Names That Are Variations

Name of nine provincial Spanish kings, but more likely to conjure up Sancho Panza, the hapless squire of Don Quixote.

Homophonous with Masha, the Russian nickname for Maria.

Possibly to honor Canadian short story writer Alice -- though Alice is more far accessible and--until very recently-- nearly as distinctive.

A top choice in Turkey, perfect for a botany-enthusiast.

This try-too-hard variation is just begging to be spelled at every turn.

Apt to be confused with Raquel.

Surprisingly, attached to the Greek Nikolaos rather than Michael.

The Estonian form on Heinrich would make a one-of-a-kind choice in the US — it's never placed on the American charts.

The inclusion of the trendy "z" doesn't do much for this variant of Jasmine. We recommend the original spelling.

The Finnish translation of Elvira, a Spanish name that ultimately derives from the Gothic name Guilvira.

Used exclusively and extensively in the Latino community, making it the seventy-third most popular name in America.

A Scandinavian up-and-comer taken directly from Norse mythology. Iðunn was the goddess of apples, fertility, and youth. Idun is another common spelling.

You may think of this as a variation of Eilis, an Irish name that rhymes with Irish, or a mashup of Eileen and Elise.

Erasmus may be out of fashion in the English-speaking world, but in Slovenia, Erazem is a fashionable riser.

Cay is a rare respelling of the retro nickname Kay but one that may gain ground as a name that's both simple and unique. Like Kay, it can be a diminutive for any of the hundreds of Catherine variations that start with a C or of more modern names such as Caylee or Cadence. Or it can stand on its own as a sleek contemporary nickname-name.

Nace, a derivative of Ignac, is considered much more fashionable in Slovenia.

Has never left its native milieu.