Same Name?!--Raymond

If you're anything like me, you consider Raymond a "grandpa name" (and I'm not trying to be mean; it is literally my grandpa's name). But, like many Germanic names, it has spread far and wide across Europe, helped by several saints.

Original Germanic form: Raginmund ("RAH-gin-moont")
English form: Raymond (RAY-mund)

Other forms:

• Erramun (ehr-rah-moon)--Basque
• Ramón (rah-MOHN)--Spanish
• Raimo (RYE-moh)--Finnish
• Raimondas (rye-MAWN-das)--Lithuanian
• Raimondo (rye-MOHN-doh)--Italian
• Raimund (RYE-moont)--German. Also spelled Reimund.
• Raimundo (rye-MOON-doh)--Spanish, Portuguese. Also spelled Raymundo.
• Raymond (ray-MAWN)--French
• Raymond (RYE-mond)--Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish
• Réamann (RAY-man)--Irish
• Redmond (RED-mund)--[Anglicized] Irish
• Reima (RAY-mah)--Finnish

Feminine forms:

• Erramona (ehr-rah-moh-nah)--Basque
• Raimonda (rye-MOHN-dah)--Italian
• Raimunde (rye-MOON-deh)--German
• Ramona (rah-MOHN-ah)--English, Italian, Romanian, Spanish)
• Ramóna (raw-MOHN-ah)--Hungarian
• Raymonde (ray-MAWND)--French

Random Fact of the Day: Linguistic Conversion(s)

Changing a name as it moves from one language to another is often necessary. due to sounds and/or letters that may not exist in the new language. It's not done as often as it used to be, but adaptation of a word/name to English phonetics and alphabet is called Anglicization. Ancient Romans also changed names to suit Latin--Latinization; and many Biblical names we know as 'Hebrew' are actually Greek alterations--Hellenizations.
For other languages, the terms are probably less well-known, but they do exist!

Albanian: Albanization

Chinese: Sinicization

Czech: Czechization

Danish: Danicization

Dutch: Dutchification

Finnish: Fennicization

French: Francization or Gallicization

German: Germanization

Hawaiian: Hawaiianization

Hebrew: Hebraization

Hungarian: Magyarization

Irish or Scottish: Gaelicization

Italian: Italianization
Japanese: Nipponization or Japanization

Norwegian: Norwegianization

Polish: Polonization

Russian: Russification

Spanish: Hispanicization, or Castilianization, when referring to Castilian Spanish

X-cellent.

(I know, my puns are getting worse. Sorry.)

Continuing my posts of rare-letter names, it is now time for X. X is the third-least-common starting letter in American names for both boys and girls, after U and Q. Chances are you can name Xavier and Xander for boys, but girls are more difficult--perhaps rare name-nerd favorite Xanthe springs to mind, or Spanish imports Xiomara and Ximena.
X-names may be hard to come by in English, but I bet we can find plenty abroad....
(if you're feeling a bit of deja vu, I did indeed do an X-themed post a few years ago, but this time I'm focusing solely on names starting with X ;) )

Boys:

• Xabier (shah-bee-ehr, Basque, Galician)--form of Xavier. Other forms include Xaver (KSAH-vehr, German).
• Xacobe (shah-KAW-bay, Galician)--form of Jacob
• Xanthus (KSAHN-toos, ZAN-thus, [ancient] Greek)--"yellow, blond". Other forms include Xanthias (ksahn-TEE-ahs, ZAN-thee-as).
• Xanti (shahn-tee, Basque)--form of Santiago
• Xenios (KSEN-ee-os, ZEN-ee-os, [ancient] Greek)--"hospitality".
• Xenophon (ZEN-ah-fon, ksen-ah-FOHN, [ancient] Greek)--"foreign voice"
• Xesús (shay-SOOS, Galician)--form of Jesus/Joshua. Other forms include Xosué (shaw-soo-AY).
• Xherdan (JEHR-dahn, Albanian)--poss. "necklace"
• Xhevahir (jev-ah-HEER, Albanian)--from Turkish, "jewel"
• Xhevdet (JEV-det, Albanian)--poss. from Arabic [via Turkish], "excellence"
• Xian (SHEE-ahn, Galician)--form of Julian
• Xicu (SHEE-koo, Asturian)--poss. a form of Francis/Francisco
• Ximeno (hee-MAY-noh, Spanish)--poss. a form of Simon
• Ximo (SHEE-moh, Catalan)--short form of Joaquín/Joaquim
• Ximun (shee-moon, Basque)--form of Simon
• Xoán (shoh-AHN, Galician)--form of John. Other forms include Xuan (SHOO-ahn, Asturian).
• Xulio (SHOO-lee-oh, Galician)--form of Julio/Julius
• Xunio (SHOO-nee-oh, Galician)--form of Junius
• Xurxo (SHOOR-shoh, Galician)--form of George
• Xustino (shoos-TEE-noh, Galician)--form of Justin

Girls:

• Xabierra (shah-bee-ehr-rah, Basque)--feminine of Xabier/Xavier. Other forms include Xaveria (ksah-VEHR-ee-ah, German), Xaverine (ksah-ver-REE-neh, German; zah-veh-REEN, French), Xaviera (zay-vee-EHR-ah, English; ksah-vee-EHR-ah, Dutch), and Xavière (zahv-YEHR, French), 
• Xana (SHAH-nah, Portuguese)--short form of Alexandra
• Xandra (KSAHN-drah, Dutch; SHAHN-drah, Galician; ZAN-drah, English)--short form of Alexandra
• Xanthe (KSAHN-tay, ZAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"yellow, blond". Other forms include Xanthis (KSAHN-tis, ZAN-this) and Xantho (KSAHN-toh, ZAN-thoh).
• Xanthippe (ksahn-TEE-pay, zan-THIP-ee, [ancient] Greek)--"yellow horse". Other forms include Xanthippi (ksahn-TIP-pee, Greek), and Xantippa (zan-TIP-pah, Latin).
• Xelha (SHEL-hah, Mayan)--"spring of water". Also spelled Xel-Ha.
• Xenia (ksen-EE-ah, Greek)--"hospitality". Other forms include Xene (KSEN-ee, Greek) and Xenie (ksen-EE-eh, Czech). 
• Xènia (SHEN-yah, Catalan)--short form of Eugenia. Portuguese form is Xenia (shen-EE-ah).
• Xenoveva (shen-aw-VEH-vah, Asturian, Galician)--form of Genevieve
• Xesca (SHES-kah, Catalan)--form of Francesca
• Xheneta (jen-EH-tah, Albanian)--poss. "paradise"
• Xhevahire (jev-ah-HEER-eh, Albanian)--from Turkish, "jewel"
• Xia (shee-AH, Mandarin)--"daybreak" or "summer" [also a surname]
• Xiana (shee-AH-nah, Galician)--feminine of Xian/Julian
• Ximena (hee-MAY-nah, Spanish)--feminine of Ximeno
• Xiomara (see-oh-MAHR-ah, Spanish)--poss. from Germanic, "famous battle"
• Xoana (shoh-AH-nah, Galician)--form of Joan/Jane
• Xochitl (SHOH-chee-tl, Nahuatl)--"flower"
• Xulia (SHOO-lee-ah, Asturian, Galician)--form of Julia
• Xunia (SHOO-nee-ah, Galician)--form of Junia

