Names That Are Variations
Across 139 pages
of 139
Elspeth
Scottish variation of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
Elspeth is one of those names that never quite made it out of the British Isles--particularly Scotland, but possesses a winningly childlike charm. Elspeth was used by Sir Walter Scott for several of…
Katelynn
Spelling variation of Caitlin
Caitlin, but with the popular -lynn suffix.
Annabella
Variation of Annabel or English compound name, Anna + Bella
"loving or grace + beautiful"
Annabella is one of a constellation of names that include Anabella, Annabelle, Annabel, Anabel, Annabelle, and Annabell -- all lovely names that have suffered from their association with the…
Alexandrine
Variation of Alexandra, Greek
"defending men"
Alexandra is a name with many international variations, elaborations and short forms, and Alexandrine is one of the more unusual, found mostly in France and Germany. Another, Alexandrina, was the…
Inez
Spanish variation of Agnes
"pure, virginal"
Also spelled Ines, this name of the prudish mother of Don Juan in the Byron poem has a touch of mystery, but has also been fully integrated into the American name pool. Inez Milholland and Inez Hayes…
Margarete
German, Russian and Scandinavian variation of Margaret
"pearl"
A common name in many cultures, sometimes spelled Margarethe.
Ilsa
German variation of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
Ilsa is remembered as the radiant but tragic heroine of "Casablanca," and it's having something of a European resurgence.
Marguerite
French variation of Margaret; also a flower name
"pearl; daisy"
Marguerite is a classic French name with a remnant of old-fashioned Gallic charm; and is also a variety of daisy. Chic again in Paris, it's definitely ripe for revival here. Another reason you might…
Margaux
French spelling variation of Margo
Yes, it's pronounced with a long o sound at the end, just like Margo and Margot. This spelling was popularized by supermodel, actress, and tragic Hemingway granddaughter Margaux, whose name spelling…
Eloisa
Italian and Spanish variation of Eloise
"healthy; wide"
Eloisa captures a lovely name back from the spoiled little girl at the Plaza. Historical romance writer Eloisa James has helped make this antique name sound fresh and sassy again.
Kaitlynn
Spelling variation of Kaitlyn or Caitlin
Kaitlynn seems to be trying too hard to make its pronunciation plain. At this point, everyone knows that the name however you spell it is pronounced like Kate plus Lynn, so why go all the way to…
Margalo
Greek variation of Margaret
"pearl"
Margalo could make an intriguing spin on Margaret, with Margo as a nickname. The name appears in E. B. White's Stuart Little — as a bird. Margalo Gilmore (born Margaret) was a well-known British-born…
Maliah
Spelling variation of Malia, Hawaiian version of Mary
"bitter"
Maliah is a spelling variation of former First Daughter's name Malia and has seen some use since it first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 2009.
Kaitlin
Spelling variation of Caitlin
Kaitlin is a variation of Caitlin that's on a steep decline; it dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2013, after more than three decades on the list.
Anja
Scandinavian; Finnish; Slovene; Croatian; Serbian, from Russian
"grace"
Anja is one of the most international of several versions of Ann/Anna now being imported, also including Anya and Annika. Anja is heard in several European cultures, including Germany, the…
Makala
Hawaiian
"myrtle,"
There are so many variations of this name in circulation, it makes it hard for any of them to feel as special as they might.
Mairéad
Irish variation of Margaret, Greek
"pearl"
Common in its native habitat, and worth consideration by parents in search of an authentic Irish name, though a pronunciation challenge.
Elias
Greek variation of Elijah, Hebrew
"Yahweh is God"
Like its parent name Elijah and the related Elliot, this has potential for girls. It shares sounds with Eliza, Delilah, and Iris, along with established unisex choices, like Ellis, Emery, and Eden.…
Caitlin
Irish variation of Catherine
"pure"
An Irish and Welsh form of Catherine, Caitlin was a boom name of the eighties, rocketing from obscurity (Americans first heard it via the wife of doomed poet Dylan Thomas) to the height of popularity…
Mairi
Scottish variation of Mary
"bitter"
Why does Mairi (rhymes with Harry) seem so much cooler than Mary? This Irish form of Mary was not used before the seventeenth century, as it was considered too sacred. The vocative case of the name,…