Names ending in a

Federica is the Latin version of Frederica, one of those formerly stuffy female names -- think Josephine and Eleanor -- that feels fresh and elegant again. And Federica has more energy without that first r.

An ancient city in modern-day Syria, which occasionally makes the roster of girl names. Its etymology is uncertain — locally it is called Tadmor, and Palmyra is the Greek version — but it has traditionally been associated with palm trees.

An energetic Igbo name belonging to several sports stars, notably American basketball player Emeka Okafor. It can also be short for Chukwuemeka.

Attractive place-name, of a beautiful resort region of Turkey.

One of the most attractive and unusual spins on the "Fran" franchise.

One of many takes on the Keira/Kyra concept, this one was chosen by ice-skating champ Kristi Yamaguchi.

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

Sweet Japanese name that would work well as an alternative to the now-dated Alyssa and Marissa.

This name similar to Milana and Melania was popularized by Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Guidice's daughter. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 2011.

This beautiful Māori name meaning love (cognate with Hawaiian aloha) is more wearable than the English word and softer Venus or Aphrodite. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern named her daughter Neve Te Aroha in 2018. Aroha / Te Aroha was the most popular Māori baby girl name in 2023-24.

Eustacia, the ancestor of mid-century fave Stacy, is just the kind of fusty old relic that might be polished up for modern use. Eustacia Vye is the central character of Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native.

Alzira found its highest degree of popularity in the mid-nineteenth century after Giuseppe Verdi created an opera of the name Alzira, after its romantic heroine. Despite Verdi using the name for a Peruvian princess, Alzira is an arabic name Verdi's opera, despite the name's arabic roots, the name was given to a Peruvian princess. Alzira is also the name of a Spanish city in Valencia.

A pretty Roman name, but unfortunately also the English vocabulary word mania. Spelling it Manya would avoid the issue.

Omega is an unusual name used now equally for boys and girls, though the a ending is conventionally feminine. More popular boys' names, like Omega, end in the a sound these days: Joshua, Noah, Micah.

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

Lithe and leonine name chosen for her daughter by singer Erykah Badu -- whose other child has the number name Seven.

A cross-cultural name which derives either from the Arabic jada "excellence" or from the Hebrew name Yehudah/Judah, meaning "praised".

Alda's brother name Aldo has been a mainstay of the U.S. popularity chart for decades now, and the related Alden is soaring up as well. This version has never really caught on. (Maybe it's the association with Alan Alda: great actor, unlikely namesake for a little girl.) However, there is possible hope now that Alba and Alma are on the rise. Aida and Arden are more familiar alternatives.