My name comes with a story. My parents, friends, and I all use Asya, but in Russia, where I was born and raised, names often have a short and long form (like Alex for Alexander). Asya, or Ася, is seen as a short form of Anastasia, which is my legal name. While some official documents bear Anastasia, I use Asya whenever I can.

Asya is also a meaningful compromise, celebrating my mixed Jewish and Armenian heritage as an Ashkenazi rendition of my great-grandmother’s Armenian name, Astghik.

As for my last name, it’s Armenian—Ծատուրեան. Following the Soviet Armenian tradition from my father’s roots, it’s spelled Tsaturyan (like William Saroyan). In the Western Armenian tradition, it would be Tsaturian (think Kim Kardashian). Recently, Russian transliteration reforms also favor Tsaturian. So much for having a single, consistent name!