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ArchivesAny info on Mashka?
Hi everyone, this is my first time posting here.
I have a question. My sister's name is Megan, and recently I found an old birthday card from our great grandmother address to my sister, but the name Mashka was used (Машка). I'm not very familiar with Slavic names and language, so I asked some other family members about the name and nobody knew anything about it and just assumed it was made up because my great grandmother disliked the English language/names.
I couldn't really find any info about this name online, and it's not even listed on here. If anyone knows anything about it, that would be great. Even if it's just that it was probably a made up nickname.
Thanks! :)
I have a question. My sister's name is Megan, and recently I found an old birthday card from our great grandmother address to my sister, but the name Mashka was used (Машка). I'm not very familiar with Slavic names and language, so I asked some other family members about the name and nobody knew anything about it and just assumed it was made up because my great grandmother disliked the English language/names.
I couldn't really find any info about this name online, and it's not even listed on here. If anyone knows anything about it, that would be great. Even if it's just that it was probably a made up nickname.
Thanks! :)
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Replies
Next time you’re at the New York Public Library, take a look at this book:
United States. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Uniform title: Foreign versions, variations, and diminutives of English names.
Title: Foreign versions of English names and foreign equivalents of United States military and civilian titles.
Detroit, Mich.: Grand River Books, [197-?]
Call number: APD 83-830
Page 33 shows Mashka as the Russian equivalent of Mary.
R. Niles
United States. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Uniform title: Foreign versions, variations, and diminutives of English names.
Title: Foreign versions of English names and foreign equivalents of United States military and civilian titles.
Detroit, Mich.: Grand River Books, [197-?]
Call number: APD 83-830
Page 33 shows Mashka as the Russian equivalent of Mary.
R. Niles
1
It's a diminutive of Maria, and the -k- makes it not as much like a double diminutive but more like baby talk, and it can be considered rude and/or condescending when it's not used affectionately/for a family member. So here it would be OK. It's just Masha only a little bit more diminutive, but not as much as Mashenka or something like that.
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Masha is a Russian diminutive of Maria, and the -k- looks as if it would make it a double diminutive. Of course, Megan and Maria aren't related at all, but perhaps your great-grandmother just used an affectionate nickname form of a name she was familiar with that started with M.
Did the old lady really dislike the English language? How inconvenient for her! At least she loved your sister.
Did the old lady really dislike the English language? How inconvenient for her! At least she loved your sister.
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