Names That Are Variations

Commonly shortened to Sakari, which may have broader appeal.

The most popular variation of this Biblical name is Mateo, which has now surpassed the classic Matthew. Matteo is not far behind, and other variations are rising fast as well. Mateos is a variation used throughout Ethiopia that has yet to make it to the Western world, despite its super cool sound and wide appeal.

This variation of the up-and-coming quirky and offbeat flower name Azalea — the original spelling of which just cracked the Top 500 — adds the trendy "lei" element seen in popular names Leia and Leilani.

Dashing and highly unusual variation does the feminine original one better by sounding both more modern and more usable. Or you can spell it Monaco and call it a place name.

Fabia is one of several pleasant international-accented female versions of Fabian.

In the Top 1,000 since 1996, a less expected alternative to Omar.

This alternative spelling of Jordan is more popular for girls, but also given to a significant minority of boys. For both genders, it reached its peak popularity in 2010, about a decade after the original Jordan peaked. Today, the gender gap is rapidly closing as Jordyn falls in popularity for girls but remains stable for boys. For babies born in 2022, Jordyn was 90% female, 10% male.

The forerunner of Cynthia is all but unknown these days, but deserving of import and revival.

Once considered too sacred to give to children in Ireland, it is now among the most common names there, along with variants including Pauric and Padraic. Basketball great Patrick Ewing used it for his son.

The Old Testament Noah has been so popular for so long that variations are becoming popular too. Noe is a streamlined form used in Greek and Latin Bibles, and in Georgia too. Spelled as more often as Noé, it is also popular across France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain.

The name of four popes and several saints: a promising Italian import.

Lagging about 400 slots behind the original.

Jericho, a Biblical city, has popped in and out of the Top 1000 since 2013, never making it above the 900s. That means it's unlikely that Jericha, a feminization, will break into the mainstream anytime soon — perfect for parents on the hunt for a unique name with religious significance.

This rare Russian name ultimately derives from the masculine Greek name Kyriakos.

This Ukrainian variation of classic Nicholas is pronounced like the more familiar Nikola, but with an M of course. Myko would be a cool and edgy nickname option.

Jurij is how George is translated into Slovene and Sorbian — the latter of which is a West Slavic minority language spoken in parts of East Germany.

People are likely to want to put that second - Cornell University inspired - L on the end of this name, when in fact it has a completely different etymology. This name is very popular in Romania though American public intellectural Cornel West and South African athlete Cornel Fredericks broadens its use beyond Eastern Europe.

Thoroughly masculine in Central Europe, although it may be misconstrued as a feminine name in English-speaking countries.

An entirely Jewish form of David, with the handsome nickname Dov.