Natasha - does it need abbreviating?

I don't think a 3 syllable name is over long, it's perfectly normal. Many four syllable names are in common use, eg Elizabeth, Isabella.

I would just use Natasha and be relaxed about it if any short form develops naturally.

Natasha is pretty and doesn't need a nick name.

I think the cutest is Nasha or Nashi! (Nashi pear)

True I do think those names are long but they both have gone a lot of years without anyone trying to shorten it! And people do reference them and say their name quite a bit, it's just never seemed odd to me. Depends on the person I suppose. Natasha is nice, nickname or not though.

I like the name Sasha a lot but think it's a bit of a reach in this case when Tash and Tasha are the obvious shortenings.

You like Natasha best so just call her Natasha. Grandparents, schoolfriends etc. will settle on their own shortenings.

@ourflagmeansdeath , I don't necessarily mean shortened formally, but when you call someone to get their attention or in speech. I use people's names a lot in speech, like i'd say 'Oh hello Janet, how are you? or something. Alexandria and Ana Maria are awfully long.

I had a relative with a 5 syllable name and she insisted on the full name, but a lot of people shortened it.
For example, something like Alexandrina:
Aunty Drina
Lexdria
Alex
Lexa
Lex

I mean I suppose it does depend but I know plenty of people with long names who have never been shortened - Alexandria, Ana Maria etc. I just personally think Natasha works fine. Sasha is a lovely nickname anyway if it does happen to be shortened. 😊

@ourflagmeansdeath , 3 syllables is long, and names tend to be shortened, whether you intend it or not. It might not need a 'nickname' but if you don't like the shortened version, you end up being that person who says 'I'm Stephen/Susan not Steve/Sue' or whatever, and you'll still get people using the short version.

It's only a 3 syllable name, no need for a nickname at all

It's a long name and will get shortened. I think Sasha/Sash is nicer than Nat/Tash/Tasha

Natasha is Russian...
It is pronounced Na (Nar) Ta (Tar) Sha (Shar). It is so often mispronounced.
My name means "born on Christmas day" or "birthday of the Lord."
For short I get called Tarsh.

I work with a Natasha who is a Natasha, never a Nat.

I know 3 Natashas. One is Nat, one is Tasha or Tash and the third is always Natasha - I have never heard anyone shorten it. (Well, not more than once anyway!)
It isn't inevitable it will be shortened so call her what you like for now. But do bear in mind that she may choose a nickname or shortened version of her name for herself. I always intended to use my DD's full name and if people shortened it I would correct them. Until she was 10 or 11 that is, when her school friends started using a shortened version and she decided that was what she wanted to be called, so I respected her wishes. Now she's an adult and she's reverted to her full name, so I have to retrain myself again.😂

I'm a Natasha, I've always introduced myself as Natasha however in the next breath I'm referred to as Tash or Tasha which I don't mind. Only once at university did someone attempt to call me Nat which I didn't mind so always answered to it.

At the end of the day it'll be up to her when she's older but you can always have a pet name that you like when she's young... my family have never called me Natasha unless I'm in trouble

I think if you object to abbreviations so much it was silly to pick a 3 syllable name with many obvious nick-names. As soon as she is in school there will almost certainly be shortenings. You can correct people all you want now, but Natasha will soon grow-up and might want to be Tasha, or Nat, and that's her call not yours.

I have a colleague called Natasha and we call her that.

In the US where people like shortening names - some might want to shorten it to Tasha.
It in the U.K. - it’s not necessarily the case as people are used to different names.
I have known Natasha’s and Anastasia’s, as well as other ‘longer names’ - Vivienne’s, Particia’s, Beatrice’s..... lots of beautiful long names.
And in general - kids names are quite diverse these days that people are OK with accommodating many different ones. And Natasha isn’t some strange or made up name....

You don’t have to shorten it, or go along with what your parents want. Your baby - your choice.
Same with she starts nursery & school. Teachers will call her whatever she is called.

And at some point she will decide herself if she wants to shorten it or not.

(As to calling her Sasha -which is another beautiful Russian name. Not sure why you’d give her a name you really like only not to use it 🤷🏻‍♀️..... If you want to call her Sasha - I’d just change her birth certificate and spare her a lifetime of introducing herself as one name, then explaining that her official name is something else. And she’ll have to do it more than you think. I am in that situation and it’s constant and tiring over the years.
I have also known people who ended up changing their names as adults to the one they use vs official name - just to avoid constant explaining)

You have the right not to shorten her name at all, and to ask other people not to (until she's old enough to have an opinion of her own). I wouldn't have any problem calling a baby or child Natasha if that was how she'd been introduced to me! (I have known several little girls whose names were as long or longer and were never shortened - a couple of Victorias, a Weronika and an Alexandra just for a start. )

Every Natasha I know is called Nat. Same with all the Natalies. I think it’s preferable than Tash, sounds like a cruel nickname for a girl with slight moustache. Sasha wouldn’t be nickname for Natasha, it’s a separate name. I don’t think you need to shorten it at all. Mine is much longer and doesn’t get shortened.

My name is Natasha. Everyone calls me Tasha or, Tash if they are a v close friend. Nobody calls me any other abbreviation!

Beautiful name. I love it and I have a 3 syllable name too. Sasha is a great name and fine as a nickname if that's what you'd like. But I'd own it and be proud and go by Natasha.

What a lovely name Natasha is . Tell your folks they are being silly saying it’s too long ! My father’s name is Matthew & he is never called Matt , if anyone ever abbreviates it to Matt , he has always said it’s Matthew . So you can say to everyone my daughter’s name is Natasha .

I don't think it matters what you shorten it to, or if you don't shorten it at all.

Its not "inevitable" that she will end up being called Tash, or Nat if she doesn't want to be. Conversely you could start calling her Sashsa and her school friends so might call her Tasha.

DS1 is called Dominic. If anyone shortens it he tells them his name is Dominic.

Ds2 is Joshua, which according to previous posts on here always becomes Josh. My son is Joshua to family, Yoshie to his primary school friends and Shwa to his secondary school friends.

Natasha has always been one of my favorite names. But whatever you say they're going to shorten it so you need to choose a nickname now before they do, to use occasionally but mainly to stop them renaming your daughter what they think. Don't let them overrule your preference x

I would introduce Sasha alongside Natasha, as the obvious nn are Nat and Tash.