Unisex:

• Xiu (shee-oo, Mandarin)--"beautiful" [usually fem.], or "rest" or "build" [both masc.]
• Xuan (soo-un, Vietnamese)--"spring"
• Xue (shoo-eh, Mandarin)--"snow" or "learning"
• Xun (shoon, Mandarin)--"fast, sudden"

Television Babies

I always find it interesting what TV characters name their new babies. Do the writers actually take style and popularity (or time period, for historical fiction) into account? Or do they just pick something they think will make for good TV? Actually, I imagine it's a bit of both, depending on the attitude of the show. So, I decided to do a survey of babies born on the most popular and/or award-winning TV shows (according to IMDb & Wikipedia) in recent years.

• Willa (Six Feet Under, 2005)
• Hera (Battlestar Galactica, 2006)
• William "Tuck" (Grey's Anatomy, 2006)
• Lee (The Shield, 2006)
• Gracie (Friday Night Lights, 2007)
• Abel (Sons of Anarchy, 2008)
• Henry (Criminal Minds, 2008)
• Rachel (House, 2008)
• Harrison (Dexter, 2009)
• Lily (Modern Family, 2009)
• Holly (Breaking Bad, 2009)
• Eugene "Gene" (Mad Men, 2009; show setting: 1963)
• Cecelia (The Office [US], 2010)
• Tamsin "Tammy" (Mad Men, 2010; show setting: 1965)
• Sofia (Grey's Anatomy, 2011)
• Zola (Grey's Anatomy, 2011)
• Michael Vincent (Bones, 2011)
• Melody (Doctor Who, 2011)
• Thomas (Sons of Anarchy, 2011)
• Elizabeth (30 Rock, 2011)
• Cassandra (United States of Tara, 2011)
• Philip (The Office [US], 2011)
• Phillip (The Office [US], 2012)
• Kevin (Mad Men, 2012; show setting: 1966)
• Judith (The Walking Dead, 2012)
• Sybil (Downton Abbey, 2012; show setting: 1920)
• George (Downton Abbey, 2012; show setting: 1921)
• Christine (Bones, 2012)
• Derek Bailey "Bailey" (Grey's Anatomy, 2013)
• Fulgencio Joseph "Joe" (Modern Family, 2013)
• Marigold (Downton Abbey, 2013; show setting: 1923)
• Abbijean (Archer, 2014)
• Neal (Once Upon a Time, 2014)
• Sara (Arrow, 2014)
• Frannie (Homeland, 2014)
• Ellis [girl] (Grey's Anatomy, 2015)
• Mateo (Jane the Virgin, 2015)
• Hank (Bones, 2015)
• Michael (Criminal Minds, 2015)

-Iah Can't Think of a Clever Title.

(and I'm fairly certain that did not count)

The -iahs are an interesting bunch. They're mostly Biblical boys' names relating to Yahweh (I could almost call this post 'Names "of God" part 2'), originally pronounced "____-yah-hoo", which somehow became "_____-eye-ah" in English. The few -aiah names, which would have been roughly "eye-ah" in Hebrew, are mostly traditionally said "ay-ah" here.
Anglicization is weird.

Anyway, while most are Biblically masculine [exceptions are noted], a few have started to gain use for girls in modern times.

