Names That Mean Form

Sounds like Maren, but with a surprise ending. If you're looking for a fresh way to honor Margaret, this could be it.

Mared

Like Eugene, this is a grandpa name in its native Catalonia, though with vintage revival potential.

Eugeni

Cornelia is the feminine form of the Ancient Roman Cornelius. Both names were popular in the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but have dropped off the Top 1000. In the most recent year counted, there were about 40 baby girls named Cornelia and 80 boys named Cornelius. But we doubt many of those would be nicknamed Corny.

Corny

Not unless you want your son to grow up to be just like a wacky Jack Black character.

Nacho

With the growing popularity of Celia and Cecilia, this vintage canasta-playing nickname name could be due for a comeback.
 Ceil had a few years of recorded popularity in the first decade of the twentieth century, peaking in 1905. Today, fewer than five baby girls receive the name, meaning it doesn't even make the US extended list.
 One prominent bearer was fashion designer Ceil Chapman (born Cecilia),who was a favorite of actresses from the forties to the sixties--she was one of Marilyn Monroe's favorite designers. She also provided the trousseau for young Elizabeth Taylor's first wedding.
 Caveat: Might be misheard as Seal.

Ceil

Šimun

Form of Fariha used among Turkish Muslims.

Feri̇ha

The yoo sound at the beginning of a name has not typically been attractive to the modern ear. Probably the most appealing form of this ancient name has been the feminized Eugenie, thanks to the British princess.

Eugenius

Léontine

Adda is the name of the first man in the Welsh Bible, but it is rarely used in its homeland nowadays. Once you know how to pronounce it, it's a soft-sounding name that would make an interesting alternative to A-ending boy names like Ezra.

Adda Fras was a 13th-century poet, and there is also a River Adda near Bangor in North Wales.

Adda

A pared-down spelling of Odette that's currently popular with parents in Hungary. Elsewhere, it may feel like something is missing.

Odett

It's unusual, but that may be its best feature.

Gaetan

Raz is one of the many modern Israeli unisex names. It's simple and sleek and translates easily to English.

There were no baby boys named Cay born in the US last year, but there's no reason why there couldn't be, especially with the rise in popularity of the similar Kai as well as the nouveau proper names Cayden, Cayson and so on. Cay Dose was an 18th century German architect and Christian Cay Lorenz Hirschfeld was a German garden historian of the same era.

Ferenc is well used in Hungary, where it has the intriguing nickname Ferko, it has been associated with the playwright Molnar.

Ferenc

It feels like a slenderized modern version, but Jennet actually has deep roots. Could this plucky name rescue Janet and Jenny from their datedness?

Jennet

One of many Irish names that, despite pronunciation challenge, are beginning to be taken into consideration here as authentic Celtic versions of familiar English names.

Aoibh

Hadriana may not have been used for a couple of millennia, but with the new fashion for ancient names, it just might be ready for a comeback.

Hadriana

Zippy is a cute nickname that livens up the Biblical Zipporah. Too cute? Your call.

Zippy

Tico is a diminutive of Alberto, but on the soap opera One Life to Live, Tico Santi's full name was Augustico.