Names ending in a

The many names connected more by letter and sound than by root -- Micha, Micah, Mica, Misha, Mischa, Michal, and of course Michael -- can get very confusion, and this variation is sure to cause pronunciation problems in the US. Hard or soft ch? Long or short i? Better stick with Micah, Misha...or Michael.

Aliza might seem like yet another variation of the eternal Alyssa/Alicia/Eliza loop, but it's a distinct name all its own. The z adds zip.

Short form of Bronisława, usually spelt Bronia in Poland.

Unusual name with stylish, silky feel.

Another of the new Greek-accented Cal- names.

When Deborah seemed too formal in the laid-back sixties, Debra stepped in as a pared-down alternative, but the pendulum is about to swing back.

Hypatia, an ancient Greek name, has a distinguished namesake: Hypatia of Alexandria was an early philosopher and scholar of mathematics and astronomy--as well as inventor of several scientific instruments.

Enticing modern nickname name possibility.

Khaza got a big boost when rapper Kevin Gates chose it for his son in 2014, and an even bigger boost with the release of his 2022 album of the same name. Gates' influence led to Khaza being one of the fastest-rising names of 2022, jumping 391 spots.

This Irish saint's name sounds like a lopped-off Lorna.

A spin on Calia or Calla, with a lot of fashionable sounds.

This spelling made its way into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, fell off in 2014, then reentered in 2015. This spelling variation is riding the original's popularity, and we anticipate both spellings continuing to rise.

The original versions of Micaela have morphed into all manner of "inventive" spellings -- Makayla, McKalla et al -- but we prefer the genuine international versions, like this one.

This Maori name, often heard in New Zealand, is an attractive, evocative choice for lovers of the ocean made famous – perhaps too famous – by the Disney heroine. Moana was also an alternate name for the heroine Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth. Moana may also be a color name for a deep ocean blue ("lanu moana"). Moana and other Disney Princess Names are the subject of a featured blog.

A twist on Alina or Alena, this name popped into the Top 500 for the first time in 2014. Also an Arabic name, meaning "soft, pliable, delicate".

In Greek mythology, Megara was the first wife of Heracles (Hercules); the character of Megara "Meg" in the Disney film is loosely based on her. It’s also a place name in Greece and Sicily. Read more about Megara and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.

In Greek mythology, Amalthea is the name of a goat (or, sometimes, a goat-keeping nymph) who nursed the infant Zeus and protected him from his murderous father, Cronus. Thanks to the goat’s protection and nourishment, Zeus grew up to overthrow Cronus.

Given to children of both sexes as far back as colonial times, this carries a lot of baggage. However, parents continue to take the risk. Actress America Ferrera may be have inspired some families to choose the name. Ferrera's Honduras-born mother shares her unusual name.

Novelist Djuna Barnes introduced this interesting and unusual name with an arty, Bohemian feel to the mix. She explained that it was invented by her father, saying it came about as a combination of her infant brother's pronunciation of the word moon as 'nuna' and a character in a book her father was reading, Prince Djalma, and so he "put the Dj onto the 'una'." Result: the silent-D pronunciation (as in Django) of JOON-a.

Nikola is generally masculine in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Macedonia, while in Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia and the Czech Republic it is usually feminine.