• Abiah (ah-BYE-ah)--"my father is Yahweh".
• Adaiah (ah-DAY-ah, ah-DYE-ah)--"Yahweh has adorned"
• Ahaziah (ah-haz-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh grasps"
• Ahiah (ah-HYE-ah)--"brother of Yahweh".
• Aiah (AY-ah, EYE-ah)--"hawk"
• Amariah (am-ah-RYE-ah)--"Yahweh has said"
• Amasiah (am-ah-SYE-ah)--"Yahweh bears the load"
• Amaziah (am-ah-ZYE-ah)--"strength of Yahweh"
• Anaiah (an-AY-ah, an-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh answered"
• Ananiah (an-an-EYE-ah)--"covered by Yahweh"
• Aphiah (af-EYE-ah)--poss. "breeze"
• Asaiah (as-AY-ah, as-EYE-ah)--"made by Yahweh"
• Athaiah (ath-AY-ah, ath-EYE-ah)--"helped by Yahweh"
• Athaliah (ath-ah-LYE-ah)--"Yahweh binds" [Biblically unisex]
• Azaliah (as-ah-LYE-ah)--"kept near Yahweh"
• Azaniah (az-an-EYE-ah)--"heard by Yahweh"
• Azariah (az-ah-RYE-ah)--"helped by Yahweh"
• Azaziah (az-ah-ZYE-ah)--"might of Yahweh"
• Baaseiah (bay-ah-SEE-ah)--"made by Yahweh"
• Bariah (bah-RYE-ah)--"fleeing"
• Bedeiah (bed-EE-ah)--"servant of Yahweh"
• Benaiah (ben-AY-ah, ben-EYE-ah)--"built by Yahweh"
• Berachiah (behr-ah-KYE-ah)--"blessing of Yahweh"
• Beraiah (behr-AY-ah, behr-EYE-ah)--"built by Yahweh"
• Beriah (behr-EYE-ah)--"from adversity"
• Besodeiah (bes-oh-DEE-ah)--"counsel of Yahweh"
• Bithiah (bith-EYE-ah)--"daughter of Yahweh" [Biblically feminine, as you can probably guess]
• Chenaniah (ken-an-EYE-ah)--"planted by Yahweh". Also transliterated as Kenaniah.
• Coniah (con-EYE-ah)--"established by Yahweh"
• Delaiah (del-AY-ah, del-EYE-ah)--"lifted up by Yahweh". Also transliterated as Dalaiah.
• Eliah (el-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh is God" [more commonly transliterated as Elijah]
• Gedaliah (ged-ah-LYE-ah)--"greatness of Yahweh"
• Gemariah (gem-ah-RYE-ah)--"accomplishment of Yahweh"
• Giah (GYE-ah)--"fountain" [Biblical place name]
• Habaiah (hab-AY-ah, hab-EYE-ah)--"hidden by Yahweh"
• Hananiah (han-an-EYE-ah)--"favored by Yahweh"
• Harhaiah (har-HAY-ah, har-HYE-ah)--"anger of Yahweh"
• Hasadiah (has-ah-DYE-ah)--"kindness of Yahweh"
• Hashabiah (hash-ah-BYE-ah)--"planning of Yahweh"
• Hazaiah (haz-AY-ah, haz-EYE-ah)--"seen by Yahweh"
• Hezekiah (hez-eh-KYE-ah)--"strength of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Hizkiah.
• Hilkiah (hil-KYE-ah)--"inheritance of Yahweh"
• Hodaviah (hoh-dah-VYE-ah)--"majesty of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Hodaiah.
• Hodiah (hoh-DYE-ah)--"majesty of Yahweh" [Biblically unisex]
• Hoshaiah (hoh-SHAY-ah, hoh-SHYE-ah)--"saved by Yahweh"
• Ibneiah (ib-NEE-ah)--"built up by Yahweh"
• Igdaliah (ig-dah-LYE-ah)--"greatness of Yahweh"
• Iphedeiah (if-ed-EE-ah)--"redeemed by Yahweh"
• Isaiah (eye-ZAY-ah, eye-ZYE-ah)--"salvation of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Jesaiah or Jeshaiah.
• Ishiah (ish-EYE-ah)--"lent by Yahweh". Also transliterated as Isshiah and Jesiah.
• Ishmaiah (ish-MAY-ah, ish-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh hears"
• Ismachiah (is-mah-KYE-ah)--"sustained by Yahweh"
• Izrahiah (iz-rah-HYE-ah)--"Yahweh will shine". Also transliterated as Jezrahiah.
• Jaazaniah (jay-az-an-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh hears". Also transliterated as Jezaniah.
• Jaaziah (jay-ah-ZYE-ah)--"fierceness of Yahweh"
• Jahaziah (jay-hah-ZYE-ah)--"Yahweh sees"
• Jaresiah (jehr-eh-SYE-ah)--poss. "nourished by Yahweh" or "rest of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Jaareshiah.
• Jecoliah (jek-oh-LYE-ah)--"Yahweh is able". Also transliterated as Jechiliah. [Biblically feminine]
• Jeconiah (jek-oh-NYE-ah)--"established by Yahweh"
• Jedaiah (jed-AY-ah, jed-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh knows"
• Jedidiah (jed-id-EYE-ah)--"beloved of Yahweh"
• Jehdeiah (jeh-DEE-ah)--"may Yahweh give joy"
• Jehiah (jeh-HYE-ah)--"Yahweh lives"
• Jekamiah (jek-ah-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh will rise"
• Jeremiah (jehr-eh-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh lifts up"
• Jeriah (jehr-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh instructs"
• Jeziah (jez-EYE-ah)--"sprinkling of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Izziah.
• Joshaviah (josh-ah-VYE-ah)--"set by Jehovah"
• Josiah (joh-SYE-ah)--"founded by Yahweh"
• Josibiah (joh-sib-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh abides"
• Josiphiah (joh-sif-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh adds"
• Kolaiah (koh-LAY-ah, koh-LYE-ah)--"fame of Yahweh"
• Maadiah (may-ah-DYE-ah)--"adornment of Yahweh"
• Mahseiah (mah-SEE-ah)--"refuge of Yahweh" or "work of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Maaseiah.
• Malchiah (mal-KYE-ah)--"Yahweh is king". Also transliterated as Melchiah.
• Mariah (mah-RYE-ah)--form of Mary/Maria [modern; feminine]
• Mattaniah (mat-tan-EYE-ah)--"gift of Yahweh"
• Mattithiah (mat-tith-EYE-ah)--"gift of Yahweh"
• Melatiah (mel-ah-TYE-ah)--"delivered by Yahweh"
• Meraiah (mehr-AY-ah, mehr-EYE-ah)--"rebellion" or "bitterness"
• Micaiah (mye-KAY-ah, mik-EYE-ah)--"who is like Yahweh". Also transliterated as Michaiah. [Biblically unisex]
• Mikneiah (mik-NEE-ah)--"possession of Yahweh"
• Moriah (mor-EYE-ah)--poss. "seen by Yahweh" or "bitterness of Yahweh" [Biblical place name, modernly used as a feminine name]
• Neariah (nee-ah-RYE-ah)--"servant of Yahweh" or "child of Yahweh"
• Nedebiah (ned-eh-BYE-ah)--"moved by Yahweh"
• Nehemiah (nee-heh-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh comforts"
• Neriah (nehr-EYE-ah)--"light of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Neraiah.
• Nethaniah (neth-an-EYE-ah)--"gift of Yahweh"
• Neziah (nez-EYE-ah)--"eminent"
• Noadiah (noh-ad-EYE-ah)--"meeting with Yahweh" [Biblically unisex]
• Obadiah (oh-bah-DYE-ah)--"servant of Yahweh"
• Pelaiah (pel-AY-ah, pel-EYE-ah)--"marvel of Yahweh"
• Pelaliah (pel-ah-LYE-ah)--"Yahweh intercedes"
• Pelatiah (pel-ah-TYE-ah)--"Yahweh delivers"
• Pethahiah (peth-ah-HYE-ah)--"Yahweh sets free"
• Raamiah (ray-ah-MYE-ah)--"thunder of Yahweh"
• Ramiah (rah-MYE-ah)--"exaltation of Yahweh"
• Reaiah (ree-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh has seen"
• Reelaiah (ree-eh-LAY-ah)--"Yahweh makes tremble"
• Rehabiah (ree-hah-BYE-ah)--"Yahweh enlarges"
• Remaliah (rem-ah-LYE-ah)--poss. "Yahweh adorns"
• Rephaiah (ref-AY-ah)--"Yahweh heals"
• Sariah (sah-RYE-ah)--prob. a form of Sarah, Seraiah, or Suraya [modern; feminine]
• Semachiah (sem-ah-KYE-ah)--"Yahweh sustains"
• Seraiah (sehr-AY-ah, sehr-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh prevails"
• Sheariah (shee-ah-RYE-ah)--prob. "Yahweh reckons" or "gate of Yahweh"
• Shebaniah (sheb-ah-EYE-ah)--"prosperity of Yahweh"
• Shecaniah (shek-an-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh dwells". Also transliterated as Shechaniah.
• Shehariah (sheh-hah-RYE-ah)--"Yahweh seeks"
• Shelemiah (shel-eh-MYE-ah)--"friend of Yahweh"
• Shemaiah (sheh-MAY-ah, sheh-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh listens"
• Shemariah (shem-ah-RYE-ah)--"guarded by Yahweh"
• Shephatiah (shef-ah-TYE-ah)--"Yahweh judges"
• Sherebiah (shehr-eh-BYE-ah)--"heat of Yahweh"
• Tebaliah (teb-ah-LYE-ah)--"Yahweh has plunged"
• Tobiah (toh-BYE-ah)--"goodness of Yahweh" [modern English form is Tobias]
• Uriah (yoo-RYE-ah)--"flame of Yahweh"
• Uzziah (uz-ZYE-ah)--"might of Yahweh"
• Vaniah (van-EYE-ah)--unknown, poss. "cast by Yahweh", "praise of Yahweh", or "Yahweh answers"
• Zachariah (zak-ah-RYE-ah)--"Yahweh remembers". Also transliterated as Zechariah.
• Zebadiah (zeb-ah-DYE-ah)--"Yahweh bestows"
• Zedekiah (zed-eh-KYE-ah)--"Yahweh is righteous"
• Zephaniah (zef-an-EYE-ah)--"hidden away by Yahweh"
• Zerahiah (zehr-ah-HYE-ah)--"Yahweh rises"
• Zeruiah (zehr-oo-EYE-ah)--poss. "balsam" or "balm of Yahweh" [Biblically feminine]
• Zibiah (zib-EYE-ah)--"gazelle" [Biblically feminine]

