Names That Are Variations

Hawaiian names have officially made their way to the mainland, with Leilani, Kehlani, Alani, Kailani, and Kaylani all ranking within the Top 300. Now Kahlani — one of several pseudo-Hawaiian names popping up across the country — has entered the US Top 1000 in 2023.

Variation of Jans.

One of those quintessentiallyFrench names still wearing a beret, also too tied to the image of tires.

Lutza is largely unknown in the English-speaking world and might remain that way, due to its resemblance to klutz.

Most famously borne by Loja Saarinen, a Finnish-American artist and wife of architect Eliel Saarinen. She was born Minna Carolina Mathilde Louise Gesellius and went by Louise or Loja.

Kenia debuted on the US Top 1000 list in 1992. Even though it currently ranks higher than original spelling Kenya, this is a hard sell as it alters the spelling of the African nation.

Murat was a very popular name in Turkey in the 1980s but is now progressively falling in popularity. It currently sits just outside the Top 80.

Graziella, an Italian form of Grace, is another Latin version that adds spice. Consider Graziella as a distinctive alternative to either Grace or Gabriella.

Pretty Russian name that has yet to be embraced outside of the region.

Ilena-style variants have all been considered more stylish than Helen for many years.

A lively and charming nickname for Christopher — more modern than Chris.

This variation of the popular Cameron last ranked in the US Top 1000 in 2015. It is currently out of favor, given to around 50 boys each year, making it around 100 times less popular than the classic Cameron.

Lakelyn is a fast-rising girl name of the last decade, combining a nature word with the ever-fashionable -lyn suffix. It is occasionally given to baby boys too (eight of them in 2020), no doubt helped by the similarity to Lachlan.

Though this one would be sure to inspire confusion, Ven- names can be an intriguing alternative to the Ben- group.

Claudina — a traditional Spanish diminutive of Claudia — was a Top 500 name in Spain for the first half of the 20th century. It never caught on as a given name in the US. At its peak, Claudina was given to 17 American baby girls in 1969.

A feminization with a long (if sparse) history of use among European aristocracy. One young member of the illustrious Arco family of Central Europe is named Maximiliana.

A more substantial but less-popular feminization of Tristan, the originally-male mythological name now used for girls as well as boys.

An old Roman family name that could easily be mispronounced to make it supersevere.

Germans spell Stephanie with an f though the i ending is not traditional. Lady Gaga dropped the Stefani and No Doubt's Gwen sports is as a surname. Despite the celebrity connections, we say if you want to name your daughter Stephanie, name her Stephanie.