I really like aimeekeren14’s suggestion of [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]. It’s a wonderful, feminine name that sounds very sweet and ages well. [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] is an unpopular name as it is not in the US Top 1000 (I saw it on the Nameberry page), but it is quite familiar, so I don’t think that somebody would mispronounce it. For me, it is the perfect name to honour your mother. Some other suggestions?
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u] is of Scottish origin and means “garden of holly”. The first think I would suggest is using a name with the same or similar meaning, “garden” or “holly”. You could also use a name with a flower or plant meaning or a name related to [name_u]Christmas[/name_u], if you think that it is not too much of a stretch.
[name_u]Carmen[/name_u] or [name_f]Carmela[/name_f] or [name_u]Carmel[/name_u] : All of them mean “garden” in Hebrew. I like the sound of all of them, but my favorite is [name_u]Carmen[/name_u].
[name_f]Celyn[/name_f] or [name_f]Holly[/name_f] : [name_f]Holly[/name_f] is a word name and [name_f]Celyn[/name_f] is a Welsh name that means “holly”
[name_f]Natalia[/name_f] or [name_f]Noelle[/name_f] or [name_f]Christina[/name_f]/[name_f]Christiana[/name_f] or any variation : They are all related to [name_u]Christmas[/name_u]. [name_f]Holly[/name_f] is a plant used as a decoration during [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] in many countries.
[name_f]Holly[/name_f]'s scientific name is ilex aquifolium. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that using a name containing -lex- or related to water (aquifolium starts with aqui and the latin world for water is aqua) is too much of a stress? If not, you could consider some of the following names:
[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] : Well, an obvious one. It has nothing to do with hollies, but it contains lex as ilex. You could use any other variation, [name_f]Alexa[/name_f] or [name_f]Alexandria[/name_f] or [name_u]Alexis[/name_u] for example, or simply use [name_u]Lexie[/name_u] as a nickname to all of them.
[name_m]Deniz[/name_m] : A Turkish name originally used for boys but now it is common for girls as well. [name_m]Deniz[/name_m] means “sea”.
Derya or [name_f]Darya[/name_f] : Derya is Turkish, [name_f]Darya[/name_f] is Persian, both mean “sea”.
[name_f]Marina[/name_f] : [name_f]Marina[/name_f] is a latin name that means “of the sea”
[name_f]Oceane[/name_f] : A [name_m]French[/name_m] name meaning “ocean”
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] : It means “white wave” in Welsh
[name_f]Ondine[/name_f] : Another Latin name related to the sea. [name_f]Ondine[/name_f] means “little wave”
[name_f]Ann[/name_f] means “grace”. Except of the obvious suggestions of using [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or an elaborate form ([name_f]Gracelyn[/name_f] or [name_f]Engracia[/name_f] for instance), you could choose a more unique name meaning grace or a longer form of [name_f]Ann[/name_f].
[name_f]Amara[/name_f] : This name is obscure, but one of its possible meanings is “grace”
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f] : combination of [name_f]Maria[/name_f] and [name_f]Anne[/name_f], could shorten to [name_f]Ann[/name_f] or [name_f]Annie[/name_f] or [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] or whatever else. You could honour your mother by using her middle name, why not?
[name_f]Shakira[/name_f] : Well, it is definitely connected with the singer but [name_f]Shakira[/name_f] is also an Arabic name that means “woman of grace”. You could use it in the middle spot as the connection is too strong, or do you think that it is unusuable? Maybe
[name_f]Sena[/name_f] : [name_f]Sena[/name_f] is a name used in many cultures with a variety of meanings one of them being “world’s grace”. I love its sound.
[name_f]Annabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f], [name_f]Annamaria[/name_f] : All of them are names that could lead to [name_f]Ann[/name_f], like [name_f]Marianne[/name_f]. You could also use [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f], it could lead to nickname [name_f]Annie[/name_f], but the meaning is not the same.
[name_f]Evanna[/name_f] : A Feminization of [name_u]Evan[/name_u], the Welsh form of [name_m]John[/name_m]. [name_u]Evan[/name_u] is also used for girls. Plus it leads to [name_f]Anna[/name_f]-[name_f]Annie[/name_f]-[name_f]Anita[/name_f] etc.
[name_f]Johanna[/name_f] : It is commonly used in my country but you could consider any other variation of [name_f]Joanna[/name_f]/[name_f]Johanna[/name_f]. For instance, the Italian [name_f]Giovanna[/name_f] or the Slavic [name_f]Ivanna[/name_f]. [name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_f]Evanna[/name_f], why not? They mean “Gos is gracious”. And all of them have an [name_f]Ann[/name_f]- nickname 
[name_f]Mercedes[/name_f] : It means “gracious gifts” in Spanish.
[name_f]Mileva[/name_f], [name_f]Milana[/name_f] and [name_f]Milena[/name_f] : [name_f]Milana[/name_f] and [name_f]Mileva[/name_f] are Slavic names derived from the Slavic that mean grace (and love I think). [name_f]Mileva[/name_f] is Slavic as well but it means gracious. All can be shortened to [name_f]Mila[/name_f].
I hope I help you! Good [name_m]Luck[/name_m]!
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f]