Girl Names Ending with -Nia

Literary heritage: the "Loony Tunes" girlfriend of Porky Pig. But with the increasing popularity of all kinds of unusual botanical names, Petunia may be a name we start to hear more of. Perhaps-more-pleasing Petunia alternatives: Petal, Posy, Poppy.

Silvania is a feminine name with Latin roots, derived from 'silva' meaning 'forest' or 'woodland.' This connection gives the name a natural, earthy quality that evokes images of lush greenery and peaceful forests. Variations include Sylvania and Silvana, with the latter being more common in Italian and Spanish-speaking countries. Silvania has never been widely popular in English-speaking countries, remaining a distinctive choice. The name carries an elegant, somewhat mystical quality while maintaining its connection to nature. Its four-syllable rhythm gives it a musical flow, appealing to parents seeking a name that's both uncommon and meaningfully connected to the natural world.

Virginia is a lovely place name starting with the fashionable V and having deep historical roots, yet, unlike some other other girls' classics, has been sorely neglected in recent years.

The name of a Christian saint and a city in Ohio, Xenia is one of the more accessible and intriguing x names. It is the name of one of the Bond Girls--played by Famke Janssen in the film "GoldenEye."

Yesenia is a Latinx favorite popularized by a character on a Spanish-language soap opera. Jessenia is another variation. The name is drawn from the name of a palm tree in South America, but Yesenia is also an Arabic name meaning flower, making it an excellent cross-cultural choice.

See SELENA.

Zinnia is an unusual floral choice with a bit more edge and energy than most and beginning to find its way onto namers' wish lists of botanical possibilities. Named after an eighteenth German botanist called Johann Gottfried Zinn, it appears in Roald Dahl's Matilda as the young protagonist's mother.