Abstract. In this study we introduce a variational model for the dynamics of Faraday waves in longitudinally-inhomogeneous Bose-Einstein condensates subject to anisotropic transverse confinement and periodic modulations of the scattering length. We derive a set of variational equations under the assumption that the period of the Faraday wave is smaller than the longitudinal width of the condensate and determine analytically the dispersion relation for large condensates through a Mathieu-type analysis of the variational equations. Finally, we show the emergence of Faraday waves in a realistic anisotropic 87 Rb Bose-Einstein condensate and discuss possible extensions of the variational treatment to binary condensates
