The baby name Natasha sounds sophisticated and accessible.
Thanks to Mari for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME NATASHA MEAN?
Natasha sounds like a complete, formal name.
Except it’s actually a diminutive.
Originally, Natasha is a Russian nickname for Natalia or Natalya.
The formal name comes from the Latin natalis or natale domini – Christmas Day.
It’s festive and joyous, with deep significance, too.
Natalie is the most popular form, heard in French and English. It’s been in use since Natalia Zakharenko, the daughter of Russian immigrants, moved to Hollywood, and changed her name to Natalie Wood.
Saints Adrian and Natalia of Nicodemia converted to Christianity in the 300s. It’s said that Adrian was martyred, while Natalia cared for prisoners. Adrian is widely known in the West, while Natalia is more popular in the Eastern Orthodox church.
NATASHA and BORIS
First published in the 1860s, Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel War and Peace is a defining work of Russian literature. The English-speaking world discovered it two decades later, when it was first translated.
We’ve been reading it ever since.
War and Peace spans 1805 to 1820, when Russian went to war with France.
The well-born Natasha Rostova is in love with Boris at the start of the story. Spoiler alert: she ends happily – but with someone else.
Among other things, the story is an excellent introduction to Slavic naming conventions. Natasha is, indeed, a Russian diminutive of Natalya. (Also: Sonya for Sofia, Petya for Pyotr, and more.)
The evil cartoon henchmen from The Rocky and Bullwinkle show share the literary couple’s given names. Their last names are pure comedy: Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale.
SILVER SCREEN
Popular culture transformed this name from a literary nickname, seldom heard in English, to a mainstream favorite.
In 1956, Audrey Hepburn played Natasha Rostova in the 1956 movie version of War and Peace.
Despite the Cold War, Russian was having a moment.
Boris Pasternak’s 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago resulted in 1965 blockbuster movie.
Yves St. Laurent based his 1976 collection on Russia, and the Russian Tea Room was a famous New York City restaurant in the same era.
In 1964, Marvel Comics introduced us to Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. Initially an enemy for Iron Man, she evolved into a hero by the time the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced us to the Avengers.
For over a decade, from 2010 through 2021, Scarlett Johansson played the part of Black Widow on the big screen.
In recent years, actress Natasha Lyonne has made this name sound strong and independent, too.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME NATASHA?
There’s a clear connection between the fictional characters and the popularity of the name.
Natasha climbed in use in the US beginning in the mid-1950s, thanks to the movie starring Audrey Hepburn. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in the year 1965.
It became a Top 100 choice by 1980, and stayed there for the rest of the decade, leaving after 1989.
The name was even more popular in England during the same era, ranking in the Top 50 straight through the 1990s. Accordingly, plenty of famous people by the name are British. There’s Mark Darcy’s girlfriend in the first Bridget Jones book and movie. Late actress Natasha Richardson and singer Natasha Bedingfield of “Unwritten” fame are two more.
Former first daughter Natasha Obama, younger daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, is typically known by the nickname Sasha.
More nicknames include Tash, Tasha, and Nat.
The name has fallen considerably in the US, standing at #986 as of 2023.
At the same time, Natalie and Natalia outrank Natasha. The spelling Nathalie is sometimes seen in the US. Other variants, including Natacha, Natashia, and Natosha, remain almost unknown in the 2020s.
ROMANTIC TRADITIONAL
As a girl’s name, Natasha has plenty of literary, main character energy. It’s a big name. Despite use across many different cultures, it does feel tied to Eastern Europe – but not too strongly.
It’s more subtle than Holly or Noelle for a daughter with a Christmas-time birthday.
And in many ways, Natasha fits with Francesca and Magnolia, Antonella and Georgina. If it hadn’t been big in the second half of the 20th century, it’s easy to imagine the baby name Natasha taking off now.
While it’s off-trend now, with plenty of history and international appeal, it’s easy to imagine the baby name Natasha wearing well for a daughter born today.
What do you think of the baby name Natasha?
This post was originally published on November 1, 2008. It was revised and republished on March 31, 2016, and again on January 9, 2025.
I read a profile of Natalie Wood’s daughter Natasha recently–I remember thinking the two names were quite similar, but now I see the relationship. Interesting!
Well,well it took 31 years for my name to be the it name. I am from the islands and i was always ask if it’s natasha or Latasha. so happy to know sasha obama making our name the it name for 2009. But one thing have alway like the fact that it was uncommon.
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.
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?
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. 🙂
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, 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.
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, 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!
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.