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Baby names

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Original poster

Mischa ?

45 replies

lchodge · 15/09/2011 20:34

Any opinions on the name Mischa for a girl???

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Stoirin · 16/09/2011 13:23

Presumably though most of us answering you here don't live in Russia or Germany, and we all know its a boys name. Everyone knows its a boys name.

PS if you are expecting people to tell you what they really think about your name choices in real life, you're crazy!

sonniebonnie · 16/09/2011 13:03

But do bear in mind that you daughter may travel, live or work outside of the UK. Her life would be easier if she doesn't have a name that is perceived as boys' name.

Original poster
lchodge · 16/09/2011 12:56

I don't live in Germany or Russia and I know that where I do live if you called your baby boy Sacha, you would definitely get some odd looks, whereas I know 3 girls with the name.
As for the name Mischa it'd be nothing like calling a girl Mick or Trevor (actually laughed out loud at this) because it's a completely uncommon name in this country. It's not, nor has it ever been in the top 500 for either sex. I have asked several friends and colleagues what they thought of the name and whilst some didn't like it and some thought it was pretty, not 1 said 'that's a boys name you can't use that'.
I'm not that keen on it anyway it was my partners suggestion.

OP posts:
minipie · 16/09/2011 12:37

Boy's name, sorry. If you call a girl Mischa it will seem like you didn't know it was a boy's name.

How about Venetia - Nisha for short
or Francesca - Cheska for short.
or Letitia - Tisha for short

these have a similar "feel" to Mischa. (there are probably other similar options too)

sonniebonnie · 16/09/2011 12:26

How about Michaela for a girl? You could then shorten to whatever you'd like. But I agree - Misha is a nickname for Michail in Russian, like Sasha is for Alexander.

comedaygoday · 15/09/2011 21:58

It's a boy's name. It'd be like calling a girl Mick.

mopsyflopsy · 15/09/2011 21:57

And Mischa Barton knows that her name is actually a boys name Smile

mopsyflopsy · 15/09/2011 21:54

Mischa is definitely a BOY's name. It's a diminuitive of the name Michail, the Russian version of Michael.

And Sasha is the diminutive of Alexander, also traditionally Russian. But used a lot in Germany too.

Milsean · 15/09/2011 21:48

Mischa is definitely a boys name, always has been. Just because one actress has a boys name doesn't make a girls name!

rachel234 · 15/09/2011 21:43

Sasha is traditionally a boys' name, short for Alexander. Sacha is the French version, Sascha the German.

In fact, in Germany Sascha is only allowed to be used for boys.

I know a German Michael whose nickname is Micha, in Hessen pronounced Mischa Grin.

ShowOfHands · 15/09/2011 21:25

It's like calling a girl Trevor. Sacha is a boys name but people use it for girls nowadays because it 'sounds feminine'. Sacha Distel? Sacha Baron Cohen? Def. boys.

Original poster
lchodge · 15/09/2011 21:10

That's so strange because to me Sacha is definitely a girls name, without a.doubt too feminine for a boy, lol

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 15/09/2011 21:08

Boys name. See also Sacha. Might be used for girls but will always seem strange to me.

Original poster
lchodge · 15/09/2011 21:07

Mee-sha. To look at I think I would pronounce Mica 'my-ca' which I think of as a strong boys name.

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Original poster
lchodge · 15/09/2011 21:05

I think the spelling Mica is more masculine whereas Mischa screams femininity to me! I knew it was derived from a boys name but only ever known it as a girls name. Maybe depends on region?

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brodanbell · 15/09/2011 21:02

How are you pronouncing it? Mee-sha (like Mischa Barton) or Mish-ka? Like both actually. I knew a Mica once, and even though her name is spelt the same as Mica Paris, soooooo many people were stumped by it. She would get called Mike-ah or Meek-ca until corrected.

BedHog · 15/09/2011 20:59

I like it, and I've never heard of it being used for a boy. I prefer the Mischa spelling to the more traditional Mica, as it makes the pronounciation more obvious.

posey · 15/09/2011 20:53

I know 2. Both male. One an adult, German, short for Mikhail.
The other a boy, with a Russian parent.
So I find it hard to think of as a female name I'm afraid.

Original poster
lchodge · 15/09/2011 20:45

Also derived from Melissa in Greek and Michael, Hebrew. However it is mostly used as a girls name. Think it would be a very odd choice for a boy very feminine!

OP posts:
meditrina · 15/09/2011 20:37

It's the short form of Mikhail.

I don't like boy's names on girls, so not for me.