Names That Are Variations

Vill always sound as if you're pronouncing Walter with an affected accent.

Jenica might work if you can't decide between Jennifer and Jessica. It's certainly a more distinctive option.

Romanian form of Cosmas

Proof that a name can be too feminine.

Ivanna / Ivana both come out of the name "John" by way of the Russian variant Ivan. Whereas Joanna feels dated, Ivanna feels cosmopolitan and fresh. Ivanka (of Trump fame) is a diminutive version of Ivanna.

While many are familiar with the Hebrew name Naomi through the Biblical character, the name also has separate roots as a unisex Japanese name meaning "straight and beautiful." Variation Nahomi is rising in use for girls, potentially due to Japanese footballer Nahomi Kawasumi who plays for the American soccer team NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Ilyas is the more traditional Arabic spelling, but Ilyes is the common version in Northern Africa and France, which has a large Algerian population.

Makes Severin and Severus a little less, well, severe.

After being one of the hot upscale surnames of the nineties, Garrett has left the Top 100 and this streamlined spelling is dawdling near the bottom of the Top 1000.

The Irish Gaelic form of Cecilia, which is the origin of the Anglicized version Sheila, which subsequently became very popular across the English-speaking world.

When President LBJ's daughter Linda Bird changed the spelling of her name to Lynda, she set a trend for spelling adventurism that's still rippling through the name world today.

A venerable name closer to MELISSA than the original MILLICENT.

Pronounced klaus, this spelling of the name is associated in this country with the major Pop Art sculptor Swedish-born Claes Oldenburg, known for his colossal public sculptures of everyday objects such as lipsticks and binoculars, and the "Happenings" performance art of the 1960s. Variations include CLAUS, KLAUS, KLAES, and CLAAS.

Esmael is an uncommon name with deep cultural roots.

Orson is being rediscovered and Orsino is every bit as attractive.

Russian Uncle Vanya becomes niece Vanja in Sweden: an intriguing switch.

A popular choice in France, although Noam is more user-friendly for Americans.

A potential hero name: Crispus Attucks, an African and Native American man, was the first colonist to die for independence in the Boston Massacre.

At this point, there are more newborn American baby Gilbertos than Gilberts.

Tatyana, an alternate spelling of the lovely Tatiana, definitely has its followers.