I admit, I didn't think this list would be soooooooooooooo looooooooooooooong. And it's not even complete! Believe it or not, this was trimmed to the ones easiest in English. o.O

Palindromes and Emordnilap-s

Yes, I know, 'emordnilap' isn't technically a word. I'm still going to use it.
I like playing with letters (big surprise, right?), and I was interested to find more palindromic names--we can all name Anna/Ana, Otto, Ava, I'm sure.
And on the related topic of names that are a different name backwards, I could only come up with Aidan/Nadia offhand (well, and Nevaeh/Heaven), but surely there must be others....
(*note: these lists are based on the 2014 SSA name data, so it's quite likely incomplete. Apologies if I've missed any great names. :) )

True Palindromes:

• Ada
• Ala
• Alla
• Ama
• Ana
• Anina
• Anna
• Ara
• Asa
• Ata
• Ava
• Aviva
• Awa
• Aya
• Aza
• Aziza
• Bob
• Ece
• Efe
• Ege
• Elle
• Eve
• Habibah
• Hannah
• Itati
• Layal
• Maham
• Maram
• Nalan
• Naman
• Nan
• Natan
• Nayan
• Neven
• Nitin
• Nivin
• Nosson
• Otto
• Renner
• Sahas

Emordnilap-s:

• Abas / Saba
• Abbe / Ebba
• Abem / Meba
• Adal / Lada
• Adama / Amada
• Adan / Nada
• Adar / Rada
• Addis / Sidda
• Ade / Eda
• Adel / Leda
• Adela / Aleda
• Aden / Neda
• Adi / Ida
• Adia / Aida
• Adil / Lida
• Adila / Alida
• Adin / Nida
• Adir / Rida
• Adna / Anda
• Adya / Ayda
• Afra / Arfa
• Aidah / Hadia
• Aidan / Nadia
• Aidel / Ledia
• Aidin / Nidia
• Aidyn / Nydia
• Aila / Alia
• Ailana / Analia
• Ailen / Nelia
• Aili / Ilia
• Aina / Ania
• Aira / Aria
• Aisa / Asia
• Aissa / Assia
• Aiva / Avia
• Ajak / Kaja
• Ajna / Anja
• Akeem / Meeka
• Akila / Alika
• Akim / Mika
• Akin / Nika
• Akira / Arika
• Akiva / Avika
• Akul / Luka
• Alam / Mala
• Alan / Nala
• Alana / Anala
• Alaya / Ayala
• Aleem / Meela
• Alem / Mela
• Alen / Nela
• Alena / Anela
• Aleyna / Anyela
• Alhan / Nahla
• Ali / Ila
• Alie / Eila
• Alik / Kila
• Alim / Mila
• Alima / Amila
• Alin / Nila
• Alina / Anila
• Alis / Sila
• Allen / Nella
• Alli / Illa
• Alon / Nola
• Alya / Ayla
• Alyan / Nayla
• Alyn / Nyla
• Amaan / Naama
• Amal / Lama
• Amar / Rama
• Ameen / Neema
• Ameer / Reema
• Amer / Rema
• Amias / Saima
• Amin / Nima
• Amir / Rima
• Amor / Roma
• Anael / Leana
• Anah / Hana
• Anaid / Diana
• Anais / Siana
• Anali / Ilana
• Anam / Mana
• Anan / Nana
• Anar / Rana
• Anas / Sana
• Anay / Yana
• Ande / Edna
• Aneel / Leena
• Anel / Lena
• Anele / Elena
• Aneri / Irena
• Ani / Ina
• Anik / Kina
• Anil / Lina
• Anir / Rina
• Anis / Sina
• Anne / Enna
• Anni / Inna
• Anu / Una
• Anuj / Juna
• Anum / Muna
• Arad / Dara
• Arah / Hara
• Aram / Mara
• Aran / Nara
• Aras / Sara
• Arata / Atara
• Arel / Lera
• Ari / Ira
• Arian / Naira
• Arie / Eira
• Arik / Kira
• Armin / Nimra
• Aro / Ora
• Aron / Nora
• Arun / Nura
• Arya / Ayra
• Aryam / Mayra
• Aryan / Nayra
• Aset / Tesa
• Asil / Lisa
• Asim / Misa
• Asir / Risa
• Asli / Ilsa
• Asya / Aysa
• Avan / Nava
• Ave / Eva
• Aveen / Neeva
• Aveer / Reeva
• Avi / Iva
• Avik / Kiva
• Avin / Niva
• Avis / Siva
• Aviv / Viva
• Avon / Nova
• Avram / Marva
• Axel / Lexa
• Ayad / Daya
• Ayah / Haya
• Ayan / Naya
• Ayane / Enaya
• Ayaz / Zaya
• Aydan / Nadya
• Ayman / Namya
• Aymar / Ramya
• Azar / Raza
• Azi / Iza
• Aziz / Ziza
• Bahar / Rahab
• Bayan / Nayab
• Bijan / Najib
• Cam / Mac
• Dale / Elad
• Danah / Hanad
• Dar / Rad
• Dat / Tad
• Dev / Ved
• Eilam / Malie
• Ekin / Nike
• Elah / Hale
• Eliah / Haile
• Eliam / Maile
• Ellen / Nelle
• Eran / Nare
• Erik / Kire
• Esli / Ilse
• Etan / Nate
• Even / Neve
• Flor / Rolf
• Gem / Meg
• Guy / Yug
• Hajar / Rajah
• Halil / Lilah
• Harim / Mirah
• Haron / Norah
• Ian / Nai
• Ilay / Yali
• Ilham / Mahli
• Ilo / Oli
• Iman / Nami
• Inas / Sani
• Iram / Mari
• Iris / Siri
• Isak / Kasi
• Ivan / Navi
• Ivar / Ravi
• Izak / Kazi
• Jet / Tej
• Kedar / Radek
• Kirat / Tarik
• Lean / Nael
• Leon / Noel
• Leor / Roel
• Liav / Vail
• Liban / Nabil
• Lin / Nil
• Maher / Reham
• Mahir / Riham
• Man / Nam
• Manas / Sanam
• Meer / Reem
• Mian / Naim
• Miles / Selim
• Mir / Rim
• Mohan / Nahom
• Nay / Yan
• Nazar / Razan
• Nero / Oren
• Nevin / Niven
• Niles / Selin
• Nilo / Olin
• Omer / Remo
• Qirat / Tariq
• Remus / Sumer
• Rimas / Samir
• Vinay / Yaniv

