Dactylic Names (girls)

I feel like there's a good joke in there about pterosaurs, or maybe fingers, but my brain's not being witty enough today. :p

A dactyl is a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables, like Cassidy or Madelyn. Most American names are trochaic (two-syllable, stressed followed by unstressed, e.g. Hannah, Zoe), so iambic names (two syllable, unstressed followed by stressed; e.g. Marie, Noelle) are kind of the go-to for "nicely flowing" middles (boys' and girls' lists here).
But, dactylic names can also work well, especially if the first name is iambic.

Dactylic girls' names in the US tend to fall into one of three categories: OE/Germanic, Anglicizations from French/Latin, and surnames; so I will be particularly looking for names from different origins. :)
Also to cut down on what will already be a long list, I'm leaving out "familiar" names (that is, names that have appeared in the US Top 250 or so).

• Abilene (AB-il-een, [Anglicized] Hebrew)--poss. "meadow"
• Adelie (AD-el-ee, English)--from French, form of Adele. Also spelled Adalie. 
• Aelia (EYE-lee-ah, Latin; EE-lee-ah, Anglicized)--prob. from Greek, "sun". Modern forms include Èlia (EH-lee-ah, Catalan) and Elia (EH-lee-ah, Spanish).
• Águeda (AH-geh-dah, Spanish, Portuguese)--form of Agatha. Other forms include Ágota (AG-oh-taw, Hungarian), Agata (AH-gah-tah, Italian), and Agathe (AG-ah-thee, [anglicized] Greek). 
• Amabel (AH-mah-bel, [archaic] English)--older form of Mabel
• Amelie (AH-mel-ee, English)--from French, form of Amelia.  
• Amethyst (AM-eh-thist, English)
• Amity (AM-it-ee, English)
• Annegret (AHN-neh-gret, German)--contraction of Anna Margaret
• Annika (AHN-nik-ah, AN-nik-ah, English; AHN-nik-ah, Scandinavian, German)--form of Anna. Also spelled Anika. 
• Annelie (AHN-nah-lee, German)--short form of Anneliese, a contraction of Anna Elisabeth. Scandinavian spelling is Anneli. 
• Annalise (AN-neh-lees, English)--form of German/Scandinavian Anneliese. Also spelled Annelise. 
• Anthea (AN-thee-ah, English)--from ancient Greek, "flower"
• Aravis (EHR-ah-vis, [literary] English)
• Artemis (AR-tem-is, Greek [mythology])
• Avalon (AV-ah-lahn, English)
• Aveline (AV-el-een, AV-eh-lin, English)--from French, a form of Evelyn
• Avonlea (AV-un-lee, [literary] English)
• Beatrix (BEE-ah-triks, English; BEH-ah-triks, Dutch, German)
• Betony (BET-ah-nee, English)
• Bricia (BREE-see-ah, Spanish)--feminine of Bricius/Bryce. Other forms include Brícia (BREE-see-ah, Portuguese) and Brizia (BREETS-ee-ah, Italian). 
• Bryony (BRYE-on-ee, English)--also spelled Briony. 
• Cassia (KAHS-see-ah, Latin)
• Cecily (SES-il-ee, English)
• Celandine (SEL-an-deen, SEL-an-dine, English)
• Celestine (SEL-es-teen, SEL-es-tine, English)
• Charmian (CHAR-mee-an, SHAR-mee-an, English)--from ancient Greek, "joy". Another form is Charmion (KAR-mee-on, CHAR-mee-on). 
• Chastity (CHAS-tih-tee, English)
• Chione (KYE-on-ee, Greek [mythology])--"snow"
• Christabel (KRIS-tah-bel, English)--also spelled Christabelle or Christobel. 
• Claribel (KLEHR-ih-bel, English)--also spelled Clarabelle
• Clarity (KLEHR-ih-tee, English)
• Cloelia (KLOY-lee-ah, Latin; KLEE-lee-ah, Anglicized)--modern forms include Clelia (KLEH-lee-ah, Italian) and Clélia (KLEH-lee-ah, Portuguese). 
• Clemency (KLEM-en-see, English)--"mercy"
• Clementine (KLEM-en-tine, KLEM-en-teen, English)
• Corabelle (KOR-ah-bel, English)--also spelled Corabel.
• Coralie (KOR-ah-lee, English)
• Coraline (KOR-ah-line, English)
• Cordia (KOR-dee-ah, Latin)--poss. "late-born", "heart", or "cord". A modern form is Cordula (KOR-doo-lah, German). 
• Cosima (KOH-zee-mah, Italian, German)
• Cressida (KRES-sid-ah, [literary] English)--from ancient Greek, "golden"
• Cybele (SIB-el-ee, Greek [mythology])--from Hellenized Phrygian, poss. "stone, mountain"
• Dajana (DAH-yah-nah, Serbian, Croatian)--form of Diana. Another form is Dijana (DEE-yah-nah). 
• Damaris (DAM-ah-ris, [Biblical] Greek)
• Danaë (DAN-ah-ee, Greek [mythology])--other forms include Danae (DAH-nah-ay, German, Italian), Dânae (DAN-ah-ay, Portuguese), Dànae (DAH-nah-ay, Catalan), and Dánae (DAH-nah-ay, Spanish). 
• Daria (DAH-ree-ah, DAR-ee-ah, English, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Dutch)--other forms include Dariya (DAH-ree-ah, Ukrainian).
• Decima (DEH-kee-mah, Latin; DES-im-ah, Anglicized)--"tenth"
• Dervila (DUR-vil-ah, [anglicized] Irish)--form of Deirbhile, "daughter of a poet", or Dearbháil, "daughter of Fál [Ireland]". Also spelled Dervilla. 
• Despina (THES-pee-nah ['th' like in "the"], Greek)--"lady, dame"
• Đurđica (JOOR-jits-ah, Croatian)--form of Georgia. [also means 'lily of the valley' in Croatian]
• Ealasaid (EL-ah-sahch, EL-ah-sahj, Scottish)--form of Elizabeth. Other forms include Ellisiv/Elisiv (EL-ih-siv, Norwegian, Swedish), Elsabe (EL-zah-beh, German), Erzsébet (EHR-zhay-bet, Hungarian) and Elsebeth/Elsebet (EL-seh-bet, Danish).
• Elodie (EL-ah-dee, English)--from Gallicized Germanic, "other wealth" or poss. "all wealth"
• Emerald (EM-er-ald, English)
• Emese (EM-eh-sheh, Hungarian)
• Eowyn (EH-oh-win, [literary] English)
• Ephyra (EF-ih-rah, Greek [mythology])--poss. "fiery"
• Esteri (ES-teh-ree, Finnish)--form of Esther
• Ezia (ETS-ee-ah, Italian)--prob. from Latinized Greek, "eagle"
• Ferelith (FEHR-eh-lith, FEHR-eh-leeth, English)--anglicized from Irish Forbhlaith, "sovereignty"
• Floria (FLOR-ee-ah, Italian)--form of Flora
• Gaiane (GYE-an-ee, [anglicized] Greek)--"of Gaia"
• Galilee (GAL-il-ee, English)--from Biblical Hebrew place name, "circle, circuit"
• Gefion (GEH-fee-on, German)--prob. from Germanic "giving" [a goddess in Germanic & Norse mythology]
• Giacoma (JAH-koh-mah, Italian)--feminine of Giacomo/James
