Names ending in a

Probably an offshoot of Deanna, lacking much identity of its own.

A contracted form of Emerentia, which belonged to an obscure Scottish saint.

Omega is a perfect choice for a youngest child.

The names from which Meja derived, including Meinhild and Magnhild, are long gone, but a Swedish singer called Meja (born Anna Pernilla Torndahl) has piqued interest in this modern derivative. Meja is now a Top 100 name in Sweden.

A vivacious Italian name; also a diminutive of Annunziata.

Ananda is historically a masculine Sanskrit name — a form of Anand — but the A ending and similarity to Amanda give it a feminine flavor in the English-speaking world. In fact, it is currently used more often among baby girls in the US.

With a soft e, sounds like an affected pronunciation of Rita.

According to the Bible (and Quran), manna was the foodstuff miraculously provided for the Israelites in exile. This nourishing little name is one of the spiritual names that has seen a slight rise in recent years.

Karena modernizes middle-aged Karen but also creates pronunciation confusion. Is it ka-REN-a, ka-REEN-a, or just plain Karen with an a at the end? Spelled Karenna as in Gore goes partway toward clarifying things.

The most common form of Elizabeth in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, typically spelled Alžběta or Alžbeta.

A pretty halfway house between the modern name Ffion, which has been popular in Wales in recent decades, and the unrelated name Fiona.

A wonderful meaning for a bright and musical West African name.

This lunar choice may intrigue parents searching for alternatives to Luna.