I also came across another interesting data set--names that (as far as I can tell) have been invented specifically by reversing another name or word. Heaven/Nevaeh and James/Semaj are American English examples, but there seem to be quite a few in Spanish as well.

• Angel / Legna
• Angela / Alegna
• Delia / Ailed
• Heaven / Nevaeh
• Imelda / Adlemi
• Ismael / Leamsi
• James / Semaj
• Janet / Tenaj
• Jesus / Susej
• Kevin / Nivek
• Maria / Airam
• Marisela / Alesiram
• Miriam / Mairim
• Ramon / Nomar
• Robert / Trebor
• Yadira / Ariday

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Rory

Yes, yes, I know: Rory isn't a nickname; it's a full boys' name. But, thanks at least partially to Gilmore Girls, Rory is increasingly common on girls, both as a full name and as a nickname for Lorelei.

Boys:

• Aurelio (ow-RAY-lee-oh, Italian, Spanish)--from Latin, "golden". Other forms include Aurélien (oh-ray-lee-AWN, French), Aurélio (ow-RAY-lee-oh, Portuguese) & Aurelius (aw-RAY-lee-us, or-EE-lee-us, Latin).
• Florian (FLOH-ree-ahn, Danish, French, German, Polish, Swedish)--Italian form is Floriano (floh-ree-AH-noh).
• Gregory (GREG-oh-ree, English)--from ancient Greek, "watchful". Other forms include Gregorius (Latin), Gregorio (greh-GOH-ree-oh, Italian, Spanish), Grigore (gree-GOR-eh, Romanian), and Grigoriy (gree-GOR-ee, Russian).
• Horatio (hoh-RAY-shee-oh, English)--other forms include Horacio (oh-RAH-see-oh, Spanish), Horatius (hoh-RAH-tee-us, hor-AY-shus, Latin), and Orazio (oh-RAHTZ-yoh, Italian).
• Laurence (LAW-rens, LOR-ens, English)--also spelled Lawrence. Other forms include Laurynas (lor-EE-nas, Lithuanian) and Laurentius (law-REN-tee-us, lor-EN-shus, Latin).
• Maurice (moh-REES, French; mor-REES, MOR-is, English)--other forms include Mauricio (mow-REE-see-oh, Spanish), Mauritius (maw-REE-tee-us, mor-ISH-us, Latin), Maurizio (mow-REE-zee-oh, Italian), and Maurycy (mow-RITS-ih, Polish).
• Rörik (ROH-rik, Swedish)--form of Roderick, from Germanic "famous power". Other forms include Rodrigue (rohd-REEG, French), Rodrigo (rohd-REE-goh, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish), Rorik (ROH-rik [Old] Danish), and Rurik (ROO-reek, Russian).
• Roland (ROH-land, English; roh-LAWND, French)--other forms include Orlando (ohr-LAHN-doh, Italian), Loránd (LOH-rahnd, Hungarian), Lóránt (LOH-rahnt, Hungarian), Rolando (roh-LAHN-doh, Italian, Portuguese), Roldán (rohl-DAHN, Spanish), and Roldão (ROHL-dow, Portuguese).

Girls:

• Aurelia (ow-RAY-lee-ah, Spanish, Italian; or-REE-lee-ah, English)--feminine of Aurelio. Other forms include Aurélia (ow-RAY-lee-ah, Portuguese), Aureliana (ow-ray-lee-AH-nah, Italian), Aurélie (oh-ray-LEE, French), and Aurélienne (oh-ray-lee-EN, French).
• Aurora (ah-ROR-ah, English; ow-ROH-rah, Danish, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Spanish; OW-roh-rah, Finnish)--from Latin "dawn". French form is Aurore (oh-ROHR).
• Dolores (doh-LOHR-es, English, Spanish)
• Florence (FLOR-ens, English; floh-RAWNS, French)--from Latin, "flourishing". Other forms include Florencia (floh-REN-see-ah, Spanish), Florentia (floh-REN-tee-ah, flor-EN-shah, Latin), Florentina (floh-ren-TEE-nah, German, Romanian, Spanish), and Fiorenza (fee-oh-REN-tsah, Italian).
• Floriane (floh-ree-AN, French)--from Latin, "flower". Feminine of Florian. Other forms include Floriana (floh-ree-AH-nah, Italian), Florina (floh-REE-nah, Romanian), and Florinda (floh-REEN-dah, Portuguese, Spanish).
• Gloria (GLOH-ree-ah, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish)--other forms include Glória (GLOH-ree-ah, Portuguese), Gloriana (glor-ee-AN-ah, English; gloh-ree-AH-nah, Spanish), and Gloriela (gloh-ree-EL-ah, Spanish).
• Laurencia (law-REN-see-ah, lor-EN-shah, English)--feminine of Laurence. Other forms include Laurence (loh-RAWNS, French), Laurentia (law-REN-tee-ah, lor-EN-shah, Latin), Laurentina (law-ren-TEE-nah, Latin), Laurentine (loh-rawn-TEEN, French), Lorena (loh-REE-nah, English), and Lorenza (loh-REN-tsah, Italian; loh-REN-sah, Spanish).
• Liora (lee-oh-rah, Hebrew)--"my light". Another form is Liorit (lee-oh-reet). 
• Mallory (MAL-oh-ree, English)
• Marjorie (MAR-jor-ree, English)--form of Margaret
• Oriana (oh-ree-AH-nah, Italian)--from Latin "gold". French form is Oriane (oh-ree-AN).
• Regnora (reng-NOR-ah, Norwegian, Swedish)
• Roberta (rah-BERT-ah, English; roh-BEHT-tah, Danish, Italian, Spanish, Swedish)
• Rolanda (roh-LAHN-dah, Italian, Spanish)--feminine of Roland. Another form is Orlanda (or-LAHN-dah, Italian). 
• Rosaria (roh-SAH-ree-ah, Italian)--from Latin, "rosary". Other forms include Rosario (roh-SAH-ree-oh, Spanish), Rosário (roh-SAH-ree-oh, Portuguese), and Rosaire (roh-ZEHR, French).
• Rosemary (ROHZ-mehr-ee, English)--other forms include Rosemarie (ROH-zeh-mah-ree, German; rohz-meh-REE, English, ROHZ-mah-ree, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish).

