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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Dasha

69 replies

Pluto30 · 22/11/2016 20:19

What do you all think of the name Dasha (for a girl)?

We wanted to use it for DD1 but thought it wasn't usable enough in non-Russian culture. It's traditionally a nickname for Darya/Daria but we don't like the full name and don't think Dasha from Daria would come naturally for people where we live.

But we're looking at using it this time 'round. Just not sure if it is unusable. Or just horrible and we're blinded? Grin

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goldenrachita · 28/11/2016 10:47

I don't think it's overly Russian in the way Giancarlo is too Italian. I think it's ambiguous enough. I think with girls' names you can be a bit more creative and people will just think you chose something pretty and feminine. It's a really very nice name and it's unusual. I would use it.

septembersunshine · 25/11/2016 19:22

I love Dasha but think Sasha is so much prettier. Nothing wrong with Dasha though.

ChocoChou · 25/11/2016 14:55

I like Dasha, but spelt Dascha like the actor from OITNB I think?

MrEBear · 25/11/2016 13:49

Sorry Reindeer was my first thought too - is it a Christmas baby ?
What about Sasha?

Gentleope · 25/11/2016 13:16

I think it is a lovely name.

pinkieandperkie · 25/11/2016 13:10

Another one who thought reindeer.

Ilovenannyplum · 25/11/2016 13:01

I'm another one that thought reindeer Blush

badtime · 25/11/2016 12:48

I have a rhotic accent, so I didn't think reindeer (as Dasha and dasher sound very different to me) .

In an Australian accent, wouldn't 'dasher' be pronounced more like (what an English person would hear as) 'desher', and 'Dasha' more like 'darsher'?

CouldIHaveIt · 25/11/2016 04:44

Sorry, I too would be singing the Rudolph song.

...& no, things like that last for life, not just a short while. 'Ha ha mate, where's Pranca n Veexen?'

PetalMettle · 25/11/2016 04:23

Reindeer even

PetalMettle · 25/11/2016 04:23

It's Dina Asher-smiths nn but If you're not uk based or a massive athletics fan you probably won't make that connection. I think it's still
A bit reminder for me sorry. Darla?

Pemba · 25/11/2016 00:48

Dasher the reindeer is not really much of a 'thing', I would have thought, what with Rudolph being the famous one of course. And it's not like it sounds like a swear word or anything bad. I think you should ignore it, and call her Dasha if you like it.

After all many names sound like something else or have slightly negative meanings if you dissect them. But if they are very well-known or popular names in this country we tend to ignore this. For example Amelia is a medical term for 'limbless' , Claudia means 'lame'. Yet because they are popular we ignore it. And Pippa has very unfortunate meanings in several European languages (wank and blowjob, if I recall correctly), but Brits happily continue to use it to name their daughters.

I think Dasha sounds perfectly fine.

SpeckledyBanana · 24/11/2016 19:47

Dashera and Prancer and Comet and Vixen.

I think it's quite lovely anyway, and I really like Daria too.

ButtercupMeg · 24/11/2016 19:45

And prancer...Grin

Original poster
Pluto30 · 24/11/2016 19:42

I'm in Australia, but husband is Scandi, so having a name that translates well is important. But I'm not a fan of typical Scandinavian/Norse names. Sad

Russian names tend to translate well there. Well, Eastern European names, in general, do.

Have mentioned Dasha in passing a few times with my sons (ages 5.5 and 7) and neither have mentioned the reindeer, but maybe they just don't have an interest? Confused

OP posts:
PinkiePiesCupcakes · 24/11/2016 17:44

Chinlo

I didn't realise that Santa was such a common nickname and shortened version of another name.
is it Stephen? is that what Santa is short for?

From the OP:
It's traditionally a nickname for Darya/Daria but we don't like the full name and don't think Dasha from Daria would come naturally for people where we live.

Also from the OP:
I'm not in the UK.

so assuming that the OP is elsewhere in Europe, there is a good chance that they dot even call "Dasher" "Dasher"

(Op mentions nonRussian so I assume she is in or near Russia is from a Russian background, I believe Xmas in Russia is very different to UK? isn't it Babushka over there?)

TurkeyTwazzock · 24/11/2016 17:40

I like it a lot

Chinlo · 24/11/2016 17:19

Pinkie That's like saying people will only connect the name Santa to Santa Claus at Christmas time.

In other words, you're wrong.

BertrandRussell · 24/11/2016 17:17

Yes, but she will still be called Dasha when she goes to school. And Christmas does happen every year..........

PinkiePiesCupcakes · 24/11/2016 16:58

I love it.

I doubt anyone would even connect with a reindeer in real life in July tbh. Its only Xmas time when anyone moight and even then so what? Every name can connected to something somewhere.

(Besides, my first thought was Raoindbow Dash from MLP, she is awesome)

roseteapot101 · 24/11/2016 16:51

so sorry it makes me think of reindeer

what about Sasha

Holding · 24/11/2016 16:27

I like it - could also be short for Dorothy?

IDreamOfPeace · 24/11/2016 10:09

I like Dasha but I'm biased because I also like names like Sasha and Natasha. Smile

Aside from the reindeer thing others have pointed out (which I don't think will really be an issue) I can see some people thinking you might have called her Tasha. If you say the sentence "This is my little girl, Dasha!" out loud to yourself do you mistakenly hear Tasha when you play it back in your head? Having to correct someone if they have misheard isn't the end of the world but that's they only (teeny tiny) con I can think of to using it. Otherwise I say if you love it then use it!

user1479835256 · 23/11/2016 11:25

My French family find it hysterical my mother was given a boys name (Jean) every culture is the same.

I think Xmas for little Dasha will be always be an interesting time.

BertrandRussell · 23/11/2016 10:38

Pluto- just imagine what it would be like to have people humming Christmas carols all the time.

As I said. It might not happen. It might even probably not happen. But it might . So why risk it? It was the first association most people on here made.........

And there's the "dashing off somewhere" association too............