Names That Mean Form
- Veronique
Origin:
French form of VeronicaMeaning:
"true image"Description:
Veronica seems poised to rise again, along with many other V names, and with it may follow this more romantic French version.
- Austen
Origin:
Literary surname and shortened form of Augustine, LatinMeaning:
"great, magnificent"Description:
Parents who love the great English novelist Jane Austen may choose this spelling of the popular name Austin to honor the author of Emma and Pride and Prejudice.
- Charli
Origin:
Variation of Charlie, English diminutive of Charlotte, French "free man"Meaning:
"free man"Description:
Charli may be the new Charlie, which is the cooler Charlotte. British singer-songwriter Charli (born Charlotte) XCX, creator of the hit album Brat, and TikTok star Charli D'Amelio popularized the Charli spelling.
- Sylvain
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"wood, forest"Description:
Doesn't everything sound better with a French accent? Sylvain, the French variation of the Roman wood god's name, sounds somehow cooler and more sophisticated than Sylvan.
- Ali
Origin:
Short form of Alison or Alice or ArabicMeaning:
"supreme, exalted"Description:
One of the sweet simple unisex names balanced enough to stand on its own.
- Auguste
Origin:
French form of Latin AugustusMeaning:
"great, magnificent"Description:
French version of August, for both sexes. And for those who feel the spelling of August is too plain.
- Nicolai
Origin:
Scandinavian and Slavic form of NicholasMeaning:
"people of victory"Description:
Related to the Russian name Nikolai, this is a fresh and worldly form of a popular favorite.
- Dominique
Origin:
French form of Dominic, LatinMeaning:
"belonging to the lord"Description:
Unisex option Dominique peaked for boys at Number 170 in 1991, perhaps due to the popularity of basketball player Dominique Wilkins. While it has now fallen out of the popularity charts in both the US and its native France, it was still given to around 140 boys and 60 girls in a recent year. This makes it a truly gender-neutral baby name, joining the ranks with - yet standing out from - the likes of Charlie, Rowan, Parker, and Sevyn.
- Kenzie
Origin:
Short form of Mackenzie, ScottishMeaning:
"son of Kenneth"Description:
Overwhelmingly feminine in the US, where parent name Mackenzie is wildly popular, but masculine in the UK, where Kenzie ranks among the Top 1000 names for baby boys.
- Ailis
Origin:
Scottish GaelicMeaning:
"noble"Description:
This attractive and unique Scottish form of Alice can also be found in the spelling Aileas. Like Alice, it ultimately derives from the Germanic name Adalheidis. Spelt with the fada, Ailís, it's Irish and pronounced with a longer final vowel: AY-leesh.
- Kiel
Origin:
Short form of EzekielDescription:
Sharp attractive short form which has a nautical translation in German: "keel" (although it isn't used as a name there).
- Maé
Origin:
French/Breton form of MatthewMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
A gallicized spelling of Mazhe, itself a Breton version of Matthew, which is currently popular for baby boys in France. In the English-speaking world, where the é accent is not always recognized, there is great potential for confusion with the name Mae.
- Rivka
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"to tie, bind"Description:
A traditional name still used in Orthodox families. Rivka is the original form of Rebekah or Rebecca, today used far more widely than the original. Rifka is a variation.
- Catriona
Origin:
Scottish form of Katherine, GreekMeaning:
"pure"Description:
This Katherine variation, used through Ireland and Scotland, is pronounced like Katrina. The name became popular after the Crusaders brought home stories about the colorful fourth century martyr, Catherine of Alexandria. Its later popularity increased following the success of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1893 Catriona, the sequel to Kidnapped.
- Mahama
Origin:
West African form of Mohamed
- Tygo
Origin:
Dutch form of Tycho, Greek, Dutch, Old NorseMeaning:
"hitting the mark; thunder"Description:
This Dutch form of the ancient Greek saints' name Tycho is in the Top 100 in The Netherlands. While largely unknown in the English-speaking world, it's got a cool sound and ancient roots, which equals a winning choice.
- Sinead
Origin:
Irish form of JanetMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
One of the best known of the Irish girls' names, thanks to singer Sinead O'Connor. Though it's still in the Irish Top 100, it's no longer quite as fashionable in Ireland as Aoife or Aisling. But by now everyone in the Western World knows it's pronounced shin-aid and so would have no trouble fitting in on an American playground.
- Alondra
Origin:
Pet form of Alejandra or SpanishMeaning:
"lark"Description:
A Spanish TV show made this one popular, along with single-named Mexican singer, Alondra.
- Emeline
Origin:
French form of German AmelinaMeaning:
"work"Description:
An old name, with a history separate from Emily and Emma and a different kind of vintage feel, that's a possible alternative to top-of-the-pops names. More common spelling is Emmeline.
- Cristian
Origin:
Spanish, Romanian and Italian form of Christian, LatinMeaning:
"follower of Christ"Description:
Both Christian and Cristian rank in the US Top 500 names for boys, and while the classic "Ch" spelling is used more than four times as often, Cristian is still given to more than 1000 boys each year, and is often used in the Hispanic community.