Names That Are Variations

Ina is a name that is used on its own but that originated as a short form of any name that ends in -ina, so Ineke is kind of a pet form of a diminutive. A rare name in the US, Ineke is not really fashionable in the Netherlands either.

Fragrant herb often used for cooking, but scarcely as a name.

Where does Gwen end and Jennifer begin? Gwenifer may feel like a mashup of the two names but it is a genuine Cornish name for girls that makes clear the relationship between Gwen and Jennifer, themselves both variations on Guinevere.

Whether you choose to end it with a C or a K, Cadok possesses an energy that many parents seek out for their child's name. Welsh Cadoc has a saintly connection, if that sways you either way.

Fun and zippy Z name with a cute meaning to boot.

This form, common in Ireland, could create confusion.

As Miles begat Myles, so Niles has begotten Nyles, with the name of the effete brother played by David Hyde Pierce on Frasier morphing into Andy Samberg's cool guy lead character in Palm Springs. While there were 63 boys named Niles and 37 called Nyles in the US in 2021, we predict this name will be coming soon to a baby name popularity list near you.

Streamlined Estonian form of Simon.

Stuck in the Old Country.

Adelita is a more recent entry into the popular group of girl names starting with Adel -- Adele, Adela, Adeline, and Adelaide. Adelita is technically a diminutive itself, but also carries the nickname Alita.

Stylish short form Zala is the most common name in Slovenia.

Although it gives of a somewhat Spanish vibe (a la Beatriz), Gladez is in fact a Welsh variation of the more familiar English name Gladys. That being said, while around 5 girls are named Gladys each year in the UK, none are recorded as being named Gladez. We recommend sticking with the more familiar version, which is in any case, rare enough.

Simmons is one of the S-ending popular American last names that are starting to be used as firsts.

A sparky diminutive of Erszébet, the Hungarian form of Elizabeth.

La is the French prefix used to indicate paternity, much the same way Mc or O' are used in Irish and the son suffix is used in English. First names with the La prefix were popularized in the 19th century by the Free Blacks of New Orleans, who used La plus the father's first name, making Lashawn (or LaShawn) a name meaning son (or child) of Shawn, a phonetic spelling of Sean, the Irish variation of John.