• Gisela (GEE-zeh-lah, German; GEE-seh-lah, Danish, Swedish; KHEE-seh-lah, Dutch)--form of Giselle. Another form is Gizella (GEE-zel-lah, Hungarian). 
• Gordana (GOR-dah-nah, Croatian, Serbian)--from Slavic, "dignified"
• Guinevere (GWIN-eh-veer, English)
• Hannele (HAHN-neh-leh, Finnish)--nickname for Hannah or Johanna
• Hildegard (HIL-deh-gart, German; HIL-deh-gar, Danish, Norwegian; HIL-deh-gard, Swedish)
• Honesty (AHN-es-tee, English)
• Hyacinth (HYE-ah-sinth, English)
• Imogen (IM-ah-jen, English)
• Indigo (IN-dig-oh, English)
• Ione (EYE-oh-nee, [Anglicized] Greek)
• Jannike (YAHN-nik-eh, Scandinavian, German)--form of Jane. Also spelled Janneke or Janika. 
• Jessamine (JES-sah-min, English)--form of Jasmine. Also spelled Jessamyn. Another (archaic) form is Jessamy (JES-sah-mee). 
• Jubilee (JOO-bil-ee, English)
• Junia (JOON-ee-ah, [anglicized] Latin)--"of Juno". Modern forms include Júnía (YOON-ee-ah, Icelandic), Junia (YOON-ee-ah, Scandinavian), and Júnia (ZHOON-ee-ah, Portuguese).
• Juniper (JOON-ip-er, English)
• Kseniya (KSEH-nee-ah, Russian, Ukrainian)--from ancient Greek, "hospitality". Other forms include Ksenia (Polish, Ukrainian), Ksenija (KSEH-nee-ah, Latvian, Croatian, Estonian, Serbian), Xenia (KSEH-nee-ah, German, Danish, Swedish), Xênia (SHEN-ee-ah, Portuguese), Xénia (KSEH-nee-ah, Hungarian), and Xènia (SHEN-ee-ah, Catalan). 
• Laelia (LYE-lee-ah, Latin; LAY-lee-ah, English)--Italian form is Lelia (LEH-lee-ah). [an orchid genus]
• Leonie (LEH-oh-nee, German)
• Liberty (LIB-er-tee, English)
• Lilia (LEE-lee-ah, Russian, Spanish, Bulgarian, Moldovan, Arabic, Italian)--form of Lily. Other forms include Liliya (LEE-lee-ah, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian), Lilias/Lillias (LIL-ee-as, Scottish), and Lillia (LIL-ee-ah, English)
• Livia (LEE-vee-ah, Latin, Italian, German, Scandinavian, Czech, Spanish; LIV-ee-ah, English)--other forms include Lívia (LEE-vee-ah, Portuguese, Hungarian)
• Lorelei (LOHR-eh-lye, German, English)
• Maribel (MEHR-ib-el, English)
• Mariel (MEHR-ee-el, English)
• Marsaili (MAR-sah-lee, Scottish)--form of Marcella or Marjorie. Also spelled Marsali. 
• Maxima (MAKS-ee-mah, Latin)--feminine of Maximus. Spanish spelling is Máxima. 
• Melete (MEL-eh-tee, Greek [mythology])--"practice"
• Milica (MIL-its-ah, Bulgarian, Serbian, Slovene, Croatian, Russian)--from Slavic, "dear". Sometimes transliterated as Militsa or Militza. 
• Miracle (MEER-ah-kul, English)
• Nephele (NEF-eh-lee, Greek [mythology])--"cloud"
• Neria (NEH-ree-ah, Italian)--poss. from ancient Greek, "water"
• Nevia (NEH-vee-ah, Italian)
• Nicola (NIK-oh-lah, English; NEEK-oh-lah, German, Czech)--feminine of Nicholas. Also spelled Nikola (Polish, German, Slovak) or Nichola (English). 
• Nimue (NIM-oo-ay, [literary] English)
• Nydia (NID-ee-ah, [literary] English; NEE-dee-ah, Spanish)--poss. from Latin, "nest". Other forms include Nidia (NEE-dee-ah, Spanish) and Nídia (NEE-dee-ah, Catalan; NEE-jee-ah, NEE-dee-ah, Portuguese).
• Oria (OR-ee-ah, Italian)--from Latin, "gold". Spanish and Portuguese form is Áurea (OW-reh-ah). 
• Pádraigín (PAW-rah-geen, PAW-drah-geen, Irish)--form of Patricia
• Philippa (FIL-ip-pah, English, German)
• Philomel (FIL-ah-mel, [literary] English)--"nightingale"
• Phyllida (FIL-id-ah, English)--form of Phyllis. Also spelled Phillida.
• Piritta (PEER-it-tah, Finnish)--form of Bridget
• Primula (PRIM-yoo-lah, English) [a flower genus]
• Romilly (RAHM-il-lee, ROH-mil-lee, English)--from the French surname/place name, probably from Romilius [making it a relative of Roman]
• Romola (ROH-moh-lah, Italian)--feminine of Roman. Slovak form is Romana (ROH-mah-nah). 
• Rosabelle (ROHZ-ah-bel, English)--also spelled Rosabel. 
• Rosalind (ROHZ-ah-lind, English)--other forms include Rosaline (RAHZ-ah-line, ROHZ-ah-leen) and Rosalyn (ROHZ-ah-lin, RAHZ-ah-lin).
• Rosamund (RAHZ-ah-mund, ROHZ-ah-mund, English)--also spelled Rosamond or Rosamunde. Icelandic form is Rósmunda (ROHS-moon-dah). 
• Saskia (SAS-kee-ah, English; SAHS-kee-ah, Dutch; ZAHS-kee-ah, German)--from Germanic, "Saxon"
• Sosia (SOH-see-ah, Latin)--poss. from Greek, "safe". [also means "double, doppelgänger" in modern Italian]
• Sunčana (SOON-chah-nah, Croatian)--"sunny"
• Sunniva (SOON-iv-ah, Scandinavian, [medieval] English)--from Old English, "sun-gift"
• Tullia (TOO-lee-ah, Latin, Italian)
• Ursula (UR-suh-lah, English; OOR-zoo-lah, German; OOR-soo-lah, Scandinavian)--from Latin, "little bear". Other forms include Úrsula (OOR-soo-lah, Spanish, Catalan), Uršula (OOR-shoo-lah, Croatian), Orsola (OR-soh-lah, Italian), and Orsolya (OR-shoy-ah, Hungarian). 
• Valkyrie (VAL-keh-ree, English)--from Norse mythology, "chooser of the slain"
• Velia (VEH-lee-ah, Italian)
• Vendela (VEN-deh-lah, Swedish)--feminine of Wendell
• Verity (VEHR-it-ee, English)
• Zinnia (ZIN-nee-ah, English)

Obviously, this is nowhere near comprehensive! (for some silly reason, name sites and online lexicons mostly don't give you the option of searching by stress pattern)

I'll keep adding to this list as I come across more obscure names. :)

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Winnie

Despite an iconic namesake, Winnie's never really caught on in the U.S.  I am, of course, referring to The Wonder Years, not Winnie the Pooh, but I imagine the children's book and resulting media have definitely helped keep it down. The fact that it's usually short for the ultra-vintage Winifred hasn't exactly boosted its popularity either. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see it come back soon, as a nickname for the on-the-rise Gwendolyn (à la Winnie Cooper), or other Gwen-names.
Oh, and in the case of that silly old bear, Winnie was actually short for Winnipeg. Probably less usable than most other alternatives.

