Sasha

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A personal first name, often a diminutive of Alexander or Alexandra, used for both men and women in Russian and other languages
2. A short form of the given names Alexander or Alexandra, used as a first name for people of either gender
3. A familiar first name derived from Alexander or Alexandra, commonly given to boys and girls in Russian-speaking countries

Etymology: Sasha is a pet form of Alexander, and it is also a name in its own right for girls. The name comes from Russian, where "Саша" (Sasha) is a diminutive used for both Aleksandr (Alexander) and Aleksandra (Alexandra). Like many Slavic pet names, it works by shortening a formal name and adding a affectionate ending, so the same short form serves men and women alike. English speakers mostly took the name directly from Russian, which is why the spelling and sound feel foreign to many readers. A second, less certain possibility links the name to Natasha, another Russian name, through the shared ending "-asha," which may have shaped how the diminutive was understood in Russian. Its exact influence is hard to pin down, so the Alexander-based origin is the one to hold onto.