24 August 2009

a rose by any other name

I don't think d2b is going to be called Sasha. Maybe. But I'm leaning towards no.

Yes, she's still Alexandra.

When I was visiting her in July, I heard the director refer to her not as Sasha but as Shura (that's the closest I can get in English...it doesn't really transliterate well). Shura is another nickname for Alexandra-- with more "old-fashioned" and "sweeter" connotations according to different friends.

I like it, but it won't work in an English-speaking world. It just can't be properly pronounced.

I asked if she was called Shura or Sasha, and they shrugged and replied, "As you like." When I pressed, they said they called her both.

So, keeping Sasha as her name isn't really keeping her name. She sort of doesn't have a sweet name; which is incredibly sad to me. Names are important! Poor little bunny.

At school, all the Sashas are boys. We've got four of them in our tiny elementary school alone. It's very much like Alex--fine for either sex but certainly more masculine. There is a little boy named Sasha who will be in her class.

So I'm reserving final "calling" name until she's home. I have a pretty good idea what I'll call her, but I'll save posting it until I'm sure!

Just wanted to give you some time to wrap your heads around this. At home I'll continue to call her by the diminutives of both Sasha and Shura for a while. But, I've got another sweet name for Alexandra in mind for what she'll be officially called by the rest of the world.

Until, that is, she's a middle schooler and decides she wants to be called Xan. ;>

9 comments:

annmarie said...

I'm waiting for the day when I hear "I'm going by Xander now."

ko said...

Oh Great, of course you post this after I send you your present....

Lindsay said...

I hear Kangaroo is popular in some circles these days......


Looking forward to hearing what you've got in mind.

J. said...

I could never follow the logic behind the nicknaming in Russia. Skip's birth name was Vadim. 2 syllables. 5 letters. They called him Vadik, Vadika, or Vakia. Um, none of the above are shorter or have less syllables!

Rachael said...

Funny, the cultural difference across the continents: in the US, I think Sasha is more feminine. Of course, the only Sasha I know is Katya's friend (who is a girl) so maybe that clouds my impression. I'm sure whatever you decide will be lovely. Maybe all the more so because it was sweetened with a mother's love.

Unknown said...

I don't get the nickname thing in Russia either. Anya is short - easy...but no one calls her that. It's always Annika, Annushka. Heck, my nickname growing up was monkey...so there ya go!

Pinkie said...

I am so excited for you kate. Its a matter of weeeeks now!!! Can't wait to hear the new name.

Jim said...

Whatever name you choose, it'll be a gift to her from you. It'll be perfect.

Annie said...

I actually agree with you about the name Sasha. Especially as it is also occasionally used by country folk in the US, which gives it a whole new focus. Shura is sweet; I like that...it's like a whisper.

And I'm sure they call her both. Could this be one reason I resonated with Russian literature from the first moment I started reading it at age 12? Of COURSE everyone is called by fifteen names! I can understand that! All my children are quite accustomed to answering to a wide variety of names.

I agree with you about the need for a sweet name.