Easter Names

Kimana, the name of a resort in the foothills of Mountain Kilimanjaro in Kenya, would make an unexpected path to the nickname Kim.

Sanni derives from Sanna, a variation of Susanna used in Scandinavia.

The adorable and iconic bunny character Miffy was created in 1955 by Dutch artist Dick Bruna. Her Dutch name is Nijntje, a contraction of the Dutch word for "little bunny", konijntje.

A too-literal spin on Owen.

Diminutive for all the Slavic names that start with Jar-. If for family or cultural reasons you're seeking such a name, then this is a reasonable short form.

Anastasia is a lovely yet very long name, and Stasia is a fresher, classier short form than Stacy.

Even if you'd like your daughter to attend the venerable women's college, don't saddle her with this pretentious British surname.

A Near Eastern favorite, with an agreeable, evocative sound.

This is a name you get stuck with, not (we hope) one your parents choose for you.

There's no shortage of quirky ways to get to hip nickname Oz -- Ozias, Osborne, Ozymandias -- but this one may appeal to parents looking for a full name with some religious significance. It was originally a name for Palm Sunday, which came from the Latin word for "hosanna."

As a whole Wilford still carries a dowdy, dated image, but each component of the name—Will and Ford—are stylish in their own right.

Most of the parents that name their sons Avri are likely using it as a creative spelling of Avery, though it is also a Jèrriais name, from the Island of Jersey, meaning "April; spring like". From its Hebrew origins, it is a nickname for Avraham, the Biblical Hebrew variation of Abraham, making this a multicultural option.

Unknown but eminently usable choice, especially for Jewish parents, with lovely meaning.

Commonly associated with Chinese supermodel Liu Wen.

Palma is an appealing Latin name that's both geographical -- it's the romantic city on the Spanish island of Majorca -- and botanical, relating to the palm frond. Sometimes given to girls born on Palm Sunday, it appeared in the US Top 1000 in the early 20th century. Its elaborated form is Palmina.

Evocative word name that's refreshingly straightforward. Overtones of Christianity and penalty. More subtle option: Cruz.

Dozier means a person who lives near the willows or reeds. It may be an occupational name referring to a basket maker.

Tomer was once a Top 100 name in Israel — it fell out in 2016.

Destined to remain a one-person name -- in this country anyway.