Dasha

Meaning of Dasha

Dasha, pronounced DAH-shuh, is the brisk, affectionate Russian nickname for Daria—a name that traces a winding path from the Persian royal title Darayavahush, “one who possesses goodness,” and later through Greek and Latin tongues as “God’s gift.” The short form traveled west with émigré communities and, in a quiet yet constant rhythm, has appeared on U.S. birth rolls since the late 1960s, typically hovering in the 700s–900s range but never losing its foothold. In Russian and Ukrainian circles Dasha signals warmth and approachability, while art patron Dasha Zhukova and singer-model Dasha Astafieva give it contemporary edge. For parents seeking a compact name that carries centuries of history without feeling old-fashioned, Dasha delivers: it is unmistakably Slavic, easy on the English ear, and touched by the same Latin notion of gracia—grace—that threads through many Romance names.