Names That Are Variations
Across 139 pages
of 139
Ilene
English variation of Eileen, Irish
"desired, water, island; light, shining torch"
Eileen is technically already an Anglicization of Eibhlin, the Gaelic form of Aveline, that may additionally be considered a variation of Helen. This form streamlines the spelling further, drawing…
Ilena
Greek variation of Helen
Ilena-style variants have all been considered more stylish than Helen for many years.
Hava
Modern variation of Eve
Hava is an anglicization of the Hebrew name Chava, which, like its English form Eve, means "life". In some accents, it may sound like "have a", so it's worth considering if this will be an issue…
Aubrie
Spelling variation of Aubrey
"elf ruler"
An alternative spelling to the highly popular Aubrey that entered the US Top 1000 back in 2001 and peaked in 2012 when it neared the Top 300. More recently, it has dropped out of the charts, with…
Aloisa
German variation of Louisa
"renowned warrior"
Obscure form of an old-fashioned favorite that's poised to make a comeback. This version, which owes as much to Alison as to Louisa, has a stylish A beginning and a multi-syllabic feminine grace.
Alannah
Gaelic
"child"
This form of Alannah was derived directly from the Gaelic term a leanbh , meaning "child." Though not as popular as the more traditional Alana spelling, it has consistently charted in the US since…
Agate
French, a semiprecious stone, or variation of Agatha
Though it's French, most Americans would pronounce it as the stone.
Idina
English variation of Edina
"from Edinburgh, Scotland"
Made famous by actress Idina Menzel, of "Rent" and "Wicked" fame.
Ortensia
Latin
"of the garden"
Variant of Hortensia, an unusual floral name and the name of a secondary character in Roald Dahl's Matilda .
Horatia
Latin feminine variation of Horatio
Has the fusty charm of recently excavated ancient Roman male names like Augustus and Magnus, which might just appeal to the fearless baby namer.
Hester
Medieval variation of Esther, Persian
"star"
The disgraced heroine of The Scarlet Letter 's name, after long neglect, just might have a chance at revival, following in the wake of sister-name Esther. We've characterized her elsewhere as an…
Onóra
Irish Gaelic
"honor"
Lovely variation of an upstanding classic.
Ilaria
Italian variation of Hilary
"cheerful, happy"
Hilary may feel too connected to a single personality, but this version offers a fresh and interesting alternative. Alec and Hilaria Baldwin (born Hillary Lynn Hayward-Thomas) chose this variation of…
Henrietta
Feminine variation of Henry, German
"estate ruler"
Despite a return to such feminizations of male names as Josephine, Clementine, and Theodora, starchy Henrietta has not made it into that group. Still, if you look hard enough, you'll see that…
Helaine
French variation of Helen
Like twins Helene and Elaine, a relic of the 1930s to 40s French Renaissance of names.
Asante
Ashanti, Akan, Twi
"African ethnic group; warlike"
Although Ashanti is a much better known name via the female hip-hop singer, Asante is also an appealing way to honor Asante or Ashanti heritage. It's the name of a people and language based in Ghana.
Harlee
Spelling variation of Harley, English
"the long field"
This invented spelling is much less popular than its biker counterpart. Regardless, it entered the US Top 1000 since 2012 and hung on there for more than a decade.
Karis
English variation of Carys, Welsh
"love"
This much less popular variation draws more from Karin.
Harriet
English variation of French Henriette
"estate ruler"
Harriet has long been considered a stylish, upscale name in England, but it's still waiting to be revived in the US—though some parents seeking a solid, serious semi-classic are beginning to consider…
Hariata
Hawaiian variation of Harriet
A feminissima version of a super-serious name.