Basia

Basia is a Polish and Yiddish diminutive form of Barbara, which derives from the Greek Barbaros, meaning foreign or strange, originally used by Greeks to describe those who did not speak Greek. The name Barbara was borne by a legendary early Christian martyr whose veneration spread widely across Europe, making shortened pet forms like Basia common in Polish-speaking and Ashkenazi Jewish communities. Related forms include Basia's full form Barbara, as well as other diminutives such as Basia's Polish companions Baśka and Basia's broader Slavic equivalents.