Names That Are Variations
Across 139 pages
of 139
Cosima
Italian feminine variation of Cosmo, Greek
"order, beauty, universe"
Cosima, the kind of elegant and unusual name the British upper classes love to use for their daughters, is given to a handful of baby girls in the US after being chosen by two high-profile celebs in…
Cristina
Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, and Romanian variation of Christina, Greek
"a Christian"
Cristina is one case where the streamlined version feels more alluring. Cristina is found more often than Christina in many European countries and cultures, including Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking…
Cydney
Variation of Sydney, English from French
"Saint Denis"
Unnecessary complication.
Dael
Dutch variation of Dale
Dael is cooler than Dale -- but why? Vowel switch gives an old nature name a hipper look.
Mari
Variation of Maria or Mary, Basque, Japanese
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved; gift, mother; truth, genuine, villlage"
Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Popular in Norway and Armenia as a variation of Marie, it is also…
Dana
English, Slavic, Persian, Arabic
"from Denmark, gift, or wise"
This name found in both Celtic and Scandinavian mythology has gone from all-boy to almost all-girl, retaining a strong, unisex quality. However, it has dropped following its three-decade heyday from…
Danique
French variation of Danica
"morning star"
This Danielle/Monique hybrid offers a new twist on an old favorite.
Daria
Feminine variation of Darius, Persian or Latin from Greek
"kingly or possess well"
An early Christian martyr, a bespectacled MTV cartoon heroine, and Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy: Daria is a name that manages to feel contemporary and usable without being exactly stylish. Which…
Darya
Russian or Persian, variation of Daria or feminine form of Darius
"kingly; possessing goodness; the sea"
The beguiling Darya is the name of a character in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. As a Russian name, it's a spelling variation of Daria, while in Iran, it's a girl's name that means "the sea".
Dashawna
American variation of Shawna
One of many now-downscale names that begin with Da- or De-, a prefix that originally indicated patrimony.
Davida
Feminine variation of David
"beloved"
An outdated feminine form of David sometimes heard in the UK, though Davina is more usual..
Dayanah
Spelling variation of Dayana
Dayton
English variation of Deighton
"place with a dike"
A city name that sounds more legit than most because of its similarity to Peyton and other such names in circulation.
Deana
Variation of Deanna, English, or feminization of Dean, English
"divine; church official"
Depending on how you say it, either a streamlined version of Deanna, or the namesake of a male Dean. But today, why not name her Dean.
Deanna
English variation of Diana, Latin, feminization of Dean
"divine; church official"
Though still being used, Deanna peaked many decades ago.
Debra
Spelling variation of Deborah
"bee"
When Deborah seemed too formal in the laid-back sixties, Debra stepped in as a pared-down alternative, but the pendulum is about to swing back.
Decla
Irish, feminine variation of Declan
Has an incomplete feeling....
Delfina
Italian and Spanish variation of Delphine
The Spanish and Italian variation of the sophisticated French Delphine is also the word for "dolphin". A popular choice in Uruguay and Argentina, the name is rarely used in the US.
Denise
French, feminine variation of Denis
"god of Nysa"
Denise was a French favorite of the fifties and sixties but is less chic now. In 2020 it broke back into the Top 1000 after a five-year hiatus, catapulted into style by reality TV star Denisse Novoa…
Denisha
American variation of Denise, French from Greek
"god of Nysa"
Typical of formula that takes a traditional name syllable and adds -isha ending.