• Gwenaëlle (GWEN-ah-el, Breton)--"blessed and generous"
• Gwyneira (gwun-AY-rah or gwun-EYE-rah, Welsh*)
• Jaswinder (jas-WIN-der, Hindi)
• Morwenna (mohr-WEN-nah, Cornish)
• Owena (oh-WEN-ah, Welsh*)--feminine of Owen
• Rowena (roh-EE-nah, English)
• Willemijn (wil-leh-MINE, Dutch)--feminine of William/Willem
• Winfrieda (win-FREE-dah, German)--"peaceful friend"
• Winimar (WIN-ih-mar, Old German)--"famous friend"
• Winona (win-OH-nah, Sioux)

*I was attempting to keep this list from getting too repetitive by limiting the number of Welsh names (gwen- and -wen are extremely common elements, since they mean "holy, blessed, fair"). If you do want to see dozens and dozens more, head on over to NameNerds. 

Bi-cultural Names--German/English (girls)

Spelled the same, usually with slight pronunciation difference:

• Abigail--English, AB-ih-gayl; German, AH-bee-gile
• Ada--English, AY-dah; German, AH-dah
• Adele--English, ah-DEL; German, ah-DEH-leh
• Agnes--English, AG-nes; German, AHK-nes
• Alexandra--English, al-eks-AN-drah; German, ah-lek-SAHN-drah
• Alexia--English & German, ah-LEKS-ee-ah
• Alina--English & German, ah-LEE-nah
• Amalia--English & German, ah-MAH-lee-ah
• Amanda--English, ah-MAN-dah; German, ah-MAHN-dah
• Amelia--English, ah-MEEL-yah; German, ah-MEH-lee-ah
• Andrea--English, AN-dree-ah; German, ahn-DREH-ah
• Angela--English, AN-jel-ah; German, AHNG-gel-ah
• Anna--Engliah, AN-nah; German, AHN-nah
• Annika--English & German, AHN-nee-kah
• Antonia--English, an-TOHN-yah; German, ahn-TOH-nee-ah
• Augusta--English, ah-GUS-tah; German, ow-GOOS-tah
• Aurora--English, aw-ROH-rah; German, ow-ROHR-ah
• Ava--English, AY-vah; German, AH-vah
• Barbara--English & German, BAHR-bar-ah
• Beatrix--English, BEE-ah-triks; German, BEH-ah-triks
• Bertha--English, BER-thah; German, BEHR-tah
• Cecilia--English & German, seh-SEE-lyah
• Cara--English, KAH-rah or KEHR-ah; German, KAH-rah
• Carina--English & German, kah-REE-nah
• Carla--English & German, KAHR-lah
• Caroline--English, KEHR-oh-line; German, kah-roh-LEE-neh
• Charlotte--English, SHAHR-lot; German, shahr-LOT-teh
• Christina--English & German, kris-TEE-nah
• Clara--English, KLEHR-ah; German, KLAH-rah
• Claudia--English, KLAW-dee-ah; German, KLOW-dee-ah
• Cora--English & German, KOH-rah
• Corinna--English & German, koh-RIN-nah
• Cornelia--English, kor-NEEL-yah; German, kor-NEH-lee-ah
• Dana--English, DAY-nah; German, DAH-nah
• Daniela--English, dan-YEL-ah; German, dahn-YEH-lah
• Diana--English, dye-AN-ah; German, dee-AH-nah
• Doris--English & German, DOHR-is
• Dorothea--English, doh-roh-THEE-ah; German, doh-roh-TEH-ah
• Edith--English, EE-dith; German, EH-dit
• Elena--English, eh-LEH-nah; German, EL-en-ah
• Elisa--English, eh-LEE-sah; German, eh-LEE-zah
• Elisabeth--English, eh-LIZ-ah-beth; German, eh-LEE-zah-bet
• Elsa--English & German, EL-sah
• Emma--English & German, EM-mah
• Eva--English, EE-vah or EH-vah; German, EE-fah
• Evelyn--English, EV-el-in; German, EE-vel-in
• Flora--English & German, FLOH-rah
• Gabriela--English, gab-ree-EL-ah; German, gahp-ree-EH-lah
• Gertrude--English, GER-trood; German, gehr-TROO-deh
• Gretchen--English, GRECH-en; German, GREHT-yen
• Heidi--English & German, HYE-dee
• Helena--English, heh-LEH-nah, HEL-en-ah, or hel-EE-nah; German, heh-LEE-nah
• Hilda--English & German, HIL-dah
• Ida--English, EYE-dah; German, EE-dah
• Ingrid--English, ING-grid; German, ING-grit
• Irene--English, eye-REEN; German, ee-REH-neh
• Iris--English, EYE-ris; German, EE-ris
• Isabel--English, IZ-ah-bel; German, ee-zah-BEL
• Isolde--English, ih-ZOHL-deh or ih-SOLD; German, ee-ZOHL-deh
• Johanna--English, joh-AN-nah; German, yoh-HAH-nah
• Judith--English, JOO-dith; German, YOO-dit
• Julia--English, JOO-lee-ah; German, YOO-lee-ah
• Juliana--English, joo-lee-AH-nah; German, yoo-lee-AH-nah
• Karen--English, KAYR-en; German, KAH-ren
• Katrina--English & German, kah-TREE-nah
• Kristin--English, KRIS-tin; German, kris-TEEN
• Lara--English & German, LAH-rah
• Laura--English, LOR-ah; German, LOW-rah
• Lena--English, LEE-nah or LEH-nah; German, LEH-nah
• Leona--English, lee-OH-nah; German, LEH-oh-nah
• Linda--English & German, LIN-dah
• Lisa--English, LEE-sah; German, LEE-zah
• Lucia--English, loo-SEE-ah or LOO-shah; German, LOO-see-ah
• Lydia--English, LID-ee-ah; German, LOOD-ee-ah
• Magdalena--English, mag-dah-LEH-nah; German, mahg-dah-LEE-nah
• Maria--English & German, mah-REE-ah
• Marianne--English, mehr-ee-AN; German, mah-ree-AHN-neh
• Marie--English & German, mah-REE
• Marina--English & German, mah-REE-nah
• Marlene--English, mar-LEEN; German, mahr-LEH-neh
• Melanie--English, MEL-an-ee; German, MEH-lah-nee
• Mia--English & German, MEE-ah
• Michaela--English, mih-KAY-lah; German, mee-kah-EH-lah
• Miriam--English & German, MEER-ee-am
• Natalie--English, NAT-ah-lee; German, NAH-tah-lee
• Nina--English & German, NEE-nah
• Nora--English & German, NOH-rah
• Olivia--English, oh-LIV-ee-ah; German, oh-LEE-vee-ah
• Patricia--English, pah-TRISH-ah; German, pah-TREE-see-ah
• Paula--English, PAW-lah; German, POW-lah
• Petra--English, PET-rah; German, PEH-trah
• Rachel--English, RAY-chel; German, RAH-khel
• Regina--English, reh-JEE-nah; German, reh-GEE-nah
• Renata--English & German, ren-AH-tah
• Rita--English & German, REE-tah
• Romy--English & German, ROH-mee
• Rosa--English & German, ROHZ-ah
• Sabrina--English, sah-bREE-nah; German, sahp-REE-nah
• Sandra--English, SAN-drah; German, ZAHN-drah
• Sara--English, SEHR-ah; German, ZAH-rah
• Selma--English, SEL-mah; German, ZEL-mah
• Sidonie--English, sih-DOH-nee; German, zee-DOH-nee-eh
• Sylvia--English, SIL-vee-ah; German, ZIL-vee-ah
• Teresa--English, teh-REE-sah; German, teh-REH-zah
• Ursula--English, UR-sul-ah; German, OOR-soo-lah
• Valerie--English, VAL-er-ee; German, VAH-leh-ree
• Vanessa--English & German, vah-NES-sah
• Vera--English, VEER-ah or VEHR-ah; German, VEHR-ah
• Wanda--English, WAHN-dah; German, VAHN-dah
• Wilhelmina--English, wil-el-MEE-nah; German, vil-hel-MEE-nah

