP, she is the leading female role... Most people will be aware.

[MarilynWhirlwindRocks]

Beautiful name.

I know a 7 yr old Anastasia: her parents always pronounce it Anna-STAH-zha (the "zh" sound as in "Jacques" or "Genevieve"); funnily enough everyone else calls her Anna-STAY-zha, rather than Anna-STAY-zee-a!).

I've only ever heard her referred to by the full name, except by her little sis: she's "Tasha" to her. Another nice NN!

[thebakerwithboobs]

A beautiful name ruined by 50 Shades. Real shame but the kinky sex connection would put me off now.

[Rockaby]

Ok... the 50 shades connection has completely put me off it.

I'm sure children born now wouldn't make the connection etc, but I still would, now that I know about it!

[Sprungout]

Was just about to mention Nastya as a Russian short form but you already know it. Only takes one kid in class to spot it and she will be Nastya for her school life.

[MarilynWhirlwindRocks]

In that case, perhaps you might like:

Natalia/ Natalya

Valentina

Raphaela/ Raphaella

Alexandria

Estella

Ariana

[ClaryBeanHorshAndMe]

Oh, the 50 connection put you off... That's quite understandable imo.

What about:
Natalia
Ivana
Kyra
Valentina
Katerina
Nektaria
Aquilina
Aglaya