Names ending in a

Distinctive and charming nature name that blends elements of Jacqueline and Amanda.

According to Viking legend, Lagertha was a shieldmaiden and wife of famed Viking leader Ragnar Lodbrok.

The Isidora spelling, though equally legitimate, is about 90 percent less common than Isadora.

Loving choice.

Swinging London songbird Petula Clark claims that this name was her father's invention; in any case it hasn't seen much copycat usage.

Molten rock from volcanos, and now a red-hot baby name possibility.

Lova, a Louise relative virtually unknown in the US, is one of the top girl names in Sweden.

Intriguing and unusual.

Adelaida takes the elegant and popular Adelaide one step further, adding even more flair and distinction to the name. While English speakers may pronounce it as a-deh-LAY-duh, the traditional Spanish pronunciation would be a-deh-LIE-da.

An interesting figure from Greek mythology -- an Amazon queen who fought for Troy in the Trojan War -- but no figure could be interesting enough to make that five-syllable mouthful usable today. Stick with Penelope or, if that's too popular for your taste, try Thessaly.

Ellaria Sand is a slightly obscure character in HBO's Game of Thrones, part of the notoriously half-baked Dorne plot that bedeviled later seasons of the show. She was paramour to Oberyn Martell, mother to several of the so-called "Sand Snakes" and murderer of Myrcella Baratheon. Not exactly a primo namesake, despite a fine performance from Indira Varma.

Sounds incomplete, like a pet form of Miranda.

Common choice for anime characters.

Variation of Pema.

Philomela, the name of a mythological Athenian princess who was transformed into a nightingale, is rarely heard outside the Greek community. The mellifluous Philomela might make a more distinctive and prettier update for Pamela or Phyllis. Philomela may also be a good choice for a music-lover's daughter. Try Pippa or Millie for short.