One/two-letter difference:

• Agatha--English, AG-ah-thah; Agathe--German, ah-GAH-tah
• Angelica--English, an-JEL-ih-kah; Angelika--German, ah-GEL-ee-kah
• Constance--English, CON-stans; Constanze--German, kon-STAN-seh
• Deborah--English, DEB-o-rah; Debora--German, DEH-boh-rah
• Eleanor--English, EL-en-or; Eleonore--German, el-eh-oh-NOH-reh
• Emily--English, EM-il-ee; Emilie--German, eh-MEE-lee-eh
• Erica--English, EHR-ih-kah; Erika--German, EH-ree-kah
• Felicia--English, fel-EE-shah; Felicie--German, fel-EE-see-eh
• Felicity--English, feh-LIH-si-tee; Felicitas--German, feh-LEE-see-tahs
• Frida--English, FREE-dah; Frieda--German, FREE-dah
• Giselle--English, jih-ZEL; Gisela--German, GEE-zel-ah
• Hannah--English, HAN-nah; Hanna--German, HAHN-nah
• Henrietta--English, hen-ree-ET-tah; Henriette--German, hen-ree-ET-teh
• Jasmine--English, JAZ-min; Jasmin--German, YAHS-meen
• Jessica--English, JES-sih-kah; Jessika--German, YES-ee-kah
• Josephine--English, joh-seh-FEEN; Josefine--German, yoh-seh-FEE-neh
• Louise--English, loo-EEZE; Luise--German, loo-EE-zeh
• Margaret--English, MAR-gah-ret; Margarethe--German, mahr-gah-RET-eh
• Maya--English, MYE-ah; Maja--German, MYE-ah
• Mariel--English, MEHR-ee-el; Mariele--German, mahr-ee-EL-eh
• Matilda--English, mah-TIL-dah; Mathilde--German, mah-TIL-deh
• Monica--English, MON-ih-kah; Monika--German, MOH-nee-kah
• Nicole--English, nih-KOHL; Nicola--German, NEE-koh-lah
• Rebecca--English, reh-BEK-kah; Rebekka--German, reh-BEHK-kah
• Rosamund--English, ROHZ-ah-mund, Rosamunde--German, roh-sah-MOON-deh
• Ruth--English, ROOTH; Rut--German, ROOT
• Sonia--English, SOHN-yah; Sonja--German, ZAWN-yah
• Sophia--English, soh-FEE-ah; Sofia--German, zoh-FEE-ah
• Stephanie--English, STEF-an-ee; Stefanie--German, SHTEF-an-ee
• Susanna--English, soo-SAN-nah; Susanne--German, zoo-ZAHN-neh
• Tanya--English, TAHN-yah; Tanja--German, TAHN-yah
• Tatiana--English, taht-YAH-nah; Tatjana--German, taht-YAH-nah
• Veronica--English, veh-RON-ih-kah; Veronika--German, veh-ROH-nee-kah
• Victoria--English, vik-TOHR-ee-ah; Viktoria--German, vik-TOH-ree-ah
• Wilma--English, WIL-mah; Vilma--German, VEEL-mah
• Yvonne--English, ih-VAWN; Ivonne--German, ee-VAWN

Larger spelling difference, but still recognizable:

• Adelaide--English, AD-el-ayd; Adelheid--German, AH-del-hite
• Bridget--English--BRID-jet; Brigitta--German, brih-GIT-tah
• Frances--English, FRAN-ses; Franziska--German, fran-SIS-kah
• Priscilla--English, pris-SIL-lah; Priska--German, PRIS-kah
• Sybil--English, SIB-il; Sibylle--German, see-BIL-lah

Same Name?!--Margaret

I actually had to go and double-check previous posts to make sure I haven't done this one yet. How on earth have I missed Margaret? A classic girls' name that's been slowly declining for decades, it's actually still in the SSA's top 200. And being the name of several saints, the permutations of Margaret have spread throughout the western world.

Original Greek form: Margarites [Μαργαριτης] (mahr-gah-REE-tes)

Latin form: Margarita (mahr-gah-REE-tah)

English form: Margaret (MAHR-gah-ret)

Other forms:

• Maarit (MAH-rit)--Finnish
• Mairéad (mah-RAID)--Irish
• Mairead (MYE-ret)--Scottish
• Małgorzata (mow-gohr-ZHAH-tah)--Polish
• Maret (MAH-ret)--Estonian
• Margalit (mahr-gah-LEET)--Hebrew
• Margaretha (mahr-gah-RET-tah)--Dutch, German
• Marged (MAHR-ged)--Welsh
• Margery (MAHR-jer-ee)--Medieval English
• Margit (MAHR-git)--Hungarian
• Margita (mahr-GEE-tah)--Slovak
• Margriet (mahr-KHREET)--Dutch
• Marguerite (mahr-gah-REET)--French
• Marit (MAH-rit)--Scandinavian
• Marketta (MAHR-ket-tah)--Finnish
• Mererid (MEH-reh-reed)--Welsh
• Merete (meh-REH-teh)--Danish

Uncommon 'iana's

One of the biggest trends in girls' names right now is the unisex name. As a result, a couple (often overlapping) counter-trends have emerged-- the "old lady names", and the elegant, flowy, and even frilly, "NOT A BOY!" names. Although obviously-feminine monikers can take many forms, none seems more widespread than the '____iana's. From the vintage (Liliana), to the imported (Gianna), to the invented (Aubriana), they're all over the top 1000. But, since many of them have been in steady use for decades, even centuries, the trend doesn't seem overplayed...yet.
So, looking for an obviously feminine name that's uncommon (let's say, not in the combined spelling top 200), but familiar, thanks to that lovely ending? Here we go!

• Aureliana (aw-reh-lee-AH-nah, Italian)--from Latin, "golden"
• Bibiana (bee-BYAH-nah, Italian & Spanish)
• Christiana (kris-tee-AH-nah, English)--Other forms include Cristiana & Kristiana.
• Cipriana (see-pree-AH-nah or chee-pree-AH-nah, Spanish, Italian, & Romanian)--from Latin, "of Cyprus"
• Daciana (dah-CHYAH-nah, Romanian)
• Damiana (dah-MYAH-nah, Italian)--feminine of Damian.
• Emiliana (eh-meel-YAH-nah, Italian & Spanish)
• Fabiana (fah-BYAH-nah, Italian & Spanish)
• Feliciana (feh-lee-CHYAH-nah, Italian; or feh-lee-SYAH-nah, Spanish)--feminine of Felix/Feliciano.
• Floriana (flohr-ee-AH-nah, Italian)--"flower"
• Graciana (grah-SYAH-nah, Spanish)
• Liviana (lee-VYAH-nah, Italian)
• Luciana (loo-CHYAH-nah, Italian; or loo-SYAH-nah, Spanish)--"light"
• Mariana (mair-ee-AH-nah or mahr-YAH-nah, English, Spanish, & Portuguese)
• Oriana (oh-RYAH-nah, Italian)--"gold"
• Sebastiana (seh-bahs-TYAH-nah, Italian)
• Tatiana (taht-YAH-nah, Latin)
• Tiziana (tee-TSYAH-nah, Italian)--feminine of Titus
• Valeriana (val-ehr-ee-AH-nah, Latin)

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Izzy

Combined, Isabella & Isabelle are easily the most popular girls' name. Chances are many were named to get that to that cool Bella, but just as many likely go by Izzy (to preemptively avoid Bella).

