Names That Are Variations

Particularly popular in its native land, but here just getting over Zsa Zsa and her sisters.

A Top 50 choice in Iceland, where this is the common spelling of Diana.

Thurston Howell was the snooty millionaire on Gilligan's Island, but these days such surname names don't have the same elitist air.

Nicandra is the name of a plant known as apple-of-peru and also shoo-fly plant. It's also the feminine form of Nicander, an ancient Greek poet, physician, and grammarian.

Like Ulysses, Ulixes is a Latin variation of Odysseus. This spelling has never appeared on the US popularity charts, perhaps in part due to Ulysses's presidential ties.

This unusual name with a lovely meaning works surprisingly well outside its Armenia.

Seppo has two separate Finnish origins. The first is as a nickname for Sebastian, a name used widely across Europe. The second version is derived from the Finnish word seppä, meaning "smith."

You’re unlikely to hear Howardena on a baby girl today, but art lovers may recognize it as the name of Howardena Pindell, an American painter and mixed media artist.

For people looking for an unusual variant of Alexandra, especially one that can be shortened to the ubiquitous Alex, Alistrina might be the name for you.

This is a variation of Cheyenne that is slipping in the popularity list toward obscurity..

This beautiful variation of the trendy Clementine has an Italian flair, and is nowhere to be seen in the US charts.

This spelling of the popular surname ranks just inside the Top 1000.

Classic and common form of Peter in Iceland. A notable bearer is Pétur Pétursson, an Icelandic footballer.

One case where the English version -- Josephine -- is far preferable.

Philosopher names can be difficult to wear — the original Greek form of Plato is just different enough from the typical English form to give your child his own identity.

Whether you spell it with or without the final h, this is a name with international possibilities.

Preppier and less politically-charged than its source name, Sanders