Names That Are Variations

In all its iterations, this name is on the rise. Ariana and Arianna are both highly popular choices in the US, and as with other popular appellations, creative spellings are inevitable. The trendy y in place of the i might be tempting, but anyone bearing this spelling will constantly be correcting people who assume one of the two dominant versions.

Nickelle is an unusual feminine form of Nicholas, a name with many variations both male and female around the world. Nickelle is a twist on the more common Nicole with the feminine -elle ending, as in Michelle. The addition of the k helps clarify pronunciation. Unlike the 5 cent coin, the emphasis is on the second syllable.

The Turkish name for Ramadan, the holy ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims typically fast.

Margalo could make an intriguing spin on Margaret, with Margo as a nickname. The name appears in E. B. White's Stuart Little — as a bird. Margalo Gilmore (born Margaret) was a well-known British-born Broadway actress.

Kaylynn follows a current trend in naming: add a -lynn or -lin suffix to a simple, single-syllable moniker. Alternate spellings include Kailyn, Cailin, and Kaylen. This variation has one too many Ys, and one too many Ns.

The J spelling -- both are pronounced as if they started with H -- is more common, but the X has more flair.

Fedora is occasionally heard among the British Mayfair and Belgravia set, but we're afraid that in this country there would be too strong an association with the man's felt hat.

Ulyssia is an ultra-rare feminization of the stately presidential name Ulysses. It has only made the American charts one time — in 2003 when it was given to five baby girls.

The name of the patron saint of Wales is virtually unknown in the US under this spelling. There were no baby boys named Dewi or Dewie in the US in 2021, though there were 35 named Dewey. Incredibly enough, Dewey ranked among the US Top 1000 for an entire century, from 1887 to 1986, reaching as high as Number 19 in 1898.

Alyce is an aceepted enough variation that there were more than 50 baby girls given the name with this spelling in the US last year. Of course, there were more than 3600 baby girls named Alice, spelled the conventional way.

A rare but on-trend unisex name with roots in Bulgarian and Malay.

As classic as it comes in Italy — Filippo was once common during the Renaissance, and today remains in the Top 25.

One way to set up a superiority complex in your child is to call your child Czar as American actor Rockmond Dunbar did in 2016.

Attempts to update traditional Josiah have landed this name in the Top 1000. It falls in line with trendy spellings of names that opt for an additional x, y, or z whenever possible.

Timberly emerged on the charts in 1960 as an alternative to Kimberly. It never caught on and has been given to no more than 25 baby girls each year since. These days it may also be seen as an elaboration of Timber, an up-and-coming gender-neutral nature name.

Livelier Latin form of Edmund.

This variant of Zaniah debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2007.

Forster, a variation of Foster or potentially even Forester, is associated with British novelist E.M. Forster, author of A Passage to India, Howard's End, and A Room with a View. But if you choose Forster, you'd always have to force that 'r'.

Adds some spunk and Latin rhythm to mundane Martin.

Tightly bound to flamboyant newsman Geraldo Rivera--who was born Gerald..