• Aliza (ah-lee-ZAH, Hebrew)--"joyful"
• Isabeau (ee-sah-BOH, French)--Archaic variant of Isabel/Elizabeth.
• Isadora (iz-ah-DOH-rah, English)--from Greek, "gift of Isis". Also spelled Isidora.
• Isaura (ee-SOW-rah, Spanish)
• Iscah (IS-kah, Hebrew)--original form of Jessica
• Iseul (ee-sul, Korean)--"dew"
• Isis (EYE-sis, Greek)--from Egyptian. Egyptian goddess of nature and the sky. Also written as Iset.
• Iskra (EES-krah, Slavic)--"spark"
• Ismene (is-MAY-nee, Greek)--"knowledge"
• Isolde (ee-ZOL-deh, English)--from Celtic, meaning uncertain. Variants include Isotta & Iseult.
• Isra (IS-rah, Arabic)
• Izar (ee-sar [r is trilled/rolled], Basque)--"star"
• Izdihar (is-dee-HAR, Arabic)--"blossoming"
• Izumi (ee-zoo-mee, Japanese)--"fountain"
• Mizuki (mee-zoo-kee, Japanese)

Bi-Cultural Names--Spanish/English (girls)

Spelled the same, but (usually) with slight pronunciation difference:

• Abigail--English, AB-ih-gayl; Abigaíl--Spanish, ah-bee-gah-EEL
• Adela--English, ah-DEL-ah; Spanish, ah-DEH-lah
• Adriana--English, ay-dree-AN-ah; Spanish, ah-dree-AH-nah
• Alicia--English, ah-LEE-shah; Spanish, ah-LEE-see-ah
• Amanda--English, ah-MAN-dah; Spanish, ah-MAHN-dah
• Anastasia--English, an-ah-STAY-zhah; Spanish, ahn-nah-STAHS-yah
• Angela--English, AN-jeh-lah; Ángela--Spanish, AHN-gel-ah or AHN-heh-lah
• Angelica--English, an-JEL-ih-kah; Angélica--Spanish, ahn-GEL-ee-kah
• Anita--English, an-EE-tah; Spanish--ah-NEE-tah
• Antonia--English, an-TOH-nee-ah; Spanish, ahn-TOH-nyah
• Aurora--English, aw-ROHR-ah; Spanish, ow-ROH-rah
• Calista--English, kah-LIS-tah; Spanish, kah-LEES-tah
• Carla--English & Spanish, KAHR-lah
• Carmen--English & Spanish, KAHR-men
• Carolina--English, kayr-oh-LYE-nah; Spanish, kah-roh-LEE-nah
• Cecilia--English, seh-SIL-yah; Spanish, seh-SEEL-yah
• Clara--English, KLAYR-ah; Spanish, KLAH-rah
• Diana--English, dye-AN-ah; Spanish, dee-AH-nah
• Dolores--English, dol-OR-ez; Spanish, doh-LOH-rehs
• Esmeralda--English, ez-mer-AL-dah; Spanish, es-meh-RAHL-dah
• Felicia--English, feh-LEE-shah; Spanish, feh-LEE-see-ah
• Gloria--English & Spanish, GLOH-ree-ah
• Isabel--English, IZ-ah-bel; Spanish, ees-ah-BEL
• Julia--English, JOO-lee-ah; Spanish, HOOL-yah
• Laura--English, LOHR-ah; Spanish, LOUR-ah
• Liliana--English, lil-ee-AH-nah; Spanish, leel-YAH-nah
• Lucia--English, LOO-shah or loo-SEE-ah; Lucía--Spanish, loo-SEE-ah
• Marcia--English, MAR-shah or MAHR-see-ah; Spanish, MAHR-syah
• Maria--English, mar-EE-ah, María--Spanish, mah-REE-ah
• Monica--English, MON-ih-kah; Mónica--Spanish, MOH-nee-kah
• Olivia--English, oh-LIV-ee-ah; Olívia--Spanish, oh-LEEV-yah
• Patricia--English, pah-TRISH-ah; Spanish, pah-TREES-yah
• Paula--English, PAW-lah; Spanish, POW-lah
• Ramona--English & Spanish, rah-MOH-nah
• Roberta--English, rob-ER-tah; Spanish, roh-BEHR-tah
• Sara--English, SAYR-ah; Spanish, SAH-rah
• Selena--English, sel-EE-nah; Spanish, seh-LEH-nah
• Sonia--English & Spanish, SOHN-yah
• Tatiana--English & Spanish, tah-TYAH-nah
• Ursula--English, UR-sul-ah; Spanish, oor-SOO-lah
• Veronica--English, ver-ON-ih-kah; Verónica--Spanish, vehr-OH-nee-kah
• Victoria--English, vik-TOR-ee-ah; Spanish, veek-TOHR-yah
• Yolanda--English & Spanish, yoh-LAHN-dah

Spelled nearly the same, but with Spanish version ending in '-a' or '-ia':

• Adelaide--English, AD-el-ayd; Adelaida--Spanish, ah-deh-lah-EE-dah
• Ariadne--English, ahr-ee-AHD-nee, air-ee-AD-nee; Ariadna--Spanish, ahr-YAHD-nah
• Bethany--English, BETH-ah-nee; Bethania--Spanish, bet-AHN-yah
• Clementine--English, KLEM-en-tine; Clementina--Spanish, klem-en-TEE-nah
• Emily--English, EM-il-ee; Emilia--Spanish, eh-MEEL-yah
• Gabrielle--English, gab-ree-EL; Gabriela--Spanish, gah-bree-EH-lah
• Giselle--English, jih-ZEL; Gisela--Spanish, gee-SEH-lah
• Grace--English, GRAYS; Gracia--Spanish, GRAH-syah
• Hilary--English, HIL-ah-ree; Hilaria--Spanish, ee-LAHR-yah
• Melanie--English, MEL-an-ee; Melania--Spanish, mel-AHN-yah
• Natalie--English, NAT-ah-lee; Natalia--Spanish, nah-TAHL-yah
• Noelle--English, noh-EL; Noelia--Spanish, noh-EHL-yah
• Rosalind--English, ROZ-ah-lind; Rosalinda--Spanish, roh-sah-LEEN-dah
• Rose--English, ROHZ; Rosa--Spanish, ROH-sah
• Roxanne--English, roks-AN; Roxana--Spanish, rohks-AHN-ah
• Valerie--English, VAL-er-ee; Valeria--Spanish, vah-LEHR-yah
• Violet--English, VYE-oh-let; Violeta--Spanish, vee-oh-LEH-tah
• Vivian--English, VIV-ee-an; Viviana--Spanish, vee-vee-AH-nah

Some other difference, but still recognizable:

