Names That Mean Form

Bernie is an old school unisex nickname name, on the order of Bobbie or Willie. Not the most modern or most attractive name around, but it has a certain vintage charm.

As Huxley and Huck become more popular and accepted, so does Hux, either as a full name or a diminutive.

A delicate name with strong roots, Aniceta is most often used in contemporary Spain. Saint Anicetus was an ancient pope and martyr.

Basil and all his brothers and sisters have a meaning related to royalty, sometimes cited as king, queen, royal, regal.

With the growing popularity of Celia and Cecilia, this vintage canasta-playing nickname name could be due for a comeback.

A rare but appealing and accessible member of the John family. It sees steady low-key use in England.

Tico is a diminutive of Alberto, but on the soap opera One Life to Live, Tico Santi's full name was Augustico.

Naum is rarely heard outside Russia, Bulgaria and surrounding areas. It is a creative name via the prominent Russian Constructionist sculptor Naum Gabo.

A gallicized spelling of Mazhe, itself a Breton version of Matthew, which is currently popular for baby boys in France.

Henriette is to Henri (or Henry) what Charlotte is to Charles. Yet this elegant French name is surprisingly rare in the States.

The Hawaiian form of Gina or Tina (as well as the word for the country China), or in Swedish, a short form of Katharina or Kristina.

Ezequiel or Ezekiel may be a Hebrew name, but it's well-used among Spanish speakers. Quiel is a short form favored in Spanish countries.

Abbey might sound exactly like the popular Abigail nickname Abby or Abbie, but spelled this way it is also a churchy word name with a Gothic feel. But hearing it, no one will know the difference.

A gallicized spelling of Mazhe, itself a Breton version of Matthew, which is currently popular for baby boys in France. In the English-speaking world, where the é accent is not always recognized, there is great potential for confusion with the name Mae.

The ancient Roman name that gave us Cecilia, Cecily, and related names. This spelling looks authentic, but might raise more pronunciation problems than it solves.

Pronounced klaus, this spelling of the name is associated in this country with the major Pop Art sculptor Swedish-born Claes Oldenburg, known for his colossal public sculptures of everyday objects such as lipsticks and binoculars, and the "Happenings" performance art of the 1960s. Variations include CLAUS, KLAUS, KLAES, and CLAAS.

Fading since the 1970s -- but still a lovely name.

Sometimes, a new name is created by lopping off the first letter or letters. Such is the case with Abrielle, which feels like Gabrielle without its shirt.

This version adds some Italian flair to the somewhat stolid Constance.