Names That Mean Form

Sweet and bright international form of Josephine, used in many European countries with various pronunciations of the initial J. A notable bearer is Josefina "Joey" Guerrero, a Filipina spy during World War II.

Josefina

An anglicized spelling of the Spanish and Portuguese form of Jerome. 

Jeronimo

Charlene is a Charlotte variation that, along with similar names like Arlene and Marlene, spiked in popularity in the 1940s and fifties, reaching a high of Number 100 in 1949. Most parents today would prefer one of the note classic versions -- or even nickname Charlie.

Charlene

Whit is an uplifting short form of any number of surname-y full names, for Whitman to Whitaker to Whitney. But Whit stands perfectly well on its own and makes for a witty spin on modern <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/373/virtue-names">virtue names</a>.

Whit

This spelling variation of Sunny is as bright and cheerful as can be. Given to 100 girls in the Us in 2023, Sunni (along with Sunny) is on the rise. This spelling holds cross-cultural appeal, being a short form of the Scandinavian Sunniva, and it also coincides with a denomination of Islam. 

Sunni

Cassia is related to the cassia tree, which has yellow flowers and produces a spice that can be a substitute for cinnamon. Keziah, the name of Job’s daughter in the Old Testament, derives from the name of the plant as well. Cassia also has ties to the Ancient Roman name Cassius, an Ancient Roman family name meaning "hollow." 
 
Cassia is one of the rare names that's truly unusual yet has a stylish feel. Cassia has the added attraction of the sweet smell of cinnamon, thanks to its botanical associations. We predict Cassia will become much more popular along with her brother names Cassian and Cassius. 
 
Keziah, the Biblical equivalent, is also due for rediscovery, while Kassia is the Greek spelling that ties the name to Saint Kassiani, a feminist heroine.

Cassia

Santana is a saintly name...or Latin rock band. While traditionally masculine, character Santana Lopez on the show Glee showed the name's potential for a girl as well. Sound-wise, it feels like Savannah with a twist.

Santana

Marko is one of the many names derived from Mars, the god of war. Marco is the more usual Spanish form but Marko is a variation used in Spain along with Russia, Ukraine, and several Slavic countries.

Marko

Kari and all her many sisters, from Carrie to Carey to Kerry and onward, originated for the most part as short forms of either Catherine Katherine or one of the Charles feminizations such as Carol or Caroline.

The Kari spelling may feel particularly contemporary and flexible in terms of its derivation.

Kari

Properly spelled Luã, this is a light and bright alternative to mega-popular Luna, with the same celestial meaning. Lua is also an attractive choice for tech-heads, with Lua being a popular programming language.
 
In Roman mythology, Lua was a goddess to whom captured weapons were sacrificed, and is, in this case, derived from the Latin luo meaning "to set free", adding to that light, sweet feel of it. 
 
Familiar in Spain, particularly in Galicia and Catalonia, and in the Netherlands, Lua could even work as a short form for the likes of Lucia, Luana, Luciana, Luella, and so on.

Siobhan is the Irish variation of Joan, which is derived from the ancient Anglo-Norman name Jehanne. In this way Siobhan is indirectly related to the name Sinead—the Irish form of Jeannette, which also derived from Jehanne—although Sinead is not a nickname for Siobhan. Siobhan was the name of several early Irish queens and was introduced to the American public by the actress Siobhan McKenna.
 
Siobhan is a lovely Irish name which has spawned many Anglicized variations, but using the original form preserves the integrity of one of the most beautiful <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/804/irish-names-for-girls">Irish girls' names</a>.
 
There have been a wide variety of fictional Siobhans, from a Detective Sergeant in the John Rebus novels to a vampire in Stephenie Meyers's Breaking Dawn to a character in J. K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy. Most famous these days is the only daughter Siobhan in TV's Succession, appropriately nicknamed Shiv.

Siobhan

Pretty and strong, Zeynep is one of the most popular girl names in Turkey, where it has ranked in the Top 10 for more than 40 years — half of which it has spent in the very top spot. Familiar in The Netherlands, the UK, Germany, and France, Zeynep is related to the Arabic Zaynab which is well-used throughout the Muslim world.
 
The exact meaning of Zaynab is unknown, however theories suggest it comes from the name of a fragrant, flowering tree, or that it derives from the name Zayn, meaning "beauty". 
 
A rare choice in the US until the 2010s, Zeynep has more than doubled in popularity since 2020, with almost 130 girls receiving the name in a recent year.

Zeynep

A refreshing variation on the Biblical classic Matthew, this Hawaiian form blends the stylish -o ending with the cool Kai sound. First appearing in the US stats in 1999, it has been climbing steadily upwards ever since. 
 
The name of a popular ukulele brand, a famous orca, and two popular horses on Instagram, Makaio was given to nearly 90 boys in 2023 and with Makai already in the Top 1000, Makaio might continue to rise.

Makaio

To Americans, a quintessential British name, introduced to the U.S. public by suave journalist/PBS Masterpiece Theater host Alastair Cook. Sometimes used in the U.S. by parents with Scottish heritage.

Alastair

A concise choice with a hint of chic, Sabine is the French, Dutch, and German form of the Latin Sabina. While it has never charted in the US, Sabine saw a slight increase in use in recent data, with 107 babies given the name (compared to 70 called Sabina). 

The original Latin Sabina derived from that of the Sabine Tribe, a people who lived in ancient Italy and went to war with the Romans. According to legend, the Sabine women were kidnapped by the Romans but later affected peace between the warring sides. While the exact origins of the name are unknown, one theory is that it means "of one's own".

In French, and likely English too, the name would be pronounced with two syllables, as SA-BEEN, while in German and Dutch, it would be said with three: za-BEE-nuh, and sa-BEE-nuh respectively. 
 
Notable Sabines include tennis player Sabine Lisicki, racing diver Sabine Schmitz, and physicist and Youtuber Sabine Hossenfelder, while in fiction, it appears in the movie Mr Bean's Holiday and on a character in the Star Wars franchise, Sabine Wren. 
 
The Sabine River runs through Louisiana, making this a place name too.

Sabine

Malina is a synthetic-feeling name that may be a feminization of the Scottish Malcolm or a spelling twist on the Greek Melina and that also has a fruit meaning in several Eastern European languages.  For all that it's a little bit of lots of things, Malina doesn't feel very much like itself.

Malina

Familiar in Mexico and South America, this short form of classic Elizabeth is familiar among Hispanic communities and is predominantly used in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. Appealing to those who like the French Lisette and want a lesser-used short form of Elizabeth, it was given to 115 girls in the US in a recent year. 
 
Appearing in the US Top 1000 in the 90s and 2000a, the name is notably borne by actress Lizeth Selene and Youtuber Lizeth Perez.

Lizeth

Nuri might be a nickname for the place name Nuria, popular in Spain and Portugal as a honorific for the Virgin Mary. Nuri is also a usually-masculine name heard in the Middle East, but to the Western ear it might work for girls or boys.

Nuri

Evana is an intriguing feminization, but will often be mistaken for the better-known Ivana, thanks to the first Mrs. Trump.

Evana

Once rare, this streamlined form of Jessica has been boosted by two very different television figures: the Jemima Kirke character on HBO series Girls, and reality television daughter Jessa Duggar. 
 
Jessa is far less familiar than former favorite Jessica, a name now solidly in mom-name territory in the US. And yet, it might be too soon for Jessa to feel fresh. Jessamy or Jessamine might be more promising alternatives.