Disney Princesses

....and princes...and other main people.....Let's just go with "Heroes & Heroines". Why limit ourselves?
This isn't going to be your usual Disney list, though--instead of the characters, I'm finding the names of the actors & actresses that voiced them.
Can you match your favorite character to his/her "real" name? ;)
(theatrical animated films only, not including Pixar)

Heroes:

1. Adam
2. Alex (Alexander)
3. Barrie
4. Bill (William)
5. Bob (George Robert)
6. Bobby (Robert)
7. Bradley
8. Brian
9. Bruce
10. Bruno
11. Christopher (2)
12. Corey
13. David
14. Dickie (Richard)
15. Grant
16. Hardie
17. Harry
18. Jeremy
19. Joaquin
20. Joey (Joseph)
21. John (3)
22. Jonathan (2)
23. Jordan
24. Joseph
25. Keith
26. Kurt
27. Larry (Lawrence)
28. Matthew
29. Mel
30. Michael
31. Mickey
32. Phil (Wonga Phillip)
33. Robby (Robin)
34. Rod (Rodney)
35. Ryan
36. Scott (2)
37. Tate
38. Tom (Thomas)
39. Tony (Anthony)
40. Zachary

Heroines:

1. Adriana
2. Anika
3. Barbara
4. Cammie (Eleanore Cammack)
5. Cate (Catherine)
6. Cree
7. Daveigh
8. Demi
9. Eva (two roles)
10. Idina
11. Ilene
12. Irene
13. Jodi
14. Kathryn (also two roles)
15. Kristen
16. Linda
17. Mandy (Amanda)
18. Mary
19. Michelle
20. Miley
21. Ming-Na
22. Minnie (Amelia)
23. Moira
24. Monica
25. Niketa
26. Paige
27. Sandy (Sandra)
28. Sarah
29. Susan (2)

Plants in Other Languages

Floral and other plant names are again having a heyday--Lily, Violet, Jasmine, Hazel, Willow, Ivy, etc. The boys are even getting into it with Rowan, Reed, and Sage. And while there's certainly no dearth of uncommon alternatives, I still thought it'd be fun to look at translations of the 12 most common plant names (ignoring the obvious cognates, like Lilja or Yasmin, because I need to save space!)
*Asterisks indicate the name is already in use in that language, and, unless otherwise indicated, feminine.


Lily

• Azucena (ah-soo-SEH-nah)--Spanish*
• Lelie (LAY-lee)--Dutch
• Lelija (LEL-ee-yah)--Lithuanian
• Lys (LEES)--French
• Nari (nah-ree)--Korean*
• Shoshana (shoh-shah-nah)--Hebrew* [also spelled Shoshannah]
• Sousan (soo-SAHN)--Persian* [also can be transliterated as Soosan or Susan]
• Yuri (yoo-ree)--Japanese*

Violet

• Fialka (fee-AHL-kah)--Czech, Russian, Slovak
• Fjóla (FYOH-lah)--Icelandic*
• Jincai (jin-kye)--Mandarin [*a male name, but with different characters/meaning]
• Ibolya (EE-boy-yah)--Hungarian*
• Orvokki (OR-vok-kee)--Finnish*
• Sigalit (see-gah-leet)--Hebrew*
• Sumire (soo-mee-reh)--Japanese*
• Waireti (WYE-reh-tee)--Maori*
• Ziluolan (zee-loo-oh-lahn)--Mandarin

Jasmine

• Giasemí (yah-seh-MEE)--Greek
• Iasomie (yah-SOHM-yay)--Romanian
• Matsuri (maht-soo-ree)--Japanese*
• Melati (meh-LAH-tee)--Indonesian*
• Moli (moh-lee)--Mandarin ["jasmine"]
• Molihua (moh-lee-hwah)--Mandarin ["jasmine flower"]

Hazel

• Aveleira (ah-veh-LEHR-ah)--Portuguese
• Avellano (ah-veh-YAH-noh)--Spanish
• Calltainn (KAHL-ten)--Scottish
• Coll (KAHL)--Irish
• Collen (CAH-hlen)--Welsh
• Corylus (KOR-ee-lus)--Latin
• Lazda (LAHZ-dah)--Latvian
• Leska (LEH-skah)--Slovene
• Líska (LEES-kah)--Czech
• Nocciolo (noh-CHYOH-loh)--Italian [accented on the first syllable, means "core" or "kernel"]

Willow

• Arava (ah-rah-VAH)--Hebrew* [also means "prairie"]
• Helygen (hel-IG-en)--Welsh
• Itiá--(ee-tee-AH)--Greek
• Íva (EE-vah)--Russian
• Liu (lee-oo)--Chinese [*surname]
• Paju (PAH-yoo)--Estonian, Finnish*
• Saule (SOLE)--French
• Selje (SEL-yeh)--Norwegian [also the name of a Norwegian city, probably of different origin]
• Varba (VUR-bah)--Bulgarian
• Verba (VUR-bah)--Ukrainian
• Vide (VEE-deh)--Swedish* [masculine]
• Víðir (VEE-deer)--Icelandic* [masculine]
• Weida (VYE-deh)--German [also means "pasture"]
• Yanagi (yah-nah-gee)--Japanese [*surname]

Ivy

• Edera (EH-dehr-ah)--Italian
• Eidheann (AY-yen)--Scottish
• Eidhneán (EYE-nan)--Irish
• Hedera (HED-ehr-ah)--Latin
• Hera (EHR-ah)--Portuguese
• Heura (ay-OOR-ah)--Catalan
• Hiedra (YEH-drah)--Spanish
• Iederă (YEH-deh-rah)--Romanian
• Lierre (lee-EHR)--French
• Muratti (MOOR-at-tee)--Finnish

