Dasha

[Pluto30]

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?

My first (and only) thought was an abbreviation of the fabled La-a. But despite that I do rather like it.

As long as it's not spelt "-A"

I am very ope

Oops, posted too soon.

I am very open minded about names from different cultures. I also think it's common to see how a name might go down 'out of context' so to speak. Words and names have different meanings.

I think Daria is beautiful. Am afraid Dasha also made me think reindeer.

I think Dasha is lovely.

I really like Darya for boy or girl. Sorry but I did immediately think of prancer and vixen et al...

My first thought was reindeer too, dasher and prancer. Sorry

My m said it was quite a popular name when she was younger. I like it. I love soviet names. (I have one though)

Would assume Daria was the full name and that you were a Russian family. I like the name and I have never thought if reindeer when talking to the Dasha I know.

I really like it. I doubt everyone would immediately leap to 'reindeer' if it was't the run up to Christmas. Any anyway, so what? It's not the worst association is it? People are still called Rudolph.

My first though was reindeer too, unfortunately.

As above the problem in the UK is that Dasha is most commonly known as a reindeer. I can't think of any examples but I there must be names that are popular in the UK which are considered unusable in other countries for similar reasons.

I like Daria though (was on our list and we're not in the remotely Russian/ex-Soviet)

Lovely name

I wouldn't worry about reindeer associations because they're forgotten the instant anyone meets a real life Dasha!

I just think, and I have said before, that life can be hard, and why would we deliberately do anything that might make a child's life even a little bit harder?

Obviously nobody might ever make the reindeer connection. But somebody might make it in the first term of Reception and it could follow her to 6th form. Obviously nobody might ever say "Dasha, just dash along to ....." - but people might. Why risk it?

Reindeer

I immediately thought of reindeer, sorry.
I love Daria though.

"People are still called Rudolph."

Well, they aren't, actually! None since 2008, and only 7 since 1996.

I hesitated to post that, because I suspect it might lead to a flurry of little Mumsnet Rudolphs, followed by another flurry of outraged "people keep making jokes about my baby having a red nose" posts in a couple of years time........

I also thought it was a dogs name when I saw if written, sorry, I think it may be cultural. I'm sure if I met anyone with the name I wouldn't think that though.

I'm just not convinced that the reindeer thing would be a problem.

It's not a bad association. Just an association. Even if it were a thing, it'd only be that way for a small amount of time before being a non-issue, surely?

I can find faults with all of the names we've chosen, really.

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............

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.

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

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!

I like it - could also be short for Dorothy?

so sorry it makes me think of reindeer

what about Sasha

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)