Updated November 2023
Across 34 pages
of 34
Short form of Glynis, Welsh
"small glen, valley"
Glyn is a pretty, glimmery name that is heard much less often than Welsh sisters Gwen and Bryn. It is also used for boys and might make a good honor name for an ancestral Glenn.
Old English short form of Jean or Janet
"God is gracious"
It feels like a slenderized modern version, but Jennet actually has deep roots. Could this plucky name rescue Janet and Jenny from their datedness?
Short form of Caitlin
"pure"
Cait, pronounced like more popular sister Kate, is the form used when shortening Caitlin or any of the other Irish and Gaelic Cait-starting variations of Catherine.
Anglicization of Ciorstag, the Gaelic nickname for Christine, or short form of Kirsten
Actress Kirstie Alley popularized this short form that's been off the popularity register for a decade.
Latin, feminine form of Laurence
This pretty female form of Laurence originated in ancient Rome and is still sometimes heard in the Latino community. It is one of the many intriguing Latin names for girls worth consideration by…
English female form of Leontios, Greek
"lion"
Almost exclusively associated with opera diva Leontyne Price. If you want to use the suddenly-stylish Leontyne, we'd recommend the French Leontine spelling.
French female form of Leontios, Greek
Leontine is the French form of a name that's more familiar by its spelling variation Leontyne, the name made famous by opera diva Price. An obscure choice, Leontine nevertheless feels right for our…
Short form of Liliane
"lily"
Actress Leelee Sobieski's real name is Liliane, after her French grandmother -- a better choice for any baby-namer.
Short form of Lula or Louise, German and French
"renowned warrior"
One of the few Lu- names that you've probably never heard of, Lulie could prove a good alternative for Luna, Lucy, and Lula.
Finnish form of Miriam
If you are looking for an unusual way to honor an ancestral Mary or Miriam, Mirja might make a good choice. Zero baby girls were given this name in the US in 2014. The rising popularity of Anja has…
Scandinavian, short form of Odelia
Ada, yes. Ida, maybe. But Oda, a Scandinavian version of Odelia, not really. To English speakers, it sounds too much like "odor".
Norwegian and Swedish form of Olaf
"ancestor's relic"
Simple, friendly, distinctive name heard in several cultures. The a ending may feel more feminine in the US than Ole, though both variations are acceptable in Scandinavia.
Irish, diminutive of Mairead, Irish form of Margaret
Infrequently used relic of the Maureen-Colleen-Kathleen era, though it does seem to have a bit more energy than the others.
Feminine form of Pierre, French version of Peter
"rock"
Pierrette is the French feminine form of Peter or Pierre, an antiquated if charming feminization in the style of Albertine.
Hebrew short form of Raziah
"the Lord's secret"
Raz, like many similar names, is used for both girls and boys in modern Israel. Simple, sleek, memorable.
Swedish literary name
Pippi Longstocking author Astrid Lindgren invented the name Ronja for her book Ronja, the Robber's Daughter . She was inspired by the lake Juronjaure, located in Norrbotten, Sweden. Lindgren's…
Hungarian form of Celeste; variation of Zelina
Z names have been popular in recent years, and here's an obscure option for achieving the initial, though Zelina may be a little more successful in the US with its feminine -a ending.
Scandinavian short form of Christina
"annointed, Christian"
The Steen, Steena, and Stina nicknames for Christina are much more common in Scandinavia than in the English-speaking world, which prefers the Chris variations.
English, contracted form of Thomasina
"twin"
Tamsin is an offbeat name occasionally heard in Britain and just waiting to be discovered here. U.K. actress Tamsin Greig is a star of the show Episodes , Tamsin Olivier is the daughter of Joan…
Short form of Tatiana
Argentine model Tati Cotliar is bringing notice to this shortening of the classic Russian name Tatiana. Tati is cute but teasable; you may need to have supermodel looks and poise to pull it off.