Daisy

• Bellis (BEL-lis)--Latin [also means "wars" (dat/abl) or "pretty" (pl dat/abl)]
• Hinanit (khin-ahn-EET)--Hebrew
• Madelief (mah-deh-LEEF)--Dutch*
• Margaritka (mar-gar-IT-kah)--Bulgarian
• Margaritka (mar-gar-EET-kah)--Russian, Macedonian
• Marguerite (mar-geh-REET)--French*
• Neòinean (NAW-nen)--Scottish
• Nóinín (NOH-uh-neen)--Irish

Rose

• Gül (GOOL)--Turkish* [short 'oo', similar to English foot]
• Ruža (ROO-zhah)--Croatian*, Serbian*
• Trojánda (troh-YAHN-dah)--Ukrainian
• Vered (veh-red)--Hebrew*
• Warda (WAR-dah)--Arabic*
• Yueji (yoo-eh-jee)--Mandarin

Rowan 

• Caorthann (KWEHR-an)--Irish
• Cerddinen (kehr-THEE-nen)--Welsh [hard 'th', like in the]
• Eberesche (eh-beh-RESH-eh)--German
• Jarebika (yah-REH-bee-kah)--Croatian, Serbian
• Pihlaja (PEE-hlah-yah)--Finnish [*shortened form Pihla is used as a name]
• Reynir (RAY-neer)--Icelandic* [masculine]
• Sorveira (sohr-VAY-rah)--Portuguese
• Tis (TEES)--Persian

Iris

• Ayame (ah-yah-meh)--Japanese*
• Perunika (peh-ROO-nee-kah)--Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, Slovene

Olive

• Azeitona (ah-zay-TOH-nah)--Portuguese
• Elaía (el-EYE-ah)--Ancient Greek
• Eliá (el-YAH)--Greek
• Maslina (mahs-LEE-nah)--Bulgarian
• Maslina (MAHS-lee-nah)--Russian, Serbian
• Maslyna (mahs-LEE-nah)--Ukrainian
• Oliven (oh-LEE-ven)--Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
• Ulli (OO-lee)--Albanian
• Zaituni (zye-TOO-nee)--Swahili*
• Zayit (zah-YEET)--Hebrew
• Zaytun (zay-TOON)--Arabic
• Zeituni (zay-TOO-nee)--Swahili*
• Zeytun (zay-TOON)--Persian

Reed

• Ashi (ah-shee)--Japanese
• Cana (KAH-nah)--Portuguese
• Canya (KAHN-yah)--Catalan
• Kaisla (KYE-slah)--Finnish*
• Kalami (kah-LAH-mee)--Greek
• Kamýsh (kah-MEESH)--Russian
• Nendrė (NEN-dray)--Lithuanian
• Ney (NAY)--Persian
• Qasaba (KAH-suh-bah)--Arabic [also means "town"]
• Rákosí (RAH-koh-see)--Czech
• Roseau (roh-zoh)--French
• Siv (SEEV)--Danish, Norwegian [*used as a name, but from a different derivation]
• Yoshi (yoh-shee)--Japanese [*unisex name, but with different kanji/meaning(s)]

Male Pen Names

Over the centuries, many female writers have adopted male or ambiguous pen names, often to be more accepted by male readers. I'm sure this is nowhere near a comprehensive list, but I do find it fascinating what names they chose for themselves. Some were family names or after other namesakes, but others, who knows? (fun fact: all three Georges listed were writing around the same time)
Some of these are much more well-known today than others, of course, or only used a pseudonym for one or two works (I had no idea Pearl S. Buck used a male name for a few novels. I wonder why?)

• Acton Bell (Anne Brontë)
• Alex Kava (Sharon M. Kava)
• Alex Stuart (Vivian Stuart)
• Andre Norton (Alice Mary Norton)
• Anthony Gilbert (Lucy Beatrice Malleson)
• Charles de Launay (Delphine de Girardin)
• Charles Egbert Craddock (Mary Noailles Murfree)
• Christopher Crowfield (Harriet Beecher Stowe)
• Currer Bell (Charlotte Brontë)
• Daniel Lesueur (Jeanne Lapauze)
• Daniel Stern (Marie D'Agoult)
• Dell Shannon (Elizabeth Linington)
• Ellis Bell (Emily Brontë)
• Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter)
• Ernst Ahlgren (Victoria Benedictsson)
• Franz von Nemmersdorf (Franziska von Reitzenstein)
• George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)
• George Paston (Emily Morse Symonds)
• George Sand (Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin)
• Graham R. Tomson (Rosamund Marriott Watson)
• Henry Handel Richardson (Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson)
• Holme Lee (Harriet Parr)
• Idris Seabright (Margaret St. Clair)
• Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen)
• James Tiptree, Jr (Alice Bradley Sheldon)
• Jean Dominique (Marie Closset)
• John Sedges (Pearl S. Buck)
• Laurence Hope (Adela Florence Nicolson)
• Malachi Whitaker (Marjorie Whitaker)
• Martin Ross (Violet Florence Martin)
• Michael Fairless (Margaret Barber)
• Michael West (Corinne Michelle West)
• Rhys Bowen (Janet Quin-Harkin)
• Rohan O'Grady (June O'Grady Skinner)
• Theunis Krogh (Stella Blakemore)
• Victor Català (Catalina Albert)
• Vin Packer (Marijane Meaker)
• William Stuart Long (also Vivian Stuart)

Popularity Equivalents

I know, we see it all the time: "Oh, I love Sophia, but it's the most popular name!" Name-nerds know of course that the popular names of today are hardly equivalent to Jennifer or Jessica from our generation, but still, that "#1" label is intimidating.
So, how popular are our kids' names really?
Obviously this will vary a bit based on region and personal experience, but here are a few "milepost" names from 2014, and their popularity equivalents for some previous years (based on percentage, since the birth rate fluctuates, and as we'll find, rankings aren't necessarily indicative ;) )

