Names ending in a

Energetic choice that bounces off the tongue.

Unlike Pamela and Melanie, Mela feels fresh and unusual.

Most modern parents would drop the Jo, leaving the superpopular Ella.

Abyssinia is the ancient name of the Ethiopian Empire, no longer found on any map but with a possible future as a melodic girls' name in the ever-expanding place-name category. Among African names for girls, this one is undiscovered.

Unfortunately, everyone will hear Crispina, the feminine form of Crispin, as Christina.

If there are too many Savannahs in your neighborhood, you might consider this. Pavana is a Hindu goddess of the wind.

Two popular contemporary choices merged into one, this compound name with its hint of Italian flair was given to nearly 70 girls in the US and 3 in the UK. With Mia's entry into the US Top 10, perhaps it will be used more often in coming years.

Unusual and rhythmic, the feminine form of the ancient Greek Makarios or the Latinized Macarius, the name of several saints. The modern Spanish male version of the name, Macario, is used in the US.

It's usually preceded by the letter 'A'--as in 'a capella'--singing without accompaniment, and probably has never been used as a girl's name, but in this anything-goes naming climate, we're putting it out there as a possibility.

Both an independent name and an alternate spelling of Jada.

Gila and its variants have joyous meanings in Hebrew, but other kids might connect them to the monster.

Atala is the eponymous heroine of a 19th century novella 'Atala, ou Les Amours de deux sauvages dans le desert' by François-René de Chateaubriand. Given the racist overtones of the novel, probably best to steer of this name.

Pretty but slight.

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

A pretty and modern word name for a daughter, expressing great happiness.

Moneta was the name of two separate goddesses in Roman mythology. The first was the goddess of memory, equivalent to the Greek Mnemosyne, and the second was as an epithet of Juno, mother of the gods. The names of each goddess were derived from different sources.