Names ending in a

  1. Lucina
    • Origin:

      Roman
    • Meaning:

      "grove or light"
    • Description:

      Lucina, deriving from Latin lucus "grove" and also associated with lux "light", is an epithet given in Roman mythology to the goddess Juno (and sometimes also Diana) in her role as goddess of childbirth. A stately and unusual route to Lucy, more delicate than Lucinda.
  2. Mikasa
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "three bamboo hats"
    • Description:

      Mikasa references Mount Mikasa, a mountain in Japan with three peaks, thought to look like bamboo hats. The Mikasa battleship was named after the mountain.
  3. Milana
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "from Milan"
    • Description:

      This makes Milan sound like less of a place, more of a name.
  4. Rhoda
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "rose"
    • Description:

      To those who remember, Rhoda is still reminiscent of the brassy Bronx 1970s sitcom Rhoda Morgenstern. But Rhoda has a much longer history--it is a name that can be found in the New Testament as a servant girl in the house of Mary, mother of John. Later, Rhoda appeared in the novel Vanity Fair and the Shaw play Man and Superman.
  5. Raia
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Raya
    • Description:

      The popularity of Maya clarifies the pronunciation of Raya, which makes that the better spelling of this name.
  6. Alva
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "his highness"
    • Description:

      Edison's middle name is a fabulous option for parents looking for something with history and a soft sound. This could be the name you're looking for if you like Tesla's scientific pedigree but think that it has become too corporate with the advent of Elon Musk's company.
  7. Naiara
    • Origin:

      Basque place name
    • Description:

      Basque name for a Spanish city where the Virgin Mary appeared in medieval times, now a popular girls' name throughout Spain.
  8. Imala
    • Origin:

      Native American
    • Meaning:

      "strong-minded"
    • Description:

      Distinctive Native-American choice with forceful meaning.
  9. Lovella
    • Origin:

      Feminine of Lovell
    • Meaning:

      "wolf"
    • Description:

      Lovella is most likely a feminine variation on Lovell, a surname. While it feels one of the invented-yet-antiquated girls' names, has the obvious attraction of containing the word "love" within it, as well as the opportunity to use "Ella" as nickname.
  10. Rafaela
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Portuguese version of Hebrew Raphaela
    • Meaning:

      "God has healed"
    • Description:

      This euphonious and lovely name is an internationally appealing choice, that, like Gabriela and Isabela before it, is beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream. Also spelled Raffaella (Italian), Raffaela (German), or Raphaela (Hebrew), it was given to around 50 girls in the US in 2023.
  11. Frieda
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "peace"
    • Description:

      This traditional Germanic name hasn't been on the U.S. list since 1958, but perhaps due to the mythic power of painter Frida Kahlo, parents are beginning to show some interest in it.
  12. Lolita
    • Origin:

      Spanish, diminutive of Lola and Dolores, Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "lady of sorrows"
    • Description:

      In Nabokov's notorious novel, Lolita is the pet name given by the pedophilic narrator, Humbert Humbert, to his victim: a young girl called Dolores and nicknamed Lola or Lo by her mother. Still, it seems that a few parents are prepared to look past this problematic association, seeing this as a offbeat option for those who defy convention. We would recommend thinking seriously about the background of this name before bestowing it on your daughter.
  13. Azura
    • Melania
      • Origin:

        Spanish and Greek variation of Melanie
      • Meaning:

        "black"
      • Description:

        The current wife of Donald Trump, Slovenian model Melania Knauss, brought this pretty version to the fore. Saint Melania was an heiress who freed thousands of enslaved people.
    • Malaya
      • Origin:

        Filipino
      • Meaning:

        "free"
      • Description:

        Deriving from the same East Asian root as Malaysia and Malay, Malaya is a name that recalls the more popular Maya and the name of 2014 Nobel Peace Laureate Malala Yousafzai. It first appeared in the US Top 1000 in 2006.
    • Imelda
      • Origin:

        Italian and Spanish from German
      • Meaning:

        "all-consuming fight"
      • Description:

        Saint's name made infamous by Philippine dictator's wife Imelda Marcos. A more positive famous bearer is the British actress Imelda Staunton, best known for playing Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies.
    • Fanta
      • Origin:

        Mande from Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "captivating, a woman who abstains"
      • Description:

        A West African version of the Arabic name Fatima, also used by diaspora communities, e.g. in France.

    • Aruna
      • Origin:

        Sanskrit, Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "reddish-brown; Asian moon"
      • Description:

        In Hinduism, the god Aruna is the charioteer who drives the sun god Surya across the sky. Aruna is both the traditional masculine form of the name (modernized as Arun) and its feminization.
    • Niara
      • Origin:

        Hindi
      • Meaning:

        "nebula, mist"
      • Description:

        More unusual alternative to Tiara.
    • Marietta
      • Origin:

        Italian diminutive of Maria
      • Meaning:

        "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
      • Description:

        Marietta would make for a classy and uncommon long form for cool nickname Etta.