Names That Mean Form

Kattie or Katti is an unusual short form of Katherine, more old fashioned than Kate and more unusual than Kathy. Plus there's the "catty" issue.

Charming variation on Agnes, for those not keen on the "g" sound.

An alternative spelling of Katy, if you're more of a C person.

Sounds like Maren, but with a surprise ending. If you're looking for a fresh way to honor Margaret, this could be it.

For those who like Leilani, but must spell it differently.

From the biblical name Mara, meaning "bitter".

An unusual but attractive version of the Hebrew name Penina, meaning "pearl".

If you're looking for a girl's name that honors an ancestral Arthur, try Artis.

Like Felicity, but faster. Given to 6 girls in 2020.

Elf is an adorable nickname for the otherwise-clunky Elfrida or Elfrieda. Elf was used for the tragic sister in Miriam Toews' novel All My Puny Sorrows.

This spelling is a little fresher than Kristen and Kristin, which were so popular in the 1970s/80s/90s. But it sounds the same, so it may give a somewhat dated impression.

Feminine form of Emidio

Philonese is a rare name that had some usage a century or more ago among the Louisiana Creole. As such, it has ties to French and Italian ancestry. While it may not be joining the popularity charts any time soon, its brother name Philo carries certain characteristics that could make it an attractive alternative to hip choice Milo.