Names That Are Variations

Natalie retains some classic charm, but the -ee spelling is fading fast. Its the lowest ranked of the spelling variants, a list that includes Nataly, Nathalie, and Nathaly.

The Turkish translation of the classic Hebrew name Benjamin.

Commonly Anglicized as Phoebe, Phibah and variations such as Phibbi, Phebe, and Phibba, were used among enslaved people for daughters born on a Friday.

The Finnish cognate of Thea, from Dorothea.

Laramie is a Western place-name with French origins that is growing in use for both genders-- it's currently two to one in favor of the female side-- the Laramy spelling is rarely used. There were fewer than five babies of either sex named Laramy in 2020. It might also be considered a smoosh name, a blend of Larry and Amy.

Popular short form Anže has eclipsed Janez in Slovene popularity.

One of the more uncommon international variations of Elizabeth.

The most common form of Elizabeth in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, typically spelled Alžběta or Alžbeta.

Variation of Ekaterina, and close to the name's earliest known form. The original meaning is obscure, but one theory is that it derives from Hekateros, a minor Greek god of a folk dance. The name was later remodeled the virtuius Greek word katharos, "pure".

An old Estonian cognate of Theodoric. The common nickname is TIit, so probably best avoided in the US.

Ýmir's roots are in Norse mythology — Ymir was the ultimate ancestor of the gods. In the Poetic Edda, Ymir's grandsons Odin, Vili, and Vé use his body to create the earth.

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Barrett made this lovely and unusual flower name familiar to English speakers. Giacinda is the Italian version.

Peaked in the Czech Republic in 1939.

The Phillis spelling of this once-popular name lives on thanks to Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American to publish a book of poetry, in the 18th century.

Fur names. We don't think so.

A perennial favorite in the Czech Republic, Eliška has been the Number 1 name since 2011.