Anastasia Overview
- Meaning: It is derived from the Greek word “anástasis,” meaning “resurrection,”
- Gender: The name Anastasia is predominantly given to girls.
- Origin: Anastasia is of Greek origin.
- Pronunciation: It is most commonly pronounced as “an-ah-stay-zha” or “an-ah-stay-zee-ah.”
- Popularity: In the United States, Anastasia ranked 158th for girls born in the United States in 2019.
- Nicknames: Ana, Ann, Annie, Anya, Asia, Asta, Natasha, Stacey, Stacia, Stasha, Stasy, Tasia, Tasie.
- Variations: Anastacia, Anastaise, Anastasha, Anastasiya, Anastassia, Anastazia, Annastasia, Nastasiya, Nastunye.
- Namesakes: Anastasia Valeryevna Liukina, Anastasia Nikolaevna, Anastasia Ivanovna Rodionova.
What Does Anastasia Mean?
Anastasia is derived from the Greek word “anástasis,” which means “resurrection.” In Slavic languages and English, it similarly means “reborn.”
What Is the Origin of the Name Anastasia?
The name Anastasia is believed to be of Greek origin. It was typically given to Christian girls born in December or around the Easter holiday. It is the counterpart of the male form of Anastasius, which means “he of the resurrection.”
The name also has roots in Italy because of the cult of a Fourth Century saint, Anastasia of Sirmium (1). She was martyred and widely revered. In that context, it is the male version of Anastasio, and it may represent a Naples town named Santa Anastasia.
In addition, Anastasia was a girl’s name in ancient Britain and Ireland.
How Popular Is the Name Anastasia?
In many Slavic countries, Anastasia has been a popular choice for girls. It remains one of the top names for girls in Russia, Montenegro, Serbia, Georgia, and Moldova (2).
Elsewhere, Anastasia has risen in popularity. In the United States, it has surged through the top name choices over the past two decades. It ranked 181st for newborn girls in 2021. That represents a jump of almost 200 places since 2000 (3).
How Do I Pronounce Anastasia?
Two of the most common ways to pronounce the name Anastasia are “an-ah-stay-zha” or “an-ah-stay-zee-ah.”
Is Anastasia a Boy or Girl Name?
Anastasia is primarily given to girls, with the male version being Anastasius (Greek) or Anastasio (Italian).
Variations of Anastasia
Given its religious significance and widespread use across multiple countries, there are many variations of the name Anastasia. Some of them include:
- Anastacia (Greek)
- Anastaise (Greek)
- Anastasha (Greek)
- Anastasiya (Slavic)
- Anastassia (Greek)
- Anastazia (Greek)
- Annastasia (Greek)
- Nastasiya (Ukrainian)
- Nastunye (Ukrainian)
Nicknames for Anastasia
Depending on how unique you’d like the nickname to be, Anastasia has various possibilities, such as:
- Ana
- Ann
- Annie
- Anya
- Asia
- Asta
- Natasha
- Stacey
- Stacia
- Stasha
- Stasy
- Tasia
- Tasie
Similar Names to Anastasia
Many Eastern European countries have similar names to Anastasia. You might also want to draw inspiration from other Slavic names, like:
- Alona
- Anna
- Anya
- Elena
- Kateryna
- Maryska
- Natalya
- Natasha
- Nastasia
- Nastia
- Nikita
- Tatiana
- Xenia
Middle Names for Anastasia
You may want to choose a shorter middle name to go with the multi-syllable first name, or, to keep it classical, there are plenty of longer middle names that will add to the style:
- Beatrice
- Blu
- Cecile
- Elise
- Elizabeth
- Josephine
- Marie
- Pearl
- Rose
Sibling Names for Anastasia
Would you like all of your children to have similar style names, perhaps with each starting with the letter “A,” or would you want them to each have their own style? Here are some suggestions for a sibling of Anastasia:
For a Sister:
- Alexandra
- Amelia
- Annalise
- Elizabeth
- Evangeline
- Genevieve
- Josephine
- Rebecca
- Seraphina
For a Brother:
- Adam
- Alexander
- Charles
- Ezekial
- Ezra
- Finley
- Henry
- William
Famous People Named Anastasia
There have been many famous people named Anastasia dating back centuries. Here is a sampling of some of those namesakes:
- Anastasia: Half-sister of Emperor Constantine I.
- Anastasia: Princess of Greece and Denmark.
- Anastasia Andreyevna Myskina: Russian professional tennis player.
- Anastasia Bachynska: Ukrainian artistic gymnast.
- Anastasia Gorbenko: Israeli Olympic swimmer.
- Anastasia Ivanovna Rodionova: Russian-born Australian professional tennis player.
- Anastasia Muñoz: American voice actress.
- Anastasia Valeryevna Liukina: Russian-born American Olympian and world champion gymnast.
- Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna: Youngest of the Romanov Russian royal family.
- Anastasia Radzinskaya: Russian YouTuber who has the fifth most-viewed and tenth most-subscribed channel on YouTube.
Anastasia in Popular Culture
The name Anastasia has not been extensively used in pop culture. However, there are a few that stand out, such as:
- Anastasia, the fairy tale princess: Character from the Fox Feature animated film of the same name.
- Anastasia of the Siberian Forest: Character in the cult-favorite books written by Vladimir Megre.
- Anastasia Krupnik: Character in the novel of the same name by the American author Lois Lowry.
- Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia: Fictionalized version of the Russian grand duchess appeared in the animated movie “Anastasia.”
Anastasia FAQs
If you want to learn even more about the name, read on to find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Anastasia.
Is Anastasia a Biblical Name?
In Christianity, the “anastasis” is commonly known as the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, Anastasia has biblical roots.
Is the Name Anastasia Associated With Easter?
Yes, baby girls were traditionally given the name Anastasia if they were born around the time of Easter.
Who Is Saint Anastasia of Sirmium?
Saint Anastasia of Sirmium was a Fourth Century saint martyred during the Great Persecution. Not much is known about her, but she is often regarded as St. Anastasia the Healer and the deliverer of potions.
Why Is There a Mystery Around Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia?
Several women outside of Russia long claimed to be Duchess Anastasia. That was despite the Russian royal being officially declared deceased by professional forensic teams. Nevertheless, the story has made for numerous great books and movies!
Who Is Anastasia From the Book “The Ringing Cedars of Russia?”
Entrepreneur and author Vladimir Merge claims to have met the prophetess Anastasia on the Ob River in Siberia. Here, Merge claimed that she taught him about kinship homesteads and wanted him to share the knowledge with the world. The readers of the book series later started a neo-pagan movement.
