About the name Anastasia
Etymology & meaning
Anastasia comes from the Greek ἀνάστασις — "resurrection". The masculine is Anastas, and the short Asya and Siya have long stood as names in their own right.
History & patron saint
Saint Anastasia the "Deliverer from Bonds" is a 4th-century Roman saint who ministered to imprisoned Christians; her memory is kept on 22 December. The calendar also holds an October commemoration of Saint Anastasia the Ascetic.
Traditions & customs
The winter feast falls in the week before Christmas — a warm table, guests, and wishes that the name "unbind you from every trouble", after the saint's byname.
Popularity & notable bearers
Anastasia has grown markedly among newborns in the past decade, while Asya and Siya hold the older cohorts — three generations under one root.