Saskia

Saskia is a feminine given name of Dutch origin. It is commonly used in the Netherlands and Germany, though it appears in other countries as well. The origin of the name is uncertain, and it is most often treated simply as a standalone given name rather than a surname.

The most famous bearer is Saskia van Uylenburgh (1612–1642), a Dutch noblewoman who was the wife of the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. She is the subject of several of his portraits, and Rembrandt's painting Portrait of Saskia is among his well-known works.

Other notable bearers include Saskia Sassen (born 1949), a Dutch-American sociologist and author who has written extensively on globalization and urban society; she is a professor at Columbia University and author of The Global City. Saskia Esken (born 1961) is a German politician who has served as co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

As a given name, Saskia has gained international recognition through these figures and remains in use in several European languages.