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Baby names

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

Original poster

Natasha - does it need abbreviating?

38 replies

LewishamMum · 17/02/2021 14:09

So my 9 week old is called Natasha, my fav name since I've been 10.

My Dad says it's too long and needs an abbreviation - Tash, Tasha, Sasha, Natty......whatever. Both my parents like the name Natasha, but insist it's too long and if I don't give her an abbreviation she will end up being called Nat which they (and I) all hate.

I like Tasha and especially Sasha, but I want her to be called Natasha, which I think is nicer than either. I've known 2 people called Natasha and they were called a mixture of Natasha and Tash/Tasha, but never Nat....

Is Natasha too long? Will it inevitably be abbreviated? If so I'd rather jump the gun and get in with my favourite shortened version (Sasha).

Views wanted?

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CattyCactus · 18/02/2021 01:35

Push for Sasha if that’s what you want - personally I think Sasha is a great name in its own right!

AlwaysLatte · 18/02/2021 01:31

Sasha is lovely, as is Natasha. I would like Nat too except inevitably some people will drop the T and it will be Na' which is horrible. So if you want Sasha as a nickname then get her used to it herself so she introduces that version to people herself when she's older.

occa · 18/02/2021 01:10

All the Natasha's I know are called Tash/Tasha. I think it's kind of inevitable.

partyatthepalace · 18/02/2021 01:03

It isn’t especially long

But if you want to drive off Nat, you might want to occasionally use Tasha so that is established?

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 17/02/2021 20:14

Natasha (nn Sasha) is lovely. I'm less keen on Tasha or Nat personally.
But I think Nat or Tasha may be inevitable from her friends once she starts secondary (and you can't tell which it will be!), unless she insists on her full name herself or you call her Sasha from day 1.

Geppili · 17/02/2021 18:29

It is a really beautiful name. Tasha is lovely. Don't allow anyone to call her Nat or Tash.

ThreeTwoOneBlastOff · 17/02/2021 16:20

I like Tash or Tasha, I’ve never known of a Nat from Natasha, only Natalie’s.

Original poster
LewishamMum · 17/02/2021 15:03

I know the Russian origins of Natasha, Sasha, etc, but we're not in Russia so I don't think it matters.

I know if I carry on with Natasha it will probably end up as Tasha (which I like), or I can make a conscious effort to make it Sasha (which I like more, but not as much as Natasha).

It's not unknown as a nn - eg Barack Obama's daughter Sasha is technically Natasha and there are others too.

OP posts:
TallulahSkye · 17/02/2021 14:39

All the Natasha's I know are called Tash or Tasha. It's inevitable but you can continue to call her by her full name, you don't have to shorten it if you don't want to. You can always correct people too if they say Tash.
My DH has a long name think along lines of Matthew and when people call him Matt he says no Matthew as he doesn't like the short version

HelpMeh · 17/02/2021 14:24

The two Natasha's I know are both called Tasha by pretty much everyone. This is then shortened to Tash.

Sasha isn't a logical nn.

DavidsSchitt · 17/02/2021 14:19

Sasha isn't a shortening of Natasha.

Nobody will call her Nat, it'll be Natasha or Tash

Nell96 · 17/02/2021 14:19

I think it's fine, no need to shorten. I have a three syllable name and it's rarely shortened. Not sure how you get Sasha from Natasha, sounds like a completely different name to me. I know four Natashas - one always uses her full name, two go by Tasha and one uses Tash. None are Nat - I'd say that's usually short for Natalie.

AuntieStella · 17/02/2021 14:18

Natasha is already a pet form, it's the Russian nickname for Natalia

I wouldn't shorten it to Sasha (as that's' the Russian nn for Aleksandr, and occasionally Aleksandra). I think Tash/Tasha is lovely (and way nicer than Nat)