Unexpected -a endings

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. Back in the US Top 1000 as of 2023 and rising rapidly up the UK charts, where it sits in the Top 200, Etta is a snappy, smart and sparky choice.

Ing was a powerful Norse god whose name inspired several modern variations -- though Inga has become a caricatured Scandinavian choice.

Joia is a feminine name with Latin and Portuguese origins, meaning 'jewel' or 'joy.' In Portuguese-speaking countries, it directly translates to 'jewel,' while its pronunciation (often as 'JOY-ah') connects it to the English word 'joy.' This dual meaning gives the name a particularly positive and precious connotation. The name features a pleasing, melodic quality with just two syllables that flow together harmoniously. Though relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, Joia has maintained consistent usage in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking regions. Its cross-cultural appeal, simple spelling, and uplifting meaning make it attractive to parents seeking a name that feels both distinctive and meaningful. The name's brevity paired with its rich meaning creates an elegant simplicity.

Kenda is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. In American usage, it may be a modern invention or variant of names like Kendra (meaning 'knowledge' or 'understanding'). In some African cultures, particularly Kenya, it may have local meanings. The name has never reached high popularity rankings but saw modest usage in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. Kenda appeals to parents seeking a unique yet accessible name with a melodious sound. The name's brevity and ending with 'a' gives it a feminine quality while maintaining simplicity. Kenda remains uncommon enough to be distinctive without seeming completely unfamiliar.

A beautiful Hebrew name that would work perfectly for a child today.

The name is derived from the term commonly used in the Book of Psalms, which has a many Hebrew scholars in confusion over its meaning. Given its context in the Bible, Selah is likely to mean "to praise" or "pause and reflect upon what has just been said." Lauryn Hill used this name for her daughter. It is the last word in Anita Diamant's novel The Red Tent.

Thea is a diminutive of names ending in -thea, including Dorothea, Althea, and Anthea. It is also the Anglicized spelling of Theia, the Titan of sight, goddess of light, and mother of the moon. She was the consort of Hyperion, and mother of Helios, Selene, and Eos.

Tosca is one operatic heroine that has never taken off as a baby name -- there were no babies named Tosca in the US last year -- but it's the name of entrepreneur Elon Musk's sister so may benefit from some referred publicity.