Sasha

Sasha is a Slavic diminutive of Alexander, itself derived from the ancient Greek Alexandros, composed of the elements alexein, meaning to defend, and aner, meaning man, giving the overall sense of defender of men. Originating in Russian and other Slavic cultures as a pet form used for both Alexander and Alexandra, it spread widely across Eastern Europe before gaining international popularity as an independent given name. Its use for people of any gender reflects its dual heritage as a short form of both a masculine and a feminine name. Related forms include Sacha, common in French-speaking countries, and Sascha, used in German-speaking regions.