Names That Mean Form

This succinct variation of Genesius was a Top 100 choice in Catalonia, Spain  from the late 90s until the early 2010s, while across Spain as a whole, it was in the Top 500 during the same period. 





Genís

Katti or Kattie is a short form of Katherine, more old fashioned than Kate and more unusual than Kathy.

Katti

Māori form of Josephine. This was the birth name of activist and Māori elder Dame Whina (FEE-na) Cooper.

Hohepine

Usually pronounced to rhyme with nice — though others may rhyme it with Jace — Thijs is a popular Dutch name short for that country's form of Matthew.  Matt Lauer's half-Dutch son is called Thijs.

Thijs

A short form of the Shakespearean Imogen, it may appeal to those who like Effie, Emmie, Billie, Coco, and Millie. Yet to appear in the US stats, it has been occasionally used in the UK over recent years, however, 2023 saw it spike up (just a little) when it was given to nine babies. Spelling variation Immy also doubled in popularity, meaning at least 21 babies were given this short form as a full name.

Immie

Rare and rhythmical with a familiar look about it, Nialla is a feminine form of masculine Niall. It may appeal to those wanting to honor a Neil, a Neal, or a Niall itself, or to those looking for alternatives to Nola, Nyla, or Noella. 
 
Possibly meaning "cloud", other sources suggest it means "champion" or "hero".

Nialla

A Dutch and Flemish name that is used as either a short form of Laurentien, ultimately from Laurence or Laurentius, or as a variation of the French Laurine, itself an elaboration of Laure or Laura. In both cases, the meaning links back to laurel trees.
 
Coinciding with a rare French (male) form of Laurianus, Laurien could make an unexpected honor for a Laura, Lauren, or Laurence. Borne by writer Laurien Berenson and hockey player Laurien Willemse, in Dutch, the first syllable of the name would be said to rhyme with now.

Laurien

Isabetta is a charming spin on both the Elizabeth and Isabella families and a new way to go if you love the originals but want something more, well, original. Isabetta Rose is the name chosen by Amber and Rob Mariano for their daughter. If you're searching for <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/505/italian-names-for-girls">Italian names for girls</a> that make an easy transition to the English-speaking world, this should be high on your list.

Isabetta

In the Middle Ages, Anstice was the usual English form of Anastasia (even it was recorded in writing as Anastasia). It survives as a surname, but is so rare as a baby girl name that it has never appeared in the US official data. If you like the pared-down simplicity of Alice, this unique historical name could be for you.

Anstice

This spelling seems to be taking off as a result of media appearances as characters in first "Gilmore Girls" and then as Sookie Stackhouse, the Anna Paquin character in "True Blood," based on "The Southern Vampire Mysteries" series of books by Charlaine Harris.

Sookie

Aubin might be seen as a fresher and more decidedly masculine twist on Aubrey, though the two are not related. This stylish French choice derives from the Roman Albinus or Albus, meaning "white, bright" or sometimes "blonde". Pronounced with a strong O sound and with a barely there 'n', the name ranked just outside the Top 200 in its native France in a recent year. 

 

Aubin

Enrica

Sounds a bit like a nickname in a Dickens novel, but this short form was used in New England a few centuries ago, back when names like Micajah were popular.  Both short and long forms are now ripe for revival.

Cager

A diminutive form of the classic Pedro, Pedri might be seen as a Spanish equivalent to Petey for Peter. Used as a mononym by Spanish footballer Pedro González López, it would be pronounced as PEH-dhree (dh being like the sound in other).

Pedri

If you think there are too many Zachs around, you can use this historic nickname for Zachariah instead, though it does have a somewhat feminine feel.

Riah

This is a Spanish pet form of the name Aban, which in Persian mythology was the name of the muse of liberal arts and mechanics.

Abanito

A familiar choice in Brazil, likely owing to the popularity of the poet and musician Vinícius de Moraes, Vinícius  stems from Latin and may be interpreted as meaning "wine" or "vine". A subtle association to the drink, this name has been more recently associated with footballer Vinícius Júnior and with mixed martial artist Vinícius Oliviera. 

Vinícius

Elkie is an anglicized form of Elke, a German, Dutch, and Frisian diminutive of Adelheid, likely created by adding the -ke suffix, following the style of similar choices like Tineke or Maike. In this case, it word mean "noble", though another potential source is from the Yiddish Elke, a feminine form of the Biblical Elkanah meaning "God has purchased".
 
As an English name, you could potentially call Elkie an animal name too, in reference to the large deer species. 
 
Similar in sound to Elsie, it may appeal to those who like the vintage name, but want something sharper and more distinctive.

Elkie

Bonnet may look like an English word name for a type of hat — and it may well be viewed as such — however, more traditionally, it's a masculine French name (and surname), briefly in the Top 400 in France during the early 20th-century. A form of Bonitus, meaning "good", it may not have sounded too out of place with the likes of Bonaventure and Boniface which ranked around the same period. 

Bonnet

Drawn from old record books, Kiah is an antiquated nickname that feels perfectly appropriate for modern times -- maybe more so than father name Hezekiah.