Sasha
Unisex nameGreek
✨ Meaning
Sasha is the Russian affectionate form of Alexander and Alexandra, from the Greek 'alexein,' to defend, and 'aner,' man, giving 'defender of the people.' Russian diminutives are formed by cutting a name to a stem and adding a soft ending, which is why Sasha bears no obvious resemblance to its parent name, and why it is used for men and women alike.
🌍 Origin
In Russian-speaking countries Sasha is a nickname rather than a registered name, but in the English-speaking world it has become an independent given name, used chiefly for girls in Britain and North America. It also appears across the Balkans in the spellings Saša and Sasho, and in western Europe as Sacha.
⭐ Famous People Named Sasha
- Sasha Cohen
- Sasha Obama
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sasha mean?
Sasha means 'defender of the people,' inherited from Alexander and Alexandra through Russian diminutive formation.
Is Sasha a boy's or a girl's name?
In Russian it is used for both. In Britain and North America it is given mainly to girls.
Why does Sasha not sound like Alexander?
Russian diminutives cut a name back to a stem and add a soft ending, which can reshape the sound almost beyond recognition.