Names ending in a

Iraia is one of those uncommon names that have two different meanings and derivations, one female and one male. The girls' version is a Basque name found throughout the Mediterranean with a nature meaning. As a boys' name, Iraia is a tradtiional Maori name.

The Latin word for "goddess" makes for a rarer, but equally stylish, spin on Thea. It may also be a short form of names such as Medea, Amadea, Dorotea or Andrea.

Queen Nehelenia is a villain in the Sailor Moon anime franchise. Her name is likely a reference to both the mineral nepheline — as many Sailor Moon characters are named after minerals — and Nehalennia, a German or Celtic goddess.

One of the many gorgeous names originally used for children born on a specific day of the week, popular in West African culture. Effia is Akan in origin — the Akan people originate in southern Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

Nein.

Lolita without the naughty implications.

Hawa is the Arabic equivalent of Eve in that it is the name used for the wife of first man Adam.

Palindromic name often heard in Ethiopia.

Kunta Kinte is the hero of the Roots series of books and TV series, which stem from a novel by Alex Haley. The character -- a Gambian man captured and sold into slavery in America -- is a model of strength in the face of terrible cruelty, and an icon of modern American fiction. Though some may find him too iconic to use his name for a child, others will be drawn to the name's strength and cultural ties. The origins of the name Kunta and the character who bears it are shrouded in controversy. Haley claimed to have based him on a historical account, but others have said that he is mostly invented.

Beyzs is both a girls' name, most popular around the turn of this century, and a place name of a city and county in Iran.

In Turkey, as in many countries around the world, word names are on the rise. Doğa is among the most popular for baby girls.

An attractive and easily translatable Finnish name.

Orleanna was the young heroine of Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible.

In fashion limbo with Anita and Juanita.