• Agatha--English, AG-ah-thah; Agata--Spanish, ah-GAH-tah
• Alexandra--English, al-eks-AN-dra; Alejandra--Spanish, ah-leh-HAHN-drah
• Annabelle--English, AN-nah-bel; Anabel--Spanish, AHN-ah-bel
• Beatrice--English, BEE-ah-tris; Beatriz--Spanish, beh-ah-TREES
• Camilla--English, kah-MIL-lah; Camila--Spanish, kah-MEE-lah
• Clarissa--English, klayr-IS-sah; Clarisa--Spanish, klah-REE-sah
• Chloe--English, KLOH-ee; Cloe--Spanish, KLOH-eh
• Constance--English, KON-stants; Constanza--Spanish, kohn-STAHN-sah
• Christina--English, kris-TEE-nah; Cristina--Spanish, krees-TEE-nah
• Dahlia--English, DAHL-yah or DAYL-yah; Dalia--Spanish, DAHL-yah
• Daniella--English, dan-YEL-lah; Daniela--Spanish, dahn-YEH-lah
• Deborah--English, DEB-or-ah; Débora--Spanish, DEH-boh-rah
• Dorothy--English, DOR-o-thee; Dorotea--Spanish, doh-roh-TEH-ah
• Eleanor--English, EL-en-or; Leonor--Spanish, LEH-on-ohr
• Ellen--English, EL-len; Elena--Spanish, el-EH-nah
• Emmeline--English, EM-el-een; Emelina--Spanish, eh-meh-LEE-nah
• Estelle--English, es-TEL; Estela--Spanish, es-TEH-lah
• Esther--English, ES-ter; Ester--Spanish, ES-tehr
• Frances--English, FRAN-ses; Francisca--Spanish, frahn-SEES-kah
• Genevieve--English, JEN-eh-veev; Genoveva--Spanish, heh-noh-VEH-vah
• Josephine--English, JOH-sef-een; Josefina--Spanish, hoh-seh-FEE-nah
• Lorraine--English, lor-AYN; Lorena--Spanish, loh-REH-nah
• Louisa--English, loo-EEZ-ah; Luisa--Spanish, loo-EE-sah
• Lydia--English, LID-ee-ah; Lidia--Spanish, LEED-yah
• Margaret--English, MAR-gah-ret; Margarita--Spanish, mar-gah-REE-tah
• Marissa--English, mah-RIS-sah; Marisa--Spanish, mah-REE-sah
• Martha--English, MAR-thah; Marta--Spanish, MAHR-tah
• Matilda--English, mah-TIL-dah; Matilde--Spanish, mah-TEEL-day
• Melissa--English, mel-IS-sah; Melisa--Spanish, meh-LEE-sah
• Michaela--English, mih-KAY-lah; Micaela--Spanish, mee-KYE-lah
• Myra--English, MYE-rah; Mayra--Spanish, MYE-rah
• Naomi--English, nay-OH-mee or nye-OH-mee; Noemí--Spanish, no-eh-MEE
• Ophelia--English, oh-FEE-lee-ah; Ofelia--Spanish, oh-FEHL-yah
• Pearl--English, PERL; Perla--Spanish, PEHR-lah
• Priscilla--English, pris-SIL-lah; Priscila--Spanish, pree-SEE-lah
• Prudence--English, PROO-dens; Prudencia--Spanish, proo-DEN-syah
• Rebecca--English, reh-BEK-kah; Rebeca--Spanish, reh-BEH-kah
• Sophia--English, soh-FEE-ah; Sofía--Spanish, soh-FEE-ah
• Stephanie--English, STEF-an-ee; Estefanía--Spanish, es-teh-fah-NEE-ah
• Susanna--English, soo-ZAN-nah; Susana--Spanish, soo-SAH-nah
• Sylvia--English, SIL-vee-ah; Silvia--Spanish, SEEL-vyah
• Theodora--English, thee-oh-DOHR-ah; Teodora--Spanish, teh-oh-DOH-rah
• Theresa--English, ter-EE-sah; Teresa--Spanish, teh-REH-sah

For the boys' list, go here. 

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name: Kate/Kat/Kitty

Wow. This was a hard one. I challenged myself to not use any Katherine-variants on this list. Consequently, this list has a lot less Western Europe than usual. :)

• Ankita (ahn-kee-tah, Indian [Hindi])
• Arcadia (ar-KAY-dee-ah, English; or ahr-KAH-dee-ah, Greek & Portuguese)
• Carita (kah-REE-tah, Swedish)--from Latin, "dear one" or "charity"
• Christine (kris-TEEN, French & English)--from Latin, form of Christian. Other forms include Christina & Kristin.  [if you think this one's odd--Kit is a nickname for Christopher, so why not for the feminine Christ-names?]
• Chrysanta (kris-AN-tah, English)--from Latin, "golden flower"
• Giachetta (jah-KET-tah, Italian)--feminine form of Jacob
• Kanti (kahn-tee, Indian [Hindi])--"beauty"
• Katar (kah-TAHR, Armenian)--"peak, summit"
• Katida (kah-TEE-dah, Esperanto)
• Katriela (kah-tree-EL-lah, Hebrew)--"crown of God"
• Katsumi (kaht-soo-mee, Japanese)--"victorious beauty"
• Kavita (kah-vee-tah, Indian [Hindi])--"poem"
• Keturah (keh-TOO-rah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Ketziah (ket-ZYE-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--original form of Keziah
• Kirtida (keer-tee-dah, Indian [Hindi])
• Kvĕta (KVEH-tah, Czech)--"flower"
• Leocadia (leh-oh-KAH-dee-ah, Spanish, Italian)
• Markéta (mar-KEH-tah, Czech)--form of Margaret. Spelled Marketta in Finnish.

Same Name?!--Madeline

Madeline is an interesting case. Most girls' names are either relatively stable (ex: Elizabeth), out-of-style after reigning for decades (ex: Mary), on-the-comeback/back-in-style (ex: Ava), or new (ex: Kaylee).
Madeline, however, was pretty darned popular through the turn of the century and several decades after, only to take an odd tanking in the 70s & 80s.. It shot right back up less than a decade later, and landed back on top, bringing variants Madeleine & Madelyn along with it.
So, chances are you know a few Madelines. Probably not your own age, but aunts, grandmas, even great-grandmas, as well as some little ones, too.

Original Greek form: Magdalene [Μαγδαληνή] (mag-dah-len-eh)
Latin form: Magdalena (mahg-dah-LEN-ah)
French form: Madeleine (mah-deh-LEHN)


Modern forms:

• Madaléin (MAH-da-layn)--Irish
• Magali (mah-gah-LEE)--Provençal. Also spelled Magalie and Magaly.
• Magdolna (MAHG-dohl-nah)--Hungarian
• Mahulena (mah-hul-EHN-ah)--Czech
• Maialen (mye-ah-len)--Basque
• Malena (mah-LEHN-ah)--Swedish, Spanish
• Malin (MAH-lin)--Scandinavian, Finnish
• Matleena (MAHT-leh-nah)--Finnish

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Nell

With all the names that Nell is historically short for, it's surprising it's not more popular. The usual suspects include Helen, Eleanor, & Ellen, although any English name with a prominent 'el' sound is possible. Of course, it's not the most intuitive nickname in modern English.
Nell came about either as a rhyming nickname for Ell, or through the habit of calling loved ones 'Mine ____'. For instance, 'Mine Ellen' turned eventually into 'My Nell'. Most likely, both factors contributed.

