Alternate Spellings

Now that Faye is back on the Top 1000 after a decades-long absence, its spelling variations are being revived as well. Fae was given to nearly as many baby girls last year as Fay and may be especially attractive as a middle name option.

German, Slavic and Scandinavian form of Clara, which is a Top 100 girl name in multiple European countries, including Austria, Croatia, Iceland and Poland. While Clara is fashionable in the US, the Klara spelling retains an Old World air.

Charlie and its many forms are on the rise -- including Charley, which relates more directly to the male formal name Charles. Surprisingly, though, while the number of girls and boys named Charlie are nearly even, there are six times as many girls named Charley than boys.

The chic Euro spelling of Henry is rising along with the original form.

This simplified version is not nearly as popular as the original (it also destroys a perfectly good palindrome), and has been on the decline in recent years.

This substitute spelling of Riley has been popular with parents for a decade. Rylee entered the charts in 1994, and is solidly within the Top 200 for the last 2 decades. Ryleigh is another spelling that has gained significant popularity.

Islay is the name of a Hebridian island famous for its whisky. Don't be fooled by the "y" at the end - this name is pronounced exactly like the more well-known Isla.

Though it has never charted in the United States, this frilly name has the elements some brave, modern namers might find attractive—namely, the initial O and the -ia suffix.

Melodie is a feminine name that represents a French-influenced spelling variation of Melody. Derived from Greek elements 'melos' (song) and 'oide' (ode), the name literally means 'song' or 'music.' This spelling variation adds a touch of European elegance to the musical name. Melodie gained modest popularity during the mid-20th century when musical names were trending. The name evokes qualities of harmony, creativity, and artistic expression. With its soft consonants and flowing vowel sounds, Melodie itself sounds musical when pronounced. While not as common as the 'Melody' spelling in English-speaking countries, this variant maintains its appeal for parents seeking a slightly distinctive twist on a recognizable and meaningful name with inherent musicality.

Fenix is a spelling variation of the place name and mythological name Phoenix, possibly inspired by the Romani form, Fennix, or the Spanish Fénix. Derived from Greek and meaning "dark red", the phoenix is an immortal bird that, having lived for a number of centuries, would be consumed by fire and rise from its own ashes.

An interesting vowel combination lightens up Graham.

Anastasie is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from 'anastasis' meaning 'resurrection.' It's the French form of Anastasia, a name with deep historical and religious significance in Orthodox Christianity. The name was popularized by Saint Anastasia, a 4th-century Christian martyr. Anastasie carries an elegant, sophisticated quality with its French styling and historical depth. While more common in French-speaking regions than in English-speaking countries, it provides a distinctive alternative to the more familiar Anastasia. The name evokes images of European refinement and classical beauty, appealing to parents seeking a name with historical resonance and a touch of international flair.

Linsey is a feminine name that originated as a Scottish surname derived from the place name Lindsey, referring to 'Lincoln marsh' or 'island of linden trees.' As a given name, it gained popularity in the mid-20th century alongside similar names like Lindsay and Lindsey. This particular spelling variant with '-ey' offers a slightly different visual form while maintaining the same pronunciation ('LIN-zee'). The name carries associations with naturalness and Scottish heritage. While its popularity peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, Linsey maintains a friendly, approachable quality with its soft sounds and familiar cadence. The name works well across ages and has avoided becoming overly dated despite its strongest associations with the late 20th century.

Sunya is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Sanskrit, it derives from 'śūnya' meaning 'zero' or 'emptiness,' representing the profound concept of void in Eastern philosophy—not as nothingness but as infinite potential. In Thai, Sunya (สุญญา) relates to similar concepts of emptiness or the absolute. The name has remained relatively uncommon in Western countries but carries deep philosophical significance. Sunya has a gentle, flowing pronunciation that appeals to parents seeking names with both meaningful etymology and pleasing sounds. Its cross-cultural nature makes it accessible while maintaining distinctiveness, appealing to families interested in names that reflect spiritual concepts or mathematical significance.

Veira is a feminine name with potential roots in multiple cultures. It may be related to the Slavic name Vera (meaning 'faith'), the Portuguese/Spanish word for 'scallop' or 'edge,' or possibly a variant of Viera (a surname of Spanish origin). The name has a melodic, flowing quality with its two syllables and soft ending. Veira remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, giving it a distinctive character. The name's brevity and easy pronunciation make it accessible across language boundaries while maintaining a sense of elegance. Its rarity offers parents an opportunity to give their daughter a name that stands out while still having subtle connections to established naming traditions.

As the French Esme becomes more popular, it will inevitably spawn spelling variations. This one, like Zoey or Layla, clarifies pronunciation, so while we prefer the original, that's not a bad thing.

About 60 girls were named Alise in the US last year, making it an uncommon but not truly rare name. While it's pretty and intriguing as a spin on the very popular Alice, it's pronounced more like Elise or -- in Latvian -- Elisa, and so may prove more confusing than it's worth. If you want to name your daughter Alice, name her Alice, and if you want to name her Elise, name her Elise. Choosing Alise in many ways gives you the worst of all worlds.

This spelling variation hasn't followed cousins Zoe and Zoey up the charts. Even though there are a number of feasible spellings, Zoie along with Zooey might cause some unwanted confusion.

Peighton is a masculine variation of the name Payton, which originated as an English surname derived from a place name meaning "Pæga's town" or "Pæga's settlement." The distinctive spelling with "eigh" reflects the modern trend of creating unique orthographic variants of traditional names. While Payton/Peyton have been used for both genders, they gained particular popularity as feminine names in the 1990s. The masculine use of Peighton maintains the name's sophisticated sound while setting it apart with its spelling. Despite its relative rarity for boys, it carries the appealing qualities of strength and distinction associated with surname-based given names.