By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 139 pages
of 139
French feminine variation of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
Josephe is much less well-known in the English-speaking world than Josephine or Joanna. English speakers might have trouble with its similarity to the male Joseph.
English variation of Hadewidis, German
"wide battle"
Hawise is a medieval name that started with Hadewidis. In France, Hadewidis evolved into Haueis, which then became Hawise when the Normans brought the name to England. Hawise and Hawis were also…
Portuguese variation of Letitia, Latin
"joy, gladness"
Portuguese variation of Letitia.
Feminine variation of Theodotus, Latin from Greek
"given to god"
With Theodora showing signs of revival, this rare saints' name could be an appealing alternative.
Polish variation of Irenaeus, Greek
"peace"
Icelandic variation of Victoria, Latin
"victory"
The Icelandic form of Victoria, pronounced with the stress on the first syllable.
Feminine variation of Jacob, Hebrew
"supplanter"
Jacobine is a rare -- no baby girls received the name in the US last year -- feminine form of the popular Jacob. But Jacobine has a quirky appeal. The Jacobins were a radical political club formed…
Icelandic variation of Diana, Latin
"divine"
A Top 50 choice in Iceland, where this is the common spelling of Diana.
Finnish variation of Magdalene
"high tower; woman from Magdala"
The Finnish form of Magdalene, sometimes contracted as Matleena.
Slovene variation of Ulrich, German
"rich and noble heritage"
A relatively stylish choice in Slovenia, where it is the standard form of Ulrich. Unlikely to catch on in the US, where U is the least common initial. Urh is also a Slovenian place name.
Polish variation of Felicia, Latin
"lucky"
Russian variation of Esther, Persian
"star"
Esfir is a warm and traditional Russian name that derives from Esther. It might appeal to parents with Russian ancestry or those looking for a rarer alternative to Esther.
Slovak, Slovene, and Croatian variation of Matthew
"gift of God"
Central European form of Matthew.
Icelandic variation of Auðr, Old Norse
"prosperity"
Auður is the Icelandic form of Auðr, a unisex name found in the Prose Edda. It shares a root with names including Odette, Otto, Ottilie, and Odile.
Finnish variation of Pippi and Pepa, Swedish, Spanish
"lover of horses; Jehovah increases"
Peppi ranked in the Finnish Top 50 from 2007-2012, where it was used for hundreds of baby girls each year. In Finland, Peppi is used as the translation for Pippi in the Pippi Longstocking books.
Finnish variation of Jeremiah, Hebrew
"appointed by God"
An intriguing Finnish choice that is entirely unknown in the US.
Feminine variation of Howard, English from German
"high guardian; brave heart"
You’re unlikely to hear Howardena on a baby girl today, but art lovers may recognize it as the name of Howardena Pindell, an American painter and mixed media artist.
Variation of Chevelle, variation of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Chavelle is used both as a variation of Chevelle, an American name created by Chevrolet for a 1964 car model, and as a variation of Elizabeth.
Turkish variation of Sumayyah, Arabic
"high up"
The Turkish form of Sumayyah, the name of the first Islamic female martyr.
Slovene variation of Agnes, Greek
"pure, virginal"
Neža is a Slovene form of Agnes that peaked in Slovenia in 2012, when it ranked Number 5.
