Name of the Day: Natasha
We discussed Boris yesterday. And so the logical choice for today’s Name of the Day? Natasha, of course.
With apologies to the reader who suggested this one, I’ve misplaced your comment - but appreciate the inspiration nonetheless!
Natasha has been famously paired with Boris at least twice. In Tolstoy’s War and Peace, Natasha Rostov is a well-born young woman in love with Boris at the novel’s opening. Many pages later, she lives happily ever after - with Pierre.
The second famous duo are Natasha Fatale and Boris Badenov, evil cartoon henchmen to Pottsylvania’s Fearless Leader on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.
But perhaps the most visible Natasha of the moment is linked not with Boris, but with Barack. Natasha is the given name of Barack and Michelle Obama’s younger daughter.
Natasha sounds like a complete name, but she’s actually a pet form of Natalya. Natalie was almost unheard of until the 20th century, but Russian parents have been using Natalya for centuries. All three variants share a meaning - they refer to Christmas Day, from the Latin natalis.
In the early 300s, Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia converted to Christianity. He was martyred; she cared for the dying. Natalia became especially prominent in the Eastern Orthodox church, though she’s also a Roman Catholic saint. Her popularity kept the name in use in Eastern Europe.
Among English speakers, Natasha was discovered in the 1960s and 70s. Despite political unrest, it was a good moment for all things Russian in style - Doctor Zhivago appeared on the silver screen, it was the golden age of the famed Russian Tea Room in New York City and Yves St. Laurent drew inspiration from the culture.
Fictional Natashas - like the animated Fatale and Marvel Comic’s Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff - appeared. So did a host of baby girls wearing the name. In 1965, she entered the US Top 1000 at #935. She jumped to an astonishing #351 by 1970. Natasha spent the entire decade of the 80s in the Top 100, before slipping out of favor.
Natasha remains visible, however, thanks to plenty of notable bearers, like actress Natasha Richardson and singer Natasha Bedingfield. It’s in use in the UK, Canada and Australia as well as the US. In fact, she’s currently most popular in Australia, where she’s hovering near the Top 100. In the US, she comes in at #387 - not obscure, but not quite common, either.
Call her a wearable exotic. Natasha is feminine and a bit mysterious, but she’s not too much for a modern child to wear. Nickname options include the tomboy-ready Nat, the obvious Tasha and eventhe spunky Sasha (the choice favored by potential First Daughter, Natasha Obama.)
She’d fit right in with Isabella, Samantha and Alexandra, but sounds more distinctive than any of those pretty, but quite common, picks. While some might object to her nickname roots, we think she stands on her own.
If you’re looking for a Slavic heritage choice, it’s an appealing option. But even if you can’t claim Russian roots, it’s a lovely name for a daughter.
Filed under: Literary Babes, Names for Girls, Names of the Day, Saints |
Tags: Natasha
I’ve really started liking Natasha recently, though I’d never been fond of it before. It’s been on my mind because its the name of one of the moms who volunteers in my classroom — she’s a beautiful woman and a great brand-new stepmom to one of the most darling little girls I’ve ever taught. (They just got married this summer, and my student was so excited to bring in the wedding pictures to show the class.) You’re right that it’s just exotic enough but still completely wearable.
Oh, I love Natalya. Natasha’s ok, feels a bit 70’s for me for some reason. In my family though, Natalya’s saved for the ones born on Christmas day (or Christmas week, at least). And of course, I have one cousin with the name. (in a family 500 something people deep these days, names are usually duplicated, Natalya’s not. Christmas week is an uncommon birthday time in our family!)
I think Natasha’s pretty but thanks to my heritage, she does feel nicknamey to me. Natalie feels the same. And Sasha as a nickname really bothers me, Sasha comes from the -sandr root and there’s none of that in Natasha. Tasha she should be. But then, I look at Caleb and think ‘dog” so maybe I’m a bit too into etymology! I’d love to have a Natalya of my own but would rather have a New Year’s baby, to be honest. Her dad’s birthday’s New Year’s Eve!. I think Natasha’s pretty, sweet, very spunky and completely lovely. (Natalya’s lovely, gorgeous, reeking of elegance & dripping with lushness.) There’s an 8 year old Natalie across the street from me, so I think I’m out of luck with the name, overall but I’d love to run across a few!
Natalie is a little Christmasey for me, but Natasha is definitely my fave out of Natalie/Natalia/Natasha.
The Natalie I know goes by Nat, and her little sister is Natalya, called Talya. I think that’s a little too much, you know?
Oh, a Natalie and a Natalya? That does feel like the parents only had one name in mind and used it twice!
Wow, 500 people in your family and everyone has a fabulous name, Lola!
And I do think Natasha was hot in the 60s/70s - not hot enough to be worn out or dated, but enough that you’re not wrong about your association, Lola - and that it’s not surprising that your student has a stepmom with the name, Emmy Jo!
I’ll be curious to see if Natasha (and Malia, I suppose) gain following a Barack victory. (Or Trig, Track, Bristol, etc. for McCain/Palin.) I don’t know of any cases where a First Family started a naming trend … but then, I’ve never given it much thought. If any name gains by association, I think Natasha is a contender.
I knew sisters named Natasha and Natalie - too matchy for me.
Natasha is ok but i would never use it as my name is Natalie
Oh, not all.. we’ve got a Jayden, a Gianna (pronounced gee-ann-ah *sigh*) and a Hayley (but at least that’s spelled better than most). Overall, we’re a great named bunch but we’ve got a few that make me want to play “one of these things just isn’t the same” game.
One more thing: I think a “First daughter” sends a name down. Now, Julie & Trisha Nixon were fairly beutral, name wise. But then, I think both of them were in their 20’s when Dad was President. Amy & Chelsea (the two teens I can recall) saw their names plummet after their Dads took office. Jenna & Barbara’s names were already unfashionable when Bush II took office. Does anyone recall any other First teenage daughters? Could it be overexposure? Any other theories as to why the precipitous drop?
Natasha was my cousin’s name (born 1963). Sadly she died in 1996. Her mom is American and her dad Italian. I always liked the name. Since I learned about Russian nicknames, I guess I would use Natalya and Natasha might be her nickname. I also like Natalie. Another cousin used Natasha as her daughter’s middle name in honor of our cousin Natasha. Her first name is Olexa…. parents say they saw it a name book and it’s Czech (they are not of Czech background). I can’t find a reference for that. I find Oleksa is a name in the Ukraine but for men.. I think she will spend a lot of time explaining that her name is not Alexa. . they don’t say it like Alexa -they pronounce the O. oh-LEX-a.