[name_m]Hi[/name_m], I need a little help here. I’ve been stuck on the name [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] ever since I found out I was pregnant. I’m pronouncing it the Russian version “ah nuh stah see uh” I just think it’s a beautiful name. DH does like the sound but he thinks it’s a mouthful.
I can’t really convince him to use it, he would choose a simple name like [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] if it were up to him. The only thing that bothers me about it is that my name is [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and I don’t want people to think I’m naming her after me.
Is there any names out there that are unique/unusual but still have an elegant sound?
[name_f]Natalia[/name_f]/[name_f]Natasha[/name_f] and [name_f]Tatiana[/name_f] are really nice Russian names that are similar to [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f], but are simpler to say/spell.
You could use [name_f]Anya[/name_f], although it is still a variant of [name_f]Anna[/name_f]. You could consider [name_f]Stacia[/name_f] (STAY-sha) as a simplified version of [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]. I know a girl who’s named [name_f]Stacia[/name_f] because her mother liked [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] but went with a shorter version instead. This also solves the [name_f]Ana[/name_f] problem!
The last name I’ll suggest is [name_f]Katia[/name_f]/[name_f]Katya[/name_f]. It’s a Russian form of [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and I think it’s both unique and elegant.
I love Stassi as a nn for [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]. Very natural nn especially with your pronunciation. I adore [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]–definitely go for it!
Please don’t use the nickname Stasi / Stassi! The Stasi were the communist secret police who tortured and disappeared people in [name_f]East[/name_f] Germany.
Having said that, [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] is gorgeous. I know what you mean about it looking like you’ve named her after you (it is my hesitation with using [name_f]Esperanza[/name_f], because my name is [name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f], and they seem a bit too similar), but [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] are different enough (even just in length) to be usable, and both [name_f]Tasia[/name_f] and [name_f]Sia[/name_f] are gorgeous nickname options. Plus I can think of way worse things than being names after a mother who adores you!
I’ve heard [name_f]Nasya[/name_f] used as a nickname for [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] and thought that was gorgeous. There’s also [name_f]Nastya[/name_f], but that one doesn’t translate so well. Loved pp’s Russian suggestions of [name_f]Tatiana[/name_f] and [name_f]Natasha[/name_f].
I think with [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] you’ll get the Westernised (rhymes-with-[name_f]Asia[/name_f]) pronunciation a lot. You may also get “like 50 Shades of [name_u]Grey[/name_u]?” as it’s the main character’s name in that.
I think in order to compromise with your DH you should look for a long name with a short, easily pronounceable nickname.
What about [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]?
It’s used in [name_f]Russia[/name_f].
It’s elegant and complex and it has a short nickname ([name_f]Sera[/name_f])
I think the bigger problem with [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] would be trying to get people to pronounce it the way you want.
