Names ending in ia

Long forgotten Old Testament name with modern potential.

Would undoubtedly be confused with the geographical Syria.

An unusual and melodious New Testament name

Similar to Malaysia, except completely invented.

This ancient feminine form is the kind of name your child will grow into...at least by her fiftieth birthday.

This short form can stand on its own, perhaps because of the familiarity of Stacy, of which it may also be a variation. But Stacia feels somehow more modern and stylish than 60s-style Stacy. Stasia is another way to spell it.

A pretty smoosh name predominantly used by Italian Catholics.

Also relating to the sea and the islands, this name is a bit more melodic than its cousins.

Strong cross-cultural name that could be a feminine spin on the Zachary family.

Cesaria, a modern feminine form of Caesar or the Latinate Cesar, has been obscure in the Western World but may stir to life along with other names that have their roots in ancient Rome. Cesarina, Cesarie, and Cesarea are other options.

Pania is a possible alternative to Tania, if you want to go the New Zealand rather than Russian route.

There are several fine Ben-beginning boy's names, such as BENJAMIN and BENEDICT, but girls names like this and BENJAMINA don't fare as well.

This name of a Canadian fashion brand is given to a handful of baby girls each year.

Think the letter X is always cool in names? Meet Eudoxia. An ancient name with a great meaning, associated with a number of saints and Byzantine royals, Eudoxia nonetheless sounds, to modern ears, more like the name of a skin disease or industrial solvent than a cute little girl. If you love it for some reason, variant spelling Eudocia might be a better bet.

Tuvia is the Hebrew cognate of Tobias or Tobiah, found in the Bible and used in this form in Israel. The film "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" included a character named Tuvia, who was female, pointing to the biggest downside of this name to the English-speaking ear: It sounds quite feminine.

A possible hero name inspired by notables from Spanish poet/playwright Federico Garcia Lorca to writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez to the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia.