Names That Are Variations

A lovely variation of classic Margaret, worn by two Olympic medal winners — Marharyta Makhneva and Marharyta Dorozhon.

As an Indian name, Haim is an epithet of Lord Shiva. In the US, it was once more common as a variation of the Jewish name Chaim.

This name has two possible etymologies, relating to the Hindi Sania or the Arabic Saniyya. Either way, the Saniyah spelling has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 2004, though it has been in decline since it peaked at Number 506 in 2009.

Proof that a name can be too feminine.

The original Russian name is Natalia, the French say Natalie or Noel or Noelle, and the Italians use this gender-neutral name. While Natale and its international cousins is traditionally given to babies born at Christmas time, it's certainly not reserved for that.

The Finnish form of Jacob. A common nickname is Jaska.

Jacob meets Jakob meets Kobe -- and apparently, parents in 2013 are fans. It rose 153 spots to break into the Top 1000, making it one of the year's fastest-rising names.

While Liesa is the German short form of mother name Elizabeth, Leisa is a spelling variation and is pronounced just like Lisa, though some people say it Lee-sha.

This Theodore sound-alike derives from the name Diodorus, associated with the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus.

Although Thaddeus has long been used in this country, Thaddea is almost unknown and, with its air of mystery, could make a distinctive choice.

This form of the classic name Vincent is used throughout Russia.

Doss is Doris's cute, spunky, younger cousin. If Doris is wearing tan stockings and curling her hair, Doss is wearing skinny jeans and using a flat iron.

Leave the Z behind, please. You're better off with the classic Jasmine spelling -- though all of this name's variations have been falling in popularity in recent years.

More grown up than Jamie, but never given to more than 13 baby girls in the US per year (and that back in 1968). Modern parents prefer Jamie, Jameson or even James itself, as Blake and Ryan Reynolds chose in 2014.

This spelling of the popular surname ranks just inside the Top 1000.

The kind of cutesy female spin not popular since Barry was big for boys, several decades ago. Consider Bara instead.