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Baby names

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

Sasha (girl)

23 replies

ricecakeaddict · 05/10/2013 23:49

Sasha has been our favourite name for years. However, now I'm pregnant I'm starting to doubt it. My main reason (which I realise is stupid) is because I don't think people will think it's very us and the rest of our name choices are very traditional.
My DH is still keen. Please could I have honest views on Sasha to test what I think?

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Journey · 05/10/2013 23:55

Sasha is a lovely name.

Tmh76 · 05/10/2013 23:58

It's a lovely name, but I'm biased as I have a Sasha

shoobidoo · 06/10/2013 07:51

I only know boys named Sasha. Normally short for Alexander but also as a standalone name.

UriGeller · 06/10/2013 07:54

It's normally a boys nickname, short for Alexander. (I have one!)

I suppose it could be short for AlexandRa.

UriGeller · 06/10/2013 07:54
meditrina · 06/10/2013 07:56

I don't like it on a girl, sorry. Very much a boys name to me.

It can be used on a girl, even in Russia, but its predominantly for boys, and in much of Europe the expectation is that the holder is a boy (though not eye-rollingly strange when it isn't).

Sleepthief · 06/10/2013 10:09

I think it the UK it's actually more common as a girl's name (have no statistics to back this up, obviously Grin). But as others have said, it works for both. Good name Smile

Sleepthief · 06/10/2013 10:11

And isn't it usually Sacha for a boy? Or is that just French?

Clargo55 · 06/10/2013 11:50

I like it, but think Saskia would be nicer. They feel like similar names to me.

Alisvolatpropiis · 06/10/2013 12:33

I know it's a male name however I have only met women with this name.

I think one of Obama's daughters is an Alexandra nn Sasha? Or maybe she's a Natasha.

BananaHammocks · 06/10/2013 22:07

I've just checked on names.darkgreener.com/ and it's waaaay more popular for girls here.

Wishfulmakeupping · 06/10/2013 22:11

Agree with clargo- I was going to suggest Saskia too

shoobidoo · 07/10/2013 06:48

Agree that Saskia (or Sarah) would be much nicer for a girl.

Sacha is the French version and Sascha the German one, by the way. All boys names imo.

EdithWeston · 07/10/2013 06:53

If you looked at Charlie, you'd see much higher popularity than you might expect for girls. And of course it's a girls nn too (Charlotte), but if saw the name, you'd expect a boy (Charles).

Sasha is like Charlie. It's predominantly a boys nn, and one that works across several European languages.

squoosh · 07/10/2013 10:49

I think Sasha is a gorgeous name. I prefer it for girls.

steppemum · 07/10/2013 11:09

Sasha is short for Alexandra and Alexander, so can be boys or girls.

I like it, but I also love the idea of the full name with sasha as short name

ShowOfBloodyStumps · 07/10/2013 11:23

I always think 'boy' too. I love it. But not on a girl. I think in Germany or somewhere you're not allowed to use it for a girl. I feel the same about Beau. It's a masculine but I've met a few female Beaus recently. Using it for a girl doesn't change my perception of it.

My French friend was v shocked when he heard it used for a girl. He said it was like calling a girl David.

rachel234 · 07/10/2013 14:25

I too think boy. But then I know quite a few Saschas (German) and Sachas (French) and yes, in Germany it is only a boys name.

I prefer Saskia for a girl or how about Safia?

steppemum · 07/10/2013 14:45

well I have to point out that the op is asking about Sasha not Sascha!

In Russia it is a very common name, used as a short name for Alexander and Alexandra, totally both genders

My daughter (not russian, in uk) has a daughter called sasha

I actually think it is quite feminine sounding.

steppemum · 07/10/2013 15:00

actually that should be my FRIEND has a DAUGHTER

(would be surprised if dd had a daughter seeing as how she is only 8!)

ShowOfBloodyStumps · 07/10/2013 18:42

Sasha, Sacha and Sascha are all the same name though, just different spellings. See also Sasja, Sasa and other European variations.

"This name is especially common in Europe where it is used primarily by males as a diminutive of Alexander, although females may also use it as a diminutive of Alexandra. Despite its popularity in informal usage, the name is rarely recorded on birth certificates in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, as it is considered a diminutive and not a formal name. Exceptions are Serbia and Croatia"

It's still primarily a name for a boy and in a lot of European countries, there would be some surprise if it was used for a girl.

There's no reason not to use it for a girl if you want to. In America, they would expect a girl. It's just that in Europe a lot of people's natural reaction would be to expect a little boy on hearing the name.

VeraLockski · 07/10/2013 20:00

I like it.

I think it can be for a girl or a boy nowadays. I have a feeling it will seem like a girls name in UK.

Barack Obama's daughter is called Sascha (or Sasha?) - short for Natascha/Natasha I believe.

ricecakeaddict · 08/10/2013 17:31

Thanks all - v helpful feedback!
Hmmm, while I love the name, I'm doubting this too much. The boy / girl thing isn't an issue I had really thought about. I would prefer it to be a nn but we can't use Alexandra and, while I like Natasha, I don't think Tash is a great nn for a girl!
Right, back to our traditional Top 100 names then.
Thank you!

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