2014 name & rank	2000 equivalent	1995	1990	1985	1980	1975	1970
Noah (#1)	David (#16)	Alexander (#21)	Kevin (#23)	Steven (#24)	Thomas (#25)	Timothy (#22)	Matthew (#24)
Daniel (#10)	Noah (#27)	Christian (#28)	Adam (#32)	Aaron (#33)	Aaron (#34)	Paul (#29)	Ronald (#29)
Joseph (#20)	Hunter (#35)	Dylan (#34)	Richard (#35)	Sean (#38)	Nathan (#36)	Kenneth (#35)	Patrick (#33)
Aaron (#50)	Luis (#49)	Alex (#47)	Austin (#55)	Shawn (#55)	Edward (#52)	Bradley (#52)	Dennis (#46)
Camden / Tristan (#100)	Spencer (#98)	Isaac (#98)	Jesus (#90)	Luis (#85)	Brent (#84)	Billy (#84)	Jimmy (#86)
Jonas (#500)	Walker (#426)	Felipe (#413)	Keenan (#391)	Kent (#349)	Julius (#352)	Dan (#369)	Jonathon (#354)
Sutton / Garrison (#1001)	Khalid (#783)	Thaddeus (#756)	Uriel (#687)	Wilfredo (#632)	Heriberto (#637)	Kim (#631)	Sonny (#582)
Emma (#1)	Hannah (#2)	Sarah (#5)	Jennifer (#8)	Melissa (#11)	Michelle (#10)	Lisa (#8)	Melissa (#7)
Charlotte (#10)	Anna (#22)	Alyssa (#27)	Laura (#29)	Andrea (#33)	Shannon (#29)	Karen (#27)	Christina (#35)
Aubrey (#20)	Hailey (#35)	Olivia (#39)	Kristen (#42)	Christine (#44)	Christine (#41)	Crystal (#43)	Debra (#47)
Sarah (#50)	Makayla (#67)	Briana (#74)	Brooke (#70)	Meghan (#63)	Lindsay (#71)	Kristin (#74)	Laurie (#88)
Jasmine (#100)	Kelly (#111)	Meghan (#112)	Haley (#108)	Carrie (#96)	Sabrina (#113)	Vanessa (#115)	Annette (#128)
Evie (#501)	Taryn (#448)	Shawna (#425)	Celeste (#398)	Jackie (#388)	Melisa (#405)	Sherrie (#406)	Tabatha (#401)
Kai (#999)	Shaylee (#830)	Magdalena (#772)	Deja (#746)	Peggy (#697)	Sunshine (#703)	Sandi (#702)	Candi (#655)

So here's how it works: in 2014 Emma was given to about an equal percentage of girls as Hannah was in 2000; Sarah was in 1995; Jennifer was in 1990, and so on. You may also notice an interesting phenomenon--while the popular names today are less common than in previous generations, less popular names are actually more common. A name ranked at #1000 in 1980 would have been given to fewer children than the #1000 name today.
And unfortunately, this does not take alternate spellings into account, so a name like Aubrey, which has a few different spellings, probably actually corresponds to a slightly more common name in the past. Likewise, 2014 Sarah is only equivalent to Makayla in 2000--that doesn't include Michaela or Mikayla or Micaela.

If you wish to look up a certain name, the whole spreadsheets are here.
Yeah, I only did every 5 years, 1970-2000, because a) it's a lot of data & I'm lazy, and b) I figured most people on the internet interested in name trends were born between those years. ;)

Taxonymy.....nymy? (Songbirds)

A while back, I went looking for taxonomic names that can work as (or already are!) people-names, starting with butterflies. Now it's time for songbirds! We already have Robin, Lark, Wren, & Sparrow; and I bet we can find others. :)
(all are genera, unless specified as common name)

• Acanthis
• Alaemon
• Alauda
• Alcippe
• Alethe
• Allenia
• Amadina
• Anthus
• Arremon
• Atticora
• Cardellina
• Cardinal (common name)
• Carduelis
• Certhia
• Cettia
• Chrysomma
• Cinnyris
• Curaeus
• Cyornis
• Dunnock (common name)
• Elminia
• Emberiza
• Eminia
• Estrilda
• Euphonia
• Finch (common name)
• Galerida
• Heleia
• Hylia
• Hyliota
• Iduna
• Iole
• Irania
• Jery (common name)
• Junco 
• Leonardina
• Linaria
• Linnet (common name)
• Malia
• Martin (common name)
• Minla
• Mino
• Mirafra
• Munia
• Myna (common name)
• Nesillas
• Nicator
• Oenanthe
• Palila (common name)
• Palmeria
• Parus
• Petronia
• Pipit (common name)
• Prinia
• Prunella
• Quelea
• Regulus
• Remiz
• Rukia
• Sialia
• Sylvia
• Tanager (common name)
• Tersina
• Tesia
• Tiaris
• Timalia
• Verdin (common name)
• Weaver (common name)
• Yuhina

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Dora/Dolly/Dotty

I know, it seems weird to group those together. But, Dolly & Dotty were nicknames for Dorothy thanks to that R-to-L/T/D shift that Middle English pulled (see also: Sarah --> Sadie; Mary --> Molly), so I think they could also work for any 'Dora' name. :)
The usual full names for Dora include Dorothy/Dorothea, Doris, Theodora, & Isadora, although none are at all common today.
(I would also like you all to know that I now have the "Dora the Explorer" theme song stuck in my head. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaah.)

• Adora (ah-DOR-ah, English, Spanish)--from Spanish adoración. Catalan form is Adoració.
• Adorinda (ah-doh-REEN-dah, Esperanto)--"adorable"
• Anesidora (ah-nee-sih-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"sender of gifts"
• Cassiodora (kahs-see-oh-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)
• Christodora (kris-toh-DOR-ah), [ancient] Greek)--"gift of Christ"
• Cleodora (kleh-oh-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"gift of glory"
• Devorah (deh-voh-RAH, Hebrew)--form of Deborah
• Dinorah (dee-NOR-ah, Portuguese, Spanish)
• Diodora (dee-oh-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"gift of Zeus"
• Doralice (doh-rah-LEE-cheh, Italian; doh-rah-LEE-see, Portuguese)--poss. from Greek, "gift of the dawn". Other forms include Doralys (Spanish) & Doralise (English).
• Doriane (doh-ree-AHN, French)--feminine of Dorian. Another form is Doriana (Italian, Portuguese).
• Dorina (doh-REE-nah, Hungarian, Romanian)
• Dorit (DOR-it, Scandinavian)--form of Dorothea
• Eldora (el-DOR-ah, English)
• Eudora (yoo-DOR-ah, English)--from Greek, "good gift"
• Halldóra (HAL-doh-rah, Icelandic)--another form is Aldora (Norwegian)
• Heliodora (ay-lee-oh-DOR-ah, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Greek, "gift of the sun"
• Medora (meh-DOR-ah, English)
• Menodora (men-ah-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"gift of the moon". Romanian form is Minodora.
• Metrodora (met-roh-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"gift of the mother"
• Midori (mee-doh-ree, Japanese)--"green"
• Nicodora (nee-koh-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"gift of victory"
• Polydora (pol-ee-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"many gifts"
• Teodora (teh-oh-DOR-ah, Bulgarian, Italian, Spanish, Scandinavian)--form of Theodora. Other forms include Feodora (Russian) and Deodora (Norwegian).
• Zenodora (zee-noh-DOR-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"gift of Zeus"