International Variations of Julia
Julia is one of the most classic baby girl names, one that has a wide range of appealing variations around the world. Many of the most familiar international variations of Julia have become popular names in their own right, such as the French Juliette and Spanish Juliana. Julia still remains the most common form of the name, although it is experiencing a decline in popularity.
Along with Juliette and Juliana, other international variations of Julia in the US Top 1000 include Julianna, Juliet, Julieta, Julie, Julissa, and Giuliana. Attractive international options worth exploring include Giulia — a top choice in Italy — Ioulia, Uliana, and Xiana. Julia derivative Julie was once more popular than the original. It now feels like a mom — or even grandma! — name; a far cry from its meaning of "youthful." French variation Juli is fresher. An international variation of Julia can be a creative and stylish way to honor a Julia, Julie, or Julian in your life or an option for finding uncommon names with historical roots. Take a look at our Julia variants from around the world, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- Julia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Julia was an ancient Roman imperial name given to females in the house of a Julius, as in Caesar. Its origin is shrouded in history, but possible roots include Latin iuvenis, meaning "youthful"; Greek ioulos, meaning "downy-bearded"; or Jovis, a form of Jupiter, which means "sky father".
- Juliet
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
One of the most romantic names, the lovely and stylish Juliet seems finally to have shaken off her limiting link to Romeo. In Shakespeare's play, it was Juliet who said "What's in a name?"
- Juliette
Origin:
French diminutive of Julia, LatinMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Juliette, pronounced with the emphasis on the last syllable, adds a little something extra to Juliet. In the past years it has been rising up the chart.
- Juliana
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Long common in Europe, the elegant and regal Juliana, also spelled with two n's, has invaded these shores, in tandem with the more classic Julia. Together with Julian, the name derives from Julius, a Roman family name. Its origin is shrouded in history, but possible roots include Latin iuvenis, meaning "youthfu"; Greek ioulos, meaning "downy-bearded"; or Jovis, a form of Jupiter, which means "sky father".
- Julie
Origin:
French from LatinMeaning:
"youthful, sky father"Description:
Wildly popular in the 1960s and '70s, Julie is no longer anywhere near as stylish as the name's longer forms. Try Juliet, Juliana, or even the more grownup Julia.
- Julianna
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Together with Julian, the name Juliana/Julianna derives from Julius, a Roman family name. Its origin is shrouded by history, but possible roots include Latin iuvenis, meaning "youthfu"; Greek ioulos, meaning "downy-bearded"; or Jovis, a form of Jupiter, which means "sky father".
- Julienne
Origin:
French from LatinMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Fine in France, but here it means vegetables sliced into thin strips.
- Giuliana
Origin:
Italian variation of JulianaMeaning:
"youthful"Description:
Italian names like Gianna, Giovanna, Ginevra, Giulia, and Giuliana are being used increasingly by trendy baby namers — whether they have Italian roots or not. The Gi standing in for the more conventional J at the beginning seems to automatically make a name more appealing to some, perhaps because it gets you to nickname Gigi.
- Giulia
Origin:
Italian variation of JuliaMeaning:
"youthful"Description:
An Italian version of an English classic beginning to be adopted by cutting-edge American parents, including Entourage's Debi Mazar.
- Ulyana
Description:
Ulyana is a feminine name of Slavic origin, primarily used in Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries. It derives from the Latin name Juliana, which comes from Julius, meaning 'youthful' or 'downy-bearded'. Ulyana represents the Eastern Slavic adaptation of this classical name. The name has a flowing, melodious quality with its balanced vowels and consonants. In Slavic countries, it has maintained steady popularity throughout history, associated with several saints and notable figures. While less common in Western countries, Ulyana has begun to gain recognition internationally. The name carries connotations of Slavic heritage and cultural richness while offering an exotic yet accessible option for parents seeking names with historical depth and a distinctive sound.
- Julieta
Origin:
Spanish variation of JulietMeaning:
"little Julia"Description:
The lovely Shakespearean Juliet is finding renewed interest as a baby name today, and Julieta is along for the ride, especially among Spanish families.
- Ulana
Origin:
Kyrgyz, Hawaiian, SlavicMeaning:
"young girl; heavenly, woven; sky father, youthful"Description:
A multicultural option with a familiar yet unusual sound, Ulana may appeal as an alternative to Alana, Una, and Luna, while still offering familiar nicknames Lana or Lani.
- Iulia
Origin:
Romanian version of Latin JuliaMeaning:
"youthful"Description:
This spelling makes Julia worldly and distinctive. It is popular in Romania and Moldova, and might also be considered the Hawaiian form too, though Kulia is often used instead.
- Jowita
Description:
Jowita is a feminine Polish name with Latin roots, derived from the male name Jowit, which comes from the Roman name Jovita, meaning 'devoted to Jupiter' (the king of Roman gods). In Poland, Jowita gained popularity during the 20th century and is celebrated on February 15th, the feast day of Saint Jovita. While relatively uncommon outside of Poland, the name has a melodic quality with its three syllables and soft sounds. Jowita combines classical origins with a distinctly Slavic character, making it both traditional and unique for those outside of Eastern European communities.
- Juli
Description:
Juli as a feminine name typically functions as a short form of Julia, Juliana, or other Jul- names, though it increasingly stands as an independent given name. Derived from the Roman family name Julius, it ultimately means 'youthful' or 'downy-bearded,' referring to Jupiter (Zeus). This streamlined version offers a contemporary, unpretentious quality while maintaining the classic elegance of longer forms. Juli is particularly popular in Scandinavian countries and German-speaking regions, though it has international appeal. The name's simplicity, melodic sound, and easy pronunciation across multiple languages contribute to its modest but steady usage. While less common than Julie in English-speaking countries, Juli represents a bright, modern alternative with ancient roots and cross-cultural functionality.
- Yuliana
Origin:
Russian variation of Juliana, LatinMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Julia is a name that's ancient and hallowed enough to not only have many variations, but for its variations to have variations. Juliana has been consistently used in the US and Europe, sometimes spelled Julianna. Yuliana or Yulianna is the Russian version. That Y at the beginning makes the name sound distinctly more exotic in the US.
- Yuliya
Origin:
Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, BulgarianMeaning:
"youthful, downy"Description:
Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and Bulgarian form of Julia.
- Juleen
Description:
Juleen is a feminine name that appears to be a modern variant of Julie or a blend of Julie and Eileen. The name has American origins, likely emerging in the mid-20th century when similar-sounding names with the '-een' suffix gained popularity. Juleen carries the same etymological roots as Julie, ultimately deriving from Julius, meaning 'youthful' or 'downy-bearded' in Latin. The name has never been widely popular but saw modest usage particularly in the 1950s and 1960s. Juleen offers a slightly more distinctive alternative to the common Julie while maintaining its soft, melodic quality. The name tends to appeal to parents seeking something recognizable yet uncommon for their daughters.
- Julissa
Origin:
Spanish variation of JuliaMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Julissa is a Spanish version of Julia used mostly in Latin America. It peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s and now hovers near the bottom of the Top 1000.
- Yulia
Origin:
Russian, variation of Yuliya, cognate of JuliaMeaning:
"youth"Description:
This is the Armenian version of the familia Julia, which has a rich and evocative sound. Other variations are Iuliya, and the diminitive Yulya.