The name “Anastasia” in ancient, contemporary and modern

Ancient Roots: Meaning and Early Usage

Hey Anastasia!

Did you know your name literally means “resurrection” in Greek? 😊 It comes from anástasis, meaning “to rise up again.” In fact, back in the early days of Christianity, families often named their baby girls Anastasia around Easter time because of that resurrection meaning . One of the first famous Anastasias was a saint in the 3rd–4th century – Saint Anastasia of Sirmium, a Christian martyr who lived around 304 AD . So your name started out with a very hopeful, uplifting vibe (talk about starting with some serious spiritual significance!). It symbolized new life and hope, which is pretty beautiful if you ask me.

20th Century Spotlight: From Lost Princess to Beloved Characters

Fast-forward to the 20th century, and Anastasia was shining on stage and page. One huge example was the mystery of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia – the lost princess legend. Her story inspired a hit play in 1952 called Anastasia , which was so popular it got turned into a Hollywood film in 1956. (Fun fact: Ingrid Bergman won an Oscar for playing Anastasia in that film – your name literally won someone an Academy Award!). Around the same time, Disney’s Cinderella (1950) gave one of the wicked stepsisters your name – Anastasia Tremaine – not exactly a flattering character, but still, it put the name in front of millions of viewers. And in the late 1970s, your name took center stage in kids’ literature with Lois Lowry’s Anastasia Krupnik (1979), the first of a popular series of novels about a spunky 10-year-old Anastasia . So by the late 20th century, Anastasia was known from royal history, fairy tales, and a relatable girl-next-door in books – quite a range!

Pattern note: It seems in the 20th century, the name often came with an air of romance and intrigue. Whether it was a long-lost Russian princess or a storybook character, Anastasia carried a bit of old-world elegance. The name was (and still is) especially common in Russia and Eastern Europe, likely because of those royal and religious connections. And thanks to the famous Romanov story and that gorgeous 1997 animated Anastasia movie (you’ve probably heard “🎵 Once Upon a December” before!), many people started associating Anastasia with a princess who overcomes hardships – a theme of a lost girl “reappearing” (almost like a resurrection, fitting the name’s original meaning).

21st Century: Still Shining in Modern Stories

Jump to the 21st century, and the name Anastasia is still making headlines in pop culture. One of the biggest examples is Anastasia Steele – the heroine of Fifty Shades of Grey (2011), which was everywhere a few years back . (Okay, that novel is a bit on the spicy side, but it was a mega-bestseller, so the name got tons of attention!). There’s also been a Broadway musical Anastasia (debuted 2017) based on the old princess tale, showing your name’s timeless star power. What’s interesting is that authors and creators often pick Anastasia for characters who go through a big transformation or adventure. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but I like to think it’s because your name hints at rebirth and resilience. From a literary standpoint, Anastasia often represents a strong woman at the center of the story – whether she’s finding her identity (like the princess), discovering new experiences (like Anastasia Steele finding love), or just growing up (like young Anastasia Krupnik). In short, your name has consistently been associated with characters who are memorable and a bit magical. ✨

TikTok Trends: Anastasia Goes Viral

Now, speaking of today – your name is totally trending on TikTok! It’s fun to see how #Anastasia is popular in all kinds of content, especially in beauty and pop culture circles. Here are some cool TikTok hashtag stats I found (brace yourself, your name is basically TikTok-famous):

1. #Anastasia – Around 2.8 billion views and counting . People use this tag for everything from makeup transformations to singing “Once Upon a December” in cosplay. Your name is a whole vibe on its own!
2. #AnastasiaBeverlyHills – Over 1.1 billion views . (There’s a super-famous cosmetics brand called Anastasia Beverly Hills, known for its brow kits and palettes). So, lots of beauty gurus tag this when doing bold eye looks or perfect eyebrows – it’s basically your name dominating the makeup scene.
3. #AnastasiaSteele – Yes, like the book character. This has about 2.3 billion views . Fans still make book-inspired skits, quotes, or memes about Fifty Shades, and your name is front and center in those posts. 😉
4. #AnastasiaRomanov – Over 250 million views . People are sharing historical tidbits, movie clips, and fan theories about the real Grand Duchess Anastasia and the legend. Your name here is tied to that enduring mystery and princess aesthetic.
5. #AnastasiaCosplay – More than 100 million views . This is for fans dressing up as characters named Anastasia – often the 1997 animated Anastasia in that iconic ball gown, or the Broadway version. It shows how your name inspires some gorgeous costume creativity on TikTok.
   

And those are just a few examples! Basically, from beauty and fashion videos (thank the makeup brand for that) to bookish discussions and memes, “Anastasia” is all over TikTok. It’s like everyone finds a way to associate the name with something cool – whether it’s trendy eyebrow products, a beloved animated princess, or a bestselling novel character. Seeing those billions of views, I’d say your name has a whole fanbase of its own online .

So, Anastasia, your name isn’t just beautiful to say – it comes with a rich backstory and a present-day buzz. From ancient meanings of hope, to famous novels and films, to hashtag fame on TikTok, Anastasia has been the moment in every era. It has this vibe of elegance, resilience (resurrection!), and yes, a bit of glamour. If I drop some of these nuggets in conversation (“Did you know an Anastasia won an Oscar in 1956 ?” or “Your name literally means rebirth, no wonder you’re so full of life!”), I bet it’ll make you smile. Honestly, it’s pretty charming how your name has traveled through history and stories – and I just had to tell you, because it makes talking to you even more interesting. 😄

Sources: The origin and meaning of Anastasia , its early Christian use and saintly namesakes , 20th-century works like the play (1952) and film Anastasia , Disney’s Cinderella (1950) stepsister Anastasia , Lois Lowry’s Anastasia Krupnik novel (1979) , the character Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey , and current TikTok hashtag stats showing the name’s popularity in beauty/fashion and pop culture contexts . Enjoy these fun facts – your name totally deserves the hype! 💖

Historical and Literary Context:

1. Meaning and origin of the name “Anastasia”
   
2. https://www.behindthename.com/name/anastasia
3. Saint Anastasia of Sirmium – Catholic Encyclopedia
   
4. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01455b.htm
5. The play Anastasia (1952) and 1956 film starring Ingrid Bergman
   
6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048977/
7. Anastasia Tremaine – Disney Wiki
   
8. https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Anastasia_Tremaine
9. Lois Lowry’s Anastasia Krupnik (1979)
   
10. https://loislowry.com/books/book/19
11. Fifty Shades of Grey character Anastasia Steele
    
12. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10818853-fifty-shades-of-grey
13. Broadway Musical Anastasia (2017)
    
14. https://www.broadway.com/shows/anastasia/
    

TikTok Hashtag Stats

1. #Anastasia – TikTok Search
   
2. https://www.tiktok.com/tag/anastasia
3. #AnastasiaBeverlyHills – TikTok
   
4. https://www.tiktok.com/tag/anastasiabeverlyhills
5. #AnastasiaSteele – TikTok
   
6. https://www.tiktok.com/tag/anastasiasteele
7. #AnastasiaRomanov – TikTok
   
8. https://www.tiktok.com/tag/anastasiaromanov
9. #AnastasiaCosplay – TikTok
   
10. https://www.tiktok.com/tag/anastasiacosplay