Names That Mean Form

Katti or Kattie is a short form of Katherine, more old fashioned than Kate and more unusual than Kathy.

The Steen, Steena, and Stina nicknames for Christina are much more common in Scandinavia than in the English-speaking world, which prefers the Chris variations.

Tassos makes this venerated Greek name more earthy and approachable.

A fixed form of verse based on two rhyme sounds, three stanzas and 13 lines.

Penella splits the difference between Penelope and Fenella (which in Ireland were historically used as equivalents to each other).

Definitely a far stretch for any child.

A streamlined and little-known (outside Catalonia) member of the Francis/Francesco family of names. The nickname Cesc ("sesk") is now popular there in its own right.

Moll is one of those names that is used all the time as a nickname for a nickname, but rarely put on the birth certificate. Moll Flanders is an eponymous 18th century novel by Daniel Defoe, the author of Robinson Crusoe,

A jaunty, traditional name in Sweden's Top 100. Famous bearers include actor Svante Thunberg (Greta's father) and the father of physical chemistry Svante August Arrhenius. The name Svante is short for Svantepolk, the name of a Slavic nobleman who settled in Sweden in the 14th century.

Sabrina is the Latin name for the Severn, Britain's longest river. Drop the final syllable and you get a streamlined, French-esque name that's just as elegant, but without the Teenage Witch association. Sabrine has been used in the USA since 1970, but never for more than 18 girls a year — that makes it a rare gem.

Variant of Bevan

Cornelia is the feminine form of the Ancient Roman Cornelius. Both names were popular in the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but have dropped off the Top 1000. In the most recent year counted, there were about 40 baby girls named Cornelia and 80 boys named Cornelius. But we doubt many of those would be nicknamed Corny.

An intriguing way to spin an old standard. Pronounced with a hard G: gee-yem.

Numeria was a feminine forename in ancient Rome, said to derive from Numeria, the goddess of childbirth.

This unusual boys' name ending in O survives thanks to the missionary priest who founded the first of the California missions. With Juniper becoming a more popular name, especially for girls, Junipero may actually become fashionable.

Z names have been popular in recent years, and here's an obscure option for achieving the initial, though Zelina may be a little more successful in the US with its feminine -a ending.

Elizabeth is a name of hundreds of variations, but this German name for girls, redolent of the Olde Country, is unfamiliar in the U.S. and likely to remain so.