Masha
A girl's name of Russian origin with 554 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name of Russian, Ukrainian origin, diminutive of Maria.
Masha is a girl's baby name of Russian origin, a traditional diminutive of Maria, itself derived from the Hebrew Miryam, meaning 'beloved' or 'sea of bitterness.'
Masha is so deeply embedded in Russian culture that it appears in everything from folk tales to the beloved animated series Masha and the Bear. In Chekhov's Three Sisters, Masha is one of the central characters — a name that carries both tenderness and intellectual depth. Its soft sound travels beautifully across languages.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Masha's final sounds are open, warm — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Masha follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Masha's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Masha climbed 10961 spots in the last 20 years — from #15383 to #4422.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 133 | #5075 | — |
| 2010s | 140 | #9048 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 97 | #11577 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 73 | #10591 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 55 | #10546 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 42 | #8247 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 8 | #5470 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 6 | #5220 | — |
The Story of Masha
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2022, Masha is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Masha are most likely born between 2012 and 2024.
How rare is Masha?
Only about 1 in every 112,500 babies born in 2024 was named Masha — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1951, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 140 births that decade, and continues to thrive.
Masha by the numbers
- Would fill 12 school buses
- Meeting one Masha per day would take 1.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(51 years, 1951–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 32 | #4422 |
| 2023 | 24 | #5328 |
| 2022 | 33 | #4342 |
| 2021 | 22 | #5686 |
| 2020 | 22 | #5595 |
| 2019 | 14 | #8008 |
| 2018 | 22 | #5723 |
| 2017 | 15 | #7705 |
| 2016 | 21 | #6114 |
| 2015 | 14 | #8284 |
| 2014 | 7 | #14054 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12752 |
| 2012 | 17 | #7353 |
| 2011 | 12 | #9525 |
| 2010 | 10 | #10960 |
| 2009 | 17 | #7567 |
| 2008 | 9 | #12252 |
| 2007 | 12 | #9955 |
| 2006 | 12 | #9696 |
| 2005 | 9 | #11510 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Masha a boy's or girl's name?
When was Masha most popular?
How popular is the name Masha?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1951–2024