Find out how popular the first name Asja has been for the last 39 years (from 1984 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Asja by gender

Based on the last 39 years of data, Asja is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Asja.

The history of the first name Asja

The name Asja is believed to have its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly Russian and Serbian. It is a diminutive form of the name Anastasia, which is derived from the Greek word "anastasis," meaning "resurrection."

Asja was a popular name during the Middle Ages in parts of Eastern Europe and Russia. It was often associated with the Orthodox Christian faith, as Anastasia was a saint who lived in the 3rd century and is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Asja can be found in the Russian literary work "The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, published in 1868. In the novel, Asja is the nickname of a character named Anastasia Nikolaevna Barashkova.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Asja. One of the most famous was Asja Lācis (1891-1979), a Latvian-Russian revolutionary and writer who was a close friend and romantic partner of the German playwright Bertolt Brecht.

Another notable Asja was Asja Hille (1900-1969), a German actress and singer who appeared in numerous films during the Weimar Republic era and the early years of Nazi Germany.

In the world of literature, Asja Bakić (1923-2007) was a prominent Serbian writer and poet who won several prestigious awards for her work, including the Disova Nagrada, the highest literary honor in Serbia.

Asja Grubački (1939-2018) was a Serbian artist and painter known for her abstract expressionist works, which were exhibited in galleries across Europe and the United States.

Lastly, Asja Kadric (born 1943) is a Bosnian writer and literary critic who has published numerous books and essays on Balkan literature and culture.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Asja was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Asja, please contact us.

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