Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in Quaker novelist Jessamyn West, author of Friendly Persuasion--who started life with Jessamyn as her middle name.

This name, whose sweet and fragrant floral essence has always been widespread across the Near Eastern world, has now landed on US popularity lists in a variety of spellings. It's been dropping precipitously over the past few years, though, perhaps due to a combination of tensions in the Middle East and the fading fashion status of Jasmine itself.

Seems unfamiliar, till you realize everyone will just hear it as Molly. In Wales, Mali is a Top 100 name.

Any of the Y forms, which also include Yasmeen, Yasmin, and Yasmina, make this name more unusual and distinctive.

Unisex variation of Jazz or Jasper that couldn't say it more plainly. Used for their daughter by tennis couple Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.

Jessamy and big sister Jessamine are all but unknown in the U.S., but make distinctive alternatives to overexposed Jessica, Jessie, and Jasmine.

Malli is one of those simple-yet-unusual names that are intrinsically fascinating. In the US last year, only seven baby girls were named Malli.

An alternative spin on Jasmine and Jessica, Jessamyn is a spelling variation of floral Jessamine, with just a little less frill. Notable bearers include writer Jessamyn West, wrestler Jessamyn Duke, and content creator and yoga teacher Jessamyn Stanley.

Riko is a hugely popular name for baby girls in contemporary Japan, and one that easily translates to the West.

Jasmin doesn't have the grace of Jasmine (which in 2016 ranked at 122 in the US Top 1000), but it is far more preferable to the trendier versions doing the rounds like Jazmin or Jazzmyn. If you are looking for a more unusual variant try Yasmin or Jessamine.

Persian and Punjabi variant of Jasmine or Yasmin

This sweet double-L name is used as a diminutive form of "Lu" names, particularly in Latin American, where actresses Luli Miller (Lucielle), Luli Salazar (Luciana), and Luli Torn (Carla Lucia) have made it more familiar. It could work globally however, as a short form of Luisa, Lulit, or Lucy, or as a stand alone, given the popularity of Lumi and Leni.

Streamlined and sleek Japanese name with a sweet, fragrant meaning.

The Spanish version of popular Jasmine has that zippy Z many parents are loving in recent years.

This fragrant name is unfortunately just too close to the English word malady to be a good omen for English-speakers.

Common Sanskrit name for baby girls.

Hasmik is the Armenian form of Jasmine, pronounced as hahs-MEEK in east of the country and hahs-MEEG in the west. It has ranked in the the Armenian Top 50 since the 2000s, reaching #12 in 2007 at its peak.

A subtle botanical option.

From the Sanskrit malati, a subtle botanical option.