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Alternate Spellings

When traditional spellings just aren't cool enough.
  1. Rylee
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Riley, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "courageous"
    • Description:

      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.
  2. Journee
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Journey, English word name
    • Meaning:

      "travel or passage from one place to another"
    • Description:

      With Journey becoming increasingly popular, it's no surprise that this alternative spelling is not far behind. However, you may be surprised to learn that in recent years, the Journee spelling has actually passed the original spelling in popularity — Journee is currently in the Top 200. This word name may be appealing to parents attracted to the idea of a spiritual -- or even an actual -- voyage.
  3. Londyn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of London, place name
    • Description:

      Londyn is now a more popular name than the original London for girls. Some parents feel that varying the spelling nudges the name away from over-identification with the British capitol. Substituting a y for another vowel is also seen by some as more feminine. For boys, London is five times as popular as Londyn -- though both variations are far more popular for girls.
  4. Hanna
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Hannah
    • Description:

      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.
  5. Charley
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Charlie, French
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      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.
  6. Bryanna
    • Origin:

      Variation of Brianna, English
    • Meaning:

      "strong, virtuous and honorable"
    • Description:

      A confusing-looking name — is it BRY-anna or BREE-anna? There are other feminine variants of Bryan/Brian which look less made up, such as Brianna and Breanna. We recommend looking into those choices to avoid pronunciation issues.
  7. Abbigail
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Abigail, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "my father is joyful"
    • Description:

      A fast-rising variation of Abigail that was shooting up the popularity charts a few years ago, but whose star is now falling now that Abigail is not quite as hot as she once was.
  8. Madilynn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Madelyn, meaning "from Magdala" or "high tower"
    • Meaning:

      "high tower"
    • Description:

      This variation of Madelyn has the trendier -nn suffix and ranks lower than the single -n ending.
  9. Kaydence
    • Origin:

      Variation of Cadence, word name
    • Description:

      We'd prefer to stick with the more-familiar Cadence and avoid the overly trendy Kay- prefix.
  10. Henri
    • Origin:

      French and Finnish variation of Henry, German
    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"
    • Description:

      The chic Euro spelling of Henry is rising along with the original form.
  11. Shyanne
    • Origin:

      Variation of Cheyenne
    • Meaning:

      "people of a different language"
    • Description:

      Shy Anne? The original place-name spelling Cheyenne is preferable to this phonetic and slyly jokey spelling in every way.
  12. Cydney
    • Origin:

      Variation of Sydney, English from French
    • Meaning:

      "Saint Denis"
    • Description:

      Unnecessary complication.
  13. Karren
    • Description:

      Karren is a feminine name that originated as a variant spelling of Karen, which derives from the Danish form of Katherine. Katherine itself comes from the Greek name Aikaterine, possibly meaning "pure." Karren gained some popularity in English-speaking countries during the mid-20th century but remained less common than Karen. The unique double-r spelling gives the name a distinctive appearance while maintaining the familiar pronunciation. Karren peaked in usage during the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, aligning with the popularity surge of Karen. Today, the name has decreased in frequency, giving it a vintage quality. Karren projects strength and clarity while its uncommon spelling offers individuality to those who bear it.

  14. Fae
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Faye, English
    • Meaning:

      "fairy"
    • Description:

      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.
  15. Marjory
    • Description:

      Marjory is a feminine name derived from the medieval French form of Margaret, which comes from the Greek word "margarites" meaning "pearl." This charming variation gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the late Middle Ages and saw peaks of usage in the early 20th century. Marjory exudes a vintage elegance and literary quality, partly due to its association with Scottish history and notable women including Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce. While less common today than in previous generations, the name maintains a timeless appeal with its soft sounds and historical depth. Alternative spellings include Margery and Marjorie, with the latter being more commonly used in modern times.
  16. Cristen
    • Origin:

      Variation of Kristen
    • Description:

      Kind of a Kristen/Christine compromise name that makes less of either choice.
  17. Melodie
    • Description:

      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.
  18. Shayne
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Shane
    • Description:

      Why add the y.
  19. Bayleigh
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Bailey
    • Description:

      Needlessly confusing; stick with Bailey.
  20. Shon
    • Description:

      Shon is a masculine name that functions as a variant spelling of Sean, Shaun, or Shawn. All these forms ultimately derive from the Irish name John, meaning 'God is gracious.' This shorter, streamlined spelling gives the name a modern, direct quality. Shon gained some popularity in the United States during the latter half of the 20th century but has remained less common than other variants. The name carries the friendly, approachable quality of its more popular counterparts while offering a distinct spelling. Shon is typically pronounced identically to 'Shawn,' maintaining the single-syllable sound that gives the name its straightforward, masculine appeal.

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