Names ending in a

Makena may be one of the names with the most diverse range of possible roots. It can be a spelling variation of the Scottish surname McKenna, or a name from the East African Meru community with a happy meaning. Makena is also a Hawaiian place name that refers to a town on Maui, which may be drawn from the Hawaiian Makana, meaning "gift".
 
It ranked in the US Top 1000 in the 2000s and while it has since declined in use, Makena was nevertheless given to around 100 baby girls in a recent year.

Makena

Striking Sanskrit name that could easily cross cultures.

Miraya

Like its cousin Tessa, Nessa -- a shortening of Vanessa or Agnes or Anastasia among other possibilities -- is an attractive nickname that can stand on its own. 

Nessa

Phonetic spelling of the Muslim Aanisah, chosen by singer Macy Gray for one of her daughters. 

Anisa

A character name in George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, featured in the GOT prequel House of the Dragon.In the series, the name is a feminine form of Baelon, the character's paternal grandfather.
 
Beyond fiction, however, Baela may be considered modern spin on Bella ("beauty, beautiful"), Baylor ("measuring stick"), Bailey ("bailiff"), Baila ("white; bashful") or a blend of Bae ("berry; bay; baby") with the popular -la suffix. 
 
It was given to nearly 40 girls in 2024, compared to just eight the year prior, however, before that it had only appeared once in the stats, back in 2014. As such, Baela feels like a new name for 2024, even if it isn't really.

Baela

Kamaya is a name with several possible origins. It may derive from Sanskrit, where 'kama' means 'love' or 'desire' and 'maya' can mean 'illusion' or 'magic.' In Japanese, 'Kamaya' could be formed from elements like 'kama' (sickle) and 'ya' (arrow). The name might also be a modern creation combining the popular prefix 'Ka' with 'Maya,' which itself has origins in various cultures (including Sanskrit 'maya' meaning 'illusion' and the name of the ancient Mesoamerican civilization). The name has gained usage in the United States particularly since the 1990s-2000s. Kamaya exemplifies cross-cultural naming influences and the modern trend toward names with melodic sounds and positive connotations.

Kamaya

Maha is a feminine name of Arabic origin meaning 'beautiful eyes' or 'wild cow/oryx,' an animal admired for its grace and beautiful eyes in Arabic culture. The name appears in the Quran and has significance in Islamic tradition. Maha is widely used throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asian Muslim communities. It's appreciated for its simplicity, melodious sound, and positive connotations of beauty and grace. The name is relatively short but carries cultural depth and religious significance for many families. In Western countries, Maha has gained some popularity among multicultural families and those seeking names with international appeal and meaningful origins.

Maha

Maira is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Arabic, it relates to Mayra meaning 'exceptional woman' or 'beneficent.' In Scottish Gaelic, it derives from Màiri, a form of Mary. In Greek mythology, Maira was a name associated with the dog star. This cross-cultural name has gained modest popularity in diverse communities worldwide, appreciated for its melodious sound and international appeal. The name is relatively short yet carries a soft, flowing quality with its two syllables. Maira offers the advantage of being recognizable across different languages while remaining distinctive. Its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce in most languages, contributing to its gradual increase in usage in multicultural societies.

Maira

A relatively new name on the scene, increasing in popularity since 1999. It is likely a variation of Nia, a Swahili name based on the Arabic Niya meaning "tenacity, purpose, determination". Alternatively it may be based on Naia, a Basque name meaning "sea foam, wave" or it may simply be a modern creation, influenced by the popularity of Mia, Mya, Kaia, and similar.
 
The alternative spelling Nyah has been familiar since the 2000s when it was used for a character in Mission: Impossible 2, but the streamlined Nya has proved popular in the UK in recent years. It was one of the fastest rising names in 2023 when it entered the Top 1000 for the first time.
 
Social media influencer Nya Temple is a notable bearer while singer Nyachomba Muchai-Kinya uses Nya as her stage name. The name also featured in the Lego animated TV series, Ninjago.