• Antonella (an-toh-NEL-lah, Italian)--feminine form of Anthony.
• Daniella (dan-YEL-lah, English)
• Finella (fin-EL-lah, Irish)--Anglicized from Fionnuala.
• Ionela (yoh-NEL-lah, Romanian)--feminine form of John.
• Kornelia (kor-NEL-yah, German)
• Marianela (mahr-ee-an-EL-ah, Spanish)
• Narelle (nah-REL, English)
• Nedelya (ned-EHL-yah, Bulgarian)
• Nelda (NEL-dah, English)--feminine of Neil
• Nelinha (nel-EEN-yah, Portuguese)
• Nephele (NEF-el-ee, Greek)
• Ninel (neen-YEL, Russian)
• Noella (noh-EHL-lah, French)--"Christmas"
• Ornella (or-NEL-lah, Italian)
• Penelope (pen-EL-oh-pee, English)--from Greek, "weaver"
• Peronel (PEHR-oh-nel, English)--form of Petronilla. Other forms include Petronel, Petronella, & Pernel.
• Prunella (proo-NEL-lah, English)--from Latin, "plum"
• Sanela (sah-NEH-lah, Croatian)--from Latin, "healthy"

Same Name?!--Mary

I admit, I've been putting this one off for a while--Mary is easily one of the most widespread & translated names of all time!
Often held up as the prime example of a "boring" name, it's still surprisingly common for new babes. Spin-offs Mariah, Maria, Maia, Mia, & Malia are more popular in the U.S., but there's still even more versions ready for use!

Original Hebrew form: Miryam [מִרְיָם] (meer-YAHM)
Latin transliteration: Maria (mah-REE-ah)

Modern forms:

• Maia (MY-ah)--Basque
• Maike (MY-keh)--Frisian
• Mair (MIRE)--Welsh
• Maire (MOI-rah)--Irish. Anglicized as Moira or Maura.
• Majken (MY-kyen)--Swedish
• Malia (mah-lee-ah)--Hawaiian
• Mareike (mah-RYE-keh)--German, Dutch
• Mariam (MAIR-ee-am)--Greek
• Marian (MAIR-ee-an)--English
• Mariel (MAIR-ee-el)--English
• Marietta (mahr-ee-ET-tah)--Italian
• Marika (MAH-ree-kah)--Estonian, Greek, Hungarian, Polish
• Marike (MAH-ree-keh)--Dutch
• Mariska (mah-REESH-kah)--Hungarian
• Maritta (mah-REET-tah)--Finnish
• Marjatta (mahr-YAHT-tah)--Finnish
• Maryla (mahr-IL-lah)--Polish
• Maryse (mah-REESE)--French
• Maureen (maw-REEN)--Irish. Anglicized from Maírín.
• Meike (MYE-keh)--German
• Meryem (MEHR-ee-em)--Turkish
• Mirele (MEE-reh-leh)--Yiddish
• Miren (MEER-en)--Basque
• Moirrey (MUR-ra or MOHR-reh)--Manx
• Molly (MOL-lee)--English

No Alternates Allowed! (girls)

There were way more boys' names with few/no variants than I thought! Maybe I'm just too cynical where alternate spellings are concerned.
But, looking through the girls' lists....maybe not. Apparently parents are more willing to "tweak" girls' names, because the girls' list from the top 500 was nowhere near as long as the boys'! So, here's the girls' names from the top 750 (or so) that have 0-1 spelling variants.
(and again, there are definitely some spellings choices I don't advocate, but they are in use.)

• Abril/Abryl
• Alejandra/Alijandra
• Alondra/Alandra
• Amanda
• Amber/Ambar
• America/Amerika
• Angelique/Anjelique
• Anne/Ann
• April/Apryl
• Barbara/Barbra
• Brenda
• Brooke/Brook
• Celia
• Chaya/Chayah
• Claudia/Klaudia
• Dulce
• Elle
• Eve
• Felicity/Feliciti
• Fernanda
• Giada
• Gloria
• Greta/Gretta
• Guadalupe
• Harper/Harpar
• Heather
• Heaven/Heavyn
• Hope
• Irene/Eirene
• Iris/Irys
• June
• Karla/Carla
• Kathleen/Cathleen
• Laura/Lora
• Linda/Lynda
• Lisa
• Lola/Lolah
• Luna
• Luz
• Maeve/Maebh
• Marie
• Marisol/Marysol
• Martha
• Mary
• Monica/Monika
• Myla/Mylah
• Nancy/Nanci
• Olive/Olyve
• Paloma
• Paola
• Parker
• Patricia/Patrisha
• Paulina
• Penelope/Pennelope
• Perla/Pearla
• Regina
• Rosa/Roza
• Rose
• Ruth
• Sloane/Sloan
• Susan/Suzan
• Sylvia/Silvia
• Valentina
• Vera/Veera
• Veronica/Veronika
• Virginia
• Willow/Wyllow
• Winter/Wynter

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Minnie

Poor Minnie. Once at the top, she was toppled by a certain animated mouse. Of course, the fact that Minnie was originally short for the clunky Wilhelmina probably didn't help.

• Aminda (ah-MEEN-dah, Esperanto)
• Araminta (ahr-ah-MIN-tah, English)
• Carmina (kar-MEE-nah, Italian)--form of Carmen
• Clementina (klem-en-TEE-nah, Italian, Spanish)--"gentle"
• Cosmina (KOS-mee-nah, Romanian)--feminine of Cosmas
• Domenica (doh-MEN-ee-kah, Italian)--feminine of Dominic. Other forms include Dominga (Spanish) & Dominique (French). 
• Erminia (ehr-MEEN-yah, Italian)
• Jessamine (JES-sah-min, English)--"jasmine"
• Kamini (kah-MEE-nee, Indian [Hindi])
• Luminita (loo-men-EETZ-ah, Romanian)--"little light"
• Menuha (men-oo-khah, Hebrew)--"tranquility"
• Minerva (min-ER-vah, English)--Roman goddess of wisdom
• Philomena (fil-oh-MEEN-ah, Greek)--"strong friend". Also spelled Filomena.

Same Name?!--Helen

Helen probably brings up conflicting images--first there's Helen of Troy, so beautiful a war was fought over her. And then there's likely your next-door neighbor, your aunt, or the PTA president.

Helen (and medieval variant Ellen) were high on the charts for quite some time; only dropping off a couple generations ago. Other versions seem to be on everyone's lists, though, from the Latinate Helena to the "how-many-ways-can-we-spell-it?" Elena.

• Alyona (ahl-YOH-nah)--Russian
• Eilidh (AY-lee)--Scottish
• Elaine (ee-LAYN)--English
• Eleni (el-EH-nee)--Greek
• Elina (EL-ee-nah)--Finnish
• Ileana (ee-lay-AW-nah)--Romanian
• Ilona (ee-LOH-nah, EE-lon-ah)--German, Hungarian
• Léana (LAY-an-ah)--Irish
• Lenka (LEN-kah)--Czech
• Lenuta (len-OO-tsah)--Romanian
• Nell (NEL)--English
• Yelena (ye-LEH-nah, EE-leh-nah)--Russian

Usual Name, Unexpected Nickname--Elizabeth/Isabella

Elizabeth remains one of our enduring classics. Despite the fact that everyone is almost guaranteed to know at least one (probably more like 2 or 3), Elizabeth shows no sign of falling out of favor anytime soon. In fact, many of its spin-offs are also on the rise (Elsa, Elise, Eliza), and one has even overtaken the original--Isabella. Considering that girls' names tend to rise & fall with fashion, while boys' names tend to be stable and enduring, Elizabeth's permanence is pretty darned impressive.
I wonder which came first--the widespread use, or the wide variety of nicknames?

