Names ending in a

A bright and appealing Spanish name traditionally given to honor the church festival of Candlemas, which commemorates the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary.

Form of Katia, from Katherine.

Common California place-name that could work for a girl.

Turkish boy name with an adorable meaning.

A short form of Magdalena in Dutch and a variation of Melaina, Melina, Melinda, Melanie, Milena and similar, Melena is also used for a character in the novel Wicked and the subsequent Broadway musical.

Too much teasing potential for an English speaker.

Genova, also known in English as Genoa, is a major port in Liguria, Italy. Its attractive sound — combining elements of Genevieve and Nova — means it has occasionally appeared on the baby name charts, though it is very rare.

Derived from an ancient Roman name, this is best known in its male form Placido, thanks to the tenor.

According to local legend in the Canary Islands, Gara was a young princess who fell in love with a peasant's son, Jonay. Their relationship was condemned by a local priest and the day of their marriage a great earthquake shook the islands. The couple fled together and, according to legend, committed joint suicide at a peak on the island of La Gomera now known as Garajonay Peak.

We all know that Chaka really means disco.

Variant of Maribella

Allena may feel like a somewhat antiquated feminization, though Allen itself is a tad old-fashioned. In many ways, Allena -- pronounced ah-LEN-ah -- feels more appealing that Alana or ah-LAH-ah.