Alternatives to Ellie

A variation of mega popular name Emma and all of her cousins, Emmie came back to the US Top 1000 for the first time in 80 years in 2016. It's phonetically the same as more popular Emmy, but this option may avoid the award show connection. We could see it rising in future years.

Long a nickname for all the Em-names, as well as an annual award, Emmy is now being given on its own, as are soundalikes Emme and Emmi. Might be too identified with the TV awards--though that doesn't seem to have hurt Oscar or Tony. We think Emmy is a little too cutesey, and is probably best kept as a nickname for something that ages a little better.

Eppie is a feminine name traditionally used as a diminutive of Euphemia, a Greek name meaning 'well-spoken' or 'words of good omen.' It gained literary recognition through George Eliot's novel 'Silas Marner,' where Eppie is the adopted daughter of the protagonist. The name has Scottish and English roots and was moderately popular in the 19th century. Eppie has a cheerful, vintage charm with its playful double 'p' sound and friendly ending. Though not commonly used in modern times, it retains appeal among parents seeking uncommon vintage names with historical depth. Its short, sweet nature makes it both distinctive and accessible.

Cute short form of Esther, now associated with the iconic nail polish brand.

Esti is most commonly a short form of Esther and Estelle, both making the big move from old lady name to cool young name. It's also a popular short form of the Basque names Estitxu and Estibalitz, or a name in its own right, meaning "sweet honey". In French Canada, it's an untranslatable swear word.

Ettie or Etty works as a nickname for any name with a prominent "et" sound, usually at the end: think Henrietta, Juliette or Colette. The -ette ending is a French diminutive suffix.

Eugénie is the French feminine form of Eugene, derived from the Greek name Eugenios meaning "well-born" or "noble." With its elegant accent mark, this name carries an air of sophistication and historical significance. It gained prominence through Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III who influenced fashion and culture in 19th-century France. The name has remained more popular in French-speaking regions than in English-speaking countries, where it's considered rare and distinctive. Eugénie offers a delicate yet strong sound with its soft 'g' and feminine ending. For parents drawn to names with European flair and classical roots, Eugénie provides an uncommon choice that combines refinement with historical depth.

Eva is a simple, classic Hebrew name for girls that recently slipped out of the US Top 100 for the first time in more than a decade. Pronounced either like her more popular sister Ava or less popular sister Eve, Eva is one of the elite group of girl names that mean life.

Evie was derived from the English Eve or the Latin Eva, which in turn come from Chawwah, a Hebrew name related to the concept of life. Evie can be used as a nickname for any name that starts with Ev-, including Eva, Evelyn, and Evangeline, but also for names such as Genevieve and Maeve. Evie is typically pronounced with a long E sound, but a short E is also valid.

Fifi is a perfect name -- for a French poodle. But Fifi may seem more child-friendly as names like Coco and Lulu rise. Fifi in its fluffiness also balances the seriousness of such full names as Josephine or Federica.

Gilly is a name that's popped up from time to time in different contexts: As a nickname for Gillian, for instance, and as the name of a town in Switzerland. But it's increasingly associated with Hannah Murray's character Gilly in HBO's Game of Thrones, whom Sam Tarly rescued from Craster's Keep.

There are no less than ten different variations of Hailey on the current Most Popular list, but this is the spelling that brought it into the Top 10 of 2010, although it has quickly fallen in popularity. So, although Hailey has a shiny, unpretentious charm, its mass popularity makes it very much of the moment.

Hela, another name for Hel, is the Norse goddess of death and the underworld. The Hela form has been appropriated by Marvel for its goddess of death.

This sweet little acronym, popularized in the age of texting, has established itself as a baby name. The similarity to Ivy, Isla and Riley/Miley has undoubtedly played a role.

Isla is a hit name throughout the English-speaking world but hasn't found the same popularity in other western countries, perhaps because its spelling and pronunciation don't make sense for those whose native language is not English. Think island without the final two letters.