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

Original poster

first impression on the name Basia

67 replies

sfia89 · 08/02/2019 17:17

hello,
we are expecting our first baby girl and have come across the name basia (pronounced Basha). I learned later it is a slavic name and liked it however I've never met anyone with this name. I'm interested to know strangers first honest impressions on it thanks

OP posts:
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Bryjam · 08/02/2019 19:24

*basha would be...

WarpedGalaxy · 08/02/2019 19:26

I thought basal cell too as written. But the actual pronunciation doesn't make it better to English speakers either. Basher? Yeah, don't do that to your child.

BertrandRussell · 08/02/2019 19:26

It means kiss.

“Basha” is truly awful!

FamilyOfAliens · 08/02/2019 19:26

If you’re Polish, go for it.

Otherwise, it’s Basher and a lifetime of teasing.

Minglemangle · 08/02/2019 19:30

First thought was fish. Seeing how it is pronounced I like it is ok but there are a lot nicer Polish names.

cricketmum84 · 08/02/2019 19:32

Strangely enough I would pronounce Kasia as kasha but Basia as baseea!

It sounds like a plant to me. Sorry I don't like it :(

Patchworksack · 08/02/2019 19:36

"basher" is not a good name in an English speaking school. I would have assumed Bay-sha or Bayzeea, but my daughter has a Polish friend Beyza so that may be influencing how I hear it. The alternatives suggested are much better.

Betty777 · 08/02/2019 19:37

sorry OP. Really don't like it and don't think it lends itself well to British pronunciation

Bubastes · 08/02/2019 19:41

I love Kasia but don't have any of the same warm feelings towards Basia. Reminds me of 'basher' and Bashar al-Assad.

museumum · 08/02/2019 19:43

I guessed it would be polish and rhyme with kasia and gosia. I don’t like it because it sounds like basher or bash her. But I do like kasia.

Thecreosotekid · 08/02/2019 20:08

I would also have assumed it was pronounced Bassia. Don’t think Basha works well in English as sounds like a nickname of someone who is a bit fighty. Sorry OP I’m not keen.

Xichuensis · 08/02/2019 20:11

I wouldn't have known how to pronounce it either. I don't think it is an awful name but probably not one I would pick myself.

wizzywig · 08/02/2019 20:13

The 1980s singer and bashar al assad

RaininSummer · 08/02/2019 20:13

I'm sorry op but I don't like it either. Basia reminds me of the fish basa and Basher sounds like someone in the Beano.

Hoppinggreen · 08/02/2019 20:23

I know a Polish Katarina who is called Kasia ( kasher), which is nice but I don’t like Basia, people won’t be able to pronounce it and if they can it’s Basher, which is awful

Gingerkittykat · 08/02/2019 20:31

I also immediately thought of basa fish when I saw the name.

If you're not from the culture where the name came from then leave it alone.

LeadMeToTheChocolate · 08/02/2019 20:36

Nooooooo kids will rip the mickey out of this name at school. And its not got a nice sound- it’s harsh and cold. There’s so many lovely names, how did you land on this one?!

FogCutter · 08/02/2019 21:00

Don't like it because of the meaning of 'basher' - someone who hits people. Not a nice name for a child.

Kasia sounds much better.

Kescilly · 08/02/2019 21:09

I don’t understand where people are getting “Basher” from. Wouldn’t it be more like “Bash-ah”? Or are people talking about mean nicknames?

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 08/02/2019 21:09

It is not pronounced “Basha”!
More like “Bah-see-ah” but the “ee” sound is very short.
I’m Polish and Basia is a shortening of Barbara.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 08/02/2019 21:10

And Kasia is not Kasha - there is am “i” in there that is pronounced like “y” or short “ee”.

Bubastes · 08/02/2019 21:11

I'm related to a Polish Kasia who pronounces it kasha.

anotherwearytraveller · 08/02/2019 21:12

Or keen sorry OP and I think it sounds like a type of fish

But for every name you will get a million opinions so you really shouldn’t ask and should go with what you think is best.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 08/02/2019 21:12

I’d stay away from that name if you live in the UK, OP - as you can see on this thread - no one will be able to pronounce it properly.

Bubastes · 08/02/2019 21:12

I don’t understand where people are getting “Basher” from. Wouldn’t it be more like “Bash-ah”?

People with non-rhotic accents.