Masha lands at rank 1613 with 64 female pet registrations. It's the Russian diminutive of Maria, and its appearance in U.S. pet registries tracks directly with the Netflix animated series Masha and the Bear, which introduced a generation of American kids to a Russian girl's name that's both pronounceable and memorable.
The Animation Connection
Launched in Russia in 2009 and picked up by Netflix internationally, Masha and the Bear became one of the most-streamed children's shows globally through the 2010s. The character Masha is mischievous, energetic, and impossible to contain: an intuitive fit for dogs and cats with high-energy personalities. Owners who grew up watching or whose kids loved the show have a ready-made reference the name carries without explanation.
Sound and Breed Fit
MAH-sha is two syllables, soft-consonant, and easy to call. The "sh" sound gives it a hushing quality that works well for cats. For dogs, it's gentle enough for a Borzoi or Samoyed. Samoyeds are the obvious Russian-heritage match, but the name is flexible enough for any small female dog. The human name is at /names/masha.
The Counter-Reading
Masha's animation association is an asset for most owners but a drawback for anyone who wants a name without pop-culture baggage. For them, Sasha or Natasha offer similar Slavic warmth without the cartoon link.