Names ending in a

The Finnish writer Mika Waltari invented the name Minea from the Greek Minos for a character in his 1945 novel The Egyptian. It's become a popular Finnish name in the 21st century.

In Greek mythology, Arethusa is a nymph who is transformed into a fresh water fountain. The name is also used for a type of orchid and featured in Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

More common in Slovenia than its mother name, Jerneja. Neja peaked in 2015 when it ranked at Number 15 on the Slovene Top 100.

The name of a famous valley in ancient Greece, with ties to the historic Nemean Games.

A pretty and little-known Spanish smoosh name, combining Maria with Celia.

The island home of Odysseus, and city site of Cornell University, sounds soft and pleasant enough to make it a candidate for babynamehood.

Prettier than the other name the plant goes by, Hortensia.

Dashing Latin surname name -- but also a well-known brand of Spanish packaged foods.

A strong and simple Maori name that could also be an alternative spelling of Kaia.

Minetta is one of those names that's a diminutive of a diminutive -- Minna, a pan-European nickname that can be short for many names beginning or ending in Mina. Minetta may be most famous as Minetta Lane, a charming street in New York's West Village.

A lovely compound name created for the film "Oz: The Great and Powerful". In the film, Evanora is the name of the Wicked Witch of the East.

This Swahili and Muslim female name referring to the Prophet Muhammed's nurse. It is a popular name in Egypt and Somalia.

The advantage of Orsa over the arguably-more-attractive Ursula is that it breaks the tie to the hideous she-witch of The Little Mermaid. Orsa definitely feels more ready for modern life now that brother name Orson is on the rise.

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.