Oona is a name made famous by Eugene O'Neill's daughter, who became Charlie Chaplin's wife. One of the original Oona's granddaughters was named after her, and is now an actress famous in her own right for playing Talisa of Volantis in HBO's "Game of Thrones." The double-o beginning gives their name a lot of oomph.
 In Irish legend, Una/Oona was a daughter of a king of Lochlainn. The name was very popular in Ireland in the Middle Ages, and is currently seeing a comeback--also spelled Oonagh.

Oona

Breton cognate of Angela, from Breton ael "angel".

Aela

Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival.
 Eugenia has some interesting literary references, including the fascinating Baroness Eugenie Munster in Henry James's The Europeans and Eugenia Alabaster, a leading character in A. S. Byatt's Angels and Insects, and it was also the birth name of Skeeter in the book and film The Help.
 The third century St. Eugenia, an early Roman Christian martyr, is remembered for disguising herself as a man to escape persecution.
 Music lovers will be familiar with the name of renowned flute virtuoso Eugenia Zukerman.

Eugenia

Pervasive in all Spanish-speaking cultures, Juanita, like Juana, has not emigrated. 

Juanita

Kaliya is a feminine name with multiple possible origins across different cultures. In Sanskrit traditions, Kaliya (कालिय) refers to a serpent in Hindu mythology defeated by Krishna. In Slavic languages, variations of the name can be derived from 'kal' meaning 'black.' The name also has possible connections to Greek origins, potentially related to 'kallos' meaning 'beauty.' Kaliya emerged in broader American usage primarily in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The name has a melodic three-syllable structure with a flowing quality that likely contributes to its appeal. While not among the most common names, it has shown increased usage in recent decades. Its international character, with recognizable roots in multiple linguistic traditions, makes it appealing to diverse families looking for names with both distinctive sound and potential cultural significance.

Kaliya

Kenza may feel perfectly in step with modern names like McKenzie and Kinsey and Kendra, but there was an 8th century Moroccan queen named Kenza so the name has deep roots. Kenza is that rare name that's equally attractive, simple, and unusual

Kenza

Mihira is a feminine name with Sanskrit origins, derived from a word meaning 'sun' or 'solar.' In Hindu tradition, Mihira is another name for Surya, the sun deity, symbolizing light, warmth, and vital energy. Though traditionally used in India and other South Asian countries, Mihira has begun to gain modest international recognition as global naming patterns have diversified. The name appeals to parents seeking options with meaningful cultural roots and positive symbolic associations. Mihira features melodic sounds with its alternating consonants and vowels, creating a rhythmic, flowing quality. It offers both cultural richness and accessible pronunciation for various language speakers, balancing uniqueness with pleasant phonetics.

Mihira

Mona had more than a moment in the sun, peaking in 1950 at Number 230 but falling off the Top 1000 completely in the late 1980s. Its similarity to the word "moaner" undercuts the appeal of its simplicity.  In one recent year, fewer than 100 baby girls received the name, and we don't see it reviving any time soon.

Mona

Niya is an alternative name for Lilith, a demon or goddess in mythology. Niya is still worshipped today in a cult located in parts of Eastern Europe. 

Niya

Philippa is a prime example of a boy's name adapted for girls that was common as crumpets in Cornwall, but rarely heard stateside. That was before the advent of royal sister-in-law Philippa Middleton, who goes by the lively nickname Pippa.
 Philippa has still never appeared in the Top 1000 in the US, quite an accomplishment for a classic name that's been around for centuries. It does, however, rank on England's as well as Nameberry's own internal lists.
 
Pippa doesn't rank in the US either, but is far more popular than Philippa in the rest of the English-speaking world. It ranks in the Top 100 in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, and in the Top 200 in England and Scotland.
 
Philippa has been fashionable in England since the fourteenth century when King Edward married Philippa of Hainault. There have been several early Saint Philippas, and it was the name of the wife of Geoffrey Chaucer.
 Novelist Philippa Gregory authored the bestselling historical novel The Other Boelyn Girl.

Philippa

Roberta has been one of the most successful feminization names, up at #64 in 1936. It's a name that's found all over children's lit, often nicknamed Bobbie or Robbie, though Bertie is another possibility. Notable bearers have included singers Roberta Flack and Roberta Peters--plus it's the birth name of Joni Mitchell. 
