Kissing Cousin Names: Names that don’t look related–but are

*Viola* disguised herself as *Cesario*, and her twin (who was frequently confused with her) was Sebastian.

Cool list! I love the Holly/Lula connection!

Nell can also be a nickname for Eleanor. This was a very nice and informative list.

Yes, very cool list. I had no idea that Axel and Absalom, Torquil and Thor, and Joan and Sinead and Joan were related.

I wish more parents would pay attention to etymology. Surfing recent birth announcements, I spotted a James Seamus and a Levi Matthew. Lots of Levis these days!

And we know why!

Also, Laura/Laurel/Lauren (from the Laurel tree) means the same as Daphne, although I think we have a way to go before Daphne is resurrected as a good choice for a baby.

My name is Jennifer, like millions of other girls from the 70/80 era. Except I was named after my grandmother Guinevere. Now that I have to identify myself as The Jennifer S. With Red Hair Who Lives In XXXXX. Because of course there’s another Jennifer S. With Red Hair where I work. Who just moved to XXXXX, a block away from me. Gah! I wish I were named Guinevere!

Some of my favorites that are related are Jude / Judah and Thaddeus which are all used to refer to one of the apostles.

sorry, but Chava is the Biblical Hebrew for Eve, not Chaya which means life.

I’ve seen both given, but looking at the most authoritative sources, I can see that you’re absolutely right–I’ll change the blog. Thanks.

Technically, Sinead is the Irish form of Janet, not Joan (which is Siobhan) – though both are related back to Jane/John.

Thanks, PP, I made the change on Sinead. The Oxford Dictionary of First Names translates Siobhan as Jane–which as you say they all relate back to.

Both Dorcas and Tabitha are used for the same person in the New Testament.

Actually, @ailsa, I know two little Daphnes.

Interesting, Tracey, I think Daphne is sweet. I work in a toyshop and daily quiz my customers on the names of their little people in their prams, so am constantly having my expectations challenged. The other day, we had twins in – Freya Rose and AUDREY Hope. Up til recently, I had thought of Audrey as one of those names that was not due for resurrection (my own godmother, Auntie Audrey, is 96, which coloured my judgement). Seeing little baby Audrey made me view the name in a different light.

First, I really like the list.
Second, Nell is also short for Cornelia. I had a teacher named that and everyone called her Nelly.
Also, I read somewhere that James is a derived version of Jacob. It appeared as a result of the name Jacobus sometimes being spelled Jacomus.

What about Daphne and Laurel? they both mean Laurel tree and is by far one of the nicest sibsets (twins actually) that I have heard.

What about all the Ann’s (Hannah, Anne, Anneliese, Nancy, Annette, Annabelle, etc.)? They all mean Grace. I really like Hannah, Grace, and Nancy as siblings.

Eos (EE-ohs) also means dawn, and it is one of my favorite names. One of the few Greek mythology characters that doesn’t murder their parents or something (well, her husband turns into a cricket or grasshopper or something like that, which isn’t that bad). Nameberry should add it to the database!

Where did they get that picture? I want to know the website they got it from!