Names ending in a

Gorgeous name in any form, though the c may muddy the pronunciation.

A bright and breezy Scottish name which is little known outside its native land.

Has become a byword in English for an overly optimistic person, thanks to the eponymous children's book heroine.

Hemera was the personification of day and one of the Greek primordial deities. She is the goddess of the daytime and,said to be the daughter of Erebus and Nyx (the goddess of night).

Not to be confused with the Aria/Arya name family, Arja is a variation of Irja, which ultimately is derived from Irene.

Medina commonly refers to a city in Saudi Arabia where the prophet Muhammad began his work to establish Islam. It is considered the second holiest city in Islamic tradition, and is also known as The Luminous City, The Enlightened City, and The City of the Prophet.

Girlish for Ethan: attractive and unusual.

An epithet of the goddess Durga, associated with the beginning of the earth.

Pretty, delicate and crystal clear, with the readymade nickname of Lucy.

Has a decidedly middle-aged image.

Kalama is a rare-yet-accessible Hawaiian name you may want to consider. Since President Obama put the spotlight on Hawaii and Hawaiian names such as that of his daughter Malia, a choice such as Kalama -- unusual, rhythmic, yet easy-to-apprehend -- seems more possible for the world at large.

Now that all names Adel- are the height of fashion, Adella is an unusual name that nevertheless sounds very trendy. Adella is one of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid.

Elatha is the god of the Moon in Irish mythology. The contemporary Irish spelling would be Ealadha.

If you loved Nicole growing up but now are looking for a new spin, Nicoletta may interest you. The slightly sleeker French version is Nicolette. A shorter form is Coletta, or you could shorten it even further to Nico or Etta.

A character name in George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, a dragonrider played by Emma D'Arcy in the GOT prequel House of the Dragon.

Sultry name given added interest by that double 'a'.

Adventurous parents are venturing deeper into the garden in search of fresh names, but remember that this also makes for an alcoholic brunch.

Lilting choice. "Oleanna" is the title of a David Mamet play.