Names That Are Variations
Across 139 pages
of 139
Jeanne
French variation of Jean
"God is gracious"
Pronounced just like Jean in the English-speaking world, but as the more unusual zhahn in France, this has sailed away with the first wave of French favorites: Denise, Michelle, et soeurs.
Jelena
Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Estonian
"light"
A pretty international form of Helena used in many Slavic languages, also sometimes spelled Yelena.
Yelena
Russian variation of Helen
"bright, shining one"
One of many international versions of this classic.
Jenifry
Cornish variation of the Welsh name Gwenfrewi
"white peace"
This Celtic saint's name is the most offbeat Jen name of all.
Jessamy
English, variation of Jessamine
"jasmine flower"
Jessamy and big sister Jessamine are all but unknown in the U.S., but make distinctive alternatives to overexposed Jessica, Jessie, and Jasmine.
Jethra
Feminization of Jethro, Hebrew
"excellence"
Rare and ethereal.
Joan
English feminine variation of John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
Joan was the perfect name choice for one of the leading characters on Mad Men , being a quintessential girls' name of the period. A Top 10 name in the 30s, a Top 50 name from the 40s through the…
Siobhán
Irish Gaelic
"God is gracious"
Lovely Irish name which has inspired many Anglicized variations, but using the original form preserves the integrity of one of the most beautiful Gaelic girls' names.
Zanna
Diminutive of Susanna; Polish variation of Jane, Hebrew
"lily or pledged to God"
A feminine multicultural nickname name perfectly able to stand on its own, Zanna might technically relate to either Susanna or Jane, making it a flexible honor name for an ancestral Susan or Jane or…
Zana
Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Latvian, Albanian
"God is Gracious; lily; voice, fairy"
An international possibility, heard from England and Israel to Poland, Latvia, and Albania. It is a name with a vast range of possible meanings and origins, including: a Polish variation of Jane,…
Shona
Scottish Gaelic
"God is gracious"
Anglicized form of Seònaid, the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of Janet. It has historically been quite popular in Scotland, although it hasn't ranked in the Top 100 there since 1995. Shona is also,…
Joanne
French variation of Joanna, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
A Top 100 name from the 1930s all the way through the 1950s, it's now firmly in Mom -- or Grandma -- land and supplanted for babies by Joanna.....or even great-grandmother Josephine. In its heyday,…
Jonna
Scandinavian variation of Johanna
"God is gracious"
A Scandinavian short form of Johanna, properly pronounced with a Y sound at the start, but would likely be read as the more prosaic "John-a" in an English-speaking context.
Joaquina
Feminine variation of Joaquin, Spanish
"God will judge"
As Joaquin enters the American mainstream, his sister might just follow.
Joslyn
Spelling variation of Jocelyn, German
"member of the Gauts tribe"
Much less popular than the original spelling of Jocelyn, though still given to over 100 baby girls in the US last year. While it might be tempting to go with this more phonetic spelling, we recommend…
Josselyn
English variation of Jocelyn
"member of the Gauts tribe"
One of many modern spellings of Jocelyn, this one used by actress Samantha Harris for her daughter.
Jodie
Spelling variation of Jody
The Jodie spelling might be even more obscure, at this point, than the fading original, except actresses Jodie Foster and Jodie Sweetin have kept it in the public eye.
Joëlle
Hebrew
"the Lord is God"
A French name that's lost its chic.
Joely
Feminine variation of Joel, spelling variation of Jolie
Sounding both tomboyish and feminine at the same time, this name is mostly associated with actresses Joely Richardson and Joely Fisher.
Joie
French variation of Joy
Pronounced as the English word joy, rather than as the French phrase joie de vivre, Joie might produce more complications than joy.