Names ending in a

A pleasant, welcoming Middle Eastern choice.

A pan-European variant of Bertha and nickname for -berta ending names, such as Alberta and Roberta. It's certainly much more appealing than its predecessor, but unlikely to become a hit in the US anytime soon.

This Russian version of Michaela adds yet another variation -- Makayla, Micaela, McKayla -- to the pot.

The feminine Quinta is virtually unused in the US, though male forms of the Roman family name Quintus, such as Quintin and Quentin, are quite popular. That may change with the emergence of comedian and actress Quinta Brunson, creator of the television show Abbott Elementary.

See ALEXIA.

For an American girl, the double "I" might be a problem as a child, but an attention-getting talking point as an adult.

Cleta was one of the Charities or Graces.

An epithet of the goddess Durga, associated with the beginning of the earth.

Fania would make an interesting choice for a child of Irish Russian heritage, being a Celtic name with a Russian Tania-like feel.

Variation of Adriana, with a dash of Audrey thrown in.

Coletta is a Latin relative of the better-known French Colette, which is derived from Nicole and is ultimately a feminization of Nicholas. Only a handful of baby girls are named Coletta or Nicoletta in the US each year, making this one of the rarest of the many forms of the name.

Gaeta is a southern Italian region; this makes a sunny first name.

A feminization with a long (if sparse) history of use among European aristocracy. One young member of the illustrious Arco family of Central Europe is named Maximiliana.

A very popular girls' name in the Basque country and Puerto Rico. It is among the Top 100 Spanish baby names, so it's a girls' name that's widely used in Spain.

An attractive update to Gladys.

Gladiola is a character in the 1991 novel and 1995 film How to Make an American Quilt