Anastasia (from el, Ἀναστασία, translit=Anastasía) is a feminine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word (), meaning "

resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, which ...

". It is a popular name in

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russ ...

, particularly in

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

, where it was the most used name for decades until 2008.

Origin

The name Anastasia originated during the early days of Christianity and was given to many

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

girls born in December and around

Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel ...

. It was established as the female form (Greek: ) of the male name Anastasius (Greek: ''Anastasios'' ), and has the meaning of "she/he of the resurrection". It is the name of several early saints; including

Anastasia of Sirmium Saint Anastasia (died December 25 A.D. 304) is a Christian saint and martyr who died at Sirmium in the Roman province of Pannonia Secunda (modern Serbia). In the Eastern Orthodox Church, she is venerated as St. Anastasia the ''Pharmakolytria'', ...

, a central saint from the 2nd century who is commemorated during the first

Mass Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different elementar ...

on Christmas Dawn each year according to the traditional calendar of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

and on December 22 according to the

Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via ...

. Slavic

diminutives A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A (abbreviated ) is a word-formati ...

include Nastya, Nastia or Nastja (Serbian, Slovenian) as well as various

hypocoristic A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek: (), from (), 'to call by pet names', sometimes also ''hypocoristic'') or pet name is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as ''Izzy'' for I ...

s: Nastenka, Nastyusha, Nastyona, Nastasia, Nastunja.

Popularity

Anastasia is a very popular name for girls, especially in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

, where most names have Christian associations. Anastasia was the most popular name for girls for many years in

until 2008, when it was surpassed by the name

Sophia Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek. It may refer to: *Sophia (wisdom) *Sophia (Gnosticism) *Sophia (given name) Places *Niulakita or Sophia, an island of Tuvalu *Sophia, Georgetown, a ward of Georgetown, Guyana *Sophia, North Carolina, an unincorpor ...

. It remains one of the top ten names for Russian girls, as well as for girls in

Belarus Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...

Moldova Moldova ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Moldova ( ro, Republica Moldova), is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The List of states ...

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, and

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

Given name

Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Crisco edit letters removed

Anastasia (sister of Constantine I) Anastasia was a daughter of Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Flavia Maximiana Theodora, and half sister of Emperor Constantine I Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Const ...

(c. 290 – after 314), half sister of Emperor Constantine I *

Anastasia (wife of Constantine IV) Anastasia (Greek: Άναστασία, c. 650 – after 711) was the Empress consort of Constantine IV of the Byzantine Empire. Empress Anastasia entered historical record when her husband Constantine IV succeeded to the throne in 668. On Sept ...

(c. 650 – after 711), Empress consort of Constantine IV of the Byzantine Empire *

Princess Anastasia of Greece and Denmark Princess Anastasia of Greece and Denmark (''née'' Nonie May Stewart; January 20, 1878 – August 29, 1923) was an American-born heiress and member of the Greek royal family. She was married to Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark, the younge ...

(1878–1923) *

Anastasia of Kiev Anastasia of Kiev (russian: Анастасия Ярославна; uk, Анастасія Ярославна; 1023 – 1074/1094) was Queen of Hungary by marriage to King Andrew the White. Life Anastasia was a daughter of Grand Prince Yarosl ...

(c.1023–1074/1096), Queen consort of Hungary * Anastasia, Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (born 1944) *

Anastasia Avramidou Anastasia Avramidou ( gr, Αναστασια Αβραμιδου; born 2000) is a Greek chess player who holds the FIDE title of Woman International Master (WIM, 2016). Biography In 2012, Anastasia Avramidou won Greek Youth Chess Championships fo ...

(born 2000), Greek chess master *

Anastasia Bachynska Anastasiia Yuriivna Bachynska ( uk, Анастасія Юріївна Бачинська, born 4 August 2003) is a retired Ukrainian artistic gymnast. She is the Gymnastics at the 2019 European Games, 2019 European Games floor exercise champion, ...

(born 2003), Ukrainian artistic gymnast *

Anastasia Bitsenko Anastasia Alekseevna Bitsenko, née Kameristaya (russian: Анастасия Алексеевна Биценко, née Камeристая; 10 November 1875 – 16 June 1938) was a Narodnik-inspired, later Communist, Russian revolutionary. As a m ...

(1875–1938), Russian revolutionary *

Anastasia Gloushkov Anastasia Gloushkov ( he, אנסטסיה גלושקוב, russian: Анастасия Глушкова; born May 24, 1985) is an Israeli Olympic synchronized swimmer. Biography Gloushkov is Jewish, and was born in Moscow, Soviet Union. Her paren ...

(born 1985), Israeli Olympic synchronized swimmer *

Anastasia Gorbenko ] Anastasia "Nastiya" Gorbenko ( he, אנסטסיה "נסטיה" גורבנקו; born ) is an Israeli competitive Swimming (sport), swimmer. She competes in the 100 m backstroke, 100 m breaststroke, 100 m freestyle, 200 m backstroke, 200 m breas ...

(born 2003), Israeli Youth Olympic champion swimmer *

Anastasia Lapsui Anastasia Lapsui (born 1944) is a Soviet-born Nenets film director, screenwriter, and radio journalist who has lived in Finland since 1993. Lapsui, together with Markku Lehmuskallio, directed " Seven Songs from the Tundra," the first narrative ...

(born 1944), Soviet-born Russian Nenets film director, screenwriter, radio journalist *

Anastasia Markovych Anastasiya Dabizha (died 1729), was a Ukrainian Hetmana by marriage to Ivan Skoropadsky, Hetman of Zaporizhian Host (r. 1708-1722). She acted as the trusted political adviser of her spouse and wielded great influence within the affairs of state, ...

(died 1729), Ukrainian Hetmana *

Anastasia Melnichenko Anastasia "Nastya" Melnychenko (; born 1984) is a Ukrainian activist and author who writes on social, historical, and cultural issues. She is a co-founder of STUDENA, a non-profit human rights organization. She is also known as the initiator of ...

(born 1984), Ukrainian activist *

Princess Anastasia of Montenegro Princess Anastasia Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro (4 January Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O.S._23_December_1867.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/> O.S._23_December_1867">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html"_ ...

(1865–1935) was the daughter of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro * Anastasia Motaung, South African politician *

Anastasia Muñoz Anastasia Muñoz is an American voice actress affiliated with Funimation. She has provided voices for a number of English-language versions of Japanese anime films and television series. Her major characters include Tobias in '' .hack//Quantum'', ...

(born 1984), American voice actress affiliated with Funimation *

Anastasia Ndereba Anastasia Ndereba is a Kenyan female athlete and marathon runner. She was born on September 27, 1974. She is the sister of the more renowned athlete and Olympic Medalist Katherine Ndereba. Her first recorded professional competition was on Novembe ...

, Kenyan marathon runner *

Anastasia Prikhodko Anastasia Kostyantynivna Prikhodko ( uk, Анастасія Костянтинівна Приходько, Anastasiya Kostyantynivna Prykhodko; born 21 April 1987) is a Ukrainian activist, politician and former singer-songwriter. Known for her ...

(born 1987), Ukrainian folk rock and traditional pop singer * Anastasia Radzinskaya (born 2014), Russian Youtuber * Anastasia Romanova (disambiguation) **

Anastasia Romanovna Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yurieva (1530 – 7 August 1560) was the first spouse of the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible and the first Russian Tsaritsa. She was the mother of Feodor I, the last lineal Rurikid Tsar of Russia and the great-a ...

(1530–1560), Tsarevna of Russia and wife of Tsar Ivan the Terrible **

Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and commu ...

(1901–1918), daughter of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, of the Romanoff royal family * Anastasia Soare (born 1957/1958), Romanian-American billionaire businesswoman *

Anastasia Sinitsyna Anastasia Sinitsyna (born russian: Анастасия Синицына; September 3, 1983) is a Russian female handballer, who plays for Kastamonu Bld. GSK and the Russian national team. Sinitsyna played in her country for Rostselmash Rostov ...

(born 1983), Russian handball player *

Anastasia Skoptsova Anastasia Ilinichna Skoptsova (russian: Анастасия Ильинична Скопцова; born 8 November 2000) is a Russian retired ice dancer. With her former skating partner, Kirill Aleshin, she was the 2020 Rostelecom Cup bronze medalist ...

(born 2000), Russian ice dancer

Fictional characters with the given name

* Princess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov, from the 1997 animated film of the same name and based on the real life

* Anastasia Tremaine, from the 1950 animated film ''

Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...

'' * Anastasia Hoshin, a character from the light novel/anime series '' Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World''

Citations

General sources