Names That Are Variations
Across 139 pages
of 139
Katell
Breton variation of Katherine
"pure"
Original twist on this classic.
Katharine
Spelling variation of Katherine, Greek
"pure"
This is the spelling that old-time film star Katharine Hepburn used, and it's still favored by fans wanting to reference her classic strength and beauty. But in general, it's losing ground to…
Katrina
German variation of Katherine
"pure"
The hurricane blew this one out of the realm of possibility.
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.
Kaelynn
Spelling variation of Kaylin
The family of Kaylin names includes a wide variety of spellings—Kaylen, Kaelyn, and Kaylynn are a few—that enjoy varying degrees of popularity. This particular spelling plays on a couple contemporary…
Kaylynn
Spelling variation of Kaylin
Kaylynn follows a current trend in naming: add a -lynn or -lin suffix to a simple, single-syllable moniker. Alternate spellings include Kailyn, Cailin, and Kaylen. This variation has one too many Y…
Barrie
Feminine variation of Barry
"spear"
The kind of cutesy female spin not popular since Barry was big for boys, several decades ago. Consider Bara instead.
Keara
Spelling variation of Keira or Kiera
One of many takes on the Keira/Kyra concept, this one was chosen by ice-skating champ Kristi Yamaguchi.
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…
Keisha
Spelling variation of Keziah
"cinnamon, cassia tree"
A long-popular name, particularly among the African-American community, Keisha was first publicized by the child actress, Keshia Knight Pulliam, who starred on the old Cosby Show. It entered the US…
Joaquina
Feminine variation of Joaquin, Spanish
"God will judge"
As Joaquin enters the American mainstream, his sister might just follow.
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.
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,…
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…
Baylee
Variation of Bailey, English occupational name
"law enforcer, bailiff"
This Bailey variation is the second most popular spelling for girls, and while the -ee ending does make it more feminine, it feels more substantial in the original form. Bailee and Bayley are two…
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,…
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,…
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…
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…
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.