• Bess (BES)--English
• Bethan (BETH-an)--Welsh
• Bettina (bet-TEEN-ah)--German
• Buffy (BUF-fee)--English
• Bizzy/Busy (BIZ-ee)--English
• Els (ELS)--Dutch
• Elsje (ELS-yeh)--Dutch
• Erzsi (EHR-zhee)--Hungarian
• Ibbie (IB-bee)--English
• Ilsa (IL-sah)--German
• Isa (EE-sah)--Scandinavian, Spanish
• Libby (LIB-bee)--English
• Liddy (LID-dee)--English
• Lies (LEES)--Dutch, German
• Liesel (LEE-zel)--German
• Liisu (LEE-soo)--Estonian
• Lili (LIL-ee)--French, German
• Lisa (LEE-sah)--English
• Lison (lee-ZOHN)--French
• Špela (SHPEL-ah)--Slovene
• Tetty (TET-tee)--English

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Bella

Fueled by Isabella's insane jump to the top, just-plain-Bella followed a few years after. The fact that it coincides with the Italian word for "pretty" certainly didn't hurt.
For now, Bella may be Twilight-tainted, but that will fade.

• Amabel (AH-mah-bel, English)--from Latin, "lovable"
• Arabella (air-ah-BEL-lah, English, Scottish)--prob. an invented name inspired by Annabella.
• Belinda (bel-IN-dah, English)
• Bellamy (BEL-ah-mee, English)--from French, "beautiful friend"
• Bellatrix (BEL-lah-triks, Latin)--"warrior"
• Bellona (bel-LOH-nah, Latin)--Roman goddess of war
• Belphoebe (bel-FEE-bee, English)--"beautiful and bright"
• Christabel (KRIS-tah-bel, English)--Also spelled Christabelle & Christobel.
• Claribel (KLAIR-ih-bel, English)
• Dulcibella (dul-si-BEL-lah, English)--from Latin, "sweet and beautiful"
• Elizabella (ee-liz-ah-BEL-lah, English)--form of Elizabeth/Isabella.
• Mehetabel (meh-HET-ah-bel, Hebrew)--"God makes happy"
• Mirabella (MEER-ah-bel-lah, Italian)--"wonderful"
• Orabela (oh-rah-BEL-lah, Esperanto)--"golden beautiful"
• Rosabella (ROH-sah-bel-lah, Italian)--"beautiful rose"

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Callie

Callie is another example of a nickname that's become reasonably popular on its own. Originally a nickname for Caroline, I suspect it's another example of the R to L shift. This also helped distance it from Caroline, as it's not the most intuitive nickname in modern American English.

• Apikalia (ah-pih-KAL-ee-ah, Hawaiian)--form of Abigail
• Calanthia (kal-AN-thee-ah, English)--from Greek, "beautiful flower"
• Calista (kal-IS-tah, English)--from Greek, "most beautiful"
• Calliope (kal-EYE-oh-pee or kal-ee-OH-pay, Greek)--"beautiful voice"
• Calogera (kah-loh-JEHR-ah, Italian)
• Calypso (kal-IP-soh, Greek)
• Catalina (cat-ah-LEE-nah, Spanish)--form of Katherine
• Kalani (kal-AHN-ee, Hawaiian)
• Kalina (kal-EEN-ah, Bulgarian)
• Kalyani (kal-YAH-nee, Indian [Hindi])
• Michalina (mee-kal-EE-nah, Polish)--feminine form of Michael

Usual Name, Unexpected Nickname--Katherine

There are about as many different ways to form nicknames as there are cultures. While many nicknames for our most enduring classics seem out of date or boring, an imported diminutive can be fresh & fun.
The first name I'm tackling in this new series is Katherine. Kate & Katie are just as popular as ever, Kathy is so 30 years ago, Kitty is somewhere between cobwebs and vintage-cute, while Kat is indie-cool.
That's about it for the usual English nicknames, I think, so how about....

• Cadi (KAH-dee)--Welsh
• Caja/Kaia/Kaia (KYE-ah)--Scandinavian
• Cato (kah-TOH)--Dutch
• Kadri (KAH-dree)--Estonian
• Kai (KYE)--Scandinavian
• Kaisa (KYE-sah)--Finnish, Estonian
• Kari (KAHR-ee)--Norwegian
• Kasia (KAH-shah)--Polish
• Kata (KAH-tah)--Croatian, Finnish, Hungarian
• Katenka (kah-TEN-kah)--Russian
• Käthe (KET-eh)--German
• Katia/Katja/Katya (KAHT-yah)--Dutch, German, Russian, Scandinavian
• Kay (KAY)--English
• Nienke (NEEN-keh)--Frisian
• Nine (NEE-nah)--Frisian
• Rina (REE-nah)--Dutch, Italian
• Trine (TREE-neh)--Danish

Same Name?!--Alice

This is one of my favorite name families! Like Elizabeth, Alice has some pretty surprising variants--or should I say, is, a surprising variant. The original form was the Germanic Adelheidis, and over time various syllables were cropped out in a plethora of ways.

Original Germanic form: Adelheidis (ah-del-hye-dis)
Modern English form: Alice (AL-is)

• Adelaide (AD-el-ayd)--English
• Adélaïde (ad-el-ah-EED)--French
• Adelaide (ad-el-IDE-eh)--Italian
• Adelais (AH-del-ay-ees)--Germanic
• Aileas (AH-les or EH-les)--Scottish 
• Ailís (AY-leesh)--Irish 
• Aleida (AH-lye-dah)--Dutch, German
• Alica (ah-LEE-tsah)--Slavic
• Alicia (ah-LEE-sha or ah-LEE-syah)--English, Spanish 
• Alida (ah-LEE-dah)--German
• Alisa (ah-LEE-sah)--Russian 
• Alison (AL-ih-son)--English, French
• Alix (ah-LEEKS)--Medieval French
• Aliz (AH-leez)--Hungarian
• Alys (AL-is)--Welsh
• Elke (EL-keh)--Frisian
• Heidi (HYE-dee)--German, Scandinavian

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Lola

Again, not really a "usual" nickname, but the poor nickname of an outdated name. Another example of the archaic R to L shift, Lola was originally a nickname for Dolores. Thanks to a few different songs and the German film Run Lola Run, Lola has stayed out of obscurity, and is even rapidly gaining popularity in many areas. But, if you want to further distance Lola from her "sorrowful" roots (Dolores is Spanish for "pains" or "sorrows"), a few options are nice.

• Anatola (ahn-ah-TOH-lah, Polish)
• Bellona (bel-LO-nah, Latin)--Roman goddess of war
• Carlota (cahr-LOH-tah, Spanish)--feminine form of Charles
• Carola (cahr-OH-lah, German)--another feminine form of Charles
• Finola (fin-OH-lah, Irish, Scottish)--anglicized from Fionnuala. Another form is Fionola.
• Hannelore (HAH-nah-lor-ah, German)
• Ilona (ee-LOH-nah, Hungarian)--form of Helen
• Lorelei (LOH-reh-lye, German)
• Lorena (loh-REH-nah, Spanish)--form of Lorraine
• Lorenza (loh-REN-zah, Italian)--feminine form of Laurence
• Paloma (pah-LOH-mah, Spanish)
• Valora (vah-LOH-rah, Esperanto)--"valuable"