Names That Mean Form

Aileas is one of those Scottish names that is at once familiar and unusual, a spin on the internationally-popular Alice that is all but unknown outside of its native Scotland. It might overcomplicate things in the US, though, given that most Americans would pronounce it like the word alias and would find it difficult to get from those vowel combinations to ah-lus or eh-lus.

As Theo and Thea get more popular, so do Teo and Tea, short forms of the Latinate variations of Theodore and Matthew -- which include Dorotea and Mattea. But like Theo and Thea, Tea can stand perfectly well on its own and blends seamlessly into any Anglophone or European culture, if that is your aim. Some may argue that the Tea version is the prettiest and it's certainly the sleekest.

An earthy rock'n'roll name with multiple origins. The Roc was a giant bird in Middle Eastern legend.

The Spanish version, with its -eena ending, takes the name out of the Oh My Darlin' realm, which for many American parents may be just the thing.

Sharp attractive short form which has a nautical translation in German: "keel" (although it isn't used as a name there).

This pretty female form of Laurence originated in ancient Rome and is still sometimes heard in the Latino community. It is one of the many intriguing Latin names for girls worth consideration by modern parents, as a more distinctive spin on Laura or Lauren. The name's rhythm also makes it perfect for Ren or Wren as a nickname.

Russian, Belarusian, Romanian and Bulgarian form of Andrew

A rare but appealing and accessible member of the John family. It sees steady low-key use in England.

This short form can stand on its own, perhaps because of the familiarity of Stacy, of which it may also be a variation. But Stacia feels somehow more modern and stylish than 60s-style Stacy. Stasia is another way to spell it.

Now that Theodora (and Dorothea) are back, the adorable Teddi might work again for a baby girl. Teddi fits the rising trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside picks like Leni and Charlie.

A delicate name with strong roots, Aniceta is most often used in contemporary Spain. Saint Anicetus was an ancient pope and martyr.

Pol, pronounced as "pole," though a popular Breton name, would be an unusual form of a simple classic elsewhere. The Breton Saint Pol Aurelian was known as a slayer of dragons and a founder of monasteries.

As a form of the Hebrew Yochanan, Yahya is an Islamic name that honors the prophet John the Baptist, making it one of many international forms of John. In Islamic tradition, Yahya is celebrated for his dedication to and understanding of scriptures from a young age and for his gentleness and sinless life.
Currently popular in England and Wales, Yahya has also been on and off of the US Top 1000 charts since 2015.

Basil and all his brothers and sisters have a meaning related to royalty, sometimes cited as king, queen, royal, regal.

Zuly is the spunky short form of Zulma, and is commonly used on its own, often in the Latino community.

As you may surmise from its origins as a short form for Constantijn and Augustijn, Stijn rhymes with nine and fine, though most English-speakers wouldn't guess that. A popular name in the Netherlands that's obscure elsewhere, for reasons undoubtedly connected to its spelling and pronunciation issues.

As Huxley and Huck become more popular and accepted, so does Hux, either as a full name or a diminutive.

Davi as a girls' name might be considered a way to honor an ancestral David.

It's unusual, but that may be its best feature.

Mingo is a cute nickname of the Spanish version of Dominic. It's not to be confused with Mungo, the name of the patron saint of Glasgow.