Emma Alternatives Part Three
By Foreverthename
Updated Tue Apr 04 2023
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This is a list of names that are two syllables, start with "E," and end in the "a" sound; therefore, they can be used as alternatives to Emma.
- Etta
Origin:
English and Scottish, short form of any name ending with -etta: Henrietta, Loretta etc.Description:
Thanks to the surprise hit revival of Etta James' song At Last and because of recent interest in vintage style nicknames, Etta has established herself as a possible successor to Emma and Ella. While it is currently in the latter end of the US charts, the smart, snappy name is a rising choice in the UK, where it features in the Top 150.
- Ella
Origin:
German; EnglishMeaning:
"all, completely; fairy maiden"Description:
Ella is a sweet, simple name that owes much of its current popularity to the popularity of other names, from Emma to Bella to Emily to Ellie.
- Eva
Origin:
Latin form of Eve, HebrewMeaning:
"life"Description:
Eva is a simple, classic Hebrew name for girls that recently slipped out of the US Top 100 for the first time in more than a decade. Pronounced either like her more popular sister Ava or less popular sister Eve, Eva is one of the elite group of girl names that mean life.
- Eira
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"snow"Description:
This Welsh nature name that can be pronounced exactly like the male Ira. Or, to avoid confusion, you could just name her Snow.
- Elsa
Origin:
German diminutive of ElisabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Lost in limbo for decades and decades, Elsa now stands a good chance of following along in the progression from Emma to Ella to Etta, thanks to the ice queen heroine who "Let It Go" in the wildly popular Disney movie Frozen. The name shot all the up to Number 286 (its highest ranking since the 1890s) in the year after the release of the movie, though it's now dropped back down the list in the US.
- Ezra
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"help"Description:
Ezra is a biblical favorite for boys that's been making inroads into the girls' Top 1000 since 2018 and it's easy to see why. With its soft sounds and -a ending, it holds the same appeal as Noa, Sasha, Micah, and Luka do: short, sweet, and solid. 2024 saw Ezra climb 61 places up the US charts, placing it just outside the Top 700.
- Enya
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"fire"Description:
This phonetic Anglicization of the Irish name Eithne was made familiar by the single-named Irish singer and composer. St. Eithne was the daughter of a king and an early Irish convert to Christianity.
- Edna
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"rejuvenation, delight"Description:
Edna is one of those names that, until what it seemed like a few minutes ago, felt so terminally frumpy that no one could imagine a parent choosing it for an innocent modern baby girl. But with the great upswing in names honoring ancestral family members, several of them being other four-letter, e-ending names, we wouldn't be so sure.
- Elva
Origin:
Feminine form of Alf or anglicized form of Ailbhe, Danish, Icelandic, IrishMeaning:
"elf; bright, light, white"Description:
Elva is a multicultural choice, being both an anglicization of the Irish Ailbhe and an feminine form of the name Alf, meaning "elf". Popular in the US at the beginning of the 20th century, it remained in the charts until the 1970s before falling out of favor.
- Ebba
Origin:
Feminization of Ebbe, Swedish and Danish, or variation of Old English ÆbbeMeaning:
"bear god; brave boar"Description:
Ebba, the feminine version of Ebbe (a diminutive of Eberhard or Asbjorn) and also a form of an old English name, is in the Swedish Top 10 but virtually unknown in the US. However, with the rise of Emma, Ella, Ada, and similar simple-yet-traditional names, Ebba may enjoy more widespread popularity.
- Eila
Origin:
Hebrew, Norwegian variation of ElinaMeaning:
"oak tree; bright, shining light"Description:
Eila is a Hebrew name heard in Israel. The name also has roots in Finland and Norway, where it's derived from Elina, a variation of Helen, or from Aila, a form of Helga. Eila could gain attention as a cross-cultural name and fresh alternative to popular sound-alike choices like Ayla, Ella, and Isla.
- Elma
Origin:
Diminutive of Wilhelmina, German and DutchMeaning:
"resolute protection"Description:
Historically a diminutive of Wilhelmina, Elma's parent name and soundalike sisters are slowly stirring back to life as the trend for vintage baby names continues. With Alma on the rise in the US, Thelma chic in France, and Selma hot in Scandinavia, Elma could be in with a shot at a revival — especially given the popularity of Emma and Ella. But Muppet Elmo and Looney Tune Elmer Fudd may cast a long shadow.
- Essa
Description:
Essa is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Arabic, it's a variation of Isa (the Arabic form of Jesus) and means 'God is salvation.' In Irish contexts, Essa derives from the Gaelic 'os' meaning 'deer' or possibly as a diminutive of Esther. In some South Asian cultures, particularly in Pakistan and India, Essa appears as both a feminine and masculine name. The name remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, making it a distinctive choice. Its brevity and melodic quality with soft consonants give it an appealing, gentle sound while maintaining a unique character. Essa has seen modest usage in recent decades without becoming mainstream, appealing to parents seeking a simple yet uncommon name with multicultural resonance.
- Edda
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"poetry"Description:
This Old Norse girl name has a lovely meaning and a familiar yet distinctive sound.
- Esma
Origin:
Turkish, BosnianMeaning:
"supreme"Description:
Turkish and Bosnian form of the Arabic name Asma, with the powerful meaning of "supreme".
- Eula
Origin:
Diminutive of EulaliaDescription:
Eula is a slightly sweeter and more compact version of Eulalia. Currently, neither name is given to more than a handful of girls each year. Eula was fairly popular in the US during the early twentieth century, and she last ranked in the Top 1000 in 1960.
- Erma
Origin:
English variation of Irma, English, German, SloveneMeaning:
"whole, great, universal; army man"Description:
A variation of the German Irma, Erma emerged in the 19th century in English-speaking countries where its similarity to timeless Emma might have helped it gain popularity. In fact, if you follow its Germanic roots, it relates back to irmin meaning "whole, great", the same as Emma does.
- Enna
Description:
Enna is a feminine name with multiple possible origins, including as a variation of Anna (Hebrew for 'grace'), a shortened form of names like Ennaline or Marienna, or derived from the ancient city of Enna in Sicily. In Finnish, 'enna' means 'predict' or 'foresee,' adding another layer of meaning. This short, symmetrical name has a gentle yet distinct sound that travels well across different languages and cultures. While never widely common, Enna has seen occasional usage throughout history and across different regions. Its simplicity, melodic quality, and cross-cultural adaptability make it appealing to modern parents seeking something uncommon yet accessible with a subtle ancient resonance.
- Eda
Origin:
English, TurkishMeaning:
"wealthy, well-mannered"Description:
An medieval English diminutive of Edith, which could make an unusual addition to simple vintage revivals like Eva, Ada and Ida. In Turkish, it means "well mannered".
- Elka
Origin:
Latinization of Elke, Scandinavian diminutive of AdelheidMeaning:
"noble one"Description:
Much more manageable than the full form of the name. Possible international alternative to Ella.
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