Updated November 2023
Across 34 pages
of 34
Danish or Hawaiian form of Katherine or Karen
"pure"
Kalenah, another form of Kalena, may have a variety of possible derivations, though we see it as one of the many descendants of Katherine.
Short form of Orlando or Roland, German
"famous throughout the land"
Orlo is a name nobody ever heard of until the surprise popularity of the unrelated but similar-sounding Arlo. If Arlo can be a hit, why not Orlo? Why not indeed. Some sources identify Orlo not as a…
Dutch short form of Benedicta, Latin
"blessed"
Benthe is a popular Dutch abbreviation of the feminine for Benedict.
Short form of Natale, Italian variation of Natalia
"born on Christmas Day"
Natalino is the jaunty Italian male nickname for the gender-neutral Natale. And it has that fashionable o ending. Natalino might work as a nickname for Nathaniel too.
Form of Ulrica, feminine form of Ulrich, German
"rich and noble heritage"
Ulrike and its Anglicized form Ulrica were given to exactly zero baby girls in the US last year, while their masculine form Ulrich was used for a dozen baby boys. U is the least common first initial…
French form of Ezekiel
Welsh form of Madeleine
Of all the names in the Magdalene/Madeleine family, this is the most sweetly simple.
Short form of Cydney, spelling variation of Sydney, French
"Saint-Denis"
This unusual spelling of a simple name is notable as the name of dancer Cyd Charisse, whose given name was Tula Ellice but whose brother's mispronunciation of Sis begat Sid. Famed dance teacher…
English form of Carys or Charis
Alternative spelling of Welsh Carys or Greek Charis, found on British boxer Karriss Artingstall.
Icelandic form of Ulf, Scandinavian
"wolf"
A Top 20 name in Iceland with a lupine meaning.
Short form of Ezequiel
"God strengthens"
Ezequiel or Ezekiel may be a Hebrew name, but it's well-used among Spanish speakers. Quiel is a short form favored in Spanish countries.
Croatian and Hungarian form of Maria
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
A striking form of international favourite Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah…
Modern form of Leilani
For those who like Leilani, but must spell it differently.
Romani form of Penina
An unusual but attractive version of the Hebrew name Penina, meaning "pearl".
Welsh form of Christine
This spelling is a little fresher than Kristen and Kristin, which were so popular in the 1970s/80s/90s. But it sounds the same, so it may give a somewhat dated impression.
Danish short form of Kamilla or variation of Katherine
Kamma is an appealing Danish name signifying a combination of Katherine or Karen and Maria or Margaret. It may also be a short form of Kamilla, the usual Scandinavian spelling of Camilla.
Romani form of Tierney
Romani form of Penelope
Penella splits the difference between Penelope and Fenella (which in Ireland were historically used as equivalents to each other).
Feminine form of Luca
A fun respelling of Luca. New Zealand canoeist Luuka Jones was named after Audrey Hepburn's son, Luca Dotti. Her mother changed the spelling to make it feel more feminine.
Spanish form of Olivia, Latin
"olive tree"
Olivia ranks in the Top 10 -- and sometimes even Number 1 -- in many countries now, so variations